Plymouth is Britain’s Ocean City, and it’s the combination of the marine and the urban that make this one of the best places in the country to try Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP. The city sits at the Atlantic end of the English Channel on the confluence of 3 rivers, not only a beautiful spot, but a perfect place for a commercial and naval port. For centuries, Plymouth Sound was lined with piers, jetties and dockyards and busy with the coming and going of cargo ships, but in the modern day there’s far less traffic on the waters. This activity enthusiasts have seen their chance and made it a top tier destination, offering the unique opportunity to enjoy the natural and historic surroundings of the region from the back of a paddleboard.

This is the fastest growing water sport in the country and it’s easy to see why. Unlike other activities like sailing and surfing, it’s so easy to get into. You don’t need to have rippling muscles or a bulging wallet to step onto a SUP and start paddling, in fact it’s probably the simplest way that you can take to the water. And once you’ve got the hang of moving around with a simple paddle, you can start exploring. Plymouth boasts waterways of all kinds, from rivers, to estuaries, to the open oceans, so there are destinations to suit all ages, abilities and tastes. Keep reading to learn more!

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in Plymouth?

• Drake’s Island: One of the reasons for this city’s success as a port is the protection provided by Drake’s Island. Over the centuries, it guarded the passage of ships entering and leaving the port and boasted a military barracks, a chapel and battery fortifications. Nowadays the island is uninhabited and makes for a fascinating destination on a SUP trip.

• Plymouth Sound: This is the point where the Rivers Tamar and Plym meet with the ocean. If you go paddleboarding here, you’ll see Plymouth Hoe park to one side and Drake’s island to the other. The waters themselves are protected by a National Marine Park, the first of its kind in the country, which preserves the habitats and heritage of the area.

• Firestone Bay: At the mouth of the River Tamar, this is one of the best access points to the water from the centre of the city. It’s a popular place for wild swimming and scuba diving as well as stand-up paddleboarding, with sheltered waters and interesting coastal features to explore within easy reach.

• Cattewater: On the other side of Plymouth Sound, the Cattewater is where the River Plym widens to join the sound. It takes its name from a rocky outcrop in the shape of a cat which used to be visible on the shore. Although that’s gone now, there’s plenty to see along the revamped waterfront from a paddleboard.

• Mount Edgcombe: This city is right on the border of Devon and Cornwall, and you don’t have to paddle far to get to Mount Edgcombe, a headland on the Cornish coast which overlooks the city. You can combine your SUP journey with a walk up the hill to get unrivalled views of the area, and pay a visit to one of the best located stately homes in the southwest.

• River Yealm: Just outside the city, this river flows through bright green surroundings to the South Devon coast. A SUP journey downstream will transport you far from the stresses of day to day life and fill you with a sense of calm that’s hard to find on dry land. Perfect for beginners, and an unforgettable experience for all, this is a highly recommended destination.

What are the options for organising an experience?

One of the driving forces behind the wave in popularity of paddleboarding is that it’s so accessible: the risks of accident or injury are very low, and the technique is intuitive and easy to learn. Having said that, if you want to get the most out of your first try, we recommend taking a lesson. There are many companies in and around Plymouth that welcome newcomers to the sport to be baptised, and they’ll make sure that you feel comfortable and confident as you take to the water, and show you how to get going in no time. Lessons generally last 1.5 or 2 hours. It’s also possible to rent paddleboard equipment and go your own way, and this is the best option if you already have some experience. You can hire by the hour, or take it away or a full day and start exploring.

With so many miles of waterway and coastline, you’ll never see everything that this city has to offer in one day. But if you want to be sure that you’re seeing the highlights, your best bet is to book a tour. An enthusiastic guide will lead you to locations such as Drake’s Island or Mount Edgcombe, explaining their significance and pointing out the most interesting details and also helping you to spot some of the local wildlife such as seals or seabirds. SUP tours can last between 2 and 6 hours, depending on what you want to see - and how fast you want to paddle!

But paddling isn’t the only way to enjoy. For a more extreme adventure, why not try SUP surf? You’ll go with an instructor towards the open ocean, where waves from the Atlantic Ocean can be ridden in a radical alternative to ordinary surfing. With specialised equipment, including an underwater foil, and a bit of know-how, you can take on fast moving waves for the ride of your life, and after 2 hours on the water you’ll be an addict.

Requirements to do this activity

Almost anyone can have the fantastic experience of paddleboarding in Plymouth. Although it helps to be a competent swimmer, you don’t need to be a watersports veteran to get a kick out of SUP and beginners and improvers are well catered for by lessons. In order to go on a tour, you need some experience, but so long as it’s not your first time you should be fine. We also advise that you don’t hire paddleboards for individual use until you’ve taken your first trip under the watchful eye of an instructor.

This sport is also a great family activity, with some companies offering children as young as 7 or 8 years old to get onto the water in the company of their parents. The same doesn’t apply to SUP surf, which is for older teenagers and adults and only if they’ have previous experience ohn this sports.

Ride the wave and explore the water, your adventure is just a couple of clicks away!