Anglesey is the biggest island in Wales, so it’s not surprising that it boasts some of the best places in the whole country for the ultimate in coastal exploration water sports. We’re talking about paddleboarding, also known as Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, where you use a large board as your own personal island - but it’s an island that you can use to get around. Using a long paddle, you can propel your SUP along the coast or out to sea to discover the natural beauty of Anglesey’s beaches and headlands, channels and cliffs, and its smaller sister, Holy Island.

Paddleboarding is currently experiencing a wave in popularity, with schools, tours and rental services popping up on coastlines, rivers and lakes, around the world. This success is down in part to its simplicity - the equipment is simple to use and easy to maintain. All of this means that more and more people are enjoying the tranquillity that comes with gliding across the water and exploring the scenery in some truly breathtaking locations. Anyone who likes the sound of that, or who’s already a SUP enthusiast, should set their sights on Anglesey, where they’ll find wonderful paddleboarding experiences in beautiful surroundings - with attractive price tags.

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding on Anglesey?

• The Menai Straits: Anglesey is separated from the Welsh mainland by this narrow channel. It’s crossed by two bridges, including the oldest major suspension bridge in the world which dates back to 1826 and a modern road bridge. Numerous islands in the channel and at its ends, including Church Island below the suspension bridge, which has a church and graveyard above rocky cliffs. Exploring these landmarks, and getting views of other sights such as Caernarfon Castle at the western end, on a SUP is an experience like no other. However, the straits are caught between two tides, which creates challenging conditions along their lengths at certain times of the day. One part of the channel, known as the Swellies, is notorious for whirlpools that form when tides go out. If you want to go paddleboarding here, you need the local knowledge of an instructor or guide.

• Llanddwyn Beach: This wide sandy beach on the southern tip of the island is a fantastic place for a paddle. There are no towns with SUP schools around, but if you have your own board or rent one, you can come here and have the waters to yourself. When the sea’s calm, it’s possible to go out to Llanddwyn island and paddle around the rocks and the old white lighthouse.

• Rhosneigr: Up the coast is this charming village that sits above an expanse of golden sands. Paddleboarding here at high tide means exploring a labyrinth of channels between semi submerged rocky outcrops, or a meditative journey along the beach, with views of the quaint houses in one direction and across the Irish Sea in the other. Rhosneigr is one of the only places on Anglesey where you can take a SUP onto fresh water, on Llyn Maelog, a sheltered lake set behind the beach.

• Holy Island: The largest island off Anglesey also has the biggest town in the region, Holyhead. Both the island and the town owe their names to the high number of ancient religious sites that are found here, including numerous standing stones. So we think it’s only appropriate that you explore the island on a stand-up paddleboard. Holyhead harbour is a good place for beginners as the water is calm, but following the coast around is the best way to see this island in all its natural glory.

• Pentraeth: This village on the wild north coast of Anglesey is on a stretch of coastline that’s designated and protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The reason behind this status is that it’s a habitat for many species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds such as oystercatchers, shelducks and purple sandpipers. The silent passage of a SUP won’t disturb them, so you can observe them in their element.

What are the options for organising an experience?

In order to get the most out of SUP, it’s a good idea to take a lesson. The great thing about SUP lessons is that, unlike surf classes where you spend half the time on the beach, you can get out onto the water almost immediately and learn how to use the equipment there. That’s because paddleboarding is one of the most accessible, low risk sports, and you’re unlikely to fall in - unless you want to! If you take a lesson on Anglesey for just 2 hours, you’ll have a combination of the excitement of learning a new activity and the pleasure of seeing this wonderful place from a new perspective.

Once you’ve got the hang of paddleboarding, you can take a tour around the island of Anglesey and enjoy every nook and cranny of the coastline. You can get pretty far in half a day, or take a true voyage of discovery for a full day - with lunch included. Your expert guide will help you navigate the tricky coastline, point out local wildlife and make sure that you see the best that Anglesey has to offer. Of course, if you’re an expert yourself, you can also hire SUP equipment at a variety of locations for a couple of hours or a full day, and go where your mood takes you.

Requirements to do this activity

Novices will find Anglesey to be an amazing place to learn to paddleboard, while experienced SUP enthusiasts will be endlessly rewarded by the spectacular scenery of the island. Kids can get involved too, using their own SUP and paddle from the age of 7 years old, or, if they’re younger, riding as a passenger on their parents' board.

You don’t need to own any specialist equipment to enjoy paddleboarding on Anglesey, because you can rent it, or use the school’s boards, paddles, wetsuits and life jackets if you take a class or a course.

We would say it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, but the best thing about this county is you can come to do this adventure here again and again - when do you want to start?