Spot Guide: South West UK
PaddleUK asked us to put together some Spot Guides for the season. Here are some of the best routes in the South West. While there is plenty of coastline, estuary and river to explore on your SUP or Kayak. These 5 offer a great starter for a range of abilities. Make sure to check the conditions before you go! Have fun!
Saunton Sands
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From Saunton Sands to Baggy Point and back, with some fun in the waves at the end!!!
North Devon has been recognised as a World Surfing Reserve by Save the Waves, encompassing small rocky coves with long sandy beaches. It's a beautifully scenic coastline to paddle, and Saunton Sands has the perfect waves to learn how to surf your stand up paddle board.
This route started at Saunton Sands, out along the cliffs and across Croyde Bay to Baggy Point, a rugged headland protected by the National Trust.
The North Devon coastline can be very exposed and is best on a calm day unless you're an experienced paddler who likes the waves. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, porpoises and seals, seabirds, and you can even see Lundy Island in the distance in clear weather. Route recomended by @supnorthdevon
Kingsbridge Estuary
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The Kingsbridge Estuary is an iconic spot for paddling, with many paddling legends, SUP schools and hire centres nearby. Start at either Kingsbridge or Salcombe and paddle with the tide, have some lunch, and then paddle back again. NB the river at Kingsbridge only has water a few hours either side of high tide, so don't get stuck in the mud!
While much of the Kingsbridge Estuary is relatively sheltered from wind and bad weather, there are still a few open areas which can make it a tough battle in certain directions. Check the weather and plan your route accordingly. Maybe instead of paddling back to the start, you could paddle from one town to the other, pack up your board and catch the bus back!! If in any doubts be sure to check out @waterborn_sup for advice, rentals and local knowledge!
St Michael’s Mount
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St Michael’s Mount is an iconic location, and on a high tide, possible to paddle around. Launch from Station Car Park in Long Rock, which has great access. It’s a pretty spot and if you can get up for sunrise it’s a really special place. Sometimes dolphins around the area when you paddle and you see a few fishing boats coming and going from Penzance and Newlyn harbours. The Mount itself is really impressive and feels really quite intimidatingly large when you look up at it from the water level. It’s cool to be able to see it from all angles as a reward for paddling around. Beware looking up that you don’t get caught out by the swell knocking you off your balance. It is very important to check the tides and wind as it can be very exposed on a windy day (often a kite surf spot!). Tides are important as rocks become exposed near to the causeway, so carefully navigate your route, sticking closer to land near the causeway is better. Also nice to know safety wise that there is coast watch keeping an eye over that bay! Route recommended by @lydclifton
This is one of my absolute 'go to' paddles in Torbay.
Start at Meadfoot (free parking on the adjacent road) and paddle to Torre Abbey Sands and back. The total return journey is about 6km so a very 'doable' paddle with tons of coastal features to see along the way.
As soon as you 'turn right' from meadfoot beach, you leave people behind; it's just you, the cliffs and the sea (with an occasional seal and dolphin). You can explore some of Torbay's most impressive geological features such as Daddyhole Plain (where legend says the Devil lived in a limestone cave) and the famous natural arch named London Bridge. Torbay is well known for its sheltered position and calm waters but as this route takes you around a small headland you do notice how the protection from the wind changes.
It is necessary to cross the harbour to get to Torre Abbey Sands so take sensible precautions and be aware of other water users. If you have enough energy when you return to Meadfoot, paddle on towards Thatchers Rock, named because it looks like a thatcher is climbing it to lay a straw roof. There is an abundance of sea birds and marine life to admire here, but be aware this is where tidal flow does start to come into play. Route recommended by @suptorbayuk
Fowey Estuary
The Fowey Estuary is a real treat for both the novice and advanced paddler. Starting from the lovely village of Golant, you can launch onto the water near the Encounter Cornwall shop to head up one of the three routes to explore the upper estuary. One of our favourites is Golant to Lerryn.
With contactless pay-parking spots by the water you can launch from one of the two slipways (donations to Golant Quay Users always welcome) and turn left. We recommend heading out 1.5 hours before the high tide, stopping in Lerryn just before and leaving no later than 45 after the high (particularly on a neap) ensuring that you have enough water for a there and back trip.
You can buy a picnic from The Fisherman's Arms in Golant, drinks and SUP snacks from Encounter Cornwall or grab yummy treats from Lerryn Village shop on arrival. Once in Lerryn there is a village green to enjoy a rest and toilets directly next to the river. With the tricky tides check out @paddlecornwallsup for local knowledge!