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Camping Sites - Rivers for Paddleboarding

bagel.rhodes

bagel.rhodes

Messages
103
Location
Watford
Vehicle
T6.1 Beach camper 150
HI All,

Looking to get some early spring camping in but also wanting to dust of the paddleboard.

Any nice camping spots in the UK that are close to rivers, south england best but will travel Up North.

Thanks

Craig
 
Watching. We had the same challenge. Even finding places to board legally was hard enough. You can’t just rock up to a lake, most have very specific rules and same for rivers - you need to be a member of the British canoe Association. So far we have found Cornwall easiest with many sites close to beaches.
 
bagel.rhodes said:
HI All,

Looking to get some early spring camping in but also wanting to dust of the paddleboard.

Any nice camping spots in the UK that are close to rivers, south england best but will travel Up North.

Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...
Plenty of New Forest campsites close to sheltered waters at Bucklers Hard for the Beulieu River and at Lymington for its named river. People wild camp on the road at Keyhaven, again sheltered water accessible at 3 hours +/- high water.
 
caravan and motor home site near Coniston . Walk down to the lake. There is another campsite closer to the lake , however when we popped through it was quite noisy
 
Try the Unicorn Inn at Hampton Loade on the River Severn, near Bridgnorth. You can camp alongside the river and launch from the bank-side. I fish there, but between 15 March and 15 June you'll have the river to yourselves, due to the Closed Season. It can flow quite fast there so you'd need to be experienced boarders.
 
dspuk said:
Watching. We had the same challenge. Even finding places to board legally was hard enough. You can’t just rock up to a lake, most have very specific rules and same for rivers - you need to be a member of the British canoe Association. So far we have found Cornwall easiest with many sites close to beaches.
Click to expand...
Membership of the BCU gives you access to some non tidal rivers, but a day pass is about £5. I’m fortunate to live on the Hamble which is tidal and open access. As an aside to paddlers make sure you wear the correct leash for the conditions
 
Bellcrew said:
Plenty of New Forest campsites close to sheltered waters at Bucklers Hard for the Beulieu River and at Lymington for its named river. People wild camp on the road at Keyhaven, again sheltered water accessible at 3 hours +/- high water.
Click to expand...
That’s on the list, you can go with the tide to Beulieu and relax in the way back. I think that’s a private section and you pay 5 £ yto get on but does look stunning.
 
SamSara said:
Membership of the BCU gives you access to some non tidal rivers, but a day pass is about £5. I’m fortunate to live on the Hamble which is tidal and open access. As an aside to paddlers make sure you wear the correct leash for the conditions
Click to expand...
Yep I’m a member, it’s relatively cheap 25 GBP and then all British waterways and rivers barring a bunch that have specific owner ship. There’s a great book about a lady who went around the UK paddle boarding, I’ve done 3 of the inner waters.https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784776033/?tag=eliteelect-21
 
SamSara said:
Membership of the BCU gives you access to some non tidal rivers, but a day pass is about £5. I’m fortunate to live on the Hamble which is tidal and open access. As an aside to paddlers make sure you wear the correct leash for the conditions
Click to expand...
TBH leash and life jacket advice is why I left the FB group for paddle boarding.
 
dspuk said:
TBH leash and life jacket advice is why I left the FB group for paddle boarding.
Click to expand...
Ooh, what was the issue? Without reigniting any arguments or wanting to trigger you I think because its migrated from surf we are still learning the best options for other situations.
 
Bookedmarked that Pitch up and Pump website. Thanks very much.
I've stayed at 2 of them : 3 Rivers in Norfolk where took a kayak and Lower Lode Tewkesbury which was the location for a VWCC meet. Both great sites.

After reading the report on the Haverfordwest SUP incident I've changed to a waist leash for any fast moving water paddles.
 

Caolasnacon Caravan & Camping Park, right on loch leven and free to paddle in scotland​

 
Watching as want to get away for a night or two with wifey and watch paddle boarders fall off ;) :D
Tried it. Blooming hard work on the core !
But want to take grandson away to be near the water
 
Hurley Riverside, on the Thames just east of Henley - nice area, some good pubs nearby.
 
If you are prepared to travel north then In the Lakes both Coniston and Ullswater have campsites with direct Lake access. You can freely access and paddle, canoe, kayak, sit on and SUP most of the Lakes from designated car car parks. You do not have to have BCU / Canoe England membership to paddle the lakes and rivers.

However, overnight or 'wild camping' is discouraged in car parks and the Lake District National Park team will move you on. The National Trust offer overnight camper van places in some on some of their properties car parks; Wasdale, Langdale, Air Force.

I would support owen_h mentioning the Haverfordfestwest SUP incident October 2021. Four paddlers died. The Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) have produced a thorough and comprehensive report on this tragedy. It is a no punches pulled and sad document to read. However, the MAIB are spot on in their recommendations regarding safety on SUP's.
 
In the Lake District, we've put our kayak on the water at Ullswater (Side Farm campsite); Coniston (Coniston Hall campsite) and Windermere (parking along west side north of Claife Viewing Station where the ferry from Bowness comes across - people seem to park up overnight along there though we didn't). As Abracadabra notes, there are several sites on the lakeside on Ullswater.
 
Probably further north than you want to venture but the Caravan Club site at Killin is brilliant for paddle boarding. Direct access on to a nice slow flowing river with Loch Tay about half a mile downstream.
 
bagel.rhodes said:
HI All,

Looking to get some early spring camping in but also wanting to dust of the paddleboard.

Any nice camping spots in the UK that are close to rivers, south england best but will travel Up North.

Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...
Tresseck campsite at Hoarwithy near Ross on Wye is great. Right by the river for paddle boarding, kayaking and fishing. Basic but lovely and laid back. Short walk to the pub.
 
after watching paul whitehouse i'd stay out of the rivers.heres me wakeboarding on the river trent,though not done it now for a few years.
to answer your question, stratford upon avon ,riverside caravan park.

not bad.JPG
 
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