SUP

6 places to paddle in Essex: SUP, kayaking and canoeing

by eola

26 May, 2021

Essex is a brilliant county for paddling, with sheltered creeks and estuaries on the coast and quiet rivers inland, all within easy reach of London. Whether you want to learn to paddleboard, hire a kayak for an hour or join a club, here are six of the best places to paddle in Essex, and what to book at each.

A group of paddleboarders on calm, tree-lined water in Essex

Mersea Island

Mersea Island Watersports teaches from the western side of Mersea, where sheltered water makes an ideal place to learn and the nearby estuary gives windsurfers, sailors and wing foilers room to play. It's an AALA-accredited centre and a BSUPA-approved provider, offering paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. With kids' clubs, school-holiday sessions and social paddles on the programme, it's a great all-round day out for families.

New to SUP? The two-hour Learn to SUP group lesson follows the BSUPA Ready to Ride course and covers weather, tides and self-rescue as well as technique. You can also join a Guided Kayak Adventure through the island's creeks and hidden coves, book a windsurfing lesson, or rent a paddleboard if you're a competent paddler.

Windsurfer learning on sheltered water on the Essex coast

Dovercourt, Harwich

Dovercourt Boating Lake, run by the team behind Clacton Kayaks, sits on Lower Marine Parade with the sea right next door. The safe, enclosed lake is perfect for a first go: hire a paddleboard or a kayak by the hour, or book a pedalo for a gentler outing. Confident paddlers can take their kit out to the sea after a quick check with the team.

There are instructor-led adult paddleboard lessons and children's paddleboard lessons for ages 7 and up. For something more adventurous, book a guided Kayak/SUP River Tour on the wildlife-rich River Stour.

Kayakers on a quiet, tree-lined stretch of the River Stour

Source: Clacton Kayaks

Paper Mill Lock, River Chelmer

SUPsect, the Stand-Up Paddle South Essex Club, teaches at Paper Mill Lock in Little Baddow, on the River Chelmer. Its two-hour Learn to SUP public lesson starts from the absolute basics and follows the BSUPA Ready to Ride course, and there's a family SUP lesson for parents and kids (ideally aged 10 and over).

Once you've learned, SUPsect's regular free SUP Club sessions, litter-picks and trips are a great way to keep paddling with a friendly local crowd.

Paddleboarder kneeling on a board on a calm, tree-lined river

Trifarm, near Chelmsford

Maldon-based Frangipani SUP is a BSUPA-recognised school led by coach Anni Ridsdill Smith, who coaches on the calm swimming lake at Trifarm, just northeast of Chelmsford. It's the place to go if you can already paddle and want to improve: try 1-2-1 SUP Confidence Coaching, or get a taste of racing on the BSUPA Ready to Race Course. Keen paddlers can join the friendly Challenge and Race Team, and Frangipani also coaches online.

Paddleboarders on the lake at Trifarm at sunset

Source: Frangipani SUP

Sandford Mill, Chelmsford

Essex Slalom Squad is a family-oriented canoe and kayak club on the River Chelmer by the Sandford Mill Museum, in east Chelmsford. Members train on the river and in the pool, with slalom, touring, open canoeing, white water and sea kayaking all on the calendar. Club sessions are for members, but new paddlers can start with a Women Only Introduction to paddlesport, a course for women who are new to paddling or want to improve.

Young paddlers lined up in colourful kayaks on the River Chelmer

Source: Essex Slalom Squad

River Stort, near Harlow

The River Stort winds along the Essex and Hertfordshire border, and Whoosh Explore paddles it from Kecksys Farm Marina between Harlow and Sawbridgeworth. Book a Family Paddling session in easy-to-paddle canoes and kayaks, a Taster Canoe Session, or the Pub Paddle in Canoes with a stop at a thatched pub. Experienced paddlers can hire a canoe and explore at their own pace. The club also runs trips further afield, including paddles on the River Stour between Sudbury and Cattawade.

Kayakers on the River Stort on a sunny evening

Source: Whoosh Explore

Tips before you go

Mind the tide on the coast. Essex creeks and estuaries can drain to mud at low tide, and the tide affects where and when you can paddle. On the coast, stick with a centre or guided trip until you know the water.

Start somewhere sheltered. Lakes like Dovercourt and Trifarm, and the River Chelmer and River Stort, are calm, easy places to learn.

Get a Ready to Ride certificate. The BSUPA Ready to Ride lessons at Mersea Island Watersports and SUPsect give you the skills, and the certificate, to go paddling on your own.

Dress for the weather. Wear quick-dry layers or a wetsuit and bring a change of clothes. Buoyancy aids are usually provided, but check when you book.

Looking for more? See our guides to stand-up paddleboarding near London and kayaking near London, or head north for places to paddle in Norfolk. You can also explore more things to do in Essex on eola.

Run a watersports centre or paddling club? eola is a booking system that helps instructors and water centres sell their activities online and spend less time on admin. Book a free demo to see how it works.

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