The Best Lakes in the UK for Paddleboarding

I would like to start off by saying that these are just my opinions! I have taken into consideration a few different factors to come to a decision on which lakes are best:

• Accessibility with public transport
• Availability for water sports
• Views surrounding the lakes

Of course there are plenty of other stunning Lakes dotted all over the UK and Ireland that are well worth the journey.

Best Lakes in England

Firstly, we start in England where both our Lakes are located in Cumbria. It’s called the Lake District for a reason, where there are 16 stunning Lakes and even more bodies of water where you can enjoy a day out. However, number 1 on the list is Lake Windermere, the biggest Lake in the Lake District and surrounded by amazing mountains and views. Windermere is extremely accessible as you can get there by train from most major cities in the UK and then walk to the lake. All around the lake there are loads of different companies that provide water sports so you will be extremely spoiled for choice to find paddleboarding options. Lake Windermere can get quite choppy so if you are a beginner I would recommend sticking to quieter areas of the lake that are further away from the boats.

Why not have a go at paddleboarding in Cumbria?

Another worthwhile mention is Coniston Water. Just under a 25 minute car ride from Ambleside, this dazzling lake has much to offer, including hikes, boat hires and water sports; while this village is never short of visitors it often remains unnoticed in favour of the more popular town of Windermere.

Best Lochs in Scotland

In Scotland a lake is called a Loch (pronounced lock) as this is the old Scottish Gaelic name for lake. There are over 30,000 lochs in Scotland which may seem like a lot but these all range in size meaning they can be anything from 4km X 2km to a surface area of 71km (largest Loch in Scotland). Of course you can’t visit Scotland without going to Loch Lomond, located in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park this Loch is Scotland’s second most famous after Loch Ness and also accessible by public transport. If you would like to visit the southern part of the Loch you can take a train from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Balloch train station or if you want to visit the north of the Loch you can take a train to Tarbet. There are many sheltered areas of the loch which can allow first time paddleboarders a perfect opportunity to practice while the more experienced paddlers can take to open water.

Also accessible by public transport, I highly recommend Loch Awe. Located in the Scottish Highlands in the Council area of Argyll and Bute, Loch Awe is a stunning, more tranquil Loch quite far from any major town in Scotland. There are some paddleboard hire options around the Loch but definitely booking in advance during the busier seasons will guarantee you a chance to paddle on the loch - and even better if you have your own paddleboard. This Loch is a must see destination, rich in history.

Have a look at these other paddleboarding options in Argyll and Bute... 

Best Lakes in Wales

In Wales the largest Lake is Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid in Welsh), located in the county of Gwynedd in Northern Wales and is a freshwater lake as the water runs down from the Snowdonia mountains. This Lake is also accessible by public transport as you can get the train to Bala Lake Railway and then a bus which stops at various points along the Lake. This Lake is very tranquil and flat so is perfect for beginner paddleboarders or if you just fancy a more peaceful paddleboarding experience, meaning you can soak up the view of the beautiful mountains surrounding you in Snowdonia National Park.

Want to paddleboard in Snowdonia National Park? Then have a look at paddleboarding in Gwynedd.

The second Lake well worth visiting is Lake Vyrnwy (Llyn Efyrnwy in Welsh), with it’s dramatic scenery, this Lake was actually constructed in the 19th Century by the Liverpool Corporation to provide the city of Liverpool with safe drinking water and continues to do so until this day. Of course paddleboarding on this huge reservoir is a great option and there is plenty of history to keep you intrigued.

Best Lough in Northern Ireland

The Irish word for lake is Lough - pronounced the same as Loch. Located on the borders of Counties Antrim, Down and Armagh, Lough Neagh (pronounced Lock Nay) is the biggest freshwater Lake in Northern Ireland. This Lough is slightly more difficult to get to as there are no direct routes from Belfast however you can take the train from Belfast to Antrim and if you are willing, it is around a 30 minute walk from the train station to the closest point of the Lough. Lough Neagh is the largest Lake by surface area in the United Kingdom so there is no shortage of activities to do surrounding the Lake including visiting castle ruins and of course paddleboarding. Much like Bala Lake, this Lough is a freshwater lake and is also a very peaceful option, so great for beginners.

Looking for paddleboarding options in Northern Ireland? Then have a go in County Antrim.

Best Loughs in the Republic of Ireland

Unfortunately, my next 2 recommendations are slightly more difficult to reach by public transport but still doable. If you are willing to walk from Killarney train station, it will take you 40 minutes to get to Lough Leane which is located in County Kerry. Another relaxing spot the Lough is surrounded by mountains and forests meaning you will have a range of landscapes around you as well as many historical viewpoints and buildings to visit along the shoreline. Of course this is another great place for beginner paddleboarders due to its tranquility and is rarely choppy.

Lough Derg (or Loch Deirgeirt in Irish) is the third biggest in Ireland which flows through the 3 counties of Tipperary, Galway and Clare. Dotted all around the lake there are multiple watersports companies to fulfill all your paddleboarding aspirations.

Finally, why not try paddleboarding in County Clare?