Offers of Paddle Boarding East Sussex

From the fashionable seafronts of Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne to the spectacular coastlines around Beachy Head, and winding rivers to peaceful lakes, East Sussex is a county with a lot to offer when it comes to waterways. Swimming, sailing and other watersports have always been popular here, but the sector has received a huge shot in the arm in recent years with the explosion in popularity of Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP.

Perhaps it’s down to the simplicity of the equipment, just a board and a paddle, perhaps it’s the speed that you can learn to do it, or perhaps it’s because it lets you walk on water, the secrets behind this sport craze aren’t hard to uncover. But East Sussex stands out as a fantastic place to try it for the first time if you’ve never stepped onto a paddleboard before, or find unique experiences if you have. Spectacular scenery, competitive prices, and just an hour away from central London, you can’t say no to live one of this adventures here.

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in East Sussex?

• Brighton and Hove: The capital of the region has a long held reputation for being a pleasure town. It’s known as London-by-the-Sea for the number of people who travel down from the capital in the summer and on weekends throughout the year to enjoy the waves, the beach, and the nightlife. In a city as image-conscious as Brighton and Hove, it’s no surprise that stylish paddleboards have found a home here. You can go sightseeing along the seafront - while avoiding the crowds, by paddling from the Palace Pier, past the ruins of the West Pier, and onto Hove’s promenade. Here, elegant crescents of Georgian houses sit behind green lawns, and colourful beach huts sit at the limits of the shingle. Hove also has a sheltered lagoon which is great for novices, and you can find pretty places for a paddle inland, for example on the River Adur which cuts through the South Downs National Park and meets the sea in Shoreham.

• Seaford: This charming seaside town is the starting point for one of the best SUP experiences in the whole of southern England. The South Downs ridge of chalk hills meets the sea to the east of the town in a series of breathtaking white cliffs, known as the Seven Sisters. There’s a popular coast path that runs along the top of them, but the only way to really see these cliffs is from the water. Early morning or late afternoon trips are advised, as the low sun sends shadows across the sisters’ pale faces. You can also take a tour of the meandering Cuckmere river which winds down a valley in the lee of the cliffs.

• Eastbourne: One of the most famous resort towns on the English Channel, Eastbourne is known for its pier, Victorian hotels on the seafront and tennis. But it’s also the location of Beachy Head, the highest chalk cliff in the British Isles. This makes it a great place for paddleboarding, in fact, you can paddle around the headland to the Birling Gap and see the Seven Sisters from the opposite side. The fact that it’s one of the sunniest places in the country is just an added bonus.

• Rye: In the east of the county, Rye sits on the confluence of 3 rivers - the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede. If that’s not enough to tempt you into organising a SUP excursion here, we can tell you that this is one of the few places in this part of the country where you can enjoy paddleboarding on rivers, lakes and the sea. Camber Sands is a sandy beach where dunes separate the sea from a series of flatwater lakes. In one day you can get to grips on a paddleboard on the sheltered waters of a lake, travel with the current down a river and catch some waves on the sea - the complete package.

• Weir Wood Reservoir: You don’t have to go as far as the English Channel to enjoy this activity. In the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Weir Wood Reservoir lies between green meadows and wooded banks. If you’re looking for a tranquil spot to get out onto the water and forget about the stress of modern life, this is the place for you.

What are the options for organising an experience?

With a sport as simple as paddleboarding, it’s possible to hire equipment on the beach and get cracking. This is great for messing about in calm waters, off Brighton beach for example, but if you want to know how to get the most out of the SUP lifestyle, we recommend that you take a lesson. A friendly instructor will help you use the board and the paddle in the most efficient way, so that you develop a technique that allows you to travel longer distances without getting tired, and give your whole body a workout. A lesson usually lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours, and you’ll spend almost all of that time on the water.

Once you know what you’re doing, you can put your skills to good use by touring the coast of East Sussex. An organised tour is the best way to visit natural wonders like the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, because your guide will know how to use the tides to your advantage, and make sure that you don’t miss a thing on the route.

Requirements to do this activity

There are no legal restrictions or requirements for licences on paddleboarding in the UK, so it’s open to everyone from watersports enthusiasts to those who are nervous about getting their feet wet. Lesson and tour providers place minimum ages on participation, usually related to the equipment that they offer, and the locations that they use. Calm waters, sheltered from winds and tides, like Hove Lagoon or Weir Wood reservoir, are suitable for young suppers - from just 8 years old. The waves and tides on the coast can present more challenges, so in order to go on an excursion to Beachy Head for example, you might have to be over 12 or 14 years old.

One thing’s for sure once you’ve tried this adventure, you’ll be hooked. Come and be baptised into this sport today!