Ever wished you could walk on water? It’s more possible than you might think, and you don’t need to rely on divine intervention. Stand up paddleboarding - SUP for short - is an activity that lets you take to the water on two feet and it’s as easy as a walk in the park. Paddleboards are a relative of surfboards with an emphasis on size, buoyancy and stability which mean that you can stand upright both when stationary and propelling yourself with a paddle. SUP fans often point out the health benefits of this sport - it’s a great low-impact, whole-body workout - but for us the biggest attraction is that it lets you explore some spectacular places with ease and style. And when it comes to stunning environments, you can’t do much better than the Highlands of Scotland.

Paradoxically, some of the best views of the Highlands are from the water. The rugged Scottish landscape includes rivers and lochs as well as the highest mountains in the country, and when it descends to the sea to the West and North it breaks up into fascinating formations: islands, cliffs and fjords or sea lochs. Trying to get a perspective on these amphibious landscapes from dry land can be difficult, and more traditional watercraft can be difficult to control, but paddleboards are intuitive and simple to use, and require a minimum of equipment to enjoy. What’s more, once you’re out on the water, you can enjoy the scenery in 360º, turning around with your feet rather than your neck and taking in this breathtaking part of the world from all angles.

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in the Highlands?

• Cairngorms: the Cairngorms National Park is located around the central mountain: Cairn Gorm. North of the peak, the land falls away into a deep valley where you’ll find several lochs connected by the River Spey. Loch Insh and Loch Laggan are sheltered spots for easy paddleboarding in wonderful surroundings, while the River Spey itself flows smoothly enough in some places to be suitable for SUP. The great thing about paddleboarding downstream is that you can travel further and explore more with less effort, and don’t worry - you won’t have to paddle back upstream,you’ll be picked up at the end of the route.

• Inverness: the capital of the Highlands region, Inverness sits at the intersection of multiple bodies of water - it’s the point where the River Ness and River Beauly flow out into the Moray Firth. The second two of these are popular SUP spots. The River Beauly winds its way around islands and through woodland slowly and steadily, while the Moray Firth is home to otter and dolphin populations.

• Loch Ness: just up the River Ness is Scotland’s most famous body of water, Loch Ness. It’s 23 miles long, but never more than 2 miles wide because it lies in the Great Glen, a valley that traverses Scotland from coast to coast. As well as sheltered parts of Loch Ness, there are other places in the Glen that are ideal for a SUP adventure, such as Loch Dochfour, and the Caledonian Canal - a man made waterway designed to allow navigation from one end of the Glen to the other.

• Fort William: at the western end of the Great Glen, Fort William is very close to some excellent paddleboarding places. From Loch Linnhe, a long inlet of the sea, you can see Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, and there’s another famous view from Loch Shiel - the Hogwarts Express. Well, almost. At the head of the loch, the famous Glenfinnan viaduct is an operational railway bridge and is the setting for the magical journey to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.

• Skye: the largest of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Skye attracts crowds of tourists to see the mountains, glens and landmarks including Eilean Donan Castle made famous by the film Highlander. You can escape the multitude, who are probably afraid of getting their feet wet, by paddleboarding around the jagged coast of the island, or exploring the waterways that separate it from the mainland.

• Northwest Coast: the NC500 is Scotland’s answer to Route 66, winding around the entire North of the highlands. Travelling on this road, you’ll never be far from a great SUP experience. Plockton and the Applecross peninsula, on either side of Loch Carron, are beautiful spots, and from Gairloch you can reach Longa Island, or explore the islands on Loch Maree inland. Further North is Loch Assynt, which has a striking castle and, legend has it, a resident mermaid.

• North Coast: the most remote extreme of Great Britain, the North coast is isolated and off the beaten track. But if you make the effort to reach this far flung coast you’ll be rewarded with some of the best paddleboarding around. Adventures start in the towns of Thurso and Tongue (taking its name from the shape of the peninsula where it’s located) and will take you into the North sea where you might catch a glimpse of seals, walruses or even orca, and enjoy breathtaking views back to the land.

Who can do this activity?

It doesn’t take much to use a paddleboard. They’re specially designed to be stable and remain upright even on moving water, and the paddling technique isn’t hard to learn. All of that means that you can get out onto the water and start exploring the Highlands in no time whether you’ve been doing watersports for years or you’re an absolute beginner. Having said that, some bodies of water are better for inexperienced paddlers because they are calmer - we recommend that you stay near the shore, or choose a lake, for your first time.

Paddleboards support people of all shapes and sizes, so the whole family can get involved in a SUP experience. Even 6 year olds can have a go on the more sheltered lochs around the highlands, whereas sea, or on larger lochs is better suited to older children. Everyone older than 12 years old should be able to handle gentle waves and swells of the Scottish coast, but some longer experiences are reserved for adults.

How long does this experience last?

- When it comes to organising your paddleboarding trip, there are two options. The first is to take an organised trip or lesson with a guide, which can last as little as 1 hour. Half day trips are another popular option, but if you want to take it really seriously, and see whole swathes of the highlands from the water, you can go for a full day or even several days. Imagine traversing the wild Northwest coast of Scotland by paddleboard, exploring bays, beaches and islands with the guidance of your instructor and spending the nights in accommodation near the ocean! We can’t think of anything better.

- The other option is to hire paddleboards and take them where you want to go. This can usually be organised by a number of half days, and if you know what you’re doing it’s the option that will give you the most freedom to explore.

This aquatic adventure is just a couple of clicks away, let’s make it happen today!