Did you know that the only coastal national park in the British Isles is in southwest Wales? The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which was founded in 1952, protects the cliffs and coves, bays and estuaries, and inland areas of this beautiful part of the world. We could tell why this place was chosen to become a national park, but the best way to truly understand it is to come here for yourself and start exploring. And what’s the best way to get around the coastal waters and inland waterways? Paddleboarding is the answer.

A paddleboard, also known as a stand up paddleboard or SUP, is like a surfboard but bigger and thicker. This makes it much more buoyant and stable, and it acts a bit like a floating platform that you can step onto at the water's edge and propel across the surface with a long paddle. The equipment is simple, the technique is intuitive and the way that it opens up stunning scenery to you is unique. All of this has converted it into one of the most in demand outdoor activities around and led to the establishment of schools, guides and rental services around the country. But why try this sport just anywhere when you can experience it in the most precious coastline in the UK, right here?

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in Pembrokeshire?

• Saundersfoot and Tenby: These towns are popular seaside resorts whose sandy beaches fill up with holidaymakers in the summer. You can escape the families, sunbathers and seafront amusements by stepping onto a paddleboard and heading out to sea. The waters here are sheltered from Atlantic swells, and the towns are small enough that you don’t have to go far before you leave them behind and reach the wild coastline around Monkstone Headland.

• South Coast: There are tours that leave from Saundersfoot and Tenby and take you to some of the national park’s beauty spots. Some of the most impressive are the caves in the headland that separates Stackpole Quay and Barafundle Bay, and the natural rock arch, known as Green Bridge.

• Dale: This is a small town near the popular surfing beach of Marloe Sands and near the islands of Skomer and Skokholm. You can take to the waters here and get unparalleled views out to sea and back to the shore, or, if you prefer, you can try the calm waters of Milford Haven, a sheltered inlet of the sea.

• St David’s: Thanks to its cathedral, this small settlement is technically a city. There are numerous launch points for a journey, most of them old fisherman’s slipways, and so much to explore. Although St David’s is at the end of a peninsula that juts out into the Celtic Sea, conditions are usualñy excellent for paddleboarding due to the presence of Ramsay island which protects the area from waves and wind.

• North Coast: One of the most popular destinations for this sport in the whole of Wales is Aberreidy, where an old quarry at the foot of a cliff has been flooded by sea water and is known locally as the Blue Lagoon. There are other fascinating sights that can be reached on trips from Fishguard harbour.

• Rivers: It’s not just the coast that’s fantastic for SUP. Several rivers, in particular the Teifi and the Cleddau, wind their way through the landscape of the interior that let you experience paddleboarding with the help of a current. You’ll be carried between wooded banks, around wide meanders and through tiny villages deep in the countryside on a journey that’s straight out of a fantasy novel.

Options for organising this experience

- The beautiful beaches, stunning coastlines and a variety of wildlife, including seabirds and seals as well as dolphins and basking sharks that you can see in Pembrokeshire are enough to satisfy your wildest desire, and the best way to see them is on a SUP tour. These tours usually take 2 to 3 hours, and involve paddling for most of that time. If you haven’t tried it before, you’ll probably want to take a lesson first to get the hang of it. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can pick it up, and in just an hour or two you’ll have the confidence to stand up straight and be able to get moving. It’s also possible to rent paddleboards and other equipment at various places around the county.

- But the fun doesn’t have to stop with paddling. This activity allows you to enjoy the water in so many ways. You can have a wild ride on a mega SUP - a huge board that can fit 10 kids, or about 8 adults, and be paddled around the water. Or why not enjoy coasteering with the help of a board for a grand day out? This sport of exploring rocky shorelines and diving into the ocean was pioneered here in Pembrokeshire, and paddleboarding can help you reach the best coves, caves and cliffs.

Requirements to do this activity

It doesn’t matter if you’re a watersports expert or a complete novice, everyone can get a good time out of this activity. Is so simple, it could be described as child’s play - literally. In some locations, where there’s equipment of the right size, even children who are 6 years old can enjoy this sport. They’ll have to be a little older to join guided tours, but if you start them early, they’ll be at the head of the group when they grow up. And it isn’t only a great family activity, it’s super fun to enjoy with your friends too. In fact, it’s becoming a popular choice for stag and hen dos, although the truth is that you don’t need a special occasion to treat yourself to this sport.

The opportunity to paddle through the sea in a national park is probably not what you’d expect to find in Wales. That just shows that a chance like this doesn’t come around often - so make sure you take it!