Standup Paddleboarding on the Wye Valley

Last updated: 23 June 2023

The Wye Valley in Wales seemed like the perfect opportunity to try my hand at standup paddleboarding. I’ve seen the rise of it over the years, I’ve encountered many friends who snap selfies and calmly display their balance akin to a mountain goat. I even have a friend who does SUP Yoga!

So how hard can it really be?

Where is the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean?

A mere 3 hours drive from London lay the River Wye. The fifth longest river in the UK stretching 215km. The Wye Valley is home to most dramatic and scenic landscapes in Britain.

The area is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), recognising and preserving the area’s distinctive qualities and it’s the only protected landscape to straddle the border between England and Wales.

Why Visit Wye Valley?

There’s plenty to keep you busy in Wye Valley and Forest of Dean.  Perfect for the city slicker wanting to reconnect with nature there is a range of outdoor activities from high ropes, mountain biking, climbing, abseiling and more.

For water babies such as myself, there’s kayaking, canoeing and standup paddleboarding, more commonly known as SUP.

Why Standup Paddleboarding?

I’ve seen the rise of popularity of stand up paddleboarding in recent years. I was curious to try it for myself, with no waves or a fast current to knock me down, the calm stillness of River Wye seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a go.  

At 6ft tall, and a relatively unfit plus-sized woman I didn’t hold much hope that I’d be able to stabilise on a paddleboard let alone kneel or stand for any length of time on my first attempt. From the outset I had convinced myself that my fate was sealed, I was going to surely fall in. Apparently standup paddleboarding is like riding a bike in that the more you move the steadier it becomes – and keeping the paddle in the water helps keep your balance. All of this is much easier said than done!

Almost immediately I noticed how much effort is needed from the entire body. Standup Paddleboarding is a full body workout requiring an immense amount of core and glute strength to remain stable (and dry!)

There are no real prerequisites to give SUP a go, it helps if you’re nimble and if you can swim, but ultimately, it’s having a sense of adventure and a wee bit of courage is all you need to get you going.

Instructor Paul and Liz from Inspire2Adventure run a smooth operation. As always, safety first, life vests on and a quick lesson about the inflatable SUPs before hitting the water. They offer the choice between a single SUP for individual use, and there’s Monty, a giant Mega SUP which holds up to 8 people.  – In hindsight, I probably should have opted for the more stable Monty board to start with, to find my sea legs but instead I dove into the challenge jumping straight onto a single.

Once we hit the water, I wobbled, I wobbled A LOT. But I made it. I found Paul to be incredibly patient and with some detailed instructions of how and where to place my weight, I was kneeling almost instantly.

And then this happened…

Video Source

I’m so classy!

Wye Valley is just one of a number of places you can SUP in the UK. North Wales, along the Thames, Bath and Northumberland are all viable options for a weekend of SUP adventure

My 9 Lessons for First Time Standup Paddleboarding

1. Pack Spare Clothes

Pack a spare of everything! From shoes to a hat and everything in between.  If you fall in, none of you will stay dry.

2. What to wear

What to wear depends on the weather and air and water temperature. In Summer you can generally were a swimsuit and rashie (rash guard) which should provide you with some sun protection.

In the UK, it’s generally not that warm, so dress for colder conditions. If you have it, a wetsuit is a good start. I don’t have one in the UK so I made do with some yoga pants and a t-shirt. Other things to consider in cooler months are booties and gloves.

3. Mind the Sun

Even on a cloudy overcast day, you can easily get scorched on the water. With the suns rays reflecting off the water, they are bound to hit you, so be sun-smart and use sun protection. Waterproof suncream and wear a hat, long sleeves t-shirt, and sunglasses are a good idea – remembering if your sunnies fall off they’ll sink like a rock.

One thing seemed very clear, If you stay dry, you’ll stay warm

4. Use a Leash

Known as an ankle strap to many of my surfing Aussie friends, this device keeps you attached to your paddleboard. Should you fall off this stops your paddleboard floating down the river away from you.

5. Paddling with your core

As I said before, SUP is a full body workout. So conserve your energy and engage your core for the most effective stroke. Avoid standing tall and just using your arms, you’ll tire in no time.

6. Look Up!

Learn from my mistakes, don’t look down.

The natural temptation is to look down and watch the water lapping at your feet, praying you won’t fall in.  For the best stability, keep your head up and look to the horizon, keep your knees soft and your body weight over your toes

7. Stay out of the way

It’s rare that you’ll have the body of water to yourself. For our experience we shared the River Wye with some rowers and the odd swan. Be mindful of other water users and, especially when you’re learning to SUP, give yourself enough room to practice paddle and, should you need it, fall in.

8. Ride waves you can handle

I found standup paddleboarding more challenging than I anticipated. So it helps to know your limits. A lake with still water or rough waves, whatever your abilities, ensure you are doing it for fun and in the right conditions for your skill level. For me, I found the still calm river very challenging on my first time.

9. Watch the Weather

Growing up on the beach this was second nature for us but I realise that may not be the case for everyone.  Weather and wind conditions can change suddenly, so if you’re paddleboarding on open water, it’s always important to know the weather conditions and any possible changes headed your way. A blustery wind change, can send you flying off your board in no time at all.

Final Thoughts

There is so much to enjoy from a visit to the Wye Valley, one of the most scenic places in the UK and with just so much on offer for everyone to enjoy – from couples to families to solo adventurers.

And it’s the perfect place to go Standup Paddleboarding whether you’re a seasoned pro or going for your very first time. Not only is the water calm but the scenery in the Wye Valley is simple beautiful. Go on, you’re going to love it!