England · CANOES & KAYAKS
Good canoes & kayaks tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 14 to book early, what each includes, and how they differ.
2-hour beginner sea kayak tour in Newquay with expert coaching, sit-on-top kayaks, and Smugglers Caves coastline views.
“James our instructor was amazing! Really great company, safe and knowledgeable it was an absolute pleasure spending time on the water with him!”
Paddle Devon’s English Riviera UNESCO geopark in a tandem sea kayak, spot seals, explore sea caves, fossil hunt, and toast marshmallows.
“Kieran was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly capable and funny. Interested in the local customs. Would thoroughly recommend. I never thought I would come to England to kayak, but it was great”
Giant SUP in Newquay with heated changing rooms, full wetsuit gear, wildlife spotting, and coastal caves over an easy 2-hour session.
“Professional members of staff from start to finish which made the two hours such an eye opener to the power of the sea and respect it deserves.”
Paddleboard Derwent Water in Keswick with gear included and beginner coaching. Small group, wildlife views, and 3 hours on the lake.
“Woody brought the gear and guided us through a really fun paddle experience on Derwent Water. With hurricane Agnes slowly making her way to the Lake District, Woody guided us out onto the water. The winds picked up by the end of the outing, but Woody had engineered our trajectory such that we were blown back to our starting point by the gently increasing breeze.”
Learn stand up paddle boarding on Cornwall’s Bude Canal with included gear, small-group coaching, and a calm, peaceful 2-hour ride.
“Great experience did this with my 15yr old son we both enjoyed it James the instructor was a great guy and made our experience enjoyable all the equipment was spot on and the canal was so peaceful”
Paddle the River Dart on a half-day guided canoe trip from Totnes, with safety briefing, tidal help, and tea at the midpoint.
“It was very nice and perfect from the activity level for the whole family. We saw some kingfishers and even a seal.:)Auto-translated”
Guided half-day sea kayaking from Teignmouth with included gear, a relaxed paddle, and a beach stop. Great for first-time paddlers.
“Amazing and well worth the money. Everyone enjoyed the experience and it didn’t matter if you hadn’t been Kayaking before”
Paddle a canoe on Derwent Water near Keswick in a small group. Gear and wetsuit rental included, with weather-adjusted coaching.
“We had a two hour taster session, myself and youngest daughter in a canoe and my elder daughter on a paddle board. What an absolutely fantastic experience. We had an amazing couple of hours on the water with Steve he was informative and good fun all round!”
SUP at Druridge Bay near Newcastle, with Red Paddle Co boards, wetsuit and buoyancy aid, plus guided games and photo memories.
“Brilliant instructors, and very knowledgeable and informative. I can’t thank Mark enough for being patient with me and helping me overcome my fear of water! Loved every minute of it. We will definitely be booking again, a lovely way to spend a summers morning and a great introduction to paddle boarding! Thanks again!”
Paddle board on Derwent Water from Keswick, with wetsuit, safety coaching, and beginner friendly practice near Derwent Isle.
“Paddleboarding was a fabulous way to experience the stunning beauty that surrounds Keswick. Andy also shared some interesting information about the buildings that could be seen from the water. Great fun - would definitely recommend! Thank you!”
Guided Newquay kayaking for beginners and swimmers, with wetsuits and kayaks included. Learn the basics, paddle 2 hours, see cliffs and marine life.
“Willow was such a fantastic instructor, he was very thorough with the explanation about the kayak and also the scenery. The experience once on the water was amazing I really can’t wait to do it again, even buying my own kayak. Thank you everyone you are all great. I was even late due to parking and willow waited for me. I’m so glad you did thank you willow”
A 90-minute sea kayak or SUP taster in Torbay with training, safety briefing, and a guided tour of Babbacombe Bay caves.
“Having never really kayaked we were unsure of what to expect. It was an amazing experience with a fab instructor and breath taking scenery! Our teenagers (17 and 14) loved it so much we have decided to take up kayaking as a family!”
Guided canoeing on the River Dart from Totnes, coached from the first stroke, small groups, scenic tide paddling, and photo stops.
“Really enjoyed our trip with Aiden. He looked after us excellently. We were an adult family group of 6. 2 in each kayak. Spent 3 hours paddling up and down the Dart and even had a couple of grey seals for company for part of the trip. All very relaxed and not too strenuous. Highly recommended.”
Paddleboard from Seaford toward Seven Sisters, with an instructor and boat support. Small group, English session, 75 minutes.
“Guide didn’t show up for this trip. No notification was given ahead of time so I bussed all the way from Brighton just to be disappointed by a no-show.”
By region, by ritual, and by what the weather is doing.
