Which paddlesport should I start with?

SUP and flat-water kayaking are the gentlest starts. Canoeing is great if you want to share a boat or carry kit. Try a few and see what fits.

Do I need to be able to swim?

You should be comfortable in water, and you always wear a buoyancy aid. Beginner sessions stay on calm, sheltered water.

On calm water with instruction, very. The instructor matches the water to your level and teaches you the basics first.

Quick-drying clothes and footwear that stays on. Wetsuits and buoyancy aids are usually provided.

How fit do I need to be?

For a gentle paddle, not very. Decent technique does most of the work, so it is less tiring than it looks.

Do I need my own equipment?

No. Boats, boards, paddles and safety kit come with a session. Most people only buy their own once they are properly hooked.

Paddlesports in Somerset and Dorset

Somerset and Dorset combine the Jurassic Coast with inland lakes, offering sailing, sea kayaking, windsurfing and paddleboarding across South West England. Learn to sail and windsurf on coastal waters and reservoirs, kayak beneath the fossil cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, and paddleboard sheltered harbours and bays. Beginner courses sit alongside trips for the more experienced, making it a versatile base for watersports.

Paddlesports is the catch-all for the lot: kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and their many cousins. They share the same simple appeal, which is getting onto water under your own steam and reaching places you cannot on foot.

Each has its own character. Kayaks are nippy and versatile. Canoes are roomy and sociable, good for kit and for sharing. SUPs are the easy, breezy option. Plenty of people dabble in several before settling on a favourite, and there is no rush to choose.

The instructors on adventuro can introduce you to whichever takes your fancy, or help you try a few. Get the basic strokes sorted early and every one of them becomes more fun and less tiring.