Best places to paddleboard in Hampshire

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Our top 3 are featured below!

Langstone & Hayling Island

Langstone and Hayling Island offer some brilliant paddle boarding locations with its enclosed waters means the water is usually calm enough for a peaceful paddleboard.

Launch location 1 – Broadmarsh Slipway

🌳🌊 This location is easy to get to and launch from as the slipway is in the car park. The slipway opens out onto Langstone harbour and down to Hayling Island. A scenic route with enclosed tidal waters means a paddle with big views.

🅿️ Parking – next to the slipway allowing for easy water access. Parking details here

Launch location 2 – The Ship Inn

🌊 A peaceful tidal location at the top of Hayling Island, allows for an idyllic paddle down the coast of the island. Heading South East will take you dow past Thorney Island down to the botom of the island.

🌳🌊🚂 Heading out South West will take you past the old Hayling Railway Viaduct, built 1867. It carried goods and passengers to the mainland, it had to be closed in 1963 due to extensive repairs that were too expensive. Now it sticks out from the water, especially at low tide. Carrying on further down the island, you will pass Hayling Island Nature Reserve, the Billy Trail, and Portsmouth to your right. You will eventually make it to the Ferry Boat Inn if you continue to the bottom of the island.

🍺☕ This launch location means you can reward yourself with a trip to the Ship Inn or the Royal Oak pub afterwards, or a stop in the Ferry Boat Inn during your paddle.

🅿️ Parking – at the Ship Inn car park

Launch location 3 – Hayling Island Beaches

🏖️ Great tidal paddleboarding spots from Ferry Road to West Beach to Sandy point.

🍺☕🍰 There are many food and beverage options available with the Ferry Boat Inn, Inn on the Beach, John’s Cafe, and a selection of other choices along the seafront.

🅿️ Parking – Ferry Road and West Beach, there are also various car parks along the beach

⚠️ You will want to check the tide times and weather for this one and ensure it is high tide and calm waters. Check out the RNLI website for safety tips for being on the water and on paddleboards too.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth offers some tidal locations, which, despite being more of a workout, still offer some amazing scenery from the water.

Launch location 1 – Ferry Road Beach

🏖️ This location is similar to the ones on Hayling Island as it is the other side of the ferry route. So you expect tidal sea waters heading inland to calmer water to the North or The Solent to the South which will be choppier.

🅿️ Parking – behind the beach.

Launch location 2 – Southsea Beach

🏖️ Another great beach paddleboard launch spot offering views of Portsmouth from the water. This launch location can be ideal when the water is calm as you have an amazing view of Southsea Pier, built from 1875-1878, and Portsmouth from the coastline.

🏰 If you head West along the coastline you find Southsea Castle, which offers an amazing view from the water.

☕🍰 Southsea Beach Cafe and Coffee Cup Eastney are both on Southsea beach if you fancy any food and beverages.

🅿️ Parking – here and along Eastney Esplanade and Clarence Esplanade (on road parking)

One of our trips to Southsea Beach Cafe

Portchester & Fareham Creek

Check out our trip from Portchester up Fareham Creek and back

🏞️🌊☕ 🏰 Launching from the recreation ground car park, you have the options of heading left onto the open water towards Portchester Castle and Port Solent, this is the best option in terms of scenery with the castle overlooking the water. If you head past the castle there is a great cafe with views across the lake, The Crate Trafalgar, you can moor your board up and head into the cafe. Alternatively, there is the Salt Cafe near the launch location. This spot overlooks the tidal waters which opens out on to Portsmouth harbour. They have a pontoon area right by the water overlooking the views. Their outdoor terrace area is also great for dog walkers to enjoy.

🌳🌊☕ Or you can head right and paddle up Fareham Creek. A nice paddle passing Cams Hall Estate mainly home to a scenic golf course and brilliant park run on Saturdays. A 3.5k paddle one way. If you stop off at Fareham Slipway there is another great looking café, Tides Coffee Shop, where you can get a coffee and enjoy the view.

🅿️ Parking – Wicor recreation ground – 106 Cranleigh Rd, Portchester, Fareham PO16 9BY

Gosport – Haslar Lake & Stokes Bay

Launch location 1 – Haslar Lake

🌳🌊 Haslar Marina Public Slipway allows for a peaceful paddle around Haslar Lake with a view of Portsmouth in the distance. If you are a beginner, then this is an ideal paddle as it is a short distance which will allow for paddle practice without the worry of a long stretch of waterway ahead or large boats.

🅿️ Parking – Haslar Marina Car Park

Launch location 2 – Stoke’s Bay

🏖️ A tidal beach launch point which means your paddleboard here will depend on the tide times and weather. High tide and calm weather can make for a calm paddleboard with some incredible views of the coastline.

🐟🍷☕🍰 If you fancy some food and beverages then Pebbles Fish & Wine Bar is just behind the beach or Bayside Cabin which is futher down the beach to the West.

🅿️ Parking – Pebble Beach Car Park, Gilkicker Car Park, Alverbank East Car Park, Alverbank West Car Park, No. 2 Battery West Car Park

Lee-On-The-Solent

🏖️ Lee On The Solent beach, a lovely beach paddleboarding spot stretching out across the solent, with Portsmouth to the East and Hill Head to the West. For this spot, make sure you check tide times and wind conditions which can change the stillness of the water making it choppier.

☕🍰There are plenty of food and beverage opportunities along the seafront to enjoy.

🅿️ Parking – Elmore Car Park, Marine Parade E (on road, pay & display), Beach Road Car Park, Lee on the solent car park, Marine Parade Car Park, Marine Parade W (on road, pay & display), Monks Hill Car Park, Salterns Parking

Hill Head Beach and Titchfield Haven Beach

🏖️🦆 Great beach location for a paddleboard, these beaches are backed by Titchfield Nature Reserve, a lovely wildlife spot. Heading East will take you towards Lee On The Solent and West will take you towards the mouth of the River Hamble.

🅿️ Parking – Hove-To Car Park, Cliff Road car park

River Hamble

Check out one of our paddles down the river

The River Hamble offers a diverse selection of places to launch, you will have to keep an eye on the tide however, as when launching from locations upriver, you will want a high tide due to the river being very shallow upriver.

🌳🌊 This is a very quiet and ideal river to paddle on, especially for beginners. With its calm waters, small watercraft, and amazing scenery. There are many brilliant places to launch from:

Launch option 1 – Botley Slipway

🍺☕🍰You can either head left, up river, and enjoy a drink while staying on your board as they deliver it to you from over the wall at the Hidden Tap. Alternatively, there is Deveroast (our visit), a nice local coffee shop. If you do head upriver, we recommend high tide as this can become very shallow.

🍺 Or you can head down river past the turning for the Horse and Jockey on your left hand side, if heading to this pub make sure it is high tide as the creek you will paddle up gets very shallow during low tide. They have access to the water and paddleboard storage.

🌳🌊🍺 If you continue towards Swanwick, you will pass the next selections of launch locations, along this route you will pass many trees, fields, and marinas, an ideal paddle. If you continue down the river past the Jolly Sailor, and down to Warsash at the mouth of the River.

This is a long and very scenic and peaceful paddle down the length of the river, ideal for all levels, especially beginners wanting to try a longer paddle.

🅿️ Parking – car park in Botley.

Launch option 2 – Burridge Recreation Ground

🌳🌊 If heading up river, recommended tide is high. If heading down river, for the most scenic view, you will want medium to high tide. The same route as launching from Botley, but this time launching is further down on a small mud beach.

🌊🍺 Down river is an equally scenic and ideal paddle past the Jolly Sailor, you can moor up at their pontoon where they have paddleboard storage for while you visit the pub. Heading down river will bring you to the mouth of the river at Warsash.

🅿️ Parking – Burridge Village Hall Car Park, this is a short walk down to the river.

Launch option 3 – River Hamble Country Park Pontoon

🌳🌊☕ A perfect spot to set off, with the choice of up river or down. Both involve a pub! This is ideal if you are setting off from the western side of the river. The same route as launching from the previous 2 locations, but this time launching is from further down the river off River Hamble Pontoon, take care when getting onto your board off the pontoon. You may even spot the cows in the field opposite! Recommended is high tide, it is easiest to set off from and it looks the best. The car park is a short walk away from the pontoon. The Barn cafe is located in the car park if you fancy some food and beverages.

Options of heading up or down river, the same as Burridge Recreation Ground.

🅿️ Parking – River Hamble Country Park car park

Launch option 4 – Swanwick Shore Car Park

🌳🌊 Another perfect spot to paddleboard at any level of experience, recommended high tide as there are lots of small side streams to explore as well as the main river, making sure to respect the boats around you as well. To find these, head down river towards the west side of the river. Heading off to the right will take upriver and left (ahead of you) will take you down river. Passing the Premier Universal Marina and Boatyard, Holly Hill Woodland Park, and The Rising Sun pub near the mouth of the river.

🅿️ Parking – Swanwick Shore Car Park

Launch option 5 – Hamble Marina Slipway

🌊☕🍺 This spot in Hamble allows for access to the river near its mouth so if entering from this launch location, keep this in mind. With plenty of cafes, pubs, and car parks all with nice views, makes this an excellent spot to paddle with the option of heading up river or down river to the mouth and into the Solent.

🅿️ Parking – Foreshore Car Park

Launch option 6 – Warsash Solent Way Slipway

🌊🍺 This is another location at the mouth of the river, however this one along the east bank of the river. You can head up river or down and out onto the Solent towards Hook with Warsash Local Nature Reserve. Keep in mind this is open water so extra care should be taken. This slipway being next to the Rising Sun means there is the option of food and beverages before or after your paddle.

🅿️ Parking – Shore Road Car Park

Basingstoke Canal

Here’s our trip down the canal

🌳🌊 Launching from Barley Mow Slipway, there is a small fee for launching onto this Canal, which can be done in person. There are several launch points across the 32 mile stretch of Canal, however these are our favourite and most recommended. We have included a google maps screenshot of two of our favourite spots!

🅿️ Parking – Barley Mow Slipway Car Park and Colt Hill Car Park. Both free parking and easy to launch. We like the Barley Mow and launching left, offering very pretty views of the canal.

Info on Basingstoke Canal

River Itchen, Southampton – Tidal

A trip down river

🌳🌊 Riverside park is the tidal side to the river, which can allow for a nice paddle down to the Itchen Bridge, this is as far as you can paddle down river as beyond this point, it is Southampton Docks. You will paddle past Riverside Park and a selection of waterside homes and flat. An ideal paddleboard if you live or are staying in Southampton.

☕🍰 If you want food and beverages then Woodmill Coffee Kitchen is a great cafe spot to head to before or after your paddle.

🅿️ Parking – Riverside Park Car Park and you get straight on the water heading down river which is the tidal side of the river.

River Itchen, Southampton – Non-tidal

Check out our trip up the river

🌳🌊🪿 The non tidal side up the River Itchen towards The White Swan pub. Lots of geese and ducks to be seen on this route. This route ends once you are next to the A27, this is a very peaceful paddleboard upriver, especially in the spring/summer evenings.

☕🍰 If you want food and beverages then Woodmill Coffee Kitchen is a great cafe spot to head to before or after your paddle.

🅿️ Parking – Riverside Park Car Park.

Lepe Beach

Check out our Lepe beach paddle

🌳🏖️🏰 For paddleboarding, we recommend launching from the west side of the beach by west car park as this is a much quieter spot with less people and plenty of space. However you can launch from anywhere along the beach, this is just our favourite spot. Heading left will take you towards Calshot Castle if you fancy a longer paddle and heading right will take you towards Beaulieu River. With great views of tree lines and be beaches this a peaceful paddle in calm conditions.

☕🍰 Heading left down the beach will bring you to The Lookout cafe, a great food and beverage opportunity.

🅿️ Parking – Lepe Country Park (Western Car Park)

Beaulieu River

Our trip along the river

🌳 Beaulieu river has one launch point only for bringing your own SUP, kayak or canoe. You cannot launch from anywhere else. It’s by the marina and Bucklers Hard. You book a launch time via the website, pay a small fee per vessel which includes a car parking spot and launch via the slipway.

🌳🌊🪿🦌 The Beaulieu River is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to a remarkable variety of wildlife from geese to seals. There is a handy guide on their website with info on the route from the slipway down to Beaulieu village which took us around an hour and a bit at a leisurely pace for the 4km one way. On the peaceful route we enjoyed the sun slowly rising over the calm water, a variety of birds including geese flying in formation overhead, some young deer foraging by the riverside and some impressive waterside houses.

Do be aware of the tide times as the slipway dries out at low water, they mention to not use 2 hours either side of low water, as it drops off steeply. Tide times on their website so book a session at high tide! The slipway is located in their boat park.

🦭 If you head down to the opening of the river to the solent you may see the seals that like to relax on the banks…and annoy boaters by sleeping and going to the loo on their small dinghy’s.

🍺 Thanks to the slipway and car park location, the Yachtsman’s bar is nearby to fuel yourself pre or post paddle.

🅿️ Parking – Buckler’s Hard Yacht Marina

All the official info, guides, tide times and booking via their website here – https://www.beaulieuriver.co.uk/vis…/slipways-launch-fees/

Lymington River

Our sunny afternoon kayaking the river

Launching options from Town Quay Public Slipway and Bath Road Public Slipway.

🌳🌊 You can launch right from the slipway at townquay and follow the river out just past the sea water swimming bath area, it’s a pretty busy waterway with the yachts and huge Wightlink ferry heading in and out so certainly a paddle where you have to keep your wits about and be safe. We did this on rented kayaks, however it can also be done on paddleboards.

☕🍰🍺 Lymington offers a wide range of pubs and cafes, all making this another ideal paddleboarding spot.

🅿️ Parking – Town Quay Car Park and Bath Road Car Park

Keyhaven Lake, Hawker’s Lake & Mount Lake

🌊🏰 Fancy a paddleboard adventure out to Hurst Castle? Launching from Keyhaven Slipway which is located next to the river wardens office, you will be able to paddle out to the castle.

⛴️ The Hurst Castle Ferry has its route from the harbour to the castle so bare this in mind when setting off. Very scenic marshy views to be scene on this open water paddle, so take caution when paddling out to the castle.

🍺 In need of food and beverages before or after your paddle? The Gun Inn is located near the car park.

🅿️ Parking – Keyhaven Amenity Car Park

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