Paddleboarding – the best way to navigate Bristol’s Floating Harbour

Any frequent visitor to Bristol’s harbourside will have seen people standing on large boards on the Floating Harbour, making long paddle strokes through the water and looking like they don’t have a care in the world.

If you’ve wondered whether you can have your own watery adventures, SUP Bristol has the answer. They provide stand-up paddleboarding adventures through Bristol’s waterways, offering anyone the chance to take part in a tranquil pastime which is becoming increasingly popular across the world.

In partnership with inflatable stand-up paddleboard manufacturers Red Paddle Co, SUP Bristol have introduced a new route which takes you from Temple Meads all the way to Hotwells.

Bristol24/7 reporter Zoe Crowther gets to grips with her stand-up paddleboard

With both excitement and trepidation, I went along to try it out. Our instructor and guide for the day was the wonderful Kate Ingham, who set up SUP Bristol with her partner Tim Trew five years ago, with the aim of introducing people to this easy and accessible water sport.

The session began with an introduction in how to handle the boards and a safety briefing which can pretty much be summarised as: “If you think you’re going to fall, embrace it and make a splash.”

We were reassured that Red’s boards are as sturdy and stable as they come, and had even had trucks run over them to put them to the test.

Stand-up paddleboarding is one of the best ways to see the sights of the Floating Harbour

It was then time to take to the water. Although the introduction was short, I quickly realised just how accessible this sport is. You start off kneeling on the board, using paddle strokes on both sides to direct yourself and move forwards.

When I eventually found the courage to stand up, I brought a new meaning to jelly legs.

After a few minutes, however, I eased into it and found my balance. With the sun shining it turned out to be an incredibly relaxing experience, with barely any physical effort required for the majority of the trip.

There were a few moments when I found myself teetering on the edge of my board, bracing myself for a plunge into the deep. You can feel the expectant gaze of onlookers on dry land who are probably waiting – and hoping – that you’re going to topple into the water.

If you feel particularly confident, you can swap to a more streamlined board to go faster, and we even had a brief and wobbly yoga session on our boards to stretch out any aches and pains at the end of the day.

“If you think you’re going to fall, embrace it and make a splash.”

The easy-going nature of the sport enables you to really take in your surroundings and appreciate the beauty of the harbourside. As we made our way serenely along the docks, Kate demonstrated her fantastic knowledge of the area, sharing anecdotes and facts about the landmarks we came across.

We paddled past the SS Great Britain, as well as many other beautiful and vintage boats, including the Mayflower, which may be the oldest surviving tugboat in the world, and the fireboat Pyronaut which was used for decades to tackle fires in the city being small enough to slip underneath the bridges without needing them to swing.

While these sights can be seen just as easily from the land, there was something particularly special about appreciating them while on the water yourself. I felt at one with the Floating Harbour and its past.

Free from the obstructions of road traffic and tall buildings, paddleboarding allows for a view of Bristol’s unique geography of interconnected waterways, as well as the juxtaposition of industrial modernity with the seaside-esque multicoloured houses of Cliftonwood.

Zoe becoming a paddleboard pro by the end of her day on the water

My favourite moments were those which offered a window into the urban wildlife you never usually get to see. Swans and geese rule the roost and occasionally got a bit too close for comfort. As we went past, a large cormorant fanned its wings while sitting on the bow of a boat, completely comfortable with our presence.

Even otters have been seen on a recent paddleboarding trip, Kate told us. Despite the water in the docks looking somewhat brown and dirty, otter sightings are proof of high quality water teeming with local wildlife.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the city or a life-long Bristol resident, stand-up paddleboarding gives you the rare opportunity to experience two worlds in harmony: a journey through a buzzing urban space and a tranquil experience, which brings you closer to nature and further away from everyday anxieties.

To book your adventure with SUP Bristol, visit www.supbristol.com

A rest at the Harbour Inlet

All photos by Joseph Branston

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