Notes On Stand Up Paddleboarding In The Lake District

It’s early March. It’s cold. There’s snow on the hill tops.

Sounds like the perfect time to go stand up paddleboarding in the Lake District, right?

Right.

In fact, it’s one of the best outdoor activities I’ve done in a long time.

When I stayed at Another Place, The Lake, stand up paddleboarding on Ullswater was one of the top things I was looking forward to. Getting onto Ullswater, SUPing in the Lake District with the mountains behind me, and the fresh air in my hair? YES PLEASE.

It was lush.

We changed into our wetsuits at the hotel, walked down to The Sheep Shed, and met Adrian, the man behind Ullswater Paddleboarding.

Stand Up Paddleboarding In The Lake District

Our lesson started off on land where we learned about the boards, how to paddle, and how to stand on the board. Before we knew it, we were out on the water ready for our big Ullswater SUP adventure.

Now, I’ve been lucky enough to paddleboard in some beautiful places. Ibiza and North Carolina were sundrenched, I was relaxing in my bikini and I had saltwater in my hair. And it was warm. Ullswater was a little different. I had a thick wetsuit on, the water was next level cold, and there was no sun.

But, it wasn’t any less beautiful.

Being able to make my way around the shoreline of this beautiful place was just magical. It also gave me a real sense of just how big those hills are surrounding Ullswater. I mean, I know they’re big but when you’re on a paddleboard on a huge lake, you do feel kind of tiny.

Trying Out Some Stand Up Paddleboarding Tricks

About half way round, we paddleboarded on our knees. Then we’d hopped onto our feet. Then it was time to try a nifty little trick.

You see to turn your board, you can stick your paddle at the back of the board which pushes you around. To do it more efficiently though, you shuffle your feet to the back of your board so the nose tips slightly out of the water and then use your paddle. It’s quicker, but it takes a lot of balance.

I had my first go, and was feeling pretty smug that I’d got my board half way around without losing my balance. But then the board wobbled, I tried to make it steady but I failed and spectacularly crashed into the water with the girliest scream I could summon.

I honestly hadn’t been cold up until then, the wetsuit and constant movement had kept me warm but my oh my, the water was a temperature so cold I felt like I had instant brain freeze.

It wasn’t enough to stop me trying again though. So I hauled myself back onto the board and gave it another go. Second time lucky, I got my balance and cracked this move straight away.

Keen to get moving again, we set back off to SUP across Ullswater. All the time, Adrian was looking out for everyone telling us bits of information about Ullswater while we were on the water.

I started flagging around ¾ of the way around. I want to say that I was taking in the scenery – I mean, I was. But the wind started picking up a little, so the water started getting choppy and it took more effort a bit to SUP back to our base.

However, I coasted the board to shore and stepped out onto land. I couldn’t pick up my board because my hands were that cold. But, what an incredible experience.

Would I Do Stand Up Paddleboarding In The Lake District Again?

I loved being able to explore Ullswater on a stand up paddle board. It’s one of my favourite things to do and it’s cool to see Ullswater from such a unique perspective. Those views, the memories created, and the whole experience far outweighed the cold and the 30 second brain freeze.

If I visit Another Place, The Lake again, I totally plan on stand up paddleboarding in the Lake District again. Imagine on a warm summer’s day when the sun is beaming down… I can’t wait.

If you want to go stand up paddleboarding in the Lake District while you’re staying at Another Place, The Lake, here are the details you need to know…

Price: £40/£30
Duration: 2 hours in the summer/ 1.5 hours in the winter

Includes: Introduction to SUP plus a mini tour.

Save me to you UK Travel or Lake District board!

Have you ever been stand up paddleboarding on Ullswater before? Would you try it out on a chilly day in the Lake District?