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If you like to combine your paddleboard adventures with a well-earned visit to a pub then these SUP and sip spots are for you. With its rivers, canals, and coastline, Hampshire is a haven for paddleboarding, and a waterside pub is never far away – here are five of our faves.
Be sure to check conditions – especially tides, wind, and currents – before you paddle. For more information on paddleboard safety, check the guidelines on the RNLI website here.
River Hamble and The Jolly Sailor
From its quiet conservational creeks near its source to the bustling sailing villages and marinas towards its meeting point with the Southampton Water, the River Hamble is a wonderful place to explore on a paddleboard.
Launch at the River Hamble Country Park and follow the river south towards The Jolly Sailor pub in Old Bursledon which has its own dedicated pontoon to welcome paddleboarders.
If you don’t have your own board, Fluid Adventures is based near the pontoon at the River Hamble Country Park with kayaks and paddleboards available to hire.
Find out more about the River Hamble
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Beaulieu River and Master Builder’s House
The Beaulieu River in the New Forest is a beautiful waterway to explore from the water. The river is rich in wildlife and protected so the only place you can launch is Buckler’s Hard, the pretty 18th century village that was once a shipbuilding centre for Nelson's army.
There is a slipway and parking at Buckler’s Hard and you need to book your launch slot online depending on tide times; it’s not possible to access the slipway two hours either side of low water, as it dries out.
From Buckler’s Hard paddle north towards the village of Beaulieu or south towards the Solent before returning to Buckler’s Hard and the Master Builder’s House hotel garden for some riverside refreshments.
Find out more about the Beaulieu River
Keyhaven and The Gun Inn
The sheltered waters at Keyhaven are the perfect spot for paddleboarding when at high tide you can head out through the meandering marshes towards Hurst Castle spotting wildlife as you go.
Return to Keyhaven before the tide goes out too far and head to The Gun Inn for some fresh local food cooked on the outside grill.
Langstone Harbour and The Ship Inn or The Royal Oak
Langstone Harbour lies between Portsmouth Harbour to the west, and Chichester Harbour to the east. It is a tranquil and beautiful place, internationally recognised for its importance for nature conservation and is a haven for aquatic wildlife and bird species.
To the east of the Harbour near the Langstone Bridge to Hayling Island, are two quayside pubs – The Ship Inn and The Royal Oak – fronted by a wall reached by the water at high tide.
To venture further into Langstone Harbour, the Langstone Harbour Board has information on safety, wildlife, and suggested trails for paddlesports in the Harbour.
Find out more about Langstone Harbour
Basingstoke Canal and The Waterwitch or The Barley Mow
The Basingstoke Canal starts in Greywell and runs for 32 miles to West Byfleet in Hampshire. The canal is a great place for paddlers, especially beginners, as it is on a flat and non-tidal water. The Canal is particularly striking in the autumn when the trees border the waterway with golden leaves.
A lovely stretch of the Canal to paddle is from the Barley Mow slipway in Oakley which has its own car park and head southeast along the canal towards Odiham Castle (approx. 4.5 miles each way). There is a canal-side pub at Odiham, the Waterwitch, and you can continue along the Canal to reach Odiham Castle before returning all the way back to the Barley Mow pub.
You’ll need to get a paddleboard licence (£6 for the day) to explore the Basingstoke Canal.
Find out more about the Basingstoke Canal here
Find out more about stand up paddleboarding in Hampshire
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This Country Park, on the banks of the Hamble estuary, is an ideal place to play, picnic, relax and explore. Enjoy a ramble around our fantastic ancient woodland and delight in all the seasonal changes; from bluebells in spring to the fantastic autumn colours. Discover the abundant wildlife from curlews along the river and skylarks in the fields, plus an amazing array of wildflowers, insects, and reptiles.
Escape to the beauty spot of Buckler’s Hard, where history and stunning scenery come together for an unforgettable trip out in the New Forest countryside. Once a bustling shipbuilding village where ships for Nelson’s Navy were built, the charming village of Buckler’s Hard now a peaceful haven. Relax with a cuppa and a slice of cake, take a ramble beside the Beaulieu River, or delve into the village’s history in the Buckler’s Hard Museum.
With beautiful views over the Beaulieu River and set at the end of the grassy street that is Buckler’s Hard village, it is difficult to imagine a more picturesque setting for a hotel on the whole south coast of England.
This small, quiet village overlooks the Solent and has lovely views of Hurst Castle and the Isle of Wight. Although there are no shops, there are two sailing clubs and a small pub.
Come and discover this artillery fortress, built by Henry VIII, at the seaward end of a coastal spit offering one of the best views in England. Commanding the entrance to the Solent, its strategic location has developed the castle into a powerful fortress, steeped in centuries of military history.
Langstone Harbour lies between Portsmouth Harbour to the west, and Chichester Harbour to the east. It is a tranquil and beautiful place, the heart of a dynamic urban area, and a vital part of an extensive biological system.
