Coastal adventures :
Top five places to paddle on the sea
The brilliant thing about living on our little island nation is that we have an abundance of paddling both inland and at sea . Our coasts have much to offer , from quaint fishing villages to prehistoric cliffs . So , where do you start ? People have paddled around Britain , meaning the coastlines are fairly well documented . So , we have had a look and managed to pick out our top five coastal adventures .
Whitby paddleuk . org . uk
Whitby
On the Yorkshire coast , Whitby is an old fishing town synonymous with picturesque coastlines and vampires . High up on the east cliff are the ruins of Whitby Abbey , a 7th-century monastery and well-known landmark on the coast . Running through the centre of the town is the River Esk , a tidal river that offered shelter to fishing boats .
Accessing the sea for paddling is easy here . Either paddle down the River Esk into the harbour and out round the harbour walls into the North Sea . Or use the two miles of beach to launch from the sandy shores . Once at sea , you can take in the fishing town from a whole new perspective . You can look up the steep-sided valley from the water level and see the brick and stone buildings . Dolphins and seals are often spotted outside the town playing in the waves .
Mersea Island
The island of Mersea is found in the East of England . Accessible by road , the island is primarily green fields , boarded by sandy beaches . Mersea has been inhabited since pre-Roman times , providing many historical landmarks and artefacts . Along the shores , you may be able to spot remnants of fishing traps dating back to the 7th century ! The history continues flowing through the island , with evidence of Tudor forts , canons , smuggling operations , and WW1 importance .
Although the island covers only seven square miles , a paddling route circling the whole island is very doable at the right tide . You would need to reach the north of the island at high tide to cross the road and continue . The sands of Monkey Beach and West Mersea Beach make this East Coast adventure ’ s ideal launch and landing point . 66
Mersea Island