This session is designed for those with some paddleboarding experience that want to gain an awareness of paddling in tidal waters. The coastline of Norfolk attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, for good reason! Miles of sandy beaches are exposed by the large tides that wash over them twice a day. Those same tides provide challenges that are not present on our rivers. The Coast can catch out the unprepared and this introduction will give you an experience to help you deal with that challenge.
Depending on the date and state of the tide at launch, this trip can be run around low and high tides. It’s all obviously weather dependent, with the wind playing the key role!
A start time around 2 hours before high tide we will park in the Harbour Park Park after dropping our boards at the East Quay Slip Way. If the Harbour Car Park is closed (sometimes this is done on big tides) , we will make alternative arrangements. We will have time to enjoy a ride along East Quay towards Stiffkey. We then turn North towards East Fleet before making our way around the creeks and returning to the start. A distance of 6kms that will take us around two hours.
A start time around 2 hours before low tide with parking at the Wells Beach Park Park (pay and display) A look at the Channel we will be launching into before we get our kit together and launch onto the ebbing tide. There will be time for a leisurely paddle, an observation of the area at low tide before we paddle back to the start around two hours later.
These trips can easily be extended to include a picnic on the beach, and a paddle towards town, or a drift towards Blakeney.
A complete loop of the Warham Salt Marshes will include some sea paddling and is an adventurous 17km paddle requiring a degree of fitness.
Price from £40 per person (based on two hours). Due to the required experience of paddleboarding its anticipated, (but not essential) that people have their own board. If you don’t, I can provide one. Perhaps two of you share a board? No problem, I can loan you one for £10.
Wetsuits (can sometimes be too warm!) and PFDs are available. PFDs will be worn, we are not going surfing, waist leashes can be provided, but we will discuss them based on the conditions and the water movement.
An early morning start for a late summer high tide paddle at Wells-next-the-Sea. Just Magical!
Canoeing past the Lifeboat Horse at Wells. Using the tide to help with an exploration of the salt marsh
