5 Best Places to Paddle Board in Huntingdon, UK

Discover a hidden gem in the UK.

The best places to paddle board in Huntingdon await your exploration.

Experience serene waters and picturesque views in this charming destination.

Embark on an unforgettable paddleboarding adventure in Huntingdon. Are you ready to dive in?

Map

Planning Your Paddle in Huntingdon

Season figures are averages of the daily maximum temperature in the ERA5 climate archive for 2019 to 2024, rental counts come from OpenStreetMap. Every spot below can carry its own rules on top of these.

• Season: average daily highs clear 15 °C from May through October. August is the warmest month, averaging 22 °C, and outside that window a wetsuit is what separates a short session from a comfortable one.
• Rules and licences: Access in England and Wales depends on who controls the water. The Canal & River Trust requires a valid waterways licence for a paddleboard on its canals and rivers, either short term or through Paddle UK membership, and that licence expressly does not cover the Trust’s reservoirs. Lakes and reservoirs in other hands set their own conditions, so check the individual spot before you load the car. There is no statutory kit list, but official guidance after a fatal accident is blunt: wear a buoyancy aid, and a quick release waist leash in moving water.
• Rentals nearby: OpenStreetMap lists one place within 16 miles that hires out boards, kayaks or canoes: Go-paddle. Call ahead, opening times outside the main season are short.

Where to Paddle Board in Huntingdon

Please note: While we strive for accuracy, always verify details before paddling. If you spot an error or if you're a local official wanting to make a correction, please comment below. Thanks!

#1 River Great Ouse

• 🏖️ Location Type: River
• 📍️ Access Point: Huntingdon Riverside Park (Google Maps)
• 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm water, gentle currents, occasional wind
• ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
• 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Swans, ducks, kingfishers
• 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Houghton Mill, St Ives Bridge
• ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow navigation rules, respect local wildlife

The River Great Ouse flows through the heart of Huntingdon, offering a serene and scenic paddleboarding experience. As you paddle along, you’ll be treated to picturesque views of historic landmarks like the Houghton Mill and St Ives Bridge.

The calm waters and gentle currents are perfect for both beginners and experienced paddleboarders, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

#2 Grafham Water

• 🏖️ Location Type: Lake
• 📍️ Access Point: Grafham Water Car Park (Google Maps)
• 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm water, minimal currents, occasional wind
• ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
• 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Ducks, geese, fish
• 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Woodland surroundings, nature trails
• ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Beware of other watercraft, follow park regulations

Located just a short drive from Huntingdon, Grafham Water is a beautiful lake surrounded by woodland and nature trails. The large water reservoir offers plenty of space for paddleboarding and other water activities.

The calm waters and natural surroundings provide a peaceful paddleboarding experience, perfect for a day trip from Huntingdon.

#3 St Neots River Side Park

• 🏖️ Location Type: River
• 📍️ Access Point: St Neots River Side Park (Google Maps)
• 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm water, gentle currents, occasional wind
• ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
• 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Swans, ducks, fish
• 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: St Neots Bridge
• ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow navigation rules, respect local wildlife

Located a short distance from Huntingdon, St Neots River Side Park offers another picturesque paddleboarding spot along the River Great Ouse. The calm waters and gentle currents make for a relaxing paddleboarding experience, with lovely views of the St Neots Bridge and surrounding parkland.

Wildlife encounters with swans, ducks, and fish add to the tranquil scene, making it an enjoyable day trip for paddleboarding enthusiasts.

#4 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve

• 🏖️ Location Type: Lake
• 📍️ Access Point: Paxton Pits Visitor Centre (Google Maps)
• 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Still water, rare wind gusts
• ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
• 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Birds, ducks, fish
• 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Nature reserve, surrounding meadows
• ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Paddle only on designated lakes, respect nature reserve rules

A bit further from Huntingdon, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve provides tranquil lakes surrounded by a diverse nature reserve. Wildlife encounters, including birds, ducks, and fish, promise an immersive experience with nature while paddleboarding.

Remember to check lake designations and adhere to the nature reserve rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable adventure in this unique location.

#5 The Backs, Cambridge

• 🏖️ Location Type: River
• 📍️ Access Point: Jesus Green (Google Maps)
• 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm water, gentle currents, occasional wind
• ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
• 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Swans, ducks, fish
• 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Iconic Cambridge colleges, historic architecture
• ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Shared river, respect navigation rules

Though a bit further away from Huntingdon, The Backs in Cambridge offers a stunning paddleboarding experience along the River Cam, providing views of iconic Cambridge colleges and historic architecture.

While navigating the river, be mindful of punts and other boats sharing the waterway, and follow navigation rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable paddleboarding journey.

The Great Ouse through Huntingdon is wide, slow and largely empty, which is exactly what most people are after. Cambridge is the busier version half an hour away, and for open water Norfolk and Essex are the counties to head for.

What to Take With You

Whatever the water here looks like, the same short list comes along. Each box below shows the model that currently sits at number one in our own test of that category.

BLUESTORM Cirro 16 Manual Inflatable Belt Pack

Life jacket

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• Typemanual inflatable belt pack
• ApprovalUSCG Type V with Type III performance

Rules differ from state to state and from country to country, but on open water this is the piece that gets checked, and the one that counts when the wind turns while you are still a long way out.

Every model we tested: 10 Best Life Vests for Paddle Boarding

NRS Quick-Release SUP Leash

Waist leash

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• Cordcoiled, stretches to 9 ft
• Swivelstwo in-line

A leash keeps the board within reach after a fall, and a board that drifts off is the start of most rescues. On moving water use a quick release belt rather than an ankle cuff.

Every model we tested: The 9 Best SUP Waist Leashes

Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch

Phone case

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• RatingIP68 certified, 1 m for 30 minutes
• Floatsyes

A pouch you can still swipe through, so the map stays usable and the phone survives the swim you did not plan.

Every model we tested: 10 Best Waterproof Smartphone Bags

MARCHWAY Roll Top Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack, 20L 30L 45L

Dry bag

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• Capacity20, 30 or 45 L
• Materialdual layer PVC over polyester mesh

Keys, a dry layer and something to eat, strapped to the deck. Twenty litres is the size most paddlers end up with.

Every model we tested: The 9 Best Dry Bags for Paddle Boarding

Cressi Minorca Long 3mm Crew Diving Boots

Water shoes

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• Typetall neoprene boot
• Thickness3 mm

Launch spots are rarely soft. Neoprene boots deal with sharp gravel, hidden glass and water that is colder than the air.

Every model we tested: 10 Best Shoes for Paddle Boarding

FAQ

Paddle Boarding Near Huntingdon

Looking for another spot on the same trip? These guides cover the closest paddling waters we have mapped around Huntingdon.

• Cambridge (15 miles east)
• Leicester (50 miles northwest)
• Essex (54 miles southeast)
• Windsor, UK (55 miles south)