Paddleboarding

There are a number of paddle boarding options around Appledore, and beyond.

If you don’t have your own equipment, or just want to try paddle boarding, you can have lessons locally , or book, with Amy who is very good: https://adventureboardsports.co.uk/pages/sup . Where she does sessions is quite tide dependent. She also rents equipment.

The other place where you can have lessons / rent equipment is Bude, where you can paddleboard on the Bude canal. This is both a good beginner’s location, and a fun place to go as it is a really nice location.

If you are paddle boarding independently, there are a few places that we have been to, and can suggest. However, while paddle boarding locally can be great fun, we do have to emphasise that as Appledore is on an estuary there is a potentially strong combination of tide, river flow (and wind). It is a place where you need to be very mindful of conditions when doing any on-water activities, especially if the tide is going out. We wouldn’t go out on the estuary without life jackets.

So, back to what you can do locally…. If you are experienced you can take advantage of the prevailing flow to go upstream (and back). Otherwise, we would recommend only going an hour or so either side of high tide. Depending on conditions, you can go across to Instow. The easiest place in the village to go from is the slipway in the main car park – there is scope to inflate/deflate with an electric pump if you park in the right place. Alternatively, there is space on the slipway to pump up by hand, although there will be various other people using the slipway from boats and jet skis to pilot gigs. You can also go from the lifeboat station which has a slipway – this is at the end of Irsha Street.

If you want to start from Instow, you can paddle board directly off the beach – parking either on the quay or at the Sandhills car park at the far end of the village by the cricket ground.

Little America (aka America Steps) is an alternative paddleboarding location, especially if conditions (tide and/or wind) make the mouth of the estuary unsuitable. From here you can use the tide / river flow to explore – the best option being to head upstream towards Torrington. The river is still tidal at this point so that is obviously a consideration for when you go and what you do. Little America is located on the River Torridge on the A386, on the lefthand side, about half a mile on the far side of Bideford. Parking is in the layby, which can be busy as this is a popular option when conditions around Appledore are too rough or windy. The precise location is most easily found using the “what3words” App and searching the 3 words: shortcuts.skinny.used

Paddleboarding on the Torridge at Little America

Another local place to potentially go would be Crow Point – it can be more sheltered that off Appledore depending on the wind direction.

If there is a high spring tide (not just the tide is in, but it is a high tide), you can paddleboard on a short stretch of “The Pill” which is at the entrance to Northam Burrows. There is generally nowhere near enough water to paddleboard here, so you do have to go at the right time. “The Pill” is directly by the bridge at the entrance to Northam Burrows (the access point closest to Appledore).