The Best South Devon SUP Spots

Glassy water, clear turquoise waters, sunrises and sunsets on my SUP board. This is what fills my cup! I love getting out on the water and these are my favourite places to go when the conditions are looking good!

Aveton Gifford to Bantham Beach

This really is my favourite SUP route but it does take a bit of planning. To make your life easier, you'll want to go with the tide. That means that it's either going to be a one way paddle where you park a car at each end, or if you don't have that option, you're going to want to time it so that you go down to Bantham with the tide, spend the day relaxing and enjoying the beach at Bantham, and then paddle back to Aveton Gifford once the tide turns.

One way, the paddle probably takes about an hour and you can expect lucious woodland scenery hugging the river banks, as well as crystal clear waters and a sandy river bed as you get closer to Bantham. Be prepared for 'the swoosh' as you approach Bantham. This is a current which is really fun if you know to expect it, so enjoy the ride!

The River Dart

There are numerous places to enjoy a SUP session along the River Dart, which means you can go back again and again and have a different adventure. For the north section of the river, I like parking at Longmarsh Car Park in Totnes which is spacious and has super easy access for launching. You can then paddle south and explore the winding river and marshes around the Sharpham Estate.

Dittisham, Tuckenhay, Stoke Gabriel and Dartmouth are also great places to explore by SUP. Being right on the water, they are very boat friendly so there are slipways and places to launch from.

You may spot seals along this route. I've always found them to be quite inquisitive but remember to keep your distance!

Kingsbridge Estuary

This area is really beautiful to SUP. There are numerous little inlets and arms that branch out from the estuary which make it a gorgeous place to explore. The easiest place to launch in Kingsbridge is from the Quay Car Park, right down the end in front of the leisure center. It is paid parking but very inexpensive! You could also park on the lane opposite Bowcombe Bridge and launch from here but there is little parking here.

Go for a short paddle or make a day of it and go down to Salcombe. There are many shoreline beaches along the way so pack up a dry bag with food and drink and have an adventure day out on the estuary.

South Milton Sands

This is such an easy place to SUP, there is a big beautiful bay, a soft sandy beach and plenty of parking right next to it. Also, if you want to be out on the water enjoying a stunning sunset, then look no further. Some of the best sunsets I've seen down here have been from South Milton Sands.

Plan for a beach BBQ or enjoy lunch or dinner at The Beach House restaurant. The site is National Trust so if you are a member then parking will be free. If not, then it's £6 for the day.

Bantham to Burgh Island

This is another great route where you feel like you're having a little adventure. I like to park at Bantham Beach and go from here rather than Bigbury just to increase the time on the water, but if you want a shorter paddle you could also launch from Bigbury. It will also depend on the swell!

Bantham Beach is a surf beach, so in order for this paddle to be successful, you really need to have little to no swell on the forecast. If conditions are right though, it's a really beautiful paddle. Go about an hour before high tide and paddle towards the island. I like to go anti-clockwise and enjoy being wowed by the crystal clear water at the back of the island.

Salcombe

Again, this is such an easy and incredibly beautiful place from which to SUP. I tend to launch from South Sands, but North Sands provides a proper car park which will be preferable when it's busier or in high season. The waters from these beaches are crystal clear and shallow until you get further out in to the middle of the estuary so on a sunny day, you'll be amazed at how tropical it can feel.

Enjoy paddling over to the beaches at East Portlemouth, Sunny Cove and Mill Bay for example, and simply enjoy exploring, knowing you're never too far from a beautiful beach to relax on if you want a break from the water.

Mattiscombe Sands

This location is an adventure for sure, and requires some effort to get there. Mattiscombe Sands is a more off the beaten track beach along the South Devon coast path near Start Point. Park at Start Point car park (free in the winter, £4 cash or bank transfer in the summer) and walk the 15/20 minutes down to the beach. You'll need a SUP that packs down in to the bag and take your pump with you to pump it up at the beach. The path is uneven, so if you have a SUP bag with wheels, it probably won't work too well (believe me I have tried!).

The pay off though is a stunning, quiet beach with clear turquoise waters. What really sets this location apart though is its proximity to Great Sleadon Rocks which is where a colony of seals are often perched or playing in the water. I've been lucky enough to see them every time I've been down there, and they've popped up and said hi while I've been out on the board. It's an incredibly special experience, and if you're lucky enough to experience it as well, just ensure you keep your distance from the seals so as not to frighten them. This is their home!

Blackpool Sands

Another really easy and beautiful option is Blackpool Sands. This Blue Flag, wide shingle beach is a great place to get out on the paddle board and soak up the sun in equal measure. In terms of a beach, it has everything you could want, easy and plentiful parking, toilets, a restaurant and it even has a 'Red' paddle board inflate station!

The waters in this bay are so clear, you can either enjoy the views back to the beach, or you can explore along the coast a little bit and shore up at some of the nearby beautiful golden beaches that are much harder to get to = you get them all to yourself. Bliss!