Find Your Adventure: on the water in Suffolk

There are open water swimming opportunities all year round, culminating in the highly publicised and popular annual Great East Swim. Thankfully for those new to the craze, this famous swim takes place in the slightly warmer months (22nd June 2019) and ranges in distance from 250 metres to 10km depending on your ability and bravery.

If wild swimming is more suitable, then visit during the warmer months and try one of 4 magical spots throughout the county this summer.  

When you think of top surfing destinations where comes to mind? Bondi Beach? Surfer’s Paradise? The Cornish coast? How about the Suffolk Coast? Head on over to Lowestoft, Southwold and Walberswick and you’ll be amazed at the waves that you can ride thanks to the northerly swells. For a more detailed summary of the surfing hotspots, as well as places to stay and eat, our surfing blog has it all covered prior to taking to the waves.

Not only are there plenty of traditional surfing options, you can also take to the sea with the exhilarating sport of kite surfing.

If you fancy seeing the beautiful, wildlife-filled Suffolk countryside by water, why not thrash through the River Alde in your own canoe at the picturesque setting of Iken? With the option of kayaking or paddle boarding, the choice is yours. It’s not uncommon for keen canoeists to get close-up views of the seals. Now that would be a story! Check out our trusty guide, Oliver Bennett, who shows us the best bits about canoeing in Suffolk.

Visit Ipswich, the waterfront town of Suffolk, and explore the River Orwell by kayak with Nomad Sea Kayaking. Or head to Alton Water for windsurfing and sailing in the beautiful countryside of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Staying in the most southerly parts of Suffolk, the River Stour, in the depths of the Dedham Vale AONB, is a wonderful river to explore by boat. Either join a scheduled trip, hire a rowing boat or make a leisurly journey by canoe.

As the gateway to the Norfolk and Suffolk broads, Oulton Broad is a haven for watersports with canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. In the summer, Oulton Broad is also home to the power boat racing championships.

For windsurfing and kitesurfing, head to the beaches of Lowestoft, Pakefield, Kessingland, Southwold, Walberswick and Felixstowe, or for more tranquil waters, hire canoes kayaks and paddleboards and float along the Alde Estuary with Iken Canoe.

What strange and interesting things do you know about Suffolk? Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.