Stand Up PaddleBoard
Stand-Up Paddleboarding or SUP is a hugely popular sport across the UK.
Its popularity soared after Covid, as people looked for ways to get outdoors, reconnect with nature, and enjoy open spaces. SUP is ideal for this — it’s relatively affordable to get started and easy to learn.
As with all watersports, having a solid understanding of the water, tides, currents, and conditions is essential to keep yourself — and others — safe while enjoying the experience.
With easy access to the Westward Ho! seafront and the Taw and Torridge Estuary, there are some truly stunning spots to explore by SUP.
We’re here to offer advice on the best times to paddle, current weather conditions, potential hazards, and what to look out for — all to help you make the most of your time on the water.
SUP Hire
Want to go for a SUP — quickly and hassle-free?
We offer two easy hire options from our shop in Westward Ho!
Hire at Westward Ho!
We wait until the sea is flat, so conditions are perfect for paddleboarding. Choose between a 2 hour or 4 hour hire — just pop into the shop, fill out a quick hire form, and receive a full safety briefing along with some handy hints and tips. Then you're free to explore the stunning North Devon coastline and soak up the local wildlife. It’s a brilliant way to spend a few hours making memories in Westward Ho!
SUP to explore the estuary
The Taw and Torridge Estuary is part of the North Devon Biosphere — a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest thanks to its rich and varied natural environment. It’s an incredible place to paddleboard when conditions are right, but get the tides wrong and it becomes a dangerous environment, with thick mud, strong currents, limited exit points, and shifting sands.
To keep you safe, we offer board hire for a maximum of 4 hours. This ensures you're paddling during safe tidal windows or in areas we know well. You'll receive a detailed passage plan outlining the specific hazards of each location, recommended entry and exit points, and emergency exits. For safety reasons, we do not offer longer hire periods
Fancy stand-up paddleboarding on the estuary but not quite confident going solo?
Join SurfSUP Academy, based right here in the shop, for a guided tour of some of the estuary’s best spots.
This hassle-free 2-hour adventure includes all the gear — wetsuit, board, and paddle — plus a qualified lifeguard and an experienced local guide to keep you safe and smiling.
Guided SUP Tours
You're in safe hands, so just relax and enjoy the whole experience. Starting at Little America, you'll use the tide to help you travel up the estuary, eventually reaching the River Yeo. The wildlife here is incredible — you’ll often spot swifts and swallows feeding on insects, mullet gliding across the surface, bass leaping, and a variety of birds including gulls, terns, oystercatchers, ibises, and kingfishers, to name just a few. This is otter territory too, though they’re notoriously elusive.
Once you're happy and filled with memories, the outgoing tide will help guide you gently back.
