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Stand-up paddleboarders on sheltered water, with sailing dinghies behind

Paddleboarding & Kayaking

Paddleboarding on the sheltered water of Abersoch Bay, kayaking at Porth Ceiriad, and the RNLI's four things to do every time on a paddleboard.

Abersoch Bay is a sheltered beach, popular for paddleboarding. Porth Ceiriad is popular for kayaking, and is south-facing and very sheltered.

Abersoch Hydro offers paddleboarding and kayaking as lessons and hire. OFFAXIS offers paddleboard lessons, hires out paddleboards and kayaks, and sells SUP boards, SUP paddles and sit-on-top kayaks. Abersoch Watersports offers SUP lessons and tours, and sells inflatable stand-up paddleboards. O'Shea produced its first SUP in 1994.

The RNLI recommends having a lesson, and lists four things to do every time on a paddleboard.

Where to do it

Learn, hire and buy

Abersoch Watersports

Abersoch Watersports

Unit 1, Pen Y Bont

(87)
Abersoch Hydro & Pwllheli

Abersoch Hydro & Pwllheli

On the Main Beach, Lon Traeth

(32)
OFFAXIS Abersoch

OFFAXIS Abersoch

Glanafon Garage, Abersoch

(24)
O'Shea Abersoch

O'Shea Abersoch

Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch

(10)
Abersoch Surf Shop & Paddleboard (SUP) Hire / Rentals

Abersoch Surf Shop & Paddleboard (SUP) Hire / Rentals

Lon Engan, Abersoch

(7)
Stand Up Paddle Board Sales UK

Stand Up Paddle Board Sales UK

Land & Sea, Abersoch

(1)

Good to know

  • Four things to do every time on a paddleboard: wear a buoyancy aid, carry a phone in a waterproof pouch, wear the correct paddleboard leash, and avoid offshore winds.
  • Offshore winds blow from the shore out to sea. The water can look calm, but they can quickly blow you and your board far out, making it tiring and difficult to paddle back.
  • The RNLI and Paddle UK advise never to launch paddleboards or other inflatable craft in offshore winds.
  • If you cannot paddle back to shore, do not stand — standing acts like a sail. Kneel or lie flat, and prone-paddle with your arms if you have the energy.
  • A motor boat exclusion zone on Abersoch Bay keeps bathers safe, and Porth Ceiriad is National Trust land.
  • Abersoch Hydro runs the Little Pirates Kids Club, whose sessions include beach games, canoeing, paddle boarding, windsurfing and sailing.
Read the safety page

Common questions

Where can I paddleboard?
Abersoch Bay is popular for paddleboarding. It is a sheltered beach.
Where can I kayak, and are there sessions for children?
Porth Ceiriad is popular for kayaking, and is south-facing and very sheltered. Abersoch Hydro runs the Little Pirates Kids Club, whose sessions include beach games, canoeing, paddle boarding, windsurfing and sailing.
What should I take on a paddleboard?
The RNLI's four things to do every time: wear a buoyancy aid, carry a phone in a waterproof pouch, wear the correct paddleboard leash, and avoid offshore winds. The RNLI also recommends having a lesson.
What are offshore winds?
They blow from the shore out to sea. The water can look calm, but they can quickly blow you and your board far out, making it tiring and difficult to paddle back. The RNLI and Paddle UK advise never to launch a paddleboard or other inflatable craft in offshore winds.
What if I cannot paddle back to shore?
Do not stand, since standing acts like a sail. Kneel or lie flat, and prone-paddle with your arms if you have the energy.

Related disciplines

Sailing

Dinghy and keelboat sailing on the bay.

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Surfing

Waves at Porth Neigwl and Porth Ceiriad.

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Boat Trips & Wildlife

Cruises across the bay, past St Tudwal's and along the coast.

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