:

  • English
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Nederlands
  • Français
Navigation generated at 2026-2-8 2:23:20
    • All Places to go

      Cities

      • All Cities
      • Aberdeen
      • Dundee
      • Dunfermline
      • Edinburgh
      • Glasgow
      • Inverness
      • Perth
      • Stirling

      Popular Places

      • Ben Nevis
      • Glencoe
      • Loch Lomond
      • Loch Ness

      Towns

      • All Towns
      • Aviemore
      • Dumfries
      • Fort William
      • Kirkwall
      • Lerwick
      • Oban
      • Peebles
      • Pitlochry
      • St Andrews

      Islands

      • All Islands
      • Isle of Arran
      • Isle of Islay
      • Jura
      • Lewis & Harris
      • Mull
      • Orkney
      • Outer Hebrides
      • Shetland
      • Skye

      Regions

      • Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
      • Argyll & The Isles
      • Ayrshire & Arran
      • Dumfries & Galloway
      • Dundee & Angus
      • Edinburgh & The Lothians
      • Fife
      • Glasgow & Clyde Valley
      • Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Stirling & Forth Valley
      • Highlands
      • Perthshire
      • Scottish Borders
    • All Things to do

      Attractions

      • All Attractions
      • 20 Top Attractions
      • Ancestry
      • Arts & Culture
      • Castles
      • Free Attractions
      • History & Heritage
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Rainy Days
      • TV & Film Locations

      Outdoor Activities

      • All Outdoor Activities
      • Cycling
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Mountain Biking
      • Sailing
      • Ski & Snowsports
      • Walking & Hiking
      • Watersports

      Food & Drink

      • All Food & Drink
      • Beer & Breweries
      • Gin Tours & Tastings
      • Whisky & Distilleries

      Landscapes & Nature

      • All Landscapes & Nature
      • Beaches
      • Ben Nevis
      • Lochs
      • National Parks
      • Northern Lights
      • Standing Stones
      • Wildlife Watching

      Tours, Routes & Trails

      • All Tours, Routes & Trails
      • Islands & Island Hopping
      • Itineraries
      • Scotland's UNESCO Trail
      • Tours
      • Walking Trails

      Events

      • All Events
      • Edinburgh's Summer Festivals
      • Highland Games
      • Music Festivals
    • All Accommodation

      Hotels & Lodgings

      • B&Bs & Guesthouses
      • Budget Hotels
      • Hostels
      • Hotels
      • Luxury Hotels
      • Restaurants with Rooms & Inns

      Caravan & Camping

      • All Caravan & Camping
      • Campervan, Motorhome & Caravan Holidays
      • Glamping
      • Wild Camping

      Self Catering

      • All Self Catering
      • Cabins & Lodges
      • Cottages
      • Flats & Apartments
      • Hot Tubs
      • Large Groups

      Unique Places

      • All Unique Places
      • Boats, Barges & Boathouses
      • Brochs & Blackhouses
      • Castles
      • Churches

      Other Accommodation

      • Accessible Accommodation
      • Eco Accommodation
      • Exclusive Use Venues
      • Luxury Accommodation
      • Pet Friendly Accommodation
      • Romantic
      • Wedding Venues
    • All Travel & planning

      Travel to Scotland

      • From England & Wales
      • From Europe
      • From Ireland
      • From North America
      • From Other Continents

      Travel in Scotland

      • Air
      • Bus & Coach
      • Ferry
      • Train

      Driving in Scotland

      • All Driving in Scotland
      • Car Hire
      • Driving Routes
      • Electric Vehicles

      When to visit

      • All When to visit
      • Spring & Easter
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter, Christmas & New Year

      Practical Information

      • Eco-Travel
      • FAQs
      • Holiday Carbon Calculator
      • Passes & Offers
      • Passports & Visas
      • Weather

      Ideas & Advice

      • Outdoor Safety Information
      • Travel Blog
      • Travel Newsletter

      Holiday Types

      • Accessible Holidays
      • Beauty Spots
      • Budget-Friendly Holidays
      • Countryside Breaks
      • Family Holidays
      • Farm Stays
      • Off the Beaten Track Holidays
      • Solo Travel
      • Weekend Breaks
      • Wellness Retreats
  • Map of Scotland

BETA: The search and map are new features with further enhancements planned. VisitScotland is not responsible for the content of external links and accepts no liability for any reliance on these.

Your feedback will help improve the site
  1. Home
  2. Things to do
  3. Outdoor Activities
  4. Watersports
  5. Stand-up paddleboarding in Scotland

Stand-up paddleboarding in Scotland

Stand-up paddle boarding, often shortened to SUP, is one of the UK’s fastest growing watersports and is a great activity for escaping the everyday. And Scotland is one of the best places to paddleboard. From the deck of a paddle board, you can see the best of Scotland from a whole new perspective. And being near, on or in water is a great way to improve your health and boost those wellbeing endorphins.

Read the SUP Safety Code

Paddleboarding on Loch Tay at Kenmore with Unique Adventure Tours

© Perth and Kinross Council / Craig Stephen

Paddle boarding on Loch Insh

© VisitScotland / Jakub Iwanicki

Water Safety Code

Water Safety Scotland (WSS) provides safety codes of conduct for various watersports including kayaking.

It is important that both experienced and casual kayakers make informed decisions when out on the water.

  • Follow the Water Safety Code

Everything you need to know on paddleboarding

If you're new to paddleboarding, or are not sure where to go, don't worry. There are many outdoor operators across Scotland that will be happy to get you on the water for a paddleboarding experience, with wetsuit, buoyancy aid and paddle, to show you how it's done, or guide you.

Paddleboarding with Unique Adventure Tours at Kenmore, Perthshire

© Perth and Kinross Council / Craig Stephen

Frequently asked questions

What shoes to wear stand-up paddleboarding?

A lot of boards actually have a grip on them that is designed for bare feet, so if it is warm enough, you might not need to wear any shoes. Or if the weather is colder and you want to wear shoes, then light barefoot trainers or neoprene boots are a good option, even in winter.

How hard is it to do stand-up paddleboarding?

Everyone has to start somewhere. It may take a moment to steady your balance but after a few tries, you should get the hang of it. You'll have experienced guides and instructors with you, so they'll be able to show you all the ropes, tips and tricks for becoming an expert. And if you do fall off, it's a soft landing!

What is an inflatable stand-up paddleboard?

Inflatable SUP are much easier to transport compared to standard paddleboards. They are also sometimes more stable due to the increased volume supporting more weight.

What to wear while stand-up paddleboarding?

You won't need any fancy or expensive clothing to hit the water. In fact, as long as you have some sort of activewear clothing, you’re pretty much good to go. Some SUP operators will provide wetsuits, but depending on the weather and temperature, you can wear a swimsuit or swimming trunks too. Make sure you bring a change of warm, dry clothes for afterwards.

Can you paddleboard anywhere?

Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, we have a statutory right of responsible access to most land and water in Scotland. However, wherever you go, it is important to be considerate of the environment, take responsibility for your own actions, and respect the interests of other people too.

Paddleboarding on Loch Tay at Kenmore with Unique Adventure Tours

© Perth and Kinross Council / Craig Stephen

Where are the best places to paddleboard in Scotland?

You can be off exploring loch shores, calm rivers and quiet coastal coves, with your family or paddleboarding buddies. Hire equipment and get lessons with Paddle Surf Scotland in and around Perthshire and Tayside, as well as on the shorelines and lochs in Oban, Fort William and Lochaber on the west coast; Blown Away Experiences on St Andrews West Sands; or Unicorn Paddle where you can try paddleboarding on Loch Lomond, the Forth of Firth, or the Union Canal.

Get Inspired For Your Stand-Up Paddleboarding Holiday

Enjoy an unparalleled sense of freedom and let Scotland's waters improve your wellness, as you glide along while on a stand-up paddleboard, with paddle in hand. This sport can be experienced in a number of stunning locations across the country, and will give you a unique, on-the-water perspective of Scotland.

Share on

Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Twitter
Email

Other things you might like

Category: Things to do

Family holidays in Scotland

Category: Things to do

Stunning wild swimming locations in Scotland

Category: Things to do

Fun outdoor activities in Scotland

Category: Things to do

Watersports in Scotland

Category: Travel & planning

Summer holidays & breaks in Scotland

Join our Newsletter Clan

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

Get the Scotland newsletter

Get in touch

  • Contact us
  • Feedback & Complaints
  • Submit an event

Our other sites

  • Business Events
  • Business Support Hub
  • Travel Trade
  • Asset library
  • Corporate
  • Scotland is Now

Find us on

Find us on

  • About us
  • Accessibility
  • Acceptable use
  • Cookies
  • Environmental policy
  • Privacy
  • Social media
  • Terms of use
Brand Scotland

© 2026 VisitScotland. All rights reserved.