Best Places to Go Paddleboarding in Northern Ireland

There's no shortage of paddleboarding spots in County Down, with plenty of sheltered bays, sandy beaches, marinas and coves to explore within close reach of Belfast.

Helen's Bay

With its sandy beach, sheltered setting and easy access from Belfast, Helen's Bay is one of the most popular places to try paddleboarding in County Down. The beach is only a 100m walk from the car park at Crawfordsburn County Park meaning you don't have far to lug your gear, and it's a popular spot for beginners and anyone looking for a casual paddle in calm conditions.

Donaghadee

With its iconic lighthouse, picturesque harbour and sweeping views across the Irish Sea, Donaghadee offers a great introduction to paddleboarding on the Ards Peninsula. Ultimate SUP NI provides paddleboarding lessons and guided experiences, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to get started to build confidence on the water.

Let's Go Hydro, Carryduff

For those looking for a more structured introduction to paddleboarding, Let's Go Hydro combines SUP sessions with one of Northern Ireland's best-known outdoor activity centres. Located just outside Belfast in Carryduff, the site offers instructor-led paddleboarding sessions alongside a range of other water-based activities, making it a popular choice for families, groups and anyone trying paddleboarding for the first time. Mega SUP experiences, where several people share a single oversized board, are also available.

Castlewellan Forest Park

For something completely different, swap the sea for the woodlands: surrounded by forest trails and overlooked by the the Mourne Mountains, Castlewellan Forest Park offers an alternative paddleboard experience that's worlds away from the coast. The calm freshwater lake at the park's centre is ideal for a summer's day, and equipment rental - including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes - is available on-site from Life Adventure Centre if you don't have your own kit.

With its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches and many harbours, the Causeway Coast is one of Northern Ireland's most popular places to get out on the water. Paddleboarding offers a different perspective on some of the region's best-known landmarks, from the cliffs of White Rocks to the rugged coastline around Ballintoy.

Portrush West Strand

With its wide sandy beach and a sheltered bay that makes it ideal for beginners and lessons, West Strand is one of the most popular places to try paddleboarding on the Causeway Coast. If you're new to paddleboarding and want to give it a try, Portrush Surf School offers everything from SUP lessons to giant paddleboard experiences that are perfect for families, groups, work socials and stag or hen parties.

White Rocks Beach

With towering chalk cliffs, hidden coves, sea caves and dramatic limestone formations, White Rocks one of the most spectacular places on the Causeway Coast to explore via paddleboard. Traversing the shoreline from the water reveals a side of the beach that's impossible to appreciate from land, with show-stopping scenery around almost every corner. The beach is lifeguarded by the RNLI during the summer months, but the cliffs and caves around White Rocks are still best suited to experienced paddlers. Freedive NI offers expert guided SUP tours of the caves, with fully accredited instructors to ensure maximum safety and enjoyment.

Ballintoy Harbour

Few places capture the wild beauty of the Causeway Coast quite like Ballintoy. Surrounded by rugged cliffs, rocky headlands and views of Ballintoy Harbour, Sheep Island and Rathlin Island, it's one of the most spectacular places to experience from the water. Guided paddleboarding sessions are available through Active Adventures NI, offering the chance to explore hidden corners of the coastline alongside experienced local guides. Conditions can change quickly around Ballintoy, so checking weather and sea conditions is essential before heading out.

Strangford Lough is the largest sea inlet on the island of Ireland and one of Northern Ireland's best-known paddling destinations. Its sheltered waters, islands and shoreline provide plenty of opportunities for paddleboarding throughout the year.

Whiterock Bay

With winding channels, wooded shorelines and small islands scattered across the water, the area around Whiterock Bay near Killinchy showcases some of Strangford Lough's most distinctive scenery. Lessons, guided tours and paddleboarding sessions - including the popular Full Moon Paddle experience - are available through Strangford Lough Activity Centre.

Castle Ward Estate

Castle Ward is best known for its historic house, gardens and walking trails, but its location on the shores of Strangford Lough also makes it a great place to get out on the water. Paddleboarding offers a different perspective on the estate and surrounding coastline, while lessons and guided experiences are available nearby through Clearsky Adventure Centre.

From the shores of Lough Neagh to Belfast Lough and the Antrim Coast, County Antrim offers a wide range of paddleboarding locations. Whether you're looking for lessons, a family day out or somewhere a little further off the beaten track, there's no shortage of options.

Antrim Lough Shore

Most paddleboarding locations in Northern Ireland are either coastal or on managed lakes. Antrim Lough Shore offers something different, with access to the freshwater waters of Lough Neagh. One of the most recognisable sights is the former WWII torpedo testing platform sitting offshore, now used by nesting birds. Rea's Wood is a popular access point for exploring this stretch of shoreline.

Ballygally Beach

With a wide sandy beach and views along the Antrim Coast, Ballygally is one of the easiest places to get out on the water in County Antrim. The bay is more sheltered than some nearby stretches of coastline, making it a popular choice on calmer days. The beach sits just off the Causeway Coastal Route and is easy to combine with a wider day exploring the coast.

Carrickfergus Marina

Paddleboarding at Carrickfergus Castle offers a chance to see one of Northern Ireland's best-preserved Norman castles from the water. The harbour sits on the shores of Belfast Lough and is home to WaveRides Paddleboarding, which offers paddleboarding lessons and experiences throughout the year. Its location close to Belfast makes it an easy option for anyone looking to try paddleboarding for the first time.

With a mix of coastline, rivers and open water, Derry~Londonderry offers plenty of opportunities to get out on a paddleboard. From beginner-friendly lessons and guided experiences to coastal paddles, one of the best ways to experience the North Western corner of Northern Ireland from the water.

River Foyle

Paddleboarding on the River Foyle offers one of the more unusual ways to experience Derry~Londonderry, with routes taking in the city's waterfront, historic walls and the iconic Peace Bridge. As the river is tidal, conditions can vary throughout the day. Lessons, guided experiences and equipment hire are available through City Paddle Boards.

Benone Beach

Stretching for seven miles beneath the slopes of Binevenagh, Benone is one of Northern Ireland's longest beaches. On calm days, paddleboarding offers a different way to experience this stretch of coastline, with wide-open views along the shore and towards the surrounding landscape. Lessons and guided paddleboarding sessions are available nearby through Long Line Surf School.

Few places in Northern Ireland are better suited to paddleboarding than Fermanagh. With hundreds of miles of shoreline, sheltered waterways and island-dotted lakes, the Erne system offers endless opportunities to explore at a slower pace, both on and off the water.

Enniskillen

As the island of Ireland's only island town, Enniskillen is surrounded by water and offers easy access to both Upper and Lower Lough Erne. Paddleboarding on the River Erne provides a unique way to experience the town, passing historic buildings and some of its best-known landmarks. Lessons, guided tours and paddleboarding experiences are available through Blue Green Yonder. As a busy waterway, it's important to keep an eye out for boat traffic and other water users, particularly during the summer months.

Castle Archdale

Located on the shores of Lower Lough Erne, Castle Archdale Country Park offers easy access to the water alongside walking trails, picnic areas and family-friendly facilities. Paddleboard hire and watersports equipment are available through Castle Archdale Marina Boat Hire & Water Sports, while the sheltered bays and nearby islands make it a popular spot for exploring this part of the lough.

While most of Northern Ireland's best-known paddleboarding locations are found along the coast or on its larger lakes, County Tyrone offers something a little different. Set among the forests and hills of the Sperrins, Gortin provides an alternative for those keen to explore beyond the usual routes.

Gortin Lakes

For those looking to swap beaches and loughs for something a little different, the lakes at Gortin Glen Forest Park offer the opportunity for paddleboarding surrounded by woodland and the rolling hills of the Sperrins. The lakes are used for paddleboarding, kayaking and other outdoor activities throughout the year, with guided experiences available through Off-Grid Adventures & Wellbeing.

Unlike many of the locations on this list, Gortin is a more remote setting with fewer facilities and is best suited to those with previous paddleboarding experience or those joining an organised session. Access to the water may involve carrying equipment from nearby parking areas, and anyone heading out should stay close to shore, wear a buoyancy aid and check conditions before getting on the water.

Lough Neagh dominates County Armagh's northern shoreline, while Craigavon's network of lakes offers another option for getting out on the water. Together they provide some of the most accessible paddleboarding locations in Northern Ireland.

South Lakes Watersport Centre, Craigavon

Originally developed for watersports and recreation, the lakes at South Lake Leisure Centre have become a popular place to try paddleboarding. The flat water and dedicated watersports facilities make it a practical option for lessons, equipment hire and getting out on the water without heading to the coast. Sessions and activities are available through South Lake Watersports Centre.

Oxford Island

Located on the southern shores of Lough Neagh, Oxford Island Nature Reserve combines sheltered water with reedbeds, woodland and open views across the lough. The shoreline is broken up by small bays and inlets, making it one of the easiest places to explore this part of Lough Neagh by paddleboard.