The UK's Best Watersports For Children This Summer

Sailing is a wonderful sport for children. From as young as six, they can start learning on small dinghies and progress to much bigger boats in their teens. As well as a fun hobby, they’ll start to learn seamanship skills that may lead to competitive racing in the future. Learning to sail usually takes place between spring and autumn on lakes and at sea anywhere from the Isle of Wight to the Outer Hebrides. 

The best way to start is by joining the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) National Sailing Scheme – a series of short courses usually completed in small dinghies, suitable for the size of the sailor. Children can start from age six onwards with tailored courses, including for children with disabilities. Following the RYA’s structure, kids can progress quickly from beginner to expert in a controlled, safe, enjoyable environment. These inspiring courses are the first step to enjoying time in charge of a boat – and to giving kids water confidence and awareness, alongside hours of fun.

You don’t have to travel overseas for great surfing. In March 2022 North Devon was announced as the 12th World Surfing Reserve joining iconic surfing locations in California, Australia, Mexico and Portugal. This world-class surf zone is the first of its kind in the UK – and the only cold water one in the world. It stretches across approximately 30 kilometres of coastline, including the beautiful beaches of Croyde, Saunton, Woolacombe and Lynmouth. Catering to wave-riders of all ages and abilities, it’s the perfect place for kids to learn to surf. 

Surf schools in the area teach beginner skills, and guide children as they gain confidence. Those as young as five can start on small waves and fully-qualified instructors know when conditions are right for kids to be in the sea – no need to worry about youngsters finding themselves in rough waters. Cornwall also has some wonderful surfing sports including Watergate Bay and Sennen Cove.

Just outside of London, Thorpe Lakes offers an array of watersports such as wakeboarding, water-skiing, paddle-boarding and swimming. Kids over six can take lessons (accompanied by an adult) as well as enjoy the aqua park packed with inflatables. 

St Andrews Lakes in Kent is a waterpark with something for everyone: from youth sailing courses and paddle boarding sessions where kids can benefit from expert tuition on the lake, to open water swimming and a fun ‘beach’ to play on. The highlight is the enormous aqua park with a thrilling variety of obstacles, slides, climbs, stepping stones, monkey bars and a giant swing – meaning kids can have hours of fun exploring and jumping into the water. The minimum age for the aqua park is six, and for those aged six to nine, one participating adult is required for every three children. For children aged 10-17, a supervising adult must remain shoreside throughout the session. You can rent wetsuits plus there’s an onsite café and plenty of parking, making this a great spot for a day out just an hour from London.

If you have thrill-seeking older children, book them in for whitewater rafting. Surfing huge rapids and navigating a craft through tricky rivers, this is a challenging but incredibly fun activity. A raft typically holds eight to nine people including the instructor, and it’s entirely possible to take on some fairly big rapids without prior experience as long as you have the right kit (wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid) and a fully-qualified guide.

Rafting locations can be found all over the UK. One of the best is the National White Water Centre in Canolfan Tryweryn in North Wales. Here, rafting takes place on grade three to four whitewater – which to the uninitiated means great, but still easily manageable rapids. The River Blackwater route on the Irish border has plenty of drops and rapids, but is still suitable for beginners: Awol Outdoor Adventure run instructor-led day trips. In the Scottish Highlands, Ace Adventures run rafting sessions on the scenic River Findhorn with up to grade five rapids  – this is for those looking for a real challenge.

You don’t have to head abroad for spectacular water wildlife spotting; there are plenty of opportunities right on our shores. Sea safaris set sail from coastal villages across the country to see dolphins, seals and an array of seabirds, such as puffins and sea eagles. You may also sight whales, porpoises and even sharks, depending on where you are and the time of year.

Padstow Sea Life Safaris run daily trips in Cornwall as well as longer excursions to the beautiful Isles of Scilly which is teaming with wildlife. In Devon check out Ilfracombe Sea Safaris who have a luxury 12-metre Swift Catamaran for dolphin watching – there’s even the opportunity to jump in and swim with seals at nearby Lundy Island (suitable for those who are age 10+ and confident swimmers). In Scotland, Seafari Adventures will take groups around the stunning Highland coast to spot wildlife and to visit the puffin colony on the remote island of Iona.

Anyone looking for a fun waterside activity with very young children (who aren’t yet able to grab a surfboard or hop on a boat) should try rock pooling and coastal foraging. Little ones will love searching for living treasure and seashells. Wembury in South Devon is one of the UK’s top rock pooling spots and the Wembury Marine Centre runs rockpool safaris for all ages. Expect to uncover fish, Velvet Swimming crabs, Cushion starfish and spawning Beadlet anemones.

Learn about marine life, types of seaweed and how the tides affect the environment on one of Really Wild’s family foraging courses on the Pembrokeshire coast. Or join one of the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s wardens on a ‘rockpool ramble’ in Kimmeridge Bay to discover everything the local seashore has to offer. Children will be taught how to look after marine life as they explore the pools teaming with sea creatures.