If you want to reduce the amount of stress in your life, take a break on the water. Canoeing gently along a calm river is a glorious way to unplug… especially since you won’t be able to check your emails!
Prefer a stand-up paddleboard (SUP)? You get to combine all the stress-busting with looser-fitting clothes, as the average person can burn anywhere up to 550 calories in just a hour of SUP-ing. Meanwhile, kayaking takes sustained focus that feels almost like meditation, offering the kind of mental clarity that can be hard to come by.
Complete with owner tips and information, these unusual retreats each boast access to a body of water that’s ideal for these magical activities, in a reviving holiday that promises to wash your cares clean away.
Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Malting Farm, Essex
Cwmtydu, Ceredigion, Wales
An award-winning, architect-designed boathouse in Cwmtydu, sleeping up to twelve people across three pods, right on the Welsh Coast Path
Bedrooms: 3 pods (4 bunks each)
Sleeps: 12
Our boathouse is a minute's walk from Cwmtydu, a sheltered cove on the Ceredigion coast with seals in the bay, where guests can launch kayaks and paddleboards straight from the beach – and store their own boats on site.
Little Bentley, Essex, England
A small and idyllic escape, secluded on a 300-acre family-run farm in North Essex, you will find three oak-framed cabin retreats with private hot tubs, that offer a little something for everyone.
The farm has a private lake for paddleboarding and wild swimming, right next to your cabin. Locally, the rivers are incredible for paddleboarding or kayaking too, with the nearby sea also fantastic for wingfoiling.
Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales
A charmingly hand-built cabin that's dog-friendly, off-grid, and set in an idyllic Welsh meadow corner, achingly close to historic Cardigan and with the added option of an immersive therapy retreat to help you face life’s challenges
Being a mere three-minute drive to the River Teifi, which runs through the Teifi Marshes and Nature Reserve, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing are really popular (with hire and lessons in season) Locals often report sightings of otters, and I have seen many kingfishers, herons, cormorants and egrets myself while kayaking there.
Manshausen, Leinesfjord, Steigen, Norway
Start your Nordic adventure story on this breathtaking island resort, where the sea and the mountains combine in a spectacular backdrop for relaxation, contemplation and activity alike.
Bedrooms: 2 per cabin
Sleeps: 4
Enjoy kayaking with or without a guide, with plenty of single and double kayaks (as well as paddles and life jackets!) on hand. Dedicated kayakers can even take a group course on site, and earn a “våtkort” certification from the Norwegian Canoe & Kayaking Association (NPF).
Isleornsay, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Rest your weary heads in a dreamy lighthouse cottage, blissfully cast away on a soul-soothing private island off the rugged Isle of Skye.
The waters around our retreat are perfect for paddleboarders, particularly on the inland side – at high tide, you can paddleboard all the way back to the pub! At low water, explore the neighbouring islands and spot wildlife along the shore.
Little Baddow, Essex, England
An idyllic, dog-friendly couples’ retreat, peacefully set right by the shimmering water’s edge in Little Baddow with private mooring and easy access to bustling Chelmsford City.
We have private mooring for your own direct paddleboard launch onto the river.
Lewdown, Devon, England
Romantic and restorative eco-retreats, lovingly hand-crafted and nestled on a shimmering Devon farm lake, with an on-site vineyard and hammocks suspended over the water for the ultimate in digital-free luxury
Our off-grid pods float right on the lake, where guests can take a wild swim right from the door. Each pod also comes with its very own canoe.
Ballingham, Herefordshire, England
A luxurious collection of family and dog-friendly canvas cottages with private hot tubs, beautifully nestled amongst rolling Herefordshire countryside with soothing views of the River Wye.
Bedrooms: 3 per tent
Sleeps:
Nature's Nest is the perfect place for a paddleboard adventure! Private access to the River Wye is moments away, with no licence needed. We also have SUPs to hire if you don't have your own.
Brightlingsea, Essex, England
Sleep under the stars, aboard a vintage vessel berthed in the historic heart of Brightlingsea Harbour, with full on-board facilities and the option of a chartered Sail Excursion along the North Essex coast.
We have the ideal retreat for SUP stays, located in Brightlingsea with direct access to the water for canoeing and kayaking, too. (Oh, and we’re also refreshingly off-grid!).
Wroxham, Norfolk, England
A timber framed, architect-designed scenic haven that provides total immersion in the serene beauty of the Norfolk Broads.
Explore the Norfolk Broads from Backwater in our Canadian canoe, which you can launch directly onto the water from a private jetty. Slip silently through tree-lined waterways, discovering the Broads at your own pace.
St Ives, Cornwall, England
Innovative glamping pods with stargazing roofs, secluded in a leafy hilltop hideaway with stunning views of St Ives Bay.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 4 or 5 per pod
Enjoy easy paddleboarding at Carbis Bay, a calm and beautiful sheltered beach located just 1.5 miles from Wildflower Wood. SUP hire and professional lessons are both available on the beach.
Nr Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, England
A unique and luxurious houseboat for grand, dog-friendly group stays on Cornwall’s dreamy south coast, with ocean-view decking and a laid-back studio for movie nights, games and yoga.
As a houseboat, conveniently we’re right on the water! – and we provide paddleboards and kayaks for guests to explore at their own leisure.
Poole, Dorset, England
Three scenic cottages set on a 15-acre, family-owned private island in Poole Harbour, with a sheltered sandy beach, resident peacocks, and idyllic views of flourishing birdlife for the ultimate digital detox.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 21
Bring your own paddle boards, kayaks and watersports equipment, and enjoy access from our safe beaches to everything Poole Harbour has to offer.
Doncaster, Nottinghamshire, England
Two stylish and romantic couples' cabins, each with their own private hot tub, soothingly secluded on a magical Nottinghamshire woodland site that features a wood-burning sauna and a barbecue cabin.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2 per cabin
We have direct access to the adjacent Chesterfield Canal. Guests can bring their own paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes, or hire our rowing boat to enjoy life on the water.
Lee, Devon, England
A characterful, dog-friendly cottage nestled on the cliffs above Lee Bay Beach, with superlative ocean views and the South West Coast Path practically on the doorstep.
We are right on the coast in Lee Bay, with Active Escape offering SUP-ing in the bay – ideal if you’re a beginner.
Selsey, West Sussex, England
Prepare for a first-class holiday at stunning Seabank - a railway carriage retreat on the southernmost point of West Sussex.
Seabank could not be closer to the sea if it tried (the clue is in the name!). Perfect for paddlers and kayakers, as well as many other watersports.
Chathill, Northumberland, England
A laid-back and lovely Northumberland beach retreat, with a relaxing sun room and a dune-sheltered garden that boasts direct access to the beautiful Beadnell Bay.
Beadnell Bay is west-facing, sheltered and shallow, so perfect for everything from body boarding and kayaking to kite surfing, SUP and foiling.
Tessungdalen, Telemark, Norway
Experience the simple pleasures of natural Norway up close, from the pure comfort of hand-built, off-grid retreats that let the beauty of nature speak loudly for itself
Kayak on the unspoilt river right by our nature camp, in the picture-perfect Norwegian forest of Telemark.
St Ives, Cornwall, England
A trio of breath-taking family-and-dog-friendly retreats infused with history, luxury and artistic inspiration, each with a hot tub and beautifully secluded directly on Cornwall’s award-winning Porthkidney Sands.
Bedrooms: 2 or 4 per house
Sleeps: 20
We do SUP straight from the doorstep! Our location is a top destination for all things watersports, too.
Loch Lundie, The Highlands, Scotland
A luxurious, blissfully remote and award-winning retreat with a wraparound deck, a sunken hot tub and a private pier, secluded on the edge of its own shimmering loch for spellbinding Scottish Highland views.
Our retreat is nestled on the edge of a scenic loch, so just perfect for paddle boarding, kayaking and fishing.
Migdale, Scottish Highlands, The Highlands, Scotland
Two sumptuous five-star cabins with private stargazing hot tubs, blissfully nestled in the rural heart of the Scottish Highlands close to the iconic North Coast 500 route.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2
Our retreat overlooks a fantastic paddleboarding loch, a mere two-minute drive away.
Pagham, West Sussex, England
A soothing coastal retreat with a Victorian railway carriage at its heart, perfect for families and friends and opening straight onto Pagham Beach.
Stay directly on the beach at Paglesham, with a double kayak provided for exploring the historic Mulberry Harbour.
Loch Ken, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Off-grid lochside eco-retreat featuring beautiful bothies with private hot tubs, Mongolian yurts and more - plus a wide range of exciting on-site activities.
Bedrooms: up to 2 per unit
Sleeps: varies
Each of our bothies comes with a dedicated kayak for making the most of the beautiful, surrounding Loch Ken.
Nr Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
Spectacular family and dog-friendly sanctuaries with al fresco hot tubs, surrounded by nature in the heart of the Trossachs, right on the shore of the shimmering freshwater loch.
Bedrooms: 2 or 3 per lodge
Sleeps: 4 or 6 per lodge
Rent a paddleboard, kayak or canoe from Roll Outdoors, who can also deliver equipment.
Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire, Wales
A mind, body and soul-soothing escape in a historic Welsh village that breathes with nature, set within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-5 per unit
We have private access to the Cleddau river… the secret waterway from the Irish Sea to Haverfordwest is an extraordinary natural habitat for otters, seals, birds and marine life. The river itself is a paradise for kayakers and paddleboarders, as not only are the waters safe and scenic, but there are plenty of places to eat and drink.
