Where to Try Watersports at the North East Coast
These are the North East experts who'll help you on your way this summer
KA Adventure Sports
This Beadnell-based watersports centre offer lessons and equipment hire in everything from stand-up paddle boarding to kite surfing and even wingsurfing – a fast-growing watersport which involves a board and handheld, inflatable wing. If you’re already a competent paddle boarder, join one of their stand-up paddle tours along the Northumberland coastline, spotting seals and wildlife on the way.
kaadventuresports.co.uk
Surf Northumberland
Surf Northumberland’s owners Chris and Emily discovered their passion for surfing through lessons with the company’s founder, Sally Cook, and later took over the company themselves. Most lessons are held at Newton Steads, at the south end of Beadnell Bay, and their expert instructors will guide you through the basics and help you master the art of surfing in no time – whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your skills.
surfnorthumberland.co.uk
Coquet Shorebase Trust
This is a community-based charity which aims to enhance people’s lives through water-based activity, and their watersports training helps fund their work. Lots of their sessions take place at Ladyburn Lake (at Druridge Bay) while their estuary canoe tours, sea-kayaking courses and coastal sailing courses are all run from Amble. Join one of their dawn canoe safaris and take the rising tide upstream before the rest of the world awakes, encountering the diverse range of wildlife at home on the river and its banks.
coquetshorebase.org.uk
Northside Surf
Founded in 2006, Northside Surf is celebrating 20 years in business on the Northumberland coast. This family-run company offers surf and stand-up paddle board lessons year round with qualified instructors. They’re based in Amble, but can offer lessons at beaches across Northumberland including Bamburgh and Cresswell. Choose a coastal paddle boarding tour or paddle up the river at Warkworth, and if you’re looking for a fun family activity, you could try one of their coasteering courses – exploring the rugged coastline at Howick while scrambling across rocks, through gullies and jumping off ledges and cliffs.
northside-surf-school.co.uk
Royal Northumberland Yacht Club
Based in Blyth South Harbour, Royal Northumberland Yacht Club is an RYA Training Centre running a full range of practical courses for those who are serious about learning to sail, including RYA Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, as well as RYA theory courses. Their iconic floating club house is the HY Tyne III, a Trinity House Light Vessel (LV50) built in 1879.
rnyc.org.uk
Tynemouth Surf Co
Operated from Tynemouth’s iconic Longsands Beach, Tynemouth Surf Co is an accredited Surfing England Centre of Excellence, proving surfing lessons to all ages and abilities, from beginners to advanced – and include vital water safety as part of their lessons. They also offer beginner SUP sessions.
tynemouthsurf.co.uk
CBK Adventures
Learn to kayak along the coast, explore the coves, caves and inlets of Cullercoats, the sea around St Mary’s Island or see the bridges over the Tyne and the Quayside from a whole new angle with a guided tour. Special, bespoke guided tours are available too, and why not book a session in their fabulous Finnish beach sauna at Cullercoats Bay to round things off?
cbkadventures.co.uk
Adventure Sunderland
This Roker-based outdoor activity centre offers everything from stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking to coasteering, surfing and body boarding. Their giant paddle board (which they like to call The Starship) has room for 10 people and offers the perfect shared challenge to build communication, teamwork and resilience. You can also go pier jumping at Roker with them, or book onto one of their fabulous sunrise paddle sessions.
sunmac.org.uk
Sailing North East
Based at Hartlepool Marina, this is a recognised RYA Sea School where you can learn to sail big boats. Their most popular course is the RYA Day Skipper/Competent Crew, and you’ll get proper certification on completion. They also operate a large, well-equipped ocean going yacht, and cruise extensively around the British Isles, across the North Sea and beyond, inviting guests to be fully involved in running the yacht – from watch keeping to setting sails, using navigation aides and passage planning.
sailingnortheast.com
Flow Surf School
Saltburn’s Flow Surf School offers lessons for all levels of surfers, from intensive group lessons to one-on-one sessions. Their surf and hire package includes a two-hour group session in the morning, and two-hour equipment hire in the afternoon so you can keep working on your skills.
driftsurfshop.co.uk
South Shields Surf CIC
Operating from Sandhaven Beach, this community interest company offers inclusive opportunities for beginner and experienced surfers. Kids between the ages of six and eight can take part in their Mini Surfers sessions, while ages eight to 16 can join a dedicated kids’ surf lesson, and there are regular sessions for adults too. Their brilliant holiday club takes kids aged eight upwards through a variety of water-based activities, from snorkelling to paddle boarding (and, of course, surfing) while developing essential water safety skills every step of the way. For those with additional needs or disabilities, their adaptive surf sessions provide extra support (including seated surfboards) so that everyone can make the most of the waves, and they also have a para-surf club.
southshieldsurf.co.uk
