It doesn't matter which part of the country you're visiting, getting out on the water to enjoy a spot of kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding is one of the top activities in Wales.
Wales is packed to the brim with picturesque coastlines, manmade and natural bodies of water, and hidden rivers, so it’s time you grabbed your watercraft and took in these aquatic wonders. Find out where the best spots to go kayaking and canoeing are below.
1. Fishguard Harbour on the Pembrokeshire Coast
Kayak hire: Kayak-King and Mayberry Kayaking
Parking: Lower Town, Fishguard Harbour
Tours: Kayak-King
Fishguard Harbour along the coast is the ideal spot to kayak if you’re hoping to spot a seal out on the open waters.
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Around the harbour you’ll spot a number of caves that you can enter into. Once inside you can test out the acoustics. Belt your all-time favourite song out and listen to how the cave responds - it’s quite something.
According to some locals, some of the caves have got such awe-inspiring acoustics that some choirs have even dropped in for a sing-song.
You can, of course, take to the choppy, open waters by yourself for this experience but you can also go with a dedicated tour company.
Kayak King Review: I took to the waters with Kayak King and can highly recommend them. Not only do the guides know their stuff about the landmarks around Fishguard Bay, but they have extensive knowledge about the birds and marine life we encountered.
It was very family-friendly and they taught you exactly how to use a kayak before we left. Even as a well-versed kayaker I picked up a few tips to improve my skills. See their tours here.
See my dedicated guide for more great things to do in Fishguard and Goodwick.
2. Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia
Kayak hire: Snowdonia Watersports Centre
Parking: Padarn Country Park
Tours: Paradise Adventures
Llyn Padarn is a designated Site of Special Scientific interest that is nestled in Snowdonia’s mountainous landscape. The Llyn runs along the southern banks of Llanberis, the village that is known for its Slate Museum, and towards the Padarn Country Park.
The lake itself is one of the biggest of its kinds in Wales, and is a popular kayaking spot, as well as a favourite fishing and swimming location for visitors and locals alike.
Although the water is generally calm, on windy days you can easily be swept to one side of the lake by gusts of wind. So, make sure you check the weather before you depart. In addition to this, the Llyn can be accessed by various people, so watch out for swimmers/fishing lines as you paddle freely.
Join Paradise Adventures: If you’d rather join an official tour group instead and learn about Llyn Padarn from an experienced professional, you can do so.
Paradise Adventures runs tours on the Llyn (approx 2 hours), and this is when you’ll get to see Mount Snowdon, take in the historical sights of Dolbadarn Castle, and the old mining works in the area. You’ll also get access to the gear you need. See their tour here.
3. Cardiff White Water Centre
Kayak hire: At the centre
Parking: At the centre
If taking to the open seas, canals and forestry waterways isn’t for you, you can pop up to Cardiff’s International Sports Village and try out kayaking at the International White Water Centre.
It’s the ideal, safe place to go to try out kayaking for the first time because you just keep doing laps. For more experienced paddlers, and based on the activity being held at the time, more waves and a stronger current can be added to the water to imitate a real white water rafting experience.
The centre is open to all individuals and you don’t have to be an experienced professional to join in with the activities. They also do several other activities including surfing and tubing.
4. River Teifi
Kayak hire: Heritage Canoes
Parking: Llechryd Bridge/The Welsh Wildlife Centre (if completing the tour)
Tours: Heritage Canoes
The River Teifi is one of Wales’ longest rivers. The seven-mile-long waterway worms its way from Llechryd, through dense forest and wooded areas, past the Welsh Wildlife Centre, and out towards the open sea of Cardigan.
On route, you’ll pass Cilgerran Castle, spot some deer, otters, kingfishers, dragonflies and plenty of aquatic life going about their everyday chores as you paddle by. You’ll also spy Cardigan Bridge, and eventually reach several ‘exit points’ including St Dogmaels, the pontoon near The Ferry Inn and Poppit Sands.
Overall the Teifi offers paddlers a gentle kayaking and canoeing experience that isn’t too technically demanding. The route really is quite a breathtaking, meditative experience, and you’ll soon find yourself being at one with nature.
Join a Tour: Alternatively, if you fancy taking a tour on the River Teifi you can go with Heritage Canoes, a company based at the Welsh Wildlife Centre that specialises in water-related activities for all experience levels.
The company runs from April through to September and is incredibly popular, so booking ahead is a must-do. As you tour around you’ll also get to learn a lot more about the area from an experienced guide, which is a bonus. The main draw of Heritage Canoe is, as it says in the name, the traditional type of canoe that you'll be using. Find out more here.
If you want more activities in the area, I've put together a dedicated guide on the best things to do in Cardigan.
5. Llangollen Canal and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Kayak hire: Tŷ Nant Outdoors
Parking: Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin Visitors Centre, Pavilion Car Park Horseshoe Falls or Froncysyllte
The Llangollen Canal is a 46-mile-long canal that runs between Wales and England. It’s most famously known for being the home of Thomas Telford’s feat of engineering, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is over 200-year-old, is the longest aqueduct in Britain and is the highest in the world. As you cross the River Dee atop the aqueduct, you’ll be surrounded by a green landscape that forms a thick blanket around you.
If you don’t have your own gear, it would be better to hire some gear from Tŷ Nant Outdoors and paddle from the visitors centre. However, keep in mind that you must have a licence to kayak along the Llangollen Canal. For more information about getting a special licence see Canoe Wales.
That's why many people choose to take a dedicated kayaking tour with Bearded Men Adventures who will provide all of the equipment and guide you along the route.
6. River Wye
Running through the Wye Valley in Mid-Wales, the River Wye is a great place for canoeing. You can begin your canoeing adventure in Glasbury where you can hire canoes from Celtic Canoes.
You can then hit the water and paddle downstream. If you take the half-day package, you’ll paddle for 2-3 hours and finish in Hay-on-Wye, or the full-day package includes 5-6 hours of paddling, ending further down the river at Whitney-on-Wye.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to paddle back up the river again afterwards. The package includes transport for you and the canoes back to the start point afterwards. It also includes the hire of the canoe and paddles, a lifejacket, and a dry bag to keep your gear safe throughout the day.
7. Llyn Gwynant in Snowdonia
Kayak hire: Llyn Gwynant campsite
Parking: Llyn Gwynant campsite
Llyn Gwynant near Beddgelert is a privately owned, natural lake that spans a whopping 113 acres
The Llyn itself is on the River Glaslyn in the Nant Gwynant Valley, so as you paddle from Llyn Gwynant campsite towards Llyn Dinas (approx a mile long), you’ll be able to bask in the sights of Moel Hebog.
If you’re an experienced paddler, you can continue along the water towards Beddgelert itself, but remember that your journey back to your starting point will be longer.
Generally, the route isn’t too long and you can have a leisurely kayak or canoe along the calm waterway. However, you ought to keep in mind that if you rent gear from the campsite then you have to take it back there. So if you start getting a tad tired as you paddle, be sure to start heading back.
As an interesting side note, it just so happens that the Llyn is where scenes for the Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle Of Life Film were filmed, so try and spot the shots from the movie as you paddle by.
8. Llangorse Lake near Brecon
Kayak hire: Lakeside Boat Hire
Parking: Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake is a natural lake that is about 340 acres and is just a short drive from the town of Brecon. It’s also a Site of Special Scientific Interest because a diverse and growing range of fish and other wildlife are seen in and around the lake.
The lake, nestled in the Brecon Beacons, is not too difficult to navigate and is relatively calm, so it’s ideal for inexperienced paddlers. However, because of its rich aquatic life and popular interest, it can be a hotspot for tourists. So, when paddling you’ve got to keep an eye out for fishing lines and other boaters.
As you paddle around you can soak in the sights of Crannog Island. A small man-made feature on the northside that is thought to be made from oak, soil and brushwood and stone. As well as the mountainous ranges of the Beacons that lay bare in front of you.
If you take your own kayak or canoe onto the lake you will need to buy a permit from the Lakeside Caravan Park Shop.
Other Notable Canoeing and Kayaking Spots in Wales
Here are a few extra canoeing and kayaking spots you could check out.
- Oxwich Bay: Alternatively, you could visit Oxwich in the Gower, and either take your own canoe or kayak out onto the open water, or hire your equipment from Oxwich Watersports. There’s ample parking in Oxwich and the bays are right by the sea!
ㅤ - Abersoch Harbour: Kayaks can also be hired from Hydro Abersoch located near the Llyn Peninsula. This is the perfect way to explore the beachy landscape of Abersoch. Parking is nearby and there is a fee.
ㅤ - Anglesey: If you're interested in doing some sea kayaking then Anglesey is the ideal spot (see photo below). You can either take your own craft out or hire some gear from Sea Kayaking Wales and go out with an instructor. There are lots of different spots to canoe or kayak around Anglesey, each with a different level of difficulty so make sure to check this map before you go.
Related Questions
Can I Kayak Anywhere in Wales?
No, you cannot kayak anywhere in Wales as there are rules and restrictions in place to prevent this from happening. For example, you cannot kayak on private waterways, you need special permits/memberships to kayak in certain spots, and in some cases, it’s too dangerous to kayak in a particular space.
Do I Need a Licence to Kayak in Wales?
No, you don't need a licence to kayak in Wales in most lakes or in the open sea. However, some waterways in Wales so require you to have a licence, for example on canals owned by the Canal and River Trust.
You can find out which routes require a licence, and you can discover more about getting a licence (or a membership), by visiting the Canoe Wales website.
Can You Kayak on A Reservoir in Wales?
Yes, you can kayak on some reservoirs in Wales, provided you are a part of the Passport Scheme, if it applies, or you have been granted access because you are part of an organised group (an instructor oversees the activities out on the reservoir).
You would need a Passport to kayak on the following reservoirs in Wales: Usk, Pontsticill, Pentwyn and the Beacons.
Published: 29 September 2022 · Last updated: 23 August 2023