Watersports
Canoeists near the Pinnacles, the Farne Islands © Gail Johnson/Fotolia.com
Messing About on the Water
With more than 150 miles of coastline and an extensive network of rivers, visitors have almost too much choice for watersport locations.
Coasteering, the marine equivalent of orienteering, is growing in popularity and the areas rugged shoreline is an ideal playground. Participants can move along the intertidal areas on foot or swim in rugged areas where water, waves, rocks, gullies and caves combine to provide a high-energy environment.
Also becoming more popular is the craft of flyaking – fly fishing in coastal waters and rivers. And, taking advantage of frequent windy conditions, the North East Kitesurf Club has been formed not only to bring together
Surfing along the Northumberland coast ©Ian Britton/freefoto.com
kitesurfers, but also to protect the county’s beaches. The club lists eight beaches between Budle Bay and Tynemouth where kiting is possible, but stresses that there are restrictions on where and when this can take place.
Diving is becoming hugely popular here, and specialist guides in Eyemouth and Seahouses offer courses and excursions.
Triathlons are also becoming a regular feature along the coastline and September 2011′s Newbiggin event – a 750m swim in the shallow bay behind the protective breakwater, followed by a three-lap, 23km bike ride and a two-lap 5.2km run along the promenade – was selected as an ETU World Championship qualifier for Eilat, Israel, in 2012.
Messing about on the water is almost considered a national pastime and the Coquet Shorebase Trust of Amble caters for all ages and abilities, providing water-based activities including windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, raft building and powerboating.
Canoeing is an option near Melrose, and so is sailing and surfing by the coast. Sailing and windsurfing are also available at Kielder Water, Derwent Reservoir and Tynemouth Sailing Clubs.
Merlin Brae Water Ski is a friendly, family-orientated club situated on Kielder Reservoir, offering water skiing and wakeboarding to members and non-members, beginners and advanced skiers, using fully qualified boat drivers and instructors.
“Messing about on the water is almost considered a national pastime”
Water skiing is also available through Newburn Ski Club. Also a welcoming, friendly, members-run club, operating on a picturesque stretch of the River Tyne, it caters for all levels from beginners upwards, in various water-based and skiing activities. New members and day visitors are welcome.
Surfers have a wide choice of venues and Tynemouth Surf Co offers professional coaching with safe, quality tuition in small groups. Lessons are for people of all ages and abilities.
The company caters for individuals, families, schools, parties and groups with surfing courses from a British Surfing Association (BSA) instructor and Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) beach lifeguard available on request.
Jet skiing off the Northumberland coast © Ian Britton/freefoto.com
Hawkhirst Scout Activity Centre is located within 200 square miles of Kielder Forest and owns a fleet of sailing dinghies, canoes and other craft. The centre has three units that are hired out on a full board basis and there is camping in specially cleared areas.
The River Tyne offers plenty of opportunities for watersports. The Tyne catchment area is one of Britain’s best canoe and kayak venues with a balanced mix of flat flowing water and more challenging sections.
The River Tyne, North Tyne, South Tyne, River Allen, Devils Water and other stretches are subject to the Tyne Access Agreement between the British Canoe Union and Tyne Riparian Owners and Occupiers Association and anyone intending to paddle should check with local access officers before setting out. Discretion is required when anglers are encountered.
The Tyne also has a long and proud history of rowing, with a number of clubs operating along the river. These include the Tyne, Hexham, Tynemouth and Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Clubs as well as those run by both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities.
There is also much to see underwater along the Northumberland coast and Marsden Dive Centre, South Shields, caters for every type of diver from the individual novice to advanced technical dive teams.
