Paddleboarding spots in Buckinghamshire

This slipway launches into Woughton Marina, a basin off the Grand Union Canal between the canal and the River Ouzel near Woughton on the Green in Milton Keynes.

Caldecotte Lake put-in (Walton)

This second slipway also launches onto Caldecotte Lake, a balancing lake on the River Ouzel in the Walton area of Milton Keynes. The Parks Trust, which manages the lake, states that general public access is prohibited unless a paddler belongs to one of the resident watersports clubs or is attending a licensed event.

Caldecotte Lake put-in (Walton)

This slipway sits on Caldecotte Lake, a balancing lake on the River Ouzel in the Walton area of Milton Keynes, managed by the Parks Trust and used by MK Sailing Club, MK Rowing Club and MK Canoe Club. The Parks Trust states that general public access to the water is prohibited unless a paddler is a member of one of the clubs or attending a licensed event.

Stony Stratford put-in (River Great Ouse)

This slipway launches onto the River Great Ouse at Stony Stratford, where the river has crossed the historic Watling Street ford since Roman times and now runs under a rebuilt road bridge. The Environment Agency manages this stretch of the Great Ouse and requires paddlers to hold a waterways licence.

Canal

Lionhearts Cruising Club

Lionhearts Cruising Club is a canal boat club on the Grand Union Canal near bridge 79, close to the village of Great Linford in Milton Keynes. Its slipway and boatyard serve club members' narrowboats and cruisers rather than the general public.

Tongwell Lake put-in (Great Linford)

This slipway launches onto Tongwell Lake, a balancing lake in the Great Linford area of Milton Keynes, rather than onto the Grand Union Canal that also crosses the parish further west. The concrete access track runs down to the water's edge.

Willen Lake South put-in (Willen)

This second slipway sits a short distance along the same south-basin shoreline of Willen Lake, a roughly 40-hectare balancing lake in Milton Keynes. The Parks Trust's watersports centre nearby hires paddleboards and kayaks and allows visitors to launch their own craft during opening hours.

Willen Lake South put-in (Willen)

This slipway sits on the south basin of Willen Lake, a roughly 40-hectare balancing lake in Milton Keynes split into north and south basins by the A509. The Parks Trust's watersports centre on the south lake hires paddleboards and kayaks and lets visitors launch their own craft during opening hours.

Watermead Lake put-in

This slipway launches onto the lake at the centre of Watermead, a planned village on the edge of Aylesbury built from 1986. The lake was created deliberately as part of the village design, partly to manage the Vale of Aylesbury's naturally high water table, and today it is also a wildlife habitat.

Grebe Lake put-in (Great Moor Sailing Club)

This concrete slipway and floating pier serve Great Moor Sailing Club on Grebe Lake, a former brickworks pit near Calvert in north Buckinghamshire, next to the Calvert Jubilee nature reserve. The club is a members' sailing, paddling and fishing club rather than a public launch point.

Temple Lock Boat Rollers

Boat rollers for portaging small craft around Temple Lock on the River Thames, on the Buckinghamshire bank between Marlow and Hurley. The lock's weir runs to the opposite bank a short way upstream, and the site is reached only on foot along the towpath.

Marlow put-in

A slipway on St Peter Street in Marlow, on the River Thames close to Higginson Park and Marlow Lock. The lock's weir extends several hundred yards upstream, and the Thames Path runs along this bank through the park.

Temple Footbridge slipway

A slipway on the River Thames at Temple Footbridge, on the Buckinghamshire bank between Marlow and Hurley, close to Temple Lock and its weir. The Environment Agency requires a boat registration or equivalent Paddle UK membership to paddle this stretch of the non-tidal Thames.

Court Farm put-in (Dorney)

A slipway on the River Thames in the Dorney/Boveney reach, on the Buckinghamshire bank roughly 400 metres upstream of Boveney Lock. Dorney parish has the highest proportion of water of any Buckinghamshire parish, reflecting its long Thames frontage.

Boveney Lock Boat Rollers