Paddleboarding spots in Gloucestershire

This slipway crosses tidal mudflats onto the Severn Estuary at Severn Beach, a shoreline village between the Second Severn Crossing and Avonmouth. The estuary carries one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, and the foreshore here forms part of the Severn Estuary SSSI, SAC and SPA, designated for its intertidal habitats and wintering birds. Older accounts describe the slip itself as a decayed wooden structure set in deep estuary mud.

Sea

Oldbury Pill slipway

This slipway lies on Oldbury Pill, a tidal creek off the Severn Estuary near Oldbury-on-Severn, within the grounds of Thornbury Sailing Club. The club's access gate is kept locked, with entry arranged in advance, and sailing is limited to roughly two hours either side of high water because of the estuary's very large tidal range.

Lake

Cromhall Quarry put-in

Cromhall Quarry, also known as Slickstones Quarry, is a flooded former limestone quarry near the village of Cromhall in South Gloucestershire, reaching depths of around 17 to 18 metres. Since 2020 it has been run by South West Maritime Academy as "The Lake", offering bookable open water swimming, diving and paddleboarding sessions, with entry from a sloping former quarry road and a pontoon.

Westbury-on-Severn put-in (Forest of Dean)

This slipway is on the tidal River Severn by the A48 at Chaxhill, on the edge of Westbury-on-Severn village. OpenStreetMap records it only as a bare slipway with no further tags.

Tewkesbury put-in (Mitton, north)

This slipway sits on the River Avon (the Warwickshire, or Shakespeare's, Avon) at Mitton on the northern edge of Tewkesbury, around 300 metres upstream of a second slipway on the same reach (node/1057565493). The Avon Navigation Trust manages this stretch of river down to its confluence with the Severn at Tewkesbury.

Tewkesbury put-in (Mitton)

This slipway sits on the River Avon (the Warwickshire, or Shakespeare's, Avon) at Mitton on the northern edge of Tewkesbury, a short distance upstream of the river's confluence with the Severn. The Avon Navigation Trust manages this stretch of river as far as that confluence.

Strachan's Close Slipway

Strachan's Close Slipway, off Chestnut Lane near Caincross Road in Stroud, is the only trailer access into the navigable Phase 1A section of the restored Stroudwater Navigation, which runs from Ocean Basin at Stonehouse to Bowbridge Lock. It is a steep slipway, free to use, secured with a chain and padlock needing a Canal & River Trust WaterMate key, with three canal-user parking spaces nearby.

Open water

Slimbridge put-in (Stroud)

This pier and slipway sit inside the WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, a paid wildlife reserve between the River Severn and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The centre runs a fee-paying Canoe Safari along a kilometre of its internal wetland channels rather than giving open access to the Severn.

Sandhurst put-in (Tewkesbury)

This slipway is on the non-tidal River Severn at Sandhurst, on the east bank opposite Ashleworth Quay, where a ferry linked the two villages until it closed in the 1950s. The Gloucester-to-Stourport reach is managed as a navigation, and the Canal & River Trust requires unpowered craft to hold a licence.

Pendrose Farm put-in (Forest of Dean)

This slipway launches onto the tidal River Severn near Chaxhill, close to Westbury-on-Severn, next to the farm that gives the put-in its name. OpenStreetMap records only a bare slipway tag with no further detail.

Newland put-in (Forest of Dean)

A slipway on the River Wye within Newland civil parish in the Forest of Dean, close to Bigsweir Bridge. The reach lies inside the stretch running from Hay-on-Wye down to Bigsweir over which the Environment Agency is the navigation authority.

Lake

Mallards Pike Lake

Mallards Pike Lake is a Forestry England lake in the Forest of Dean near Parkend, set beside waymarked walking and running trails. Forestry England restricts the lake to organised, pre-booked groups with public liability insurance for canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding or raft building; individuals may not launch their own craft or swim.

Sea

Lydney Slip

Lydney Slip is the slipway at Lydney Harbour on the Severn Estuary, leased along with the harbour by Lydney Yacht Club. The harbour sits at the mouth of Lydney Pill on the estuary's eastern shore, which has the second-highest tidal range in the world.

Lydbrook put-in (Forest of Dean)

A slipway on the River Wye near Lydbrook, on the reach an OpenStreetMap contributor mapped between Kerne Bridge and Monmouth. The stretch lies within the section of the Wye that runs from Hay-on-Wye to Bigsweir Bridge, for which the Environment Agency is the navigation authority.

Lydbrook Fisheries Landing Stage

A landing stage on the River Wye at Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean, mapped as a private slipway serving Lydbrook Fisheries. This reach sits within the stretch between Hay-on-Wye and Bigsweir Bridge for which the Environment Agency is the navigation authority.

St John's Lock put-in, Lechlade

This slipway stands beside St John's Lock on the River Thames, about a mile downstream of Lechlade-on-Thames and reachable from St John's Bridge on the A417. Built in 1790, St John's is the furthest upstream lock on the Thames, and the river above it is normally considered the end of the navigable, lock-controlled stretch.

Lechlade Marina slipway

This slipway sits at Lechlade Marina, right by the head of navigation on the River Thames in the Cotswold market town of Lechlade-on-Thames. The marina's concrete slipway takes trailered boats, canoes and paddleboards, with parking on site a short walk from the town centre. Above St John's Lock, a mile or so upstream, the Thames becomes an uncontrolled, unlocked river.

Kings Barton put-in (Gloucester)

This slipway opens onto the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal within the Kings Barton development on the north-eastern edge of Gloucester city centre. OpenStreetMap tags it as a free, canoe-designated slipway with a plastic surface, not suited to trailers.

Highnam put-in (Tewkesbury)

This slipway sits on Over Basin, a restored watered section of the historic Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal on the edge of Gloucester near Highnam and Over. The canal opened in 1798 and closed in 1885; the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust has since reinstated this basin alongside the Wharf House building.

Hewelsfield and Brockweir put-in (Forest of Dean)

A slipway on the River Wye at Brockweir, on the Gloucestershire bank at the highest point normally reached by the tide. Paddlers taking out on the east bank just above Brockweir Bridge find a muddy landing at low tide, easing near high water, and this stretch falls under the tidal navigation overseen by the Gloucester Harbour Trustees.

Frampton on Severn put-in (Stroud)

This launch point is on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal off Whitminster Lane, near Frampton on Severn and a short distance from Saul Junction. OpenStreetMap's edit history notes pontoons and footways added at the site; the canal opened in 1827 and takes vessels up to 600 tons.

Elmore put-in (Stroud)

This slipway sits on the tidal River Severn at Weir Green, on the east bank near the village of Elmore, between Gloucester and Newnham. OpenStreetMap tags it as a private slipway rather than a public launch.

Eastington Slipway

Eastington Slipway sits just off the A419 roundabout on the Stroudwater Navigation, part of the Cotswold Canals, above Pike Lock. It has a gentle incline suitable for most trailers and is free to use, though a chain and padlock require a Canal & River Trust WaterMate key.

Deerhurst put-in (Tewkesbury)