Perfect for Paddling
Here is the guide you need for the summer months; every walk in this collection has a space where children can access the river and dip in their toes!
We always pack a light pair of Crocs and a small towel in the backpack as it can be stony on the riverbeds and kids will need dry feet when they want their walking shoes back on.
Paddling Around the New Forest
A shallow ford in the River Lymington provides the paddling on this walk around a woodland nature reserve with stunning bluebells.
The main paddling on this walk is at Dockens Water near a family-friendly pub and huge sand pit. But follow the walk and you will find even more paddling spots along the way!
The widest, shallowest ford we know, and if that wasn’t enough, the adjacent park has its own paddling pool too!
This easy to follow New Forest trail has a little stop half way where children can play off the side of a footbridge at Bratley Water.
Perhaps one of the most well-known paddling walks in the New Forest, it isn’t hard to see why families love coming here. There are multiple points to paddle and usually an ice-cream van in the car park too.
Paddling in Hampshire
Although this is a canal walk, it is a large ford in the Lightwater River that provides the paddling on this route.
Just on the edge of town is this public open space where the River Wey starts its journey. Kids can take off their shoes and dip their toes from the edge of the path.
There are little areas where children can access the River Wey throughout this green space, but our favourite is where some DIY rope swings have been made.
There aren’t many places where children can spash in the River Meon, so this picnic spot on the edge of Wickham is very popular. If the river is high enough, children can actually swim here too.
The land around the gorgeous village of Selborne is owned by the National Trust and it provides two exceptional walks. On this one, children can play in Oakhanger Stream.
This woodland walk circumnavigates three large ponds, but save those for the ducks. Children will want to do their paddling in the river as it exits the ponds at the bottom.
We always call this the ‘secret park’ because unless you are following our route guide, you would probably never know it was there. There is a lovely play area and shallow access to the River Meon.
This is a gorgeous walk along the River Itchen with a little ford where children can paddle and a family-friendly pub with a riverside garden.
This walk would probably win the award for the greatest number of interesting way points, one of which is this little spot where children can balance on the branches and maybe splash in the water.
Follow this walk down to St.Clair’s Meadow, a nature reserve by the River Meon and then finish with a stop at the village pub.
Children can access the River Meon at a wide, shallow ford on this walk around Droxford and then stop for cake at the little café in the church.
Our children love this walk just on the edge of Basingstoke, there are two play areas, ducks to feed and a little stream to play in.
Paddling spots don’t get much better than this one with crystal clear, shallow water. Make sure to use our guide to find the nearby play area too.
There are a few spots to paddle on this linear walk with a riverside pub, but the best one is the large ford at Houghton.
Paddling in West Sussex
The ultimate paddling area, Southwater Country Park has its own inland beach! Combine with a trip to Dinosaur Island play area and you’ve got a brilliant day outdoors.
Bosham is one of the prettiest places in West Sussex for a coastal walk and our children love playing in this stream, where there are little stone steps to help them into the water.
Two wooden footbridges in a public open space make this an ideal place for children to play before embarking on our walk to The Crown and Anchor pub at Dell Quay.
Paddling in Surrey
In summer, the banks of the River Tillingbourne in Abinger Hammer are full of picnicking families enjoying the river access and the little play area. Come on Sundays, and you can often watch a game of cricket too!
Hidden in woodland where remnants of an industrial past wait to be discovered, is a designated paddling area in the River Tillingbourne.
In land-locked Surrey, Frensham Great Pond is about as close as you will get to a swimming beach! It is incredibly popular in the summer though, so plan your trip for quieter times of the day.
Beside the Medieval bridge in Tilford, children can get quite deep into the river. They will also enjoy walking to the magical ruins of Waverly Abbey.
The reward for this walk around the gorgeous village of Shere may be ice-creams, the play area or perhaps the series of shallow fords as you return to the village.