Europe’s largest natural harbour is an amazing location for all paddlers to spot wildlife, and appreciate its surrounding natural beauty. Depending on the weather and tides, there’s so many different experiences to be had. (No licence required for paddling in Poole Harbour).
Distance: 7km
Time: 2-3 hours
Sat Nav: BH15 4LR
What3Words: ///part.diner.laws
Find more routes and launch points on PaddlePoints >>
Dorset has so much to offer for paddlers, and it’s worth making it part of a longer trip.
We used the Sport Hotels website to find a bargain stay, in Bournemouth.
Paddle UK members get a special rate. Join today, and find out what other discounts you can get.
For our Poole paddle trail we parked at the Lake Pier surface car park (///part.diner.laws) which is next door to Poole Harbour Canoe Club.
There’s a public toilet at the site too, including an accessible loo operated by a RADAR key.
Poole has a great reputation for paddling, and depending on certain conditions, the harbour can offer shallow, sheltered waters ideal for all levels, particularly near Brownsea Island.
Our intention was to paddle from Lake Pier to the island, but after talking with members of Poole Harbour Canoe Club, we realised we had to change our plans.
There are a number of things to consider when planning a Poole trip.
You have to be careful of tides, winds, boat traffic, and know where the designated no-landing zones are so you don’t disturb wildlife.
On the day and time we visited, the forecast suggested 30mph winds, and the tide was coming in at 6 knots (11 km per hour).
These conditions meant we couldn’t use our trusty inflatable kayak, but thankfully the club helped us out by lending us sea kayaks.
They also plotted a route for us, and did a full safety briefing. And, kindly ventured out with us.
Local knowledge is so important to keep you safe.
Sea kayaks are ideal for tackling wind and tides due to their length, and narrow hull, which makes it easier to cut through the water.
It was tough battling the tide as we left the beach (///proper.learns.hops).
It took some effort to cross over to the Arne peninsula, but once we did, it offered some shelter and we enjoyed the calm as we bobbed about.
We saw some trees full of little egrets, and a huge flock of oyster catchers on the beach.
One of our party thought he saw an osprey which hunt in the harbour. White-tailed eagles have also been spotted in the area.
Things got choppier again as we continued to Round Island.
We paddled into the wind as we made our way around the private island.
There is a landing point across the channel just after Middlebere Lake, but is only available in the summer months.
Between October and March, landing is forbidden all along Arne due to overwintering birds.
After paddling back along the Arne shoreline, and with the wind behind us, we paddled back to Lake Pier.
You can launch from, and land at, Lake Pier all year round.
In terms of food and refreshments, The Yachtsman pub (BH15 4LW) is only a couple of minutes drive away.
Useful links
Poole Harbour Commissioners have also produced a Code of Conduct for paddleboarders >>
Watch our video series about essential safety tips for paddlers >>
General advice on how to stay safe on water >>
Pre-trip planning and on-the-water navigating – eLearning >>
Increase your knowledge of how tides can impact paddling – eLearning >>
Increase knowledge of weather forecasting for paddle trips – eLearning >>