With the lighter evening and warmer weather the Social Paddling season has really got underway. We have two main locations, The Albany in Thames Ditton where we have four routes to choose from and The River Wey where there are five plus locations that we paddle from. We also have the Kingston, Weybridge and West London locations as well that run from time to time.

All the Social Paddles are Peer Paddles and are run by members who volunteer to be the meet and greet person. If you are a member and would like to volunteer to be one of these valuable volunteers, please contact us on Discord or via the contact form. You will not be responsible for the other paddlers, you will just be the person to meet and greet the other paddlers and discuss where to go.

The Socials are so rewarding. The evening ones after a long day are a perfect way to relax and take in the nature around you. Perfect for your Mental Health, Mindfulness and Wellbeing.

The Sunday Socials are a little different as depending on the group, they can head downstream to Kingston for Coffee or as we did the other weekend turn into a Mini-Safari, when we headed up the Rivers Mole and Ember. This is a little gem of a paddle and No Motorboats!

Come and join us on one of our Socials, we never leave anyone behind.

Ok, now I have your attention, you will have to read down to see if we went in 😎

As mentioned in a previous blog, Social Paddling is at the heart of what we do. We have a small but growing Group in West London, lead by Anna and Andy. They are out most weekends and one evening a week during the main Summer months, weather permitting.

On Spring Bank Holiday, a small group of adventurers decided to paddle on another part of the Grand Union Canal that was rarely visited. We met at Norwood Green Lock, Southall. Pumped up and headed West.

We had a following wind pushing us along at a go pace. Passed the back gardens of suburban homes, commenting on the variety of them all and how some embrace the Canal and some ignore it all together. This first stretch is a mix of suburban houses and flats.

Soon we were passing Southall Green with people out enjoying the weather and exercising. People walking along the towpath and interested to see us out on the water. I guess they don’t have many Paddleboarders out this way.

After the park we came to a more industrial area, where some of the old factories and warehouses were being replace with more blocks of flats. However, we were surprised to see that some recent blocks had ignored the canal and left the bank to return to nature and not use some of it as a resource for the residences.

Passed Hayes High Street we went and onward west. Google showed what appeared to be a café and a waterside pub. Being Surrey Paddlers we are spoilt by the wonderful waterside pubs we have. We missed the Woolpack Pub as it was high on the bank behind bushes, and nearly missed the Café. It too was high on the bank.

Helen went to investigate and came back to say it was closed and was just a Caf’ for the industial estate. So it was back to find the Woolpack. I hoped off my board and headed up the path and as soon as I saw the pub I laughed, took the picture below and returned to Helen, Anna and Stephen. I explained what I had seen and showed them the photo. If they were happy to go in, then who was I to stop them!!

After the hilarity had died down we decided that this time going into a Strip Club in full paddleboarding gear might not be the best thing to do 😁🤪

We headed back to Hayes High Street and stopped in at The Old Crown, and although they didn’t do food, they let us bring some in from one of the many shops in the excellent high street.

After lunch, it was just the small matter of paddling into the Easterly Wind, which wasn’t to bad and there was lots of shelter. Apparently, we did it in the same time as the Westward journey. We really must have enjoyed the SUP Sail in the morning ⛵🏄‍♀️

West London is an interesting and at times beautiful place to paddle. It can also be very urban. But it is never dull and I thoroughly recommend giving it a go and joining one of our West London Social Paddles over the Summer. Checkout the Calendar for details.

Social Paddling is at the heart of what we do at Dittons Paddle Boarding. It is fun and friendly. We never leave anyone behind and the faster paddlers tend to paddle around the slower ones. Sort of interval training.

This years main evening paddles have started later than normal, due to the abysmal Spring weather. However, the sun is slowly showing its face and we are getting out on the water and exploring the Water World around us.

We have started the Tuesday Evening Paddles from The Boaters Inn, next to the Kingston Rowing Clubhouse in Canbury Gardens, north Kingston. There is free parking on the road from 6.30pm. From here we can go either up or down stream. Both routes have their interest and we add in some of the backwaters and side channels for fun. Going up to Ravens Ait is always fun as we get to see the large sailing boats – Thames A-class Raters – flying about. Sometimes they come very close but never touch. They are very skilled sailors.

The Thursday evening Socials from our Home Base at The Albany have also started. Here we mainly head upstream to either the “Second Weir” and then down round The Island, Thames Ditton or up over the rollers to the Molesey – Sunbury section and paddle up to Hampton. In the early Autumn, the sunsets are amazing.

The other route we occasionally use in high summer, is to head up The Mole and onto The Ember. This is a totally different paddling experience.

We will be starting our Weybridge Wednesdays in the next couple of weeks. At this location there are at least 3 distinct routes and the most fun one on High Summer evenings is to head up to The Abbey Stream at Chertsey.

We also paddle from Thames Ditton on most Sunday Afternoon’s. If you haven’t been on one of our Social, then why not come and join us on the next one. Details by clicking below on the ‘Search by Date’ button.

What to do on a Beautiful Easter Sunday? Well go and explore the Brentford Branch of the Grand Union Canal. The Canal is part of the area of our West London Group. I had never been and had heard great things.

We parked in Trumpers Way, Hanwell, where there is free parking at certain times of the day. Please check the sign posts to make sure you don’t get a ticket. Once set up we walked down to the bridge and launched under the bridge. There is a low access point here.

Then it was down stream to Brentford. Initially the canal is quite Urban, but that quickly gives way to lightly wooded banksides and the birds that they attract.

There is plenty to see along the way, with narrow boats moored up and attractive bridges crossing the canal. The Spring sunshine had brought out the walkers and families. It was great to be out after all the March rain.

The route from Trumpers Way to Brentford has a couple of Locks to pass, with reasonable access to the water either side. After the last lock Brentford comes into view with it’s modern office blocks and pleasant parks. They are improving Brentford a lot with lots of new building taking place. A location to consider if wanting to move to West London.

We decided to stop in the Brentford Basin, which has been redeveloped into a marina with cafés and shops. The canal it’s self continues on for another kilometre or so to it’s junction with the River Thames. We had brought a picnic to make the most of the weather.

Finally, it was time to head back as there was decorating and gardening to be done and all those other Easter Sunday activities. It was a wonderful paddle and a route I will come back to with our West London Group.

If you are a paddler and would like to join our West London Group on an outing one evening over the summer, why not sign up to our Discord channel and get updates. They will also be posting on the club calendar very soon.

After a month of too much rain or freezing temperatures, finally the first weekend in February delivered a stunning Sunday. There was only a small group who met up at HQ, The Albany Pub, and headed out, upstream before lunch.

Apart from a couple of Skiffers from Ditton Skiff and Punting Club, we had the river to ourselves up to Molesey Lock. We headed up over the lock and continued passed a few junior ladies crews out of Molesey Boat Club.

When we got up towards Hampton Church and the location of our local AquaPaddle, we saw, I assume the local group of BlueTits out for their regular swim.

If you haven’t had a go at AquaPaddle, it’s a Free 5k Timed Social Paddle, a bit like “Parkrun”, open to anyone who paddles. You just need to sign up. Some of the Volunteers on the local one are from Dittons Paddle Boarding. If you haven’t tried it, you should , it’s great fun.

We paddled up round Platts Eyot and picked up a bit of a head wind on the way back down stream. By not the River was ours. No one else on the water. It was idyllic to be out on the water. Even the head wind dropped.

After a pitstop for a coffee from the Coffee Wagon in Hurst Park, we headed back towards Molesey lock via the other side of Taggs Island.

Over the lock, by the rollers and passed Hampton Court Palace, looking beautiful in the late Winter Sunshine. I wonder what Henry VIII would of thought about Paddle Boarding. I think the younger Henry would have loved it. Not so sure about the older one???

Finally back to HQ for a well earned Recovery Drink. They had Hogs Back Tea on tap. A lovely pint 😁

Why not check out the Calendar for our next Social. All Paddle Boarders welcome. There is a very small booking fee if you are not a member.