Water sports
at sea or
in the valley
Paddleboarding in the Somme
Stand Up Paddle
WHAT?
Stand-up paddling, also known as SUP or Paddle, involves standing on a board and paddling forward. The activity can be practised at sea, on the river and its tributaries.
To paddle, you need :
- a board with a leash
- a paddle
- a life jacket
Then you’ll need to adapt the rest of your outfit to the weather: hat/cap and sun cream or windbreaker, swimsuit or sportswear, neoprene booties or closed-toe shoes.
Remember to bring a complete change of clothes for after the session!
Where can you paddle?
In the Bay of the Somme
Several resorts on the Picardy coast are ideal for paddleboarding.
Fort-Mahon , with its fine sandy beach, is a good place to start: visit the nautical base. In Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, the Cap-Hornu next to the town is a good place to launch. Note that the parking lot is covered with water in high coefficients. You can also practice at Mers les bains and Cayeux-sur-Mer , but beware: these are pebble beaches, so be careful when it’s high tide! For all these places, the leash is compulsory.
In the Somme Valley
The river is beautiful in its entirety, so the choice of site will really depend on your tastes: natural environments? more urbanized?
The fact is, each has its advantages. For paddling (and kayaking, for that matter), the advantage of locks is that there are pontoons upstream and downstream of each one. These are very practical for safe launching, and there’s usually parking nearby!
It’s possible to do round trips on the Somme, as at Long, or loops as at Amiens, Ailly-sur-Somme or Hangest-sur-Somme, for example. The Picquigny loop (leash forbidden for safety reasons) and its white waters are reserved for the most experienced!
Where can I rent a paddle?
- Canoe Kayak Club de Ham
- Bivouac on the Somme at Port de Cappy
- Loeuilly nautical base
- Gamaches Plein Air
- Tourist information office / Maison éclusière de Long
- Glisse-sensations at Mers-les-bains
- Ault beach point
- Cayeux-sur-Mer Sailing School
- Baie des Phoques Sea Kayaking and Va’a Club in Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme, France
Find a course or accompanied outing
- Base nautique de Loeuilly: initiation on the water or a challenge with friends!
- Base nautique de Picquigny: white-water courses, accompaniment recommended!
- Glisse-sensations at Mers-les-bains: initiation and improvement at sea, pebble beach and a few waves to surf depending on conditions!
- Cayeux-sur-Mer Sailing School : introductory and advanced courses at sea, on the pebble beach. Practice will be adapted to conditions!
