10 great UK canoe and paddleboarding trips with a pub pitstop

A tranquil river or coastal paddle – with lunch at a waterside pub to refuel – makes a delightfully relaxing day trip

The South Downs around the gorgeous town of Alfriston isn’t short of nice pubs, some of which can be reached by paddling along the River Cuckmere. Buzz Active runs kayak tours along the river from its outdoor centre on the banks between Eastbourne and Seaford. One heads upriver with the tide to Alfriston, following the Cuckmere meanders – ribbon-like bends – through the Cuckmere valley, passing pretty villages and the chalk white horse on a hillside near Litlington. The trip takes 4-5 hours with time for a lunch stop at the 17th-century Plough and Harrow in Litlington, which always has six real ales on tap. Or you can push on to Alfriston, wandering up the High Street to the George Inn, one of several pubs here. Those who don’t want to go so far can hire a kayak to explore the meanders for an hour or so then walk to the Cuckmere Inn in Seaford.
• Tour to Alfriston from £36pp, buzzactive.org.uk