Full day guided SUP adventure in Sussex on the River Arun
Reconnect with nature in a beautiful tranquil setting
Learn new SUP skills and build confidence on the board
Guided experience with SUP instructor
Stand up paddleboard, paddle and dry bags provided
Wild swimming is encouraged!
Accessible by train and public transport
Meet new friends - 95% of our guests join solo
SUSSEX SUP Adventure
Join Gutsy Girls for our River SUP Adventure in West Sussex, a full day of stand up paddleboarding starting at the medieval town of Arundel through the South Downs National park, weaving through beautiful countryside, connecting with nature and adopting the gentle pace of the river.
This is a full day paddleboarding, created for those who’ve paddled a few times before. It’s an excellent opportunity to build your confidence on the board and cover longer distances in a super fun and welcoming environment. If you’ve never paddleboarded before, we ask you to please have a lesson before joining our longer day paddles, once you’ve mastered the basics the paddleboarding adventure opportunities are endless!
Our SUP Day Adventures are a great escape from the busyness of everyday life. We encourage our attendees to join solo for a chance to meet new like-minded women and create new connections and friendships. We’ve chosen locations with easy access from London by train and public transport, getting you out of the city and exploring the beautiful countryside in the company of new friends.
THE PADDLE
We start this paddle in the picturesque medieval market town of Arundel, with its magnificent castle and cathedral set high on the hills overlooking the historic town. Paddling with the tide, we’ll wind through Sussex Downs National Park. With the absence of roads, this is a tranquil paddle with beautiful views of rolling hills and quaint villages.
The wildlife along the river banks, and the flood plain create the perfect wetland for a variety of birds, we’ll keep our fingers crossed of sightings of herons, the blue flash of kingfishers, kestrels and maybe even a friendly seal or two!
We’ll take a break on the river bank at the pretty village of Amberly for a slice of cake and a hot drink prepared by our guide on the Kelly Kettle! Bring a packed lunch for a picnic by the side of the river and maybe if you fancy it, a wild swim.
After our break, we’ll continue our paddle on the river under the bridge carrying the South Downs Way footpath and through Pulborough Brooks Nature reserve to our exit at Swans Bridge.
SUP EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
We’ll paddle for 5-6 hours, paddling at a comfortable and relaxed pace to take in the beautiful scenery.
Basic paddleboarding skills are required, so please join us after you’ve had a lesson or two, and feel confident paddling around 20 km downstream.
LOCATION
This adventure is perfect for those looking to escape the city and immerse themselves in nature. With easy access by train to Arundel from London and other UK cities, our launch site is a 15-minute walk from the station. This is an A to B adventure, you can choose to catch a train from Pulbough or we’ll transport you back to Arundel.
The timings of this adventure change depending on the tide, you may have time to explore Arundel castle before the adventure or walk around Pulborough Nature Reserve. You make a weekend of it and spend a night and day exploring the beautiful area.
Come solo!
Gutsy Girls creates fun, friendly and welcoming spaces for all women to connect in nature!
We know first hand how hard it can be to organise things with friends with busy schedules, or maybe your friends aren’t into the same activities as you!
We encourage everyone join us solo to meet new friends. Over 90 % of our attendees come on their own!
Once you book in, you’ll be invited to a Whatsapp group to meet your fellow Gutsy Girls for this adventure, so you can plan to travel together.
WHAT’S INCLUDED £99
Full-day guided stand up paddleboarding
Expert SUP coaching from a qualified instructor
Stand Up Paddleboard and paddle hire included.
Small group experience, created for solo adventurers!
5-6 hours of paddleboarding
Hot drink and cake
Transfer back to start point
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The meeting point is in Arundel, West Sussex, at Mill Road Car Park at the back of the Waterside Tea Rooms.
The nearest post code is BN18 9PA.
It is a 15 minute walk from Arundel train station. There are toilet facilities in the car park.
A taxi is provided to take you back to the launch point at the end of the paddle, or you can catch the train from Pulborough station (6 mins walk from our get out point).
PARKING
There is parking on site for £5 a day.
Please note that this is a car park with a height barrier that closes at 6 pm. (The height barrier is not a problem if you are in a car or small van).
IMPORTANT: There is an overflow car park which is used at busy times, but this also closes at 6 pm. If you are in the overflow after 6 pm you are stuck there.
Please ensure you are not in this section of the car park if the event you're booked on will return to the start point after 6 pm. Arrive early if necessary.
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Our meeting and finishing times vary depending on the event date as we need to take account of the tide times.
Our meeting and finishing times vary depending on the event date as we need to take account of the tide times.
Please find the timing information for the specific date you have booked below.
2024 Timings:
Sun 23 June: Meet 10:00
Off the water 16:30
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Sun 7 July: Meet 10:30
Off the water 17:00
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Sat 24 August: Meet 12:00
Off the water 18:30
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Please note: If you are driving, please ensure you do not park in the overflow section of the car park as this closes at 6 pm and you will be stuck there. Arrive early if necessary.
This is also the weekend of the Arundel festival so it gets very busy. We recommend rail travel only or getting there early if travelling by car.
Sat 7 September: Meet 11:00
Off the water 17:30
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Please note: If you are driving, please ensure you do not park in the overflow section of the car park as this closes at 6 pm and you will be stuck there. Arrive early if necessary.
Sun 8 September: Meet 11:30
Off the water 18:00
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Please note: If you are driving, please ensure you do not park in the overflow section of the car park as this closes at 6 pm and you will be stuck there. Arrive early if necessary.
Sat 21 September: Meet 11:30
Off the water 18:00
Taxi back to the start 30mins
Please note: If you are driving, please ensure you do not park in the overflow section of the car park as this closes at 6 pm and you will be stuck there. Arrive early if necessary.
Please aim to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of our meeting time, as we need to be on the river on time due to the tides and taxi collection at the end of the paddle.
Please make every effort to arrive on time; to be fair to the group we cannot wait for latecomers.
If you do have issues with your journey, please let us know via the WhatsApp group.
You could arrange to enjoy a drink or dinner together before heading home.
Finish Times
We aim to start paddling about half an hour after the designated meeting time, and should finish about 6 hours later.
Please be flexible with return travel plans as our end timings can depend on the group and pace.
The taxi back to the start takes about 30 mins.
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You must have previous paddleboarding experience before joining us.
We will be paddling for 5-6 hours, covering about 20km.
• You must have had a formal lesson from a SUP instructor
• Feel confident in your ability to paddleboard all day
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WE PROVIDE:
• Stand up paddleboard, paddle and (PFD) personal floating device.
• Small dry bag
We do not offer discounts if you wish to use your own equipment.
YOU SHOULD BRING:
• Water (we recommend 1.5-2l)
• Packed lunch
• Snacks to keep your energy up
• Suncream
• Card/money for our refreshment stop.
• Change of clothes incase you fall in.
• Shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
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Dress appropriately for the weather for your adventure.
We recommend sportswear that is fast drying.
Swimwear incase you’d like to swim.
A cap or sunhat is recommended.
We will paddle in trainers, wetsuit booties, water shoes or barefoot.
You will need to bring shoes with you on the board for any portages.
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The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-70+ years old, we never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years olds, with around 60% in their 30s-40s.
We can’t stress enough that your age doesn’t matter for our adventures! You’ll leave our trips with a group of great new friends, whatever your age.
FAQ
Please check our FAQs below before contacting us.
We are a small business receiving a high volume of emails and messages each day. It is very likely that your question has been asked before so we’ve included them all below. If you don’t find an answer, please drop us an email!