Gayle heads to Knockburn Loch in the heart of Royal Deeside for a spot of paddleboarding.
The sun breaks through the clouds and a light breeze causes ripples to form on the surface of the glassy water.
I’m on a paddleboard in the middle of Knockburn Loch and, by some miracle, I haven’t toppled in.
In less than an hour, instructor Jason Topley’s had me turning, twisting, reversing and in his own words, “looking cool”, and despite some serious wobbling, I’ve yet to get anything other than my feet wet.
It’s not that I’m an amazing paddleboarder – heck, no! It’s more to do with the fact that Knockburn is an ideal spot to learn the sport and hone your skills.
It’s calm, sheltered and free of hazards such as jellyfish and huge waves and I’m reliably informed there are no pike lurking (oh, those scimitar-like teeth!) but I do notice a few fish jumping.
I’m on an inflatable board which, incredibly, deflates into a rucksack, meaning you can take it with you on your travels, as Jason frequently does.
My board – which is like a surfboard but longer, wider and more buoyant – is tethered to one of my legs to ensure it doesn’t float off and disappear, but Jason warns me the paddle might sink if I’m not quick to grab it.
Having paddleboarded a few times in the past – at Stonehaven Harbour, on Clunie Loch, Loch Faskally, Loch Lomond and on a river in Florida – I’d imagined I’d be reasonably decent at the sport.
And while it’s a wee bit like riding a bike – once learned, never forgotten – if you’ve not done it for a while, the tendency can be to tense up.
The worst bit, for beginners, is progressing from a kneeling position to standing up, although some folk are happy enough to remain kneeling.
As it’s been at least a year since I last paddled, I stand up very shakily, my legs quivering, and assume an unflattering, hunched stance.
But Jason, a jolly, happy, friendly chap, is full of encouragement.
“Well done – you’re a natural!” he enthuses. “That’s brilliant balance!”
Back on dry land, he had shown me a cool wee paddling technique – basically, a flick of the wrist.
If you master this gentle, sweeping manoeuvre, it avoids splashing and makes the whole business look smooth and streamlined.
It also enables you to approach wildlife you don’t want to disturb, or perhaps fishermen, silently and with stealth.
I do my best to grasp this move, but I reckon it’ll need a bit of work.
Another trick is to keep a slight bend in your knees. This gives power to your stroke and encourages you to relax and be less rigid.
In essence, tension is not your friend when it comes to paddleboarding!
Soon, we reach a scenic island cloaked in woodland and wildflowers at the far end of the loch and pause to drink in the beauty of our surroundings.
Wildlife is here in abundance – we spy ducks, geese, fish, dragonflies and a huge bird of prey, possibly a buzzard.
But Jason’s instruction is not over, it seems.
It’s here, next to the island, that he challenges me to try the “step back turn” which he describes as a “quicker than normal turn on the board” and “quite advanced”. Hmmm.
“It takes skill and balance to complete this turn,” he warns me. “Many fail in spectacular fashion!”
To do this, you stand at the back, or tip of the board, and paddle while turning your body slightly.
It feels hugely unstable (the best balance is achieved by standing in the centre of the board) and I come very close to getting a dunking.
A few squeals and shrieks emit, and possibly a few swear words, but I’m proud to say I remained on board.
As we head back to base, the light breeze turns into a strong side wind, and I find myself being swept towards the shore.
I battle on, using my core muscles to power on, until we reach dry land.
It’s been a fantastic experience and I’ll definitely be coming back for more watery action.
“Paddleboarding in the safety of the tranquil, calm waters of Knockburn Loch is a great experience for people of all ages,” says Jason.
“It can improve balance and co-ordination and it’s great for building core strength and flexibility.
“It’s a gentle, covert workout for many parts of the body.” I like the sound of that. Abs – where art thou?
It’s a different story, of course, when you attempt to paddleboard at sea, with waves crashing and pounding against you. Oh, and the chances are, you might come face-to-face with some jellyfish. Yikes.
Much better to nail the sport in a safe haven like Knockburn before you try that.
As well as one-to-one lessons, Jason runs paddleboarding “parties” with kids, and corporate paddling sessions.
“You can’t beat splashing around in the water or having a wee giggle as the boss falls in!” he laughs.
Knockburn is a hotspot for open water swimmers, and with covid-related restrictions on indoor swimming pools, the site has become hugely popular.
Before I head off, I can’t resist a wee dip in my wetsuit. The water, I discover, isn’t freezing but it’s not exactly warm.
Refreshing is probably the best way to describe it!
Info
Knockburn Loch is a purpose-built loch in the heart of Deeside, six miles from Banchory. See knockburn.co.uk or check out the Facebook page.
Wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided and a full safety brief is given.
The loch is used for open water swimming, triathlon training, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing and windsurfing. Recently, Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley used the loch as a training ground.
Knockburn also boasts a football pitch, volleyball court, cycle track, running, walking and mountain bike trails and orienteering routes.
It runs regular children’s camps which are brilliant fun. Kids build rafts and shelters, learn a variety of watersports, take first aid and CPR courses and much more.
You can try paddleboarding at sites all over Scotland. Check out Birnam-based paddlesurfscotland.com for paddling in Perthshire and Gairloch.
Sessions are also available at Perth’s Willowgate Activity Centre, willowgateactivitycentre.co.uk, at Dundee’s City Quay, foxlakedundee.co.uk, and at Lochore Meadows in Fife via Och Aye Canoe, ochayecanoescotland.co.uk.
