A beautiful new guidebook expounds the delights of paddling the waterways of Dorset and the South West.

Summer’s just around the corner (honestly!) and whether you’re already thinking about how to entertain the children or considering maximising your time outdoors, the South West’s rivers, canals, lakes and coastline are a magical place to start.
Paddle Boarding South West by Lisa Drewe (Wild Things, £18.99) reveals over 100 places to canoe, kayak and SUP across the region, including 15 routes in Dorset. It is a practical showcase of how to have fun along our rivers, lakes and shores, with lots of ideas to help families and beginners take their first foray into exploring our wonderful waterways.

Fabulous photographs bring each route and destination to life, and are sure to inspire the novice paddleboarder or kayaker onto the water. Closest to home is a gentle river trip from Blandford to Keyneston Mill, but there are plenty of ideas within these pages to get you out and about both locally and further afield.