A Family Day Out at Somerset Boat Centre

Posted July 7, 2025

If you’re hunting for the perfect family day out in Somerset, we’ve found a real hidden gem. Think paddleboards, sausage sandwiches, and peaceful canal-side wanders all rolled into one. Read on to discover why Somerset Boat Centre is the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again.

Looking for the perfect day out in Somerset with the kids?

We found it – at the brilliant Somerset Boat Centre, tucked away on the peaceful banks of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal. Just outside North Newton, this hidden gem offers the kind of wholesome adventure that makes you fall in love with Somerset all over again.

We started the morning with easy, free parking and a warm welcome from the lovely team. With the sun just starting to peep through the clouds, we kicked things off with a proper canal-side breakfast – a coffee strong enough to power the paddleboard and a delicious sausage sandwich that hit the spot. It’s the kind of place that instantly puts you in holiday mode, even if you’re only ten minutes from home.

Time to hit the water

Next, it was time to hit the water. We’d booked a paddleboard session online (super easy to do via their website), and were soon gliding along the canal, surrounded by peaceful Somerset countryside. Dragonflies danced across the water, cows munched in nearby fields, and the only sounds were the splash of paddles and the kids’ excited chatter. It was the perfect introduction to paddleboarding – safe, calm and absolutely beautiful.

Somerset Canal experience

After drying off and laughing about who fell in (just once!), we tucked into plates full of hearty food from The Lock Inn, just next door. If you haven’t been, go for the breakfast and stay for one of their pop-up food nights – it’s got real Somerset soul. With full bellies, we set off along the canal towpath, a wonderfully flat and easy walk that’s great for little legs, bikes, and four-legged friends.

We had grand plans to reach Bridgwater – just 8km along the canal – but ended up happily pottering halfway, distracted by birdsong, canal boats, and the joy of not being in a rush. It’s a walk we’ll definitely return to, especially when the kids want another go on the paddleboards (which they definitely do!).

Somerset Boat Centre

Somerset Boat Centre is the kind of place that ticks every box – fresh air, good food, friendly faces, and a chance to get active without the hassle. Whether you’re after a family day out, a place to try something new, or just somewhere peaceful to wander, it’s a perfect spot. We’ll be back soon – sausage sandwich, paddleboard, and canal walk all on repeat.

Planning your visit?
Book paddleboarding, narrowboats, day boats, and more at somersetboatcentre.co.uk. Don’t forget your walking boots and your appetite.

Hidden Somerset Somerset Boat Centre paddleboarding The Lock Inn