Try something new this summer and hire a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) in Hemel Hempstead. Get fit and improve your core strength while having fun on the water, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the beautiful Grand Union Canal.

Begin by picking up your SUP and equipment. Then, listen to a safety briefing before heading out onto the water. For first-time paddlers, it is strongly recommended to take a lesson before hiring a SUP.

The canal is the best place to learn paddleboarding as the water is calm and flat. The Apsley stretch shelters you from the wind by the willow trees. The canal water is warm, and the chances that you'll fall in are rare, as you will be taught where and how to stand on the board.

The reason most people fall in the water is that they move their feet and start walking on the board, hence losing their balance. With a good technique and on calm waters, you should stay dry.