Most people driving through Southport don't clock that there's a 140-acre lake right in the middle of it. Or that the Sefton Coast runs for 22 miles and is one of the few stretches of North West coastline where you can actually get on the water without a trailer and a tow bar. The watersports offer is genuinely good. Here's the full picture.
Marine Lake — the best starting point
Marine Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes in the UK, sitting between Southport's promenade and the beach. It's sheltered, tidal-free, and managed by Mersey Watersports Centre. If you want to get on the water in Southport, this is where you start.
- →Wakeboarding — Mersey Watersports Centre runs cable wakeboarding on Marine Lake. No boat needed.
- →Sailing — dinghy sailing and instruction for all levels
- →Kayaking and paddleboarding — hire or bring your own
- →Powerboating — RIB hire and powerboat courses available
- →Windsurfing — conditions on the lake suit beginners and intermediates
Mersey Watersports Centre
The main operator on Marine Lake. They run taster sessions, full courses, and equipment hire. Cable wakeboarding is their flagship — it's genuinely impressive to watch and accessible for beginners. The cable system means you don't need a boat or specialist knowledge to get started. Book online in advance during summer weekends: popular sessions sell out.
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre
About 14 miles south of Southport, near Antony Gormley's Another Place installation. Crosby Lakeside offers sailing, kayaking, open-water swimming, and canoeing on a sheltered lake just back from the coast. Good for a half-day activity, especially paired with a walk to see the Gormley figures on the beach. The combination of art and watersport is an unusual one but it works.
Open-water swimming
Marine Lake is popular with open-water swimmers year-round, including through winter. The lake is sheltered, the depth is manageable, and there's a growing community of wild swimmers based around Southport's seafront. The Sefton Coastal Path runs alongside — a swim and a walk is a good morning.
Coastal kayaking and paddleboarding
For more experienced paddlers, the Sefton Coast offers open-water kayaking with some genuinely wild stretches. The dune-backed coastline between Ainsdale and Formby sees very little boat traffic. Check tide and weather conditions carefully — this is an exposed coast and conditions can change quickly. Not for beginners without an experienced guide.
Kitesurfing
The wide, flat beaches at Ainsdale and Southport are used by kitesurfers when conditions allow. The westerly winds that come off the Irish Sea can be excellent. There's no formal kitesurfing school based on Southport beach itself, but visiting kitesurfers use the beach regularly. Check local Facebook groups for current conditions and any restrictions.
Practical information
- →Marine Lake: Marine Drive, Southport PR8 1RX
- →Mersey Watersports Centre: book sessions online — check southportwatersports.co.uk
- →Crosby Lakeside: Lake Road, Crosby, L23 6SX — 30 minutes south of Southport
- →Equipment hire is available at Marine Lake — you don't need to bring your own for most activities
- →Summer weekends book out fast — midweek sessions are often easier to access
- →Water temperatures in the Irish Sea and Marine Lake are cold year-round: a wetsuit is recommended
🚣Cable wakeboarding at Marine Lake is one of the genuinely unusual things you can do in Southport that surprises people. It's accessible, it's fun, and it's five minutes from the town centre. Worth doing even if you've never been on a board in your life.
Marine Lake is just one part of Southport's outdoor offer. Here's our full guide to activities, beaches, walking routes, and more.
Things to Do in Southport — Full Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
