Author Natasha Sones takes on a fundraising coast-to-coast team challenge

In summer 2019 I became the first woman to paddleboard coast to coast, a journey that inspired my podcast and SUP books. As a result, I am always interested in hearing other people’s endurance stories and was excited to learn more about my friend and fellow author Natasha’s experience with the challenge.

In May 2026, Natasha Sones was part of a team that completed the 162-mile challenge which crosses England coast to coast. The canoe trail stretches from Liverpool in the west to Goole on the Humber Estuary and follows the 127-mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal and 35 miles along the Aire & Calder Navigation through Yorkshire.

Hello Tash and congratulations on your recent achievement! I’d love to find out more: Please can you introduce yourself to us – who are you and what do you do?
Hi, I’m Natasha, from Suffolk, an outdoor adventurer and freelance travel writer. I’m a qualified Stand-Up Paddleboarding Instructor who loves all things to do with water. I started paddleboarding about seven years ago, and it has completely changed my life. It brings me peace.

Why the coast-to-coast?
I wanted a personal challenge, plus the Coast-to-Coast Canoe Trail looked amazing. I was really excited about embarking on a multi-day adventure and paddling for several days using only human power.

Who did you do it with?
I paddled with two friends, Claire Hall and Joseph Kemp, and was joined along the way by some other SUP friends for parts of the journey. One of those was you, Jo! The other was another paddle author, Anu Aladin.

Claire had previously been walking along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Yorkshire when her imagination drifted to what it might feel like to paddle its full length, through the Dales, villages and cities. The thought of wild camping on remote stretches knocked her confidence, but when Claire met me, the idea found new momentum. The journey was reimagined, swapping tents for hotels, and suddenly, the challenge was possible. Paddling as part of a group, including Joseph, made the dream real.

The fundraising – who for and why?
I was fundraising for the Canal and River Trust because I feel it is so important to ensure everyone has a space where they can relax and escape, such as canals and rivers. During the challenge, I was lucky enough to meet Emma Fielding, Community Roots Engagement Co-ordinator at the Canal and River Trust’s Rosegrove office in Burnley.

Emma introduced me to some of their volunteers. Teaching paddling to community members is just one of the community projects they do. They have canoes, paddleboards and sit-on-top kayaks for people to try. We also met Rob Langdon, Engagement Officer for Canal & River Trust Sefton in the north w­est. Rob and his gang of volunteers had been out in canoes picking up a huge amount of litter.

We were also fundraising for marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage.

What were the highs and lows?
There were several highs for me; just knowing how far I was capable of paddling made me really happy, and meeting some awesome people, such as Josh Phillips, whom we met when he paddled Leeds to Liverpool. He met us halfway to paddle a bit with us, too. I also had a real laugh with my friends. Even when we were pushing all the boards up the two-mile flight of locks at Wigan.

The highlight was dramatically rescuing a deer on our last day. The poor creature was swimming around, trying to get out of the navigation’s high sides. We eventually managed to herd it to the side with our paddleboards, whilst some canal boaters hauled it out with a rope. I was so thankful we managed to save it as it was getting tired and distressed.

The low point was the sheer physical exhaustion of the trip. Although I had trained, I had underestimated just how exhausting it would be with the distance and portaging. The 101 locks were an absolute killer and included the 21-lock Wigan flight and Bingley’s famous Five Rise Staircase.

We also encountered several feisty swans, one of which flew at us and nearly knocked Claire off her board. Joseph and Claire were very good at flanking me during a ‘code white’ situation. But I held my paddle above my head to make myself bigger.

Claire discovered that consecutive days of long-distance paddling without kneeling or sitting can cause her feet and legs to become extremely swollen. Comfort was outweighed by the many rewards: laughter along the way, historic waterside architecture, rich wildlife, and the thrill of seeing England from an entirely different perspective. Spotting oystercatchers in the Yorkshire landscape became one of her many memorable moments along the way.

How did you train?
To manage the many locks and portages, I worked on strength and conditioning in the gym. I had a training plan by elite SUP racer Emily King. I entered the 25-mile SUP race, Race to the Castle, in April to build endurance.

What kit did you use?
I was kindly supported by Red Equipment for this challenge. I wore Red paddle clothing and paddled on my Red Sport+ board. My adventure was the first completed by several Red ambassadors who will be taking on multi-day challenges, fundraising for charities caring for UK waters over this summer.

I was also grateful to be using the Oscar Propulsion FLOWFORCE™ paddle, too. As well as this, my Osprey 70-litre Transporter waterproof bag was invaluable, and my Kyloe in the Wild sunglasses. Having kayak wheels was supremely helpful for the portaging.

What would you say to someone thinking of doing it?
I really want to encourage paddlers to explore our beautiful waterways in the UK.

If I can do this, anyone can! It’s hugely important to raise awareness of environmental issues, such as plastic pollution, invasive animal and plant species, and the protection of native water-based wildlife. I litter-picked as I went, taking part in the Big Paddle Clean Up for Paddle UK also.

Sum it up in three words!
Adventure, endurance and strength.

What’s next?
My new guidebook, Swimming Wild in London and South East England (Vertebrate Publishing), is available to buy, and I’ll be appearing at various festivals and swim spots to promote it and give talks about swimming. It lists 100 stunning swimming spots to visit.

Where can we find you?
Instagram @natashastarseeker
www.natashasoneseditorial.com
https://www.justgiving.com/page/coasttocoastpaddle