Whether navigating calm lochs, winding rivers, or open coastlines, Paddlesport has always been about connection between people, places, and the great outdoors.
The many disciplines available bring together a community united by a shared love of being on the water. But as with every sport, true belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s created intentionally through inclusion, visible allyship, and environments where everyone feels safe to show up as themselves.
Noush Duffy (she/her), Paddle Scotland Coaching & Development Manager, has coached at the annual Paddling with Pride event for the past 3 years and joined the Paddle Scotland staff team in Spring 2025.
Noush said, “The Paddle Scotland LGBTQ+ Equality Group helps ensure paddlesport is a sport for all.
"The equality group supports the queer community in accessing paddlesports, amplifies lived experiences, shapes more inclusive policies and education, and fosters a culture where diversity and difference are valued as strengths. By ensuring the water is a place where people can genuinely feel able to be themselves, know they will be supported, and be recognised as belonging within the paddlesport community.”
Noush added, “Visibility, representation, and community matter - particularly in sporting environments where some queer people are still experiencing exclusion, isolation, or barriers to participation. Beyond inclusion alone, there is also a need to actively recognise and celebrate difference, moving beyond normative narratives about who belongs in sport or on the water and what participation should look like.”
Paddlesport for all
Niamh Lee (she/her) is a member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Group and was drawn to the opportunity in the hope of it offering a sense of belonging and community. What began as a hobby rooted in her love of the outdoors has grown into a passion for paddlesport and for sharing that passion with others.
Niamh said, “Being part of the group gives me the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways. It allows me to help open doors for others within the community and the sport, especially for those who may feel uncertain about where they fit. It also gives me a voice in shaping the culture and to hopefully improve it.”
She added, “Equality groups are important because they advocate for inclusion and demonstrate a clear commitment to removing barriers to participation. They help foster a more positive and effective culture within the sport, encouraging diverse participation. This creates an environment that is shaped by, and benefits from the perspectives of people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.”
Niamh says the most enjoyable and impactful part of paddling has been the people she’s met and the relationships she’s built within the community.
“Those connections have shaped my experience and involvement within the sport and led to my involvement in equality groups and role on the Paddle Scotland board. For me, those roles are important as I see them as a way to help shape the culture of paddlesports and ensure the sport grows in a way that is positive and feels welcoming to all which was my experience coming into it.”
Cairngorms Pride Paddlers
Co-founder of Cairngorms Pride Paddlers and qualified paddle coach, Jules is also a member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Group.
Cairngorms Pride Paddlers are an LGBTQ+ paddling club founded in 2022 by Jules and Nicky. After attending Paddle Scotland’s first LGBTQ+ paddling event in 2021, they hosted a taster session and through the help of kit funding from the Cairngorms Youth Leadership Action group, they decided to make it a regular session.
Jules said, “That first year of the group was amazing. Most attendees had never met or paddled before, and we all shared the same feelings of being a bit lost in the community. We formed some lifelong friendship bonds and have welcomed more people into our wee paddling community. Being able to give that to people who came to share a passion for an activity I love was pretty special.”
The group has gone from strength to strength and provides a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people in and around the Cairngorms to get active, socialise and connect with nature on the water.
Jules said, “What makes the club unique is that a lot of members come along not because they love paddling but because they are looking for a safe queer inclusive outdoor space to hang out. The love of paddling comes after the social side for many of our members.”
“We are very welcoming to all abilities and types of paddlers. In a rural area there aren't too many exciting outdoor groups specifically aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, so we’ve had people travel from all over Scotland to join our sessions.”
Cairngorms Pride Paddlers have now officially formalised as a club and are currently going through the process of becoming affiliated with Paddle Scotland. This will allow the club to be more sustainable going forward and provide more opportunities for paddling knowing that they are operating to the safest and highest standards.
Feels like home
Jen McGhie-Convery (she/her) joined the Cairngorms Pride Paddlers in December 2022. It was the first queer group she’d been aware of within the local area.
Jen said, “I love living rurally but it can be quite isolating when you feel "other". I'd lived in the area for nearly five years by the time Cairngorms Pride Paddlers was created and I'd never really felt at home. Whilst people were generally welcoming, I always felt a bit removed from the community.
"To be able to be part of a group where you can safely, comfortably be yourself, where no one refers to my wife as my "friend" felt life-changing. This place where I'd lived for 5 years finally felt like home.”
Jen added, “I think representation and shared experience is fundamental to feeling safe and welcome. When we can see ourselves reflected in the people around us, we feel safe to explore who we are as individuals. It also provides an understanding, supportive safety net for those times when we encounter someone who's less accepting.”
Lara (she/her) joined the Cairngorms Pride Paddlers in 2023. She had recently moved to the area and wanted to meet more folks from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Lara said, “Moving a couple of hundred miles to a rural small town might be daunting for anyone, let alone someone that identifies as queer. It is really important for me to find community wherever I live and I am so grateful to be with other folks that ‘get it’. As someone that only realised they were pansexual at 28, it has been a steep learning curve. Pride Paddlers helps me feel accepted and most of all, it’s heaps of fun along the way!”
Paddle proud, paddle loud
In June 2025, for the fifth-year running, Paddling with Pride brought together an amazing crew of queer paddlers, coaches, and allies for a weekend in beautiful Perthshire that was absolutely bursting with love, laughter, and a healthy dose of river chaos.
From sunshine and splashes to midges, the weekend was the perfect mix of skill-building, connection and silliness. While some conquered rapids or nailed the jump-stand-fall routine with flair, others soaked in the views with new friends.
What they said:
“I look forward to this weekend every year. It makes my heart glow to spend time on the water with people I love and make new friends.”
“It was my first time doing anything with Paddle Scotland and I was immediately welcomed as if I had been there years, everyone was so lovely. I also managed to stand up on moving water and get between eddies* after only a couple of times being on a SUP which was down to the fantastic coaching and feeling of safety.
“Everything about this weekend, from vibes to venue choice, creates the perfect environment to try new things – no matter your paddling experience.”
“Safety is about more than a paddle helmet, it’s trips like this that teach you it’s safe to be yourself and push yourself - because everyone around you is a friend that will celebrate with you every step of the way and keep you safe."
“As a coach, I love seeing people grow friendships, skills and confidence. It’s such a happy, supportive weekend and puts a big smile on my face.”
*In paddlesport, "eddies" refer to sections of water where the current is obstructed, creating a calm area.
The 2026 Paddling with Pride event will take place 11-13 September with bookings open soon.
Find out more
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