'I travelled from coast to coast on my paddleboard - and I felt connected to nature'
As canoe trips go, a mission from Liverpool to Goole is as tough as they come. Especially when you add the warmest May temperatures on record, and the terror of swans and geese defending their young.
But determined stand‑up paddleboarder Natasha Sones completed a gruelling 162‑mile coast‑to‑coast challenge to raise awareness and funds for charities protecting the UK’s waterways has navigated her way to Yorkshire.
Natasha Sones, 46, from Suffolk, is following the UK’s first Coast‑to‑Coast Canoe Trail, travelling from Liverpool to Goole via the 127‑mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation.
Her arrival in Yorkshire marked a major milestone as she started the Pennine descent towards Skipton, Bingley and Leeds.
Launched in 2019, the Canal & River Trust Coast‑to‑Coast Canoe Trail passes through some of the North’s most historic canal towns and villages, many of which played a pivotal role in the industrial revolution.
Ms Sones’ 10‑day journey showcased both the region’s spectacular scenery and its extraordinary feats of engineering.
But the challenge was far from easy, and as part of it Ms Sones carried her SUP (stand‑up paddleboard) around 101 locks — including the iconic Bingley Five Rise Staircase — and paddled through the mile‑long Foulridge Tunnel beneath the Pennine hills.
The mother‑of‑three, outdoor adventurer and freelance travel writer paddled up to six hours a day and covered around 15 miles a day to raise funds for the Canal & River Trust and Surfers Against Sewage.
Her route has enabled her to highlight issues facing our waterways such as plastic pollution, invasive species and the protection of native wildlife.
Ms Sones was joined on sections of the route by friends including Jo Moseley who was the first woman to complete the trail on a paddleboard.
She said they saw herons and kingfishers and had hoped to see otters but didn’t spot any.
Ms Sones said: “I have a deep love of all things water and stand‑up paddleboarding has completely changed my life. Blue spaces are where I feel free and connected to nature.
"Taking on this coast‑to‑coast challenge is both a personal adventure and a way to support the vital work these charities do to protect our waterways.
“It’s so important that everyone has access to places where they can relax, recharge and enjoy the outdoors.
"The Canal & River Trust helps keep these spaces open, safe and thriving for millions of people. I’m proud to be paddling across Britain to support them.”
She said the mission was tougher than expected, especially when she had to carry her kit around each lock.