Come on in, the water's lovely! With one of the longest coastlines in England, Europe's largest man-made lake, tranquil inland waters and well-fed reservoirs, there's plenty of watery sport to be had. And if you're bringing your own boat, there are marinas at Amble, Sunderland and Hartlepool.
Saltburn and Tynemouth are considered two of the finest surfing beaches outside Cornwall with Tynemouth hosting the British National Surfing Championships each October. If you prefer to dive beneath the waves, the waters around Redcar are worth exploring while the wrecks offshore near Beadnell draw divers back time and again.
The crescent shaped beach at Beadnell is also an excellent starting point for windsurfing and kayaking. As at Amble, further down the coast, there's tuition and equipment available. There's good windsurfing, too, at Low Newton and Blyth in Northumberland and Coatham near Redcar - also brilliant for kite surfing! - while inland waters, such as Derwent Reservoir in County Durham and Queen Elizabeth II Country Park near Ashington, offer sailing as well as windsurfing. Kielder Water has fantastic opportunities for sailing, canoeing and water-skiing.
The ultimate canoeing experience is the white water course on the River Tees. An eleven-mile stretch of thrills and spills of world-class standard, it's suitable for the novice to the dare-devil. Prefer something gentler? Hire a rowing boat on the River Wear at Durham and savour some of the finest views of the Castle and Cathedral.