STANDING on a large inflated board in the middle of a lake I’m enjoying the view, but also trying to make sure I don’t fall into the water, again.

Stand-up paddle boarding is a combination of surfing and kayaking which is done by standing on a large board and steering yourself with an adjustable paddle.

While there are examples of people paddling while standing for thousands of years, the modern version of stand-up paddle surfing can be traced back to the 1940s when surf instructors would take paddles and stand on their boards to get a better view of the surfers in the water and incoming swells.

The water is somewhere I have always felt at home, whether it’s diving in the ocean or swimming in rivers. So when I got the opportunity to try something new on the water I could not say no.

Armed with my full-body wetsuit and water shoes, I travelled to Llandegfedd Reservoir which is near the village of Coed y Paen and is not far from the town of Pontypool.

I was met at Llandegfedd Reservoir Watersports Centre by senior paddle sports instructor Martin Williams, who was on hand to show me the ropes.

Located on the former Gwent Adventures site, the centre has been open for three years and offers a range of water sports including sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.

Housed in an award-winning building at the water’s edge, the centre is open from March 1 to October 31, which includes school holidays when they run multi-activity days for children.

“It’s good to get kids out of the house and doing something active,” Mr Williams said. “There is a lot of water in the area, you have the River Wye, the Usk and the sea, so it’s good to give them some knowledge of water safety.”

Each year the centre is getting busier and busier and a range of people visit the centre as well as children, from individuals who want to learn a new skill to companies wanting to do some team building exercises.

Paddle boarding is more accessible than other water sports as Mr Williams explains: “As long as you are happy that you are probably going to get wet and go underwater then you’re OK.

“You have a buoyancy aid on and you are tied to your floating board, so you don’t need to be able to swim.

“While it is called stand-up paddle boarding you can paddle sat down, kneeling down and we do prone paddling which is where you lie on your belly and paddle around. You don’t have to stand up on the board for long, or even stand up at all.”

When I asked about tips for standing up he said: “If you go on a cold day it’s a good way of getting your balance because you really don’t want to fall in.”

Paddle boarding offers you a different view of the world. From the water you can see things you might miss otherwise, and unlike water sports which are adrenalin pumping, you can take in your surroundings and see some sights you would miss by walking on land.

I start the session on dry land learning about the board and the paddle. I’m shown how to put the board in the water, and then lie on it with the paddle in front of me on an angle. I then paddle out into deeper water, the same way a surfer would paddle out beyond the waves.

Then comes the tough part. Getting to my knees is easy enough, and I’m shown how to grip the paddle and head further away from the shore.

Then comes the standing up and I would love to say I got to my feet the first time and was utterly graceful when doing so (like the family who were also paddling nearby) but as I tried to straighten my leg I went off balance and straight into the water.

Thankfully my wetsuit kept me warm, albeit I did get a bit of a shock and managed to swallow a mouthful of reservoir water.

Grasping my board I am able to clamber back onto the board and got back to my knees, then tried again. This time I made it up and was able to paddle in a straight line and even mastered changing direction and turning around.

Left to my own devices I take in the beautiful scenery as I paddle. It isn’t long before I fall in again, and one thing I learnt is that there is nothing graceful about clambering back onto a paddle board.

I fall in another three times before I master standing on my own, but this isn’t everyone’s experience. The family next to me don’t fall in once and give me encouraging words each time I come out of the water.

Looking back on the experience I would definitely do it again and it’s a great way to explore our lakes and rivers. But if you want to have a go make sure you do try it with qualified instructors because it’s always better to have someone who knows what they are doing to give you advice and make sure you’re OK should you fall in.

For more information about the Llandegfedd Reservoir Watersports Centre visit llandegfedd.co.uk/watersports or call 01633 373 408.