Jimski's Blog

St Tudwal's in mid winter

2012-01-30T21:31:00.000Z

So many outdoor plans have been curtailed or even cancelled due to the weather this winter. Its always a real treat when a break in the winter storms comes just at the right time.

A dusting of snow on the mountains of Snowdonia made the perfect backdrop for a paddle round the St Tudwal's Islands and Trywyn Cilan. The sea was eerily calm but there was enough swell to make us think twice about venturing too deep into the prized caves of the eastern island.

Having spent lunch at Porth Ceiriad we set off to explore Trywyn Cilan. This blocky headland forms the eastern end of Porth Neigwl (Hell's Mouth). The swell was much bigger amongst the gullies and arches and a couple of daring raids in amongst the rock architecture almost got punished.

With sugar coated hills up ahead and darkening skies behind, high spirited paddlers reluctantly turned for home, leaving the sea to be shrouded by the quiet onset of nightfall.

Back at the Tanrallt Mountain centre, a spirit (and haggis) fueled party went on late into the night. As if the paddling were not enough, bar football, pool and 'ping-pong' built the perfect appetite for a belated Burn's supper.

Bad Company - The Zoo (reunited)

2012-01-23T20:08:00.001Z

Many years ago I was part of a group of under performing outdoor cretins known only by rumour as 'The Zoo'. Paddling, climbing, mountain biking, drinking and general mayhem was our trade but eventually responsibilities got the better of our tomfoolery. Gradually, the animals escaped from 'The Zoo'. Just recently, the prospect of mid life crisis brought us back together for one of those 'one night only' performances. Like Status Quo, these performances may well happen again and again.

River paddling trips traditionally began with a heavy night out to ensure that a heavy hangover could be cultivated. Friday night developed into a long session with hot curry and plenty of beer. The required hangover had been established and was accompanied by a the unmistakable stale odour of unwashed fools.

Eager to rediscover our paddling inadequacies, we headed off to Llangollen to paddle the river Dee. The levels on Saturday were quite sporty and 'Serpent's Tail' was in fine voice.

Ian's line was a little too close to the right for comfort...

Craig took a line close to the left bank depositing some of his boat on the riverbed.

Chris with some 'old school' tricks...

Many will be hoping that this was indeed a 'one night only' get together but plans are already being made for a comeback tour scheduled to begin on a river (and a pub) near you very soon.

The River Goyt at Marple

2012-01-13T06:42:00.000Z

The river Goyt at Marple give a sporty grade 2-3 run at medium levels following a couple of rainy days. Manchester Canoe Club are based beside the river where they also have their slalom training facility. It is possible to paddle from New Mills or even higher but the most regular run down to the club site is from Brabyn's Park less 2 miles upstream.

Most people use their cars to shuttle boats from the club site to Brabyn's Park but there is a different way which involves some boat carrying and extra paddling.

The Peak Forest Canal runs parallel to the river here. The canal runs across a brick arch aqueduct 100 feet above the river. Where the canal reaches Brabyn's Park there is a steep wooded bank leading down to football pitches and the river Goyt beyond.

The two weirs in Brabyn's Park command respect because they have stoppers with closed ends that can hold a swimmer.

This elegant iron bridge was built in 1813 and was recently restored following a campaign by local residents. The restoration work was funded by a Heritage Lottery grant and completed in June 2008.

After the bridge the river flows beneath a railway viaduct and the aqueduct that carries the Peak Forest Canal. Soon afterwards a series of sporty grade 2-3 rapids lead down to the Manchester Canoe Club site and slalom course.

Festive Paddling

2012-01-01T11:06:00.001Z

Boxing Day is the traditional day of sport and exercise that follows the fluid and food fueled festival of Christmas.

Kirstine and I joined in the annual Boxing Day paddle organised by Manchester Canoe Club on the River Goyt at Marple.

For competetive types, this event for part of the white water racing calender. For the rest it is simply a leisurely cruise down a couple of miles of scenic and sporty grade 2 river. After all the fun and games on the river we all assembled at the clubhouse for mince pies, tea and tall stories.

Back at home, the playing fields have become very waterlogged following the recent wet and stormy weather. This has brought in flocks of black headed gulls that feed on worms that come to the surface to escape the depths of the sodden turf. This time the black headed gulls have been joined by a number of the less common 'common gulls'.

The recent wet and stormy weather has kept me away from the sea in recent weeks but I couldn't resist the temptation of a paddle on the Menai Straits on the last day of the year. An informal gathering was organised by local paddler John Willacy.

Some of the paddlers donned fancy dress in keeping with the festive spirit...

Menai Chicken...

Anglesey Penguin... (John Willacy collection)

Coastal Gorilla...

Marauding Vikings... (John Willacy collection)

And... erm other worrying sea creatures?

Before heading home we all assembled in the Anglesey Arms at Menai Bridge for a farewell pint and to bid each other a' Happy New Year!' Thanks to John Willacy for organizing this festive get together and thanks to everyone else for their lovely company.

Winter Contrasts

2011-12-18T18:18:00.002Z

The 'Cat and Fiddle' pub sits on a precarious bend on the 'Cat and Fiddle' road that connects Macclesfield and Buxton. The webcam looks out along the road and across the moors. I have been itching to see if it is possible to ski from the pub to the summit of the nearby Shining Tor.

As soon as Kirstine and I had finished our hot chocolate pre-ski warm up. The weather began to close in.

Un-detterred, we carried on through the wild, wintry blizzard and snowdrifts in search of the junction in the paths where we could head for the (as yet unseen) summit.

When we reached the summit, we headed back down as quickly as possible to escape the fierce wind. Having been skiing in a blizzard for over two hours, I was beginning to worry if the car would be buried and indeed if the road would still be open. We had no shovel!

Back at the pub, our car was fine (if a little camouflaged) and the road was still passable.

On the next day, the weather was much nicer with golden winter sunshine. This looked like a perfect opportunity to visit the Manchester Canoe Club slalom course for some gentle river paddling.

I have borrowed a Pyranha Z One to try out with a view to buying one. The boat is everything I would hope for. It is reasonably forgiving whilst being sporty enough to remind me that river paddling requires some degree of skill.

Landlocked no.2

2011-12-18T17:42:00.001Z

As strong winds begin to blow winter to the UK shores, I find myself hiding further inland for my paddling. On Saturday I headed for the nearby Bridgwater Canal. I set off early and made it to the 'Barn Owl Inn' just before it opened up. Having battled into a cruel and cold breeze, I settled for a quick cup of tea and an energy bar before heading back.

I was amazed at how easy the return journey was. The ever changing skies were caught between Autumn and Winter. This would be the last of the golden colours for this year.

Sunday brought me to meet up with some of the folk from Liverpool Canoe Club for their pre-Christmas get together. Some went for a trashing in the gale-driven surf at Llandudno. I settled for a quick tour of the lower River Dee, just upstream of Chester.

The river is surprisingly lively with a variety of paddlers, rowers and walker. The pleasure boat trips are still running too.

Autumn Colours on the River Dee

2011-11-06T14:42:00.000Z

My first river paddling trip since March brought me to Llangollen on the banks of the River Dee in north Wales. The full spread of Autumn colours were laid out from one side of the valley to the other, brought to life by the golden sunshine and a crystal blue sky.

Dave, me and the two Andys arrived in the car park below Llangollen Bridge where we would eventually finish the trip. We started our adventure by carrying our kayaks a short way up the street to the Llangollen Wharf from where the canal provides a scenic paddle up to the Horseshoe Weir, two miles upstream.

Once on the river the fun began. I have really missed the feeling of paddling on rivers and it felt so good to be bouncing along, breaking out into small eddies and surfing friendly waves. The sound of water rushing amongst the jagged rocks and the increase in gradient told us that we were approaching 'Serpents Tail'; the first of the Dee's 'rapids with a reputation'.

This cold deep gorge is where many students and canoe club rookies get their first taste of powerful white water. Soon afterwards the river mellows into a broader part of the valley with beautiful scenery all around. The peace of the river was broken with the approach to Mile End Mill. This popular kayaking and rafting centre is often crowded. This day was no exception. With bank to bank rubber and plastic and no room in the eddies, perhaps it could be possible to walk from one side to the other. We moved on... Another broad stretch lead us towards 'Town Falls' with a string of expectant spectators on Llangollen Bridge (no pressure then). With low water levels the main falls looked tricky. Two of us chose the chicken chute. Of the two that ran the falls, one rolled; both survived.

The final 200 yards led to the car park and the end of our paddling that day. The final decision to be made would be which pub for 'apres paddle' snacks, drinks and embellished tall stories.

Mud-day mud-day mud-day

2011-10-24T18:32:00.001+01:00

My last day of guiding at the 6th Storm Gathering sea kayaking event was spent in the Menai Straits. The trip went well with Steve and I dispensing a string of 'top tips' as we paddled from Gallows Point towards the Swellies. We soon realised that by the time we would arrive back at Gallows Point it would be low tide revealing 400 metres of muddy shore.

Steve and I dropped the group at an easier landing beside the Gazelle Hotel. We then continued to Gallows Point to get the van and trailer. I was quietly hoping that we would get away with a shorter carry somehow.

However, the tide has recessed just as much as I had feared. Carrying and dragging the boats across the muddy shore was painfully hard work. We got plastered in mud, and that mud really stinks.

Rock Hopping and Trip Guiding

2011-10-23T19:01:00.001+01:00

Strong southerly winds have continued to entertain the storm gatherers on Anglesey throughout this weekend. I have had the pleasure of sharing guiding duties with Greenland expert Martin Rickard and Manchester based coach Richard McEvoy.

The north coast of Anglesey has been the perfect venue for introducing paddlers to these shores.

In the last couple of days we have explored every nook and cranny between Bull Bay and Porth Wen. We have threaded the eye of every needle there is and slotted into caves of all sizes.

Some brave moves left Neil high and dry, and a little embarrassed.

Before landing some have taken the opportunity to do some rolling practice.

...and some have been experimenting with some more unusual paddling techniques.

At the end of each day paddlers have returned with indelible beaming grins.

Storm Gathering Celebration

2011-10-22T22:18:00.002+01:00

Following a stunning array of activities on the water, we began the traditional Saturday evening bash. The 'Round the Stacks Quiz' was more than a paddlers pub quiz.

The evening descended into chaotic rapture when Kate Duffus and Justine Curgenven competed for men's underwear whilst bound and blindfolded.

Storm Gathering Eve

2011-10-21T17:49:00.002+01:00

Friday before the storm (gathering) saw Paul Kuthe, Tim and I setting off along the cliffs between Bull Bay and Porth Wen. The cliffs gave us shelter from the strengthening southerly wind along with plenty of rock hopping fun.

Paul Kuthe - Paddling coach from Oregon USA

Paul Kuthe - paddling coach from Oregon USA

Just as we set off from the bay, channel 16 crackled out the words "securite, securite, securite" which preceded a gale warning.

We kept our paddling journey short but sweet. That's enough excitement for today. We now wait to see what the Storm Gathering (proper) with have in store.

The Menai Challenge

2011-10-21T09:26:00.002+01:00

The Menai Challenge is an open time trial for sea kayakers and is the brainchild of local paddler John Willacy. The standard course runs between the slipway at Gallows Point south of Beaumaris and the slipway near to the Anglesey Sea Zoo across the water from Caernarfon. The advanced course runs between the same points but includes a return lap of The Swellies.

At no point did I believe that I would break any records but I was keen to give it a go to see what time I could manage.

In the end I completed the 21km course in a respectable time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 49 seconds. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoons paddling. Have a look at the website and give it a go!

Shelter From The Stormy Seas

2011-10-19T18:47:00.002+01:00

Yesterday the sea was too rough to go paddling so I went for a refreshing walk along the cliffs that lie either side of Rhoscolyn Head.

The waves were spectacular and the wind whipped up spray and foam high into the air.

Overnight the wind has taken on more of a northerly direction and the drop in temperature is quite marked.

Today I have been paddling in the shelter of the Menai Strait in the company of Pete Baars from the 'Summit to Sea' kayak shop, and Franco Ferrero from 'Pesda Press'.

It seemed as though the weather could not make it's mind up. Short blustery showers were soon followed by dazzling autumn sunshine.

We stopped at 'The Gazelle' hotel for a warming cup of hot chocolate before heading back to Y Felinheli where we had started.

A Blistering Gale

2011-10-17T20:20:00.001+01:00

Today started breezy with gales predicted in the afternoon. This made it easy to designate this as a rest day. Following a leisurely breakfast of bacon butties washed down with plenty of coffee, I set off to the canoe shop in Valley to say hello the owner, Pete Barrs.

One mug of tea and a good natter set me up for an afternoon of short blustery walks. Trearddur Bay was truly wild with huge foaming waves surging over the rocks and on to the beach.

The waves were smaller than I expected at South Stack but the wind was blistering as it tore past a myriad of rocky promontories.

Sunny Weekend Surprise

2011-10-17T18:53:00.001+01:00

The North West Seakayakers end of season meet is often held in the midst of some horrendous autumn weather. This time we were blessed with a mini Indian summer.

It was breezy but warm in the golden sunshine and on the Saturday there was just enough swell to make the rock hopping fun and sporty.

On Sunday the southerly wind dropped just enough to allow a group of us to paddle from Rhoscolyn to Rhosneigr where we had tea and cakes in the sun. Before heading home many of us chose to bid farewell to Rhoscolyn by paying a visit to the celebrated 'White Eagle' pub.

Landlocked

2011-10-11T20:17:00.000+01:00

Last weekend the weather was less than suitable for taking a trip to the coast. I stayed landlocked but managed to get nearly 30 miles of paddling done. I often paddle the Bridgwater Canal between Stretford and Warrington to keep active. I can trolley my kayak from my home to a convenient launch site in less than 20 minutes.

Sometimes when I see houses for sale along the way, I wonder if I would like to live beside the canal. It would be a little like having leisure facilities right on your doorstep.

The Mists of Man

2011-09-30T10:45:00.001+01:00

During the last couple of days of our visit to the Isle of Man, Kirstine and I set out to explore the south west shores.

On Wednesday we started from Port Erin and braved strong southerly winds by sheltering beneath the cliffs of Bay Fine before taking a sneaky peek at Calf Sound.

Along the way we took the opportunity to explore the many deep caves along the way.

On Thursday, we started from Port Erin again but this time we headed north. With the wind and tide behind us, we quickly found ourselves beneath the towering cliffs of Bradda Head.

The Manx mists descended giving the towering rocky buttresses and eerie air. It was an exciting bouncy trip with gusts of Wind whistling around our ears. It was a great relief to reach Fleshwick Bay where we landed briefly for a quick bite to eat. We knew that the return would be challenging so we set off in determined fashion.

The wind buffeted off every headland slowing our progress but our persistence paid off as we crashed through the last few waves entering Port Erin for the last time.

It's sad to be leaving Keirron at Adventurous Experiences and his family at Ballabrooie behind. We have had a wonderful time here and we'll look forward to another visit very soon.

Isle of Man - Sea to Summit

2011-09-28T09:46:00.001+01:00

When visiting an island, it can be easy to be consumed by the urge to circumnavigate.

However, during this particular visit, the weather will not be suitable. Taking a day off paddling we headed to the east coast town of Laxey with the aim of walking from the seafront, up the glen and over the moors to the summit of Snaefell.

The first challenge was to navigate our way through the narrow winding streets and lanes.

The best local landmark en route was 'Lady Isabella', the famous Laxey wheel. From there we found a quiet back road that led to a footpath that runs to an old abandoned mine at the head of Laxey Glen.

This is where we met the cloud base and lost the shelter of the steep sided valley.

This is what I would refer to as proper British hill walking conditions...

...the pass-time of stumbling around in a cloud looking for a mountain!

Eventually, after much stumbling we found the top of Snaefell, where it had always been, towering 621 metres over the Isle of Man.

Not only that, but the cafe was open for business (which we duly patronised) and there was a train waiting to take us back to Laxey!

The carriages are made mostly of teak and are all around 100 years old.

It is a noisy and ricketty experience as the train groans and creaks it's way back down the Glen along a precarious narrow gauge line to the coast.

The Seals of Maughold Head

2011-09-27T21:17:00.001+01:00

Seeking shelter from the strong southerlies, Kirstine and I headed for the north east corner of the Isle of Man.

YouTube Video

We launched from a pretty little bay called Port Lewaigue along the southern reaches of Ramsey Bay. The rocky shoreline rises to impressive cliffs that culminate to the island's most easterly point, Maughold head.

YouTube Video

When we arrived we found the wind a little too much, so we turned back paddling gently among the rocks and shallow lagoons.

YouTube Video

Our slow, quiet progress during the return meant that we could get close enough to some grey seals to watch them at play at really close quarters. Although this had only been a short paddle, our encounters with the seals had left us with wonderful lasting memories.

9th Isle of Man Sea Kayak Symposium

2011-09-27T20:53:00.007+01:00

The Isle of Man has been a favourite kayaking destination of mine since I attended a symposium back in 2006. The warm welcoming nature of the people here along with the stunning coastline keeps me coming back for more. If only the weather could be relied upon!

On Saturday, Kirstine and I joined Nico and Jukka's group for a short trip along the south coast from Port St Mary. Throughout the day Nico and Jukka along with local guide, John Keggin dispensed valuable wisdom and a host of top tips to keep everyone informed and entertained.

After a blustery grey start to the day, the skies cleared to reveal a breezy sunny day with blue skies. The overnight winds left us with enough swell for some challenging rock hopping and some fun in the surf.

The evening entertainment started with a delicious barbecue dished up by the Ballabrooie crew followed by a talk on American kayaking history by Tom Bergh and a talk on motivation in paddlesports by Nigel Dennis. Drinking, singing and dancing went on into the wee small hours...

Sunday brought in freshening winds from the south so the west facing inlet of Port Erin became the venue of choice. Hangovers were soon cleared making way for more action on the water. More skills sessions including four star training culminated with more surf action in the bay before many of the paddlers began heading home.

In the meantime Kirstine and I are staying on for the following week for some more adventures.

Goyt and Mersey Valleys

2011-08-30T05:44:00.001+01:00

The plan for the weekend was to avoid any crazy Bank Holiday traffic. Chris and I headed east from our homes in south Manchester along the Mersey Valley on our mountain bikes.

Almost Immediately I was amazed at the abundance of Himalayan Balsam. This invasive plant was introduced to the UK in the mid 1800s but has quickly got out of control causing problems in many areas.

We soon arrived at Stockport where the Mersey Valley Canoe Trail begins. Whilst we were busy getting lost in the narrow streets, Stockport's 'Hat Museum' stood out as one that I might like to have a good look at on another day.

Eventually we made it to New Zealand (street), which led to the first of the parks that occupy the lower Goyt Valley. Dense woodland sheltered us from an hour or so of intense rainfall. The rain made the awkward riverside paths even more tricky as we made our way through some heavily overgrown boggy woodland before finding the Midshires Way.

As the weather improved we found a clearing so we celebrated by stopping for lunch in the sunshine.

A little further up the valley we stopped at Marple Garden Centre for a well-earned cup of tea. One of the attractions at the garden centre is a miniature railway run by enthusiasts. Railways like these are becoming more scarce possibly victim of 'health and safety culture'.

Our return journey took a different route through Stockport's Woodbank and Vernon Parks. Park life was bustling with people out enjoying the fine afternoon weather.

The wood sculpture is a monument to the animals that found people trapped in buildings after air raids in the Second World War.

Feeling weary we negotiated the busy streets of Stockport's town centre once more before heading out west along the Mersey Valley, back home for a barbecue supper.

Wild West Anglesey

2011-07-26T05:04:00.000+01:00

Friday brought in an early start to the weekend but even by then the roads were getting busy with the beginning of the school holidays. Kirstine and I planned an early escape from the Welsh holiday traffic by paddling directly from the campsite at Rhoscolyn, to Trearddur Bay to get supplies in for the weekend.

Apart from avoiding the traffic and general chaos of supermarket shopping, we got a splendid afternoon of sea kayaking on the way to the shops.

We visited the seals that live at Rhoscolyn Beacon...

...and we explored the depths of the deep cave at Rhoscolyn Head.

On Saturday we joined a group from North West Sea Kayakers to circumnavigate Holy Island. Once again we started at Rhoscolyn wheeling our kayaks down to the beach to avoid busy roads laden with holiday traffic. The Cymyran Strait and Inland Sea were both very shallow but bristling with birdlife. We saw cattle egret, redshank and a female red breasted merganser with half a dozen fluffy chicks.

Before we could cross Holyhead Harbour entrance we had to wait for the fast ferry to pass before heading off towards North Stack.

We stopped briefly to chat to another group who were enjoying the sunshine and shelter of Parliament House Cave, before heading accross Gogarth Bay and round South Stack. Finally the ebb tide brought us back to Rhoscolyn in plenty of time for a barbecue supper.

On Sunday we hatched a plan to paddle from Church Bay, out to the Skerries and onwards to Cemlyn.

Most of the Arctic tern chicks have now fledged leaving a few latecomers with some catching up to do.

Parent birds are busy catching sand eels to feed to the rapidly growing youngsters.

Before the mass migration to the south Atlantic this tiny group of islands is still swarming with birds...

...and its waters teeming with grey seals.

Podcast with Simon Willis

2011-07-22T08:08:00.002+01:00

A short while ago I was interviewed by Simon Willis for another one his 'Sea Kayak Podcasts'.

You can download the podcast by clicking here, or if you prefer to listen online click here.

Lleyn Peninsula and Bardsey Island

2011-07-06T23:02:00.000+01:00

The weekend provided ideal conditions for sea kayaking around the Lleyn Peninsula. Several of us based ourselves at the Aberafon campsite beside the pebbly beach, just to the north of Trefor. Having stopped for fish & chips on the way, we arrived just in time to raise a glass to the setting sun.

The next morning saw us heading off early to launch from Porth Oer in dazzling sunlight. The rock hopping between Porth Oer and the end of the Lleyn peninsula is excellent. There are countless gullies and teasing rock gardens ready to claim white gelcoat deposits from the boats of cocky or careless paddlers.

The crossing of Bardsey Sound is rarely 'straightforward' and this time 'slack water' evaded us in spite of careful planning. The wild west shores of Bardsey greeted us with yet more rock hopping fun amongst the kelp hollows with a few grey seals thrown in for good measure.

Soon after landing beside the slipway we set about exploring the island. The first item on the menu was the lighthouse and the southern tip that we had just passed in our kayaks. The red and white painted lighthouse along with the fog horn building look in need of a spot of paint and some other repairs.

The main course of our Bardsey adventure feast was the summit the hill that gives the island its grand facade. Mynydd Enlli towers 167 metres dominating the lower parts of the island to its west. The eastern cliffs and crags drop steeply to the turbulent waters of Bardsey Sound. Whilst adolescent choughs swoop amongst the rocky outcrops hundreds of Manx shearwater burrows remain silent by day. After dark these sea cliffs come alive with their ghostly, underground, nocturnal chuntering.

For dessert, we descended the west side of the hill via the 12th century abbey ruins and the bird observatory before launching our kayaks once more and heading back to Porth Oer in the golden, hazy afternoon sunshine.

Back at Aberafon campsite, the warm evening begged for a barbecue on the beach. Gradually tales of the day's adventures grew taller and more obscure until we were overcome by sleep.

The next morning brought a new adventure in the form of a paddle to the pub. The paddle from Trefor to Porth Dinllaen is full of all sorts of contrast. The first headland is riddled with all sorts of nooks and crannies. A luminous blue back-lit cave has an underwater passage through to a secret storm beach built steeply with fist-sized pebbles.

A series of dark craggy stacks stand guard over more rocky beaches that lie in the shadow of Yr Eifl. These 3 peaks mark the northern root of the Lleyn Peninsula. Further south is Nant Gwrtheyryn. This was once a cursed valley but is now re-born as the home of the Welsh national language and heritage centre. It is here that we stumbled upon a group of sea kayakers enjoying their morning Tai-Chi among the abandoned quarry workings above the beach.

The headland of Penrhyn Glas has tall cliffs with ledges tightly packed with kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and cormorants. This is a noisy, hectic and messy place where guano rains down from the shanty towns above.

From here, 6 kilometres and three sandy bays separated several thirsty paddlers from the welcoming hostelry, 'Ty Coch' at Porth Dinllaen. The pace quickened in the final kilometre. The perfect beach picnic was an assortment of sausages, cheese, grapes and freshly dispensed draught beer.

The return to Trefor was much slower that expected. In the clear glassy waters we noticed other slow things too...

The Book Has Arrived

2011-06-05T07:45:00.002+01:00

This is the moment at which I first managed to get my mucky paws on this long awaited book. This project has been the focus of my spare time for the last four years.

Photo: Will Herman

This has meant that I have spent most weekends and holidays paddling, researching, photographing and writing about some fantastic coastal scenery. Some of the coastlines, like those of Northumberland and Yorkshire, are already well known for their classic sea kayaking scenery. However, it is hoped that this guidebook will open up some of the less well known shores like the Durham Heritage Coast, Cumbrian estuaries and the Isle of Man.

You can order the book by clicking here

There will also be a small number of launch events open to all.

Adventures on your Doorstep

2011-05-29T18:08:00.001+01:00

I've been taking it easy this weekend staying at home and avoiding the traditional bank holiday traffic jams. I was still in need of some sort of an outdoor fix so Chris and I dusted our bikes off in the hope of finding some adventures close to home.

The Trans-Pennine Trail runs close to where we live so we started by heading west towards Carrington Moss. The area is ideally suited to cycling and walking because of the network of paths that criss-cross the varied habitats. There is woodland, heath, open grassland and marshy areas with ponds.

Close to Altrincham we found the towpath of the Bridgwater Canal, which soon led us to grand estate of Dunham Massey. The grounds cover nearly 200 acres most of which pasture-woodland with ancient oak trees and fallow deer.

After weaving our way through the exclusive suburbs of Hale and Bowdon we crossed the River Bollin, gatecrashed a mini 'Crufts' dog training event then hurried away through dense woodland near the M56 motorway.

After winding our way along Cheshire's narrow country lanes we arrived at the sleepy village of Rostherene. The churchyard that overlooks Rostherne Mere made for a perfect place to catch our breath and take in the view across the lake. All of the excitement had developed quite a thirst so we then headed for Tatton Park for a welcome coffee stop.

All too soon we were seeing the last of the rolling Cheshire countryside as we trundled over Bucklow Hill and made good our escape back to our urban comfort-zone that is south Manchester.

Keswick Mountain Festival - A blustery affair

2011-05-22T21:12:00.000+01:00

Last year's event was held in glorious sunshine but this time the Cumbrian weather had something different to say. On Thursday and Friday tents, marquees and other temporary structures were being assembled in readiness for a weekend of sporting activities, side shows and the pedaling of associated clobber.

Saturday went smoothly enough and the crowds braved the strengthening breeze as as a few blustery showers paved the way for more persistent rain that continued late into the night.

By Sunday morning the main festival site was a scene of devastation. At first, the main marquee was a little ragged but looked as if it might survive.

By 10am it had come crashing down and was being hurriedly cleared away. Let's hope for better weather for the event next year.

Stormy Rhoscolyn

2011-05-17T07:49:00.000+01:00

It seems that last month's weather was more typical of June and now that we are in the merry month of may, April has jumped in with wellies on. Sunshine and blustery showers dominated the weekend as Dave and I spent a weekend on Anglesey at the pretty village of Rhoscolyn.

On the way to north Wales we visited our friend Ray who has recently retired. He has been making good use of his spare time setting up a workshop and making 'Greenland style' paddles. Ray is an excellent craftsman and his paddles are of unquestionable quality.

We arrived at the campsite just in time to get the tents up before the next squally shower came in.

The strong northwesterly winds left us few options for paddling, so we launched at Four Mile Bridge soon after high tide and followed the ebbing waters towards Rhosneigr.

We then followed the beautiful craggy shores, rock-hopping all the way back to Rhoscolyn.

Finally, on Sunday we found that the persistent winds had brought surf to Sandy Beach.

Anglesey 'Symposium'

2011-05-03T21:21:00.001+01:00

The word 'symposium' strikes fear and loathing into the hearts of many sea kayakers. However, I don't really mind it all that much. This is because the word has its origins in the times when Greek scholars would get together under the guise of exchanging wisdom, whilst actually just having a right old knees up!

The relentless easterly breeze tried its best to spoil things and some plans had to be altered but blue seas and brilliant sunshine won through.

Photo: Olly Sanders

I spent plenty of time rock-hopping and exploring caves whilst trying out the new Aries from P&H Custom Kayaks.

Off the water, the symposium base at the Anglesey Outdoor Centre was a hive of activity with retailers and manufacturers peddling their wares. Evening talks and slide shows, and the newly refurbished Paddlers Return Bar completed the festival atmosphere as beer-fueled tall tales ran late into the night.

Knoydart Revisited

2011-04-29T08:37:00.000+01:00

Back in 2004 Kirstine and I visited the remote Knoydart peninsula for the first time. Like last time we drove to the Silversands campsite just north of Arisaig. After relaxing for a couple of nights we paddled along the white sandy beaches and rocky shores to Mallaig and into the depths of Loch Nevis.

Loch Nevis is hemmed in by mountains, moorland and steep wooded shores. There are no roads to Knoydart and its village of Inverie so the only way to get there is by sea, or on foot from Loch Arkaig 20 miles away.

Hill walking is very popular here. There are several 'Monroes' and a handful or 'Corbetts'. Ladhar Bheinn is the highest peak at 1010m. Last time we climbed Meall Buidhe (942m) and this time we climed a couple of lower peaks that overlook Inverie Bay and the Long Beach campsite. We set off walking along the Inverie River to Loch an Dubh-Lochan. From there we walked steeply amongst the crags to the summit of Stob an Uillt-fhearthna (661m).

The lower south-facing slopes are littered with primroses. Once on the summit we were surrounded by handsome peaks strung together by bold, craggy ridges. From there we went south-west along the ridge to Sgurr Coire Choinnichean (796m). The mountains and ridges were all behind us with Inverie Bay below and views in font of us across the sea to the islands of Skye, Eigg and Rum.

Aching from the walking, we opted for a gentle paddle up Loch Nevis the next day. We made for the narrows at Kylesknoydart looking for seals. It seemed strange to see them so far away from the open ocean. We left them to their fishing and made for the shelter of Tarbet Bay for lunch in the sun. We were greeted by Frank who lives in the old church there and runs it as a bothy. He invited us in for tea and jokes! His invitation was impossible to resist and it was even harder to leave. We must return another time and spend the night.

It was difficult to find motivation to pack up the next day and leave. Since our first visit only a few things have changed but Knoydart and Inverie have retained their remote charm and warm welcome. We said a final farewell to Inverie by visiting the cafe for pop and ice creams in the midday sun before setting off along the northern shores of Loch Nevis.

The waters here are so deep and blue with spreading forests of seaweed.

The 'Madonna' blesses the waters of Loch Nevis and all those who enter and leave this way.

Puffin Island & the Menai Strait

2011-04-21T06:14:00.002+01:00

I recently visited the sunny and sheltered shores of eastern Anglesey. Its good to know that some things don't change much.

Puffin Island was buzzing with thousands of cliff nesting sea birds and its waters surrounded by inquisitive seals. The Arctic and sandwich Terns have arrived and their hovering and plunge diving for fish is as entertaining as ever.

Heading southwest down the Menai Strait we passed Beaumaris before the tidal stream picked up and carried us swiftly towards Menai Bridge and the Swellies.

The currents in the Swellies have a fearsome reputation amongst mariners but with the right skills and knowledge the waves and eddies can be great fun in canoes and Kayaks.

The music on the video is from the album 'Aurora' by Michael McGoldrick. The photos are by Kev Robinson.

Gwydyr Forest

2011-03-29T21:46:00.002+01:00

On a soggy weekend a couple of weeks ago Chris and I headed off in search of some hill walking in the Snowdonia National Park. There was a thick blanket of drizzly grey cloud hiding the peaks and ridges that we love, so we thought we would try something a little different.

The waters of Llyn Geirionedd and Llyn Crafnant are separated by the thickly wooded slopes of Mynydd Deulyn in the Gwydyr Forest. Neither of us fancied a route march on exposed windy slopes in poor visibility, so a walk along the lake shores and through the woods made a pleasant change.

The views along the shores were far better than from the higher peaks. The waters of Llyn Geirionedd are strangely clear but this lake has been polluted by water leaking from nearby disused lead mines. In contrast, Llyn Crafnant is a popular fishing spot and there is a cafe that overlooks the lake.

The slopes of Mynydd Deulyn have a variety of woodland. Areas of densely planted spruce make for a spooky scene reminiscent of walking through caves or vaulted cellars.

In the occasional clearing there were small twisted oak trees sprouting with ferns and thickly draped in mosses. We hurried on quickly back to where we had left the car in case of ghosts, witches or other such wild beings.

The Cumberland Ring

2011-02-24T22:42:00.002Z

This weekend, Kate, Sean and I will start a challenging kayaking trip. The Cumberland Ring is so called because is circumnavigates The English Lake District; the land of the Cumberland Ring sausage.

The route takes in the rivers Lune, Eden and miles of Cumbrian coast. We have been supplied with some excellent kit. We will be using Pyranha Fusion kayaks for the rivers, P&H Cetus for the sea, clothing from Peak UK and we will have Mitchell Blades for propulsion. With regard to fuel, we will be fortified by award winning Cumberland Ring sausages from Cranston's of Penrith and Sticky Toffee Pudding from the Cartmel Village shop.

We will be updating a dedicated blog at the end of each day.

Book Ahoy!

2011-02-04T18:39:00.001Z

Over the last 3 years I have been busy researching, photographing and writing about the shores of northern England and the Isle of Man. I have worn out at least one kayak, strained several friendships, overwhelmed two computers and drowned a couple of cameras. As for pubs, cafes and chip shops... let's not go there!

At last the end seems in sight. The new guidebook is called Northern England and Isle of Man and describes '50 great Sea Kayak Voyages'. Pesda Press have announced the publication date as 2nd of May. There is more information about the book here.

Robbie Burns and the Welsh dragon

2011-01-28T13:27:00.000Z

Always keen on finding excuses for a celebration, Kev and Gill from NWSK laid on a weekend in Wales to include a Burns Night Supper. We rented a grand house in Harlech ideally situated between the mountains and the sea.

Some went for and early morning paddle on the Mawddach Estuary, whilst Kirstine me and several others opted for lofty heights of Cnicht. This mountain gives is a little off the beaten track but offers excellent views over the Moelwyns, Dwyryd Estuary and the Snowdon Massif.

Despite there being few scots among our number, we managed to embrace the concept of following a brisk day in the outdoors with a hearty plateful of haggis, neaps and tatties. Pudding was homemade ice cream made with a good quality 16 year old malt whisky. Finally, a wee dram of yet another fine malt made for the perfect nightcap!

Festive Fun

2011-01-28T07:53:00.002Z

The wintry freeze didn't show any sign of loosening its grip during the Christmas period. With the Mersey Valley looking like a winter wonderland, we made our traditional pilgrimage to the pub on our cross-country skis.

On Boxing Day I met up with other members of Manchester Canoe Club for the traditional festive ice breaker. The fun started with a spot of canoe sledging...

Following a series of overnight temperatures of around -10 celcius, the River Goyt was partially frozen over. However, that was not enough to put off over 30 paddlers from making the tour from Brabyn's Park to the club site.

In the bleak midwinter

2010-12-19T17:21:00.001Z

Winter arrived early. Its hard to imagine that we have been in the grips of this cold snap for 3 weeks now.

Back in November it became unseasonably cold but the ducks could swim freely and all seemed well.

Then the snow came. Actually not all that much here in Manchester but not very far away in most directions there have been record snowfalls. Still there is enough to have a few short local outings on my cross country skis.

Finally, me and a few neighbours have been chipping away at the slippery ice that has accumulated on the sloping driveway to our flats. All the hard work was done by 4 o'clock which meant it was time for tea and a jolly good natter.

Storm Gathering Saturday & Sunday

2010-11-02T19:59:00.002Z

Friday's strong winds gradually died away overnight leaving the sea smooth with enough swell to keep things entertaining. We launched from the sandy beach next to Beadnell Harbour. Once we paddled round the point we followed the coast heading north for the Farne Islands. Most of the thousands of breeding sea birds have now left the island leaving cormorants, shags, eider ducks and a few migrating wading birds.

(photo Mark Tozer)

We made our way from the Inner Farnes out across Staple Sound where the swell was greater and picked up breaking heavily in some of the narrow Channels. Landing briefly on Longstone the group headed back along the south side of the archipelago. The Pinnacles of Staple Island were being bombarded with walls of water foaming and surging creating spectacular waterspouts.

Journeys' end was at St Aidan's Beach just outside Seahouses. The beach was sheltered from the most powerful swell leaving some delightfully clean 2-3ft waves. Even though the light was fading, it was difficult to leave the water and the waves behind but Ollie reminded us that we had a bus to catch!

The nearby Chainbridge Honey Farm had provided their 50 year old 'Routemaster' London bus to take us from the 'Pot-a-Doodle-Doo' wigwam village to the 'Barn at Beal' education centre. Upon arrival we were all treated to samples of Lindisfarne Mead, locally made cheese and steaming bowlfuls of hot stew. The traditional slideshow showcased the local coastline and kept quite lively with alcoholic prizes served up between occasional scenes of nudity!

Back at the wigwams fun, frolics and alcoholics carried on late into the night (photo Mark Tozer).

Sunday's paddling was based along the coastal cliffs between Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Scottish town of Eyemouth. To start with there was more surf to play in but the swell was obviously dying away. This meant that we could embark upon a myriad of rockhopping challenges and various kayak caving adventures.

Our lunch stop was Marshall Meadows Bay which is a huge sandstone amphitheatre. Part way up one of the cliffs there is an inclined tunnel that leads to the caravan site that overlooks the area with panoramic views along the coast.

Further on up the coast, we made our way between, behind and sometimes beneath rocks all the way to Eyemouth. All too soon the gathering was over. Many were saying their goodbyes here whilst packing up kit in the descending evening cool before heading off home.

Many thanks to Ollie Jay and Active4Seasons for hosting and organizing the gathering and all of the associated fun and games. A whole bunch of like minded people now have a whole bunch of new friends.

There are more photos of the event on the facebook gallery here...

Storm Gathering Eve

2010-10-29T19:52:00.001+01:00

The long journey from Manchester started at 7 o'clock this morning. The first stop was at Preston Brook to collect a couple of P&H Delphins. There was also a special treat in store. Fresh out of the mould was a prototype of the Delpin's composite 'big brother', 'Aries'. I'll be playing with this beauty for most of this coming weekend.

After a long drive to Berwick-upon-Tweed, I met up with Ollie Jay at Spittal beach for some fun in the messy wind blown surf. The sets came rolling in handsomely.

The rising tide brought us run after exhilarating run in the golden autumn sunshine. Eventually, the strong southerly wind sapped our strength and it was time for tea!.

Wild Northumberland

2010-10-15T12:54:00.002+01:00

A couple of weeks ago Kirstine and I headed off to the Northumberland coast for a few days break. The weather was varied which meant there was scope for a little bit of everything. One of the highlights was a walk right round the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. It has such a varied coast with sand dunes, small cliffs and boulder strewn beaches. The photograph above is of the northeast point called Emmanuel Head.

On one of the more blustery days I went hunting for some surf. In most places it was just too big and intimidating so I headed for the shelter of St Mary's Haven near Low Newton. The surfing was good fun in the new P&H Delphin even though conditions in the haven were a little tame.

When it rained, we headed north of the border to Eyemouth in Scotland (but only just!) We had a classic haggis and chips lunch before heading for the Eyemouth Maritime Centre which has a fantastic display of old smugglers boats and relics.

This time of year there is plenty of bird life in and around the estuarine mud flats around Holy Island. The next time I will be back to these shores will be to attend the 5th Storm Gathering meet. Which will be hosted by Active 4 Seasons on the weekend of 30th-31st of October.

Snowdonia Mountains and Coast

2010-10-09T21:58:00.003+01:00

The mild temperatures and the promise of clearing skies inspired a trip to the hills of Snowdonia. My brother, Chris and I chose to explore the remote valley of Cwm Egiau, which lies east of the Carneddau. As soon as we left the road head the mist came down restricting the visibility to less than 30 metres at times.

There are few paths to follow in this wild valley so our combined navigation skills were put thoroughly to the test.

The summit of Foel Grach was the first peak that we had aimed for. When we arrived we were greeted with an energy sapping wintry gale and penetrating drizzle. We sheltered in the refuge where we were joined by another sodden soul. Following a brief exchange of navigation tactics, Chris and I decided to beat a hasty retreat down into the valley, back the way we had come from.

Once safely down out of the wind, the weather began to rapidly improve. Just our luck! We walked the last couple of miles to the car in warm sunshine.

So as not to feel short changed from our early retreat from the hills, we headed off to Anglesey for some coastal views. Llandwyn Island is beautiful on any day but so much the better when bathed in golden autumn sunshine.

Canolfan Tryweryn

2010-09-26T21:07:00.000+01:00

Many moons ago Canolfan Tryweryn was a regular haunt of mine and the class 3-4 white water rapids were a familiar and routine challenge. My return today followed a car journey filled with anticipation punctuated with moments of apprehension.

The river scenery so perfectly beautiful in the golden Autumn sunshine with misty shafts of light piercing the woodland canopy. In many places you can see the rocks and pebbles on the river bed as the waters run clear from the Llyn Celyn dam. The water is powerful and fast-flowing. Entering the evocatively named 'Graveyard' I am immediately reminded of how fast things happen here. Any loss of control and I am whisked along, bouncing over, and crashing through tumbling water and churning waves.

All around me life on the river seems every bit as I remember. Some poor inexperienced soul is shocked to be suddenly swimming in such an uncomfortable and unforgiving situation. Others are having fun surfing standing waves and playing rodeo with the river's insatiable features. Years ago I would be one of them and perhaps with practice I will be again. Today I pass them by.

Scarborough to Robin Hood's Bay

2010-08-23T20:53:00.003+01:00

This is a stretch of coast that is beginning to capture the hearts of more than just local paddlers. The iconic headland complete with castle, stands between North Bay and South Bay. Both of these have sweeping sandy beaches that are popular with surfers, as well as the bucket and spade brigade. We headed off north in search of rockhopping, secluded bays and towering cliffs...

Rockhopping can be found immediately to the north of Scarborough at the headland of Scalby Ness. Swell surges through reefs and amongst jagged rock structures from here to the evocatively named 'Sailors Grave' in the shadow of Cromer Point.

Claughton Wyke is a small bay with cliffs rising on each side. The southern entrance has a submerged reef upon which swell can unexpectedly break and unleash powerful breaking surf. This caught all three of us unawares. Two of us escaped the breakers but the remaining poor soul was dealt a punishing swim followed by a barnacle dance.

The next bay is called Hayburn Wyke and is far more welcoming. There are tall cliffs and tree lined slopes with a small waterfall that cascades down onto the pebbly beach. No reefs, no punishing breakers, just some smelly seaweed. Comparatively heavenly!

Curious seals surrounded us as we neared Ravenscar and the entrance to Robin Hood's Bay. As ever we tried to take pictures but for the most part they were camera shy, or perhaps just teasing us.

We set a good pace for the return to Scarborough. The enticing view of the castle and headland drew us closer. As we rounded the headland the unmistakable chip shop aroma hung in the air. Soon after we landed we each awarded ourselves a generous helping of fish, chips and mushy peas.

There are a few more photos from the day's adventures here.

Bottled in Rhoscolyn

2010-07-18T18:48:00.002+01:00

I embarked upon a spontaneous weekend to Rhoscolyn, close to Holyhead at the western end of Anglesey. Along with some good friends, I engaged some of the less hospitable waters that the Irish Sea can throw upon Welsh shores.

It is such a joy to paddle in the swell and chop. The breaking waves and sea air, combined with warm southerly breezes are so exhilarating and invigorating. Yet, it is well to remember that these conditions are not for the faint hearted, nor the less experienced venturer...

The local seals chose to take it easy and have a snooze in their typical 'bottle' posture in the shelter of Borthwen that day. After all, Mother Nature knows best.

Chorlton Beer Festival

2010-07-16T07:36:00.001+01:00

The dry sunny weather has left gardens and lawns parched and a hosepipe ban looming. Another of the first signs of summer is Chorlton Beer Festival. It is usually best to sample the fine ales on the opening Friday evening session, as by half way through Saturday, some of the more popular potions may have been guzzled away.

The event was impeccably organised by the Trafford and Hulme branch of CAMRA. There were over 50 real ales to choose from as well as around 30 traditional ciders and a selection of Belgian beers too.

Thanks to St Clements Church providing the perfect venue, this annual festival continues to thrive and has become a real focus for a broad cross section of the community from Chorlton and beyond.

Woodmill Sea Symposium

2010-06-16T07:33:00.000+01:00

This inaugural event was hosted by the Woodmill Canoe Shop at the adjacent Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre. The venue is situated on the banks of the River Itchen where it meets tidal waters in the Southampton suburb of Swaythling. The weekend workshops included: first aid, navigation, VHF radio, rough water handling and guided trips. The 'paddle to the pub' was by far the most popular of the guided trips on offer.

Saturday evening brought an opportunity to borrow a short boat from the canoe shop and try a few moves in the play spot of the Itchen Weir. The traditional slide show preceded an excellent barbecue. Generous portions of meat and bread were used to stem the flow of alcohol to our senses. Later, desert was cooked over a huge bonfire. Seered marshmallows and spiced rum... Yum!

The highlight of the paddling was the trip around The Needles at the western end of the Isle of Wight. Dodging the ships in The Solent, rounding the mighty chalk stacks and riding the tide races in brilliant sunshine. This may seem like a simple recipe, but these ingredients work every time!

The event was really well organised by the staff from the shop and outdoor centre who are a really friendly and helpful bunch. It is worth keeping an eye on next years calender as the organisers hope to make this an annual event.

Stackpole Sea Kayaking Festival

2010-06-02T22:30:00.003+01:00

Following a week of kayaking and walking in north Pembrokeshire, Kirstine and I met up with around 80 other sea kayaking enthusiasts at the outdoor centre known as 'Stackpole for Outdoor Learning'. The centre is set in beautiful grounds, just back from the coast in the rolling south Pembrokeshire countryside.

The emphasis of the weekend was on 'Paddling Lightly', or in other words; enjoying our sport with the minimum impact upon, and with the greatest respect for our wild and beautiful marine environment. The modern sport of kayaking can involve heavy use of motor vehicles. But last weekend's events showed that with careful planning impact upon narrow lanes, small car parks and the wider environment can be minimised.

The events on the water were largely organised by Pembrokeshire's collective 'Sea Kayak Guides'. The staff at 'Stackpole for Outdoor Learning' were amazing too. Louise Smithson and the rest of her team were extremely efficient, especially when it came to meal times when great food was turned out in plentiful dish loads.

Peak UK and P&H Custom Sea Kayaks turned up in force to support the event and brought kit and boats to try & buy, a splash of colour and a bouncy dog called Georgie!

On the Saturday the blustery weather kept the paddlers in sheltered waters of the Cleddau and other sheltered shores. In the evening we were kept well informed by a local wildlife expert and local sea kayak guide Nigel Robinson. Afterwards the adventurous Olly Sanders recounted tales of how he clung to walls, paddled amongst icebergs, caused an explosion in a hunting cabin and watched helplessly as his compatriots were kidnapped by murderers.

The stories grew taller and taller and and we drank late into the night ...

On Sunday a more adventurous group went to circumnavigate the exposed island nature reserve of Skomer. The tides here proved as entertaining and tricky as a bucking bronco. Circumnavigating the monks haven of Caldey Island, or traversing the rugged coastline between Solva and Porth Clais was quite enough for mere mortals in the chunky rolling swells of the day.

The evening started with a sumptuous barbecue before descending into a musical furore instigated by a local ceilidh band.

Bank Holiday Monday was more sedate. A few more gentle palling trips before tea and cakes and home to reality. Ho hum...

There are more photos from the weekend on the festival Facebook page.

Pembrokeshire's Wild & Rugged North

2010-06-02T08:16:00.003+01:00

Kirstine and I took a week off to explore the Pembrokeshire National Park. Naturally we took our sea kayaks but we also took walking boots. Initially, it looked as though the weather would allow us to tour the coastline by kayak with a spot of overnight wild camping along the way. A cold stiff breeze from the north that would remain for the next 3 days soon put a stop to that plan.

We headed off for the sheltered campsite at Whitesands Bay where we based ourselves for 3 days of walking the windswept coastal path and paddling along some of the more sheltered shores.

The caves and arches close to Solva's natural harbour gave us plenty to do in sheltered waters. Occasional downdraughts from winds swirling around the cliffs kept us on our toes and served as a reminder of the overall blustery conditions out at sea.

Eventually the wind dropped enough for a trip out of Whitesands Bay, through Ramsey Sound and round to Porth Clais. A little swell from the south was enough to make the rockhopping conditions perfect on the swirling surges among the many channels and gullies.

At the end of the week, we headed south for a quick walk around St Anne's Head then off towards Stackpole Head for the Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival. Before heading for the centre we decided to make the most of the beautiful evening and met up with Pete Astles for a paddle along the red sandstone shores of Marorbier.

The Delights of the Gower

2010-04-20T07:31:00.000+01:00

Last weekend's work commitments took me to the Gower peninsula in south Wales. Without hesitation I packed my kayak and got in touch with local paddler Eurion Brown. We met up on the Friday evening at Port Eynon for a short sunset paddle and quickly discovered that this coastline is something special.

This smugglers cove has a tower built of stone set deep into its gully. If these walls could talk they would tell tall tales of smuggling brandy, tobacco and pirates booty.

The lack of air traffic left the skies clear of vapour trails. A wonderful sunset was our cue to head back to reach Port Eynon before dark.

The following day Eurion and I paddled the section from Port Eynon to Llangennith. This classic journey took us past Paviland Cave and on towards Three Cliffs Bay before rounding Worms Head. The towering limestone cliffs and pinnacles with sweeping grassy meadows between them are reminiscent of summer alpine scenes. No doubt this is why walkers and climbers are drawn to these shores.

Northumberland at Easter

2010-04-08T11:04:00.003+01:00

The Northumberland is blessed with a wild, bleak and beautiful coastline full of adventure. Kirstine and I braved the A1 with thousands of others for the great Easter get away. By late evening we were established in our lodgings at Farne Diving Services in the village of Beadnell.

On Good Friday morning the beach at Beadnell Haven was bristling with wildlife. Eider ducks were so busy squabbling over who should mate with who that they hardly noticed me sneaking up on then with my camera.

The tide was on its way out and the wading birds were tucking into the fresh feast exposed along the sands.

Most interesting were a small group of 'bar tailed godwits' possibly part-way through migration to their breeding grounds in higher lattitudes.

On Saturday Kirstine and I paddled out to the Inner Farne to look for some more wildlife. Before long we spotted the first of what seemed like a million puffins. Kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and shags have also arrived in readiness for the breeding season.

Sunday morning was a little fuzzy due to a few extra beers in the Craster Arms. I left Kirstine to rest whilst I met up with local kayak guide Ollie Jay for a trip out to the Longstone. The Longstone is one of the outermost Farne islands and after stopping for a hot drink beside the lighthouse we had fun nipping in and out of the tide races that rush between the kelp infested rocks. Some of the seals followed us for over a mile until we were well on our way back to St Aidan's beach near Seahouses.

Anglesey Chill

2010-03-16T22:51:00.000Z

Kirstine and I broke Manchester's Friday surface tension and catapulted ourselves towards north Wales for a weekend of kayaking fun with North West Sea Kayakers. Its always good to meet up with old friends. Soon enough we were washing down some spicy broth with a glass or two of warming winter ale topped off with slack handful of tall stories.

Most of the collaborators were hatching plans for a late start but I was feeling too enthusiastic to hang around. By 8 o'clock on Saturday morning 5 of us were scurrying around dragging kit to the bay at Rhoscolyn in readiness for a 35km anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Holy Island. By the time we had crossed the Inland Sea and approaching Holyhead Harbour I was feeling my lack of fitness. Waiting for a fast ferry to pass in front of us gave a welcome breather.

The tide race at North Stack was in fine foamy form and comanding respect with its legions of munching waves. We had a brief respite resting and exploring the caves of Gogarth Bay before moving on. My new carbon fibre paddles from Mitchell Blades were making all the difference in my tiring state. The smooth crisp entry to the water combined with their light weight deliver plenty of power when its needed but requiring a little less effort.

We left South Stack behind us as we crossed Abrahams Bosom and Trearddur Bay and soon arrived back at Rhoscolyn in the chilly late afternoon.

Thawing out from a chilly adventure is a fine art. A careful blend of freshly baked pizzas, and a plenty of good wine lead to cheery banter and ultimately sound sleep.

The following day started with a lot of plotting and scheming of future trips. Sundays paddling was shorter but sweeter in the dazzling sunshine. Once Kirstine got hold of my shiny new paddles it was difficult to retreive them!

A trip to the Mitchell Blades paddle factory

2010-03-07T15:03:00.004Z

In the the darkness of mid-winter I was dreaming of warm the sunny sea kayaking days and the coming summer season. It was time to think about a change of paddle. I had become quite attached to my old blades but they were a little heavy and outdated.

There are plenty of lovely paddles to choose from in the shops, but I quickly became curious about nearby Chester based paddle maker Lance Mitchell. Having worked with relatives Dave & Peggy making paddles in the USA, Lance returned to Chester in 2002 to set up his own company, 'Mitchell Blades'. I like to support local small businesses so I got in touch with Lance and before I knew it I had placed an order.

When I arrived at the modest-sized workshop, Lance was applying the finishing touches to my paddle. He is fanatical about attention to detail and proud of his unique manufacturing techniques. Before I left Lance talked me through the manufacturing process and gave me a quick guided tour.

All that remains is for me to get my new paddles wet!

Kayak Coast2Coast - The Movie

2010-02-04T20:54:00.004Z

The Kayak Coast 2 Coast team have gathered up some of the footage and photographs from last years trip to make a short film to tell the story. I asked my friend Helen Lagoe if she would help and she kindly agreed. Helen has done and wonderful job with the video editing. She has whipped up a really watchable film out of a collection of photos and what must have seemed like an endless string of footage.

Another friend, Michael McGoldrick let us use some of the music from his albums: 'Morning Rory' and 'Fused'.

The 12 minute film will be featured at the increasingly popular Sheffield Adventure Film Festival in one of the 'On the Edge' evenings. Kayak Coast 2 Coast can be viewed at 'Cafe Euro' 7.00pm Saturday 6th March.

7th March update - If you missed the screening in Sheffield you can watch it by clicking here.

A thaw comes to north Wales

2010-01-17T16:50:00.000Z

Most of the snow and ice has now dissapeared from Manchester but my apetite for fun in the snow is still as healthy as ever. My brother Chris and I have been for a spot of wintry walking in the Carneddau hills of northern Snowdonia.

The quick ascent of Pen yr Ole Wen brought us stunning views across the Ogwen Valley. The strange morning light refracted through the low cloud to colour snow patches from pinks and oranges to different shades of blue. The rest of the ascent was a chore as my hill fitness is in great need of improvement right now.

From the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen we stumbled into a cold icy cloud in search of Carnedd Dafydd. After an uphill slog over icy stones and through deep snow drifts we arrived at the summit and checked in at the shelter. It was a good opportunity to check the map but we also made time for a well earned snack.

We took the gentler slopes that lead back to the Ogwen Valley via Cwm Lloer. The snow conditions allowed us to simply sit back, relax and enjoy the view whilst descending at a fair rate of knots.

All too soon we were leaving the melting snows behind and heading back into the valley and mentally preparing for the journey home.

At home on the piste

2010-01-13T06:15:00.000Z

During this last couple of snowy weeks it has been like living in a different country. The recent cold snap has delivered more snow than I can remember. The journey to work has taken longer and much more effort so when the weekend arrived with blue skies and sunny weather it was time to make the best of the conditions.

Plenty of deep powdery snow meant that Kirstine and I could ski nordic style right from the garden into the wide open spaces of the Mersey Valley.

Unfortunately, our afternoon of fun was cut short when Kirsine's boots started to come apart like comedy clown shoes. We headed home to study shoe repair manuals over steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

Don't eat yellow snow

2010-01-09T16:19:00.001Z

Huge and characterful snowmen and imaginative snow sculptures have sprung up everywhere in the lest few days.

This snow toilet certainly made me flushed with excitement. There is even a mini chocolate bar floating in the pan waiting to be dispatched!

...on a cold an frosty morning!

2010-01-06T22:20:00.000Z

The main roads in Manchester have provided plenty of challenges for people trying to get to work. Snow and ice have closed most schools and left the emergency services heavily stretched. At times bus services have been suspended. Driving is difficult, walking any distance is tricky and this is no weather for cycling to work. So just how do you get to work on a day like this like this?

I have been making good use of the current conditions and remembering the old nursery rhyme: "This is the way we go to work on a cold and frosty morning!"

Gath'ring winter fu-u-el

2010-01-06T06:14:00.000Z

Its official! This is the most prolonged cold snap in the las 30 years. It seems a long time since the first snow affected transport in Manchester back in late December.

Christmas and New Year came and went with many people having to make difficult choices to change their plans for the festive season. A few of us managed to gather up a few logs and huddle round a fire in the back garden. We donned warm hats and big coats for a festive barbeque in the snow with mulled wine and German sausages.

And still the snow comes...

Spurn Head

2009-11-03T07:22:00.003Z

I managed to get a paddle in on Saturday before the weather broke in such dramatic style on Sunday. I went to the east coast to paddle around the iconic headland and nature reserve of Spurn Head. I met up with Richard, Sabina, Ron and Kate at the Spurn Heritage Coast Visitor Centre at Kilnsea Beach.

Spurn Head is a fragile spit of land made up of sand and pebbles bound together with marram grass and sea buckthorn. In places this 6 kilometre long spit is less than 50 metres wide. Spurn protects the Humber like a huge breakwater keeping the stormy nature of the North Sea at bay.

The coastal erosion here means that the shore is receeding at around 2 metres each year and the way down to the beach can be a little awkward.

Once out through the surf we enjoyed the assistance of the south-going tidal stream as we passed numerous anglers on our way to the point.

We stopped for a play in the overfalls where there is a sand bank and an area of shallows called 'Stony Binks' close to the end of the headland. From here we could see the old Bull Sand Fort which stands in the middle of the mouth of the Humber. The fort was built in WW1 as part of the coastal defence network.

Once round the end of Spurn we were in smooth waters paddling past the pilot station and jetty, 2 disused lighthouses and the only lifeboat station manned by full-time residential staff. I was spotted by the coxwain, Dave who I had met earlier in the year when 4 of us finished the Kayak Coast 2 Coast trip here raising over £2000 for the RNLI. We had just a brief chat before moving on to paddle up the inner shore of Spurn.

Birds were swarming all around us as the sinking sun lit the inner shore with a golden autumnal glow. The water was strangely smooth yet we could hear the boom of surf dumping on the outer beach, just accross the road on the other side of the spit.

Finally, we reached the shore next to the Crown and Anchor pub and after 14 kilometres of paddling we only had 700 metres to walk to our cars.

St Bees in the Sun

2009-10-19T08:13:00.002+01:00

The settled weather of last week continued into the weekend giving Saturday the potential to be a glorious day. With this in mind I was easily tempted out to the west Cumbrian coast for a paddle round St Bees Head.

The name of St Bees is most likely to be linked to St Bega who arrived upon these shores during the 7th Century from Ireland via the Isle of Man. Records of her travels keep cropping up along the shores of northern England. We set out from the beach at St Bees close to the lifeboat station and the beginning of Alfred Wainwright's modern day pilgrim's way.

The red sandstone cliffs here rise over 80 metres vertically from the sea. South of the main headland the buttresses are regularly spaced along the cliff line like huge curtain folds.

The sea was unusually calm and we chatted to some climbers who were taking advantage of the warm autumn sunshine and getting a few routes done.

There was only one thing for it when we arrived at Whitehaven harbour. We headed for the chip shop!

We spent too long on lunch so the journey back was a little more hurried than it looks in the photo above.

The Industrial North-East

2009-09-28T16:12:00.004+01:00

The coast between Yorkshire and Northumberland is one of little known beauty and poorly hidden beasts. Brian, Peter and I met at the historic headland at Hartlepool on Friday morning for a paddle to Teesmouth. The launching spot is down a set of steps through a sandstone archway the old town wall onto a small beach called Fish Sands. As we paddled along the shores of Hartlepool Bay we kept ourselves entertained in the surf that was breaking gently on the smooth sands of Seaton Carew.

The industrial tangle of Teesmouth makes a dramatic backdrop to an otherwise flat coastline.

On Saturday we were joined by Glen and his partner Dee. Whilst us lads set about paddling from Blyth to Cresswell, Dee helped with the logistics before looking for some horses to ride. Heading north from Blyth the coastline has all of the trappings of heavy industry (more past than present). The scenery begins to show signs of rural life where the River Wansbeck enters the sea on the approaches to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

To help prevent coastal erosion Newbiggin Bay has a new breakwater complete with a huge sculpture of a couple gazing out to sea.

Lynemouth Bay lies to the north and hosts the aluminium works and power plant creating an awkward interruption to the otherwise slow but sure transition from industrial to rural coastline.

Journeys end was on the unspoilt sands of Druridge Bay just outside the rosy village of Cresswell in Northumberland.

Sunday morning saw us heading to North Shields at Tynemouth for a trip north along the coast to Blyth where we had started our trip the day before. We Paddled out of the River Tyne entrance and turned north beneath the iconic silhouette of the Tynemouth Priory. We paid a brief visit to Longsands beach where Glen swam in the challenging 6 inch surf.

We passed St Mary's Lighthouse before battling with strong offshore winds as we passed Seaton Sluice on our way to finish the day at Blyth Beach.

Finally, on Monday Brian, Peter and I finished off with a short paddle round Coquet Island before starting the long haul home back west.

Earl-aye on the Solway

2009-09-21T20:42:00.001+01:00

Since the excitement of last year's Solway adventures with Sean passed, I have been keen to make another crossing from Cumbria to Scotland.

Jon, Dave and I assembled at the slipway in Maryport harbour and got on the water as the tide was almost half way in. Following a week of delightful weather Saturday morning greeted us dull, grey and breezy. Leaving the shelter of the harbour we engaged the open rolling sea but our destination was barely visible 18km away through gloom.

With over half of the crossing done, and with onset of better weather the Scottish shore became more visible across the wide open expanse of water. This is when we began to realise that we had under estimated the strength of the Solway tide.

We missed Southerness Point by at least 2km and settled for the nearby beach close to the Thirl Stane natural arch.

The waters of the Solway have a reputation for becoming alarmingly rough with little provocation from the prevailing weather and soon after we set out on our return wind against tide conditions soon became tricky.

Each of the crossings ended up being 20km taking a little over 3 hours but the breezy weather and choppy seas made it seem longer. Better weather came only a short while after we had battled our way over the Solway from Scotland.

recent highlights

2009-09-01T23:50:00.006+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I met up with Kate Duffus who is a sea kayaking coach based in south Cumbria. A while ago she devised a navigation exercise in the northern part of Morecame Bay. The idea is to find a sandbank called 'South America' and a couple of islands; one called 'St Helena' and the other called 'Falklands'. These features are only detailed on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 scale map and are only exposed at low water on a spring tide.

We found St Helena hiding beneath thousands of starfish but South America was so huge we couldn't paddle round it to find the Falklands. For more of the story have a look at Kate's account.

This last weekend Kirstine and I joined Terry for a paddle from Whitby along the towering cliffs to Robin Hood's Bay and back.

The cliffs are colossal and rise to over 60 metres.

Whilst Terry was posing for photos the naughty seals kept popping up in the background and pulling funny faces.

We found the perfect place for a balanced nutritional meal at Robin Hood's Bay to give us plenty of energy for the paddle back to Whitby.

Manx Hideaways

2009-09-01T23:26:00.006+01:00

A few weeks ago Kirstine and I went to visit Keirron at his Adventurous Experiences base.

The wind never dropped much below force 5 so we made for some short rock-hopping trips along sheltered shores.

We re-discovered fun things to do from way back in childhood times...

...and explored deep scary caves. It was all a bit of a whistle stop tour but good to meet up with old friends.

Whitehaven and Cunning Point

2009-08-03T07:19:00.003+01:00

I took a small detour on the way to west Cumbria to help out with water safety on the swim section of the 'Iron Man' triathlon event.

I was astonished to see 1600 people going for an early morning swim. The foaming mess of arms and bodies at the start must have been a bit scary for some, and the noise was like raging white water rapid. The first swimmer completed the 2.5 mile course in around an hour and the last just over 2 and a half hours. With the swim over and breakfast time looming I rushed to Cumbria to meet Kate and Jess for a paddle round St Bees Head.

We headed for Whitehaven where there is a good launching spot just inside the harbour. The water conditions and wind were a little more than we bargained for so Jess stayed in the harbour.

Kate and I went for a short paddle north along the coast to watch the para-gliders hanging on the rising air currents over the steep cliffs near Cunning Point.

On our return to Whitehaven we found a scary sea monster had stolen Jess' kayak and was paddling confidently outside the harbour entrance.

A sunny paddle round Walney

2009-07-26T22:27:00.008+01:00

I set off with a group to circumnavigate Walney Island off the south west part of the Cumbrian coast. Walney is around 13km long, under 2km wide and lies across a narrow channel from the industrial town of Barrow-in-Furness.

We set off from Earnse Point when the tide still had a way to come in. Walney is made up from glacial deposits and the west side is one long beach made up of sand, shingle and pebbles.

The south part of the island is a nature reserve where Eider Duck nest in relative peace under the protection of their Herring Gull neighbours.

We passed Piel Castle but felt obliged to get an update on the renovation project on 'The Ship Inn'. While we were there we it seemed rude not to stop for a drop of lunch.

The flood tide was building in the Walney Channel so we hurried back on to the water to make our way north.

We were barely half way to Barrow when we discovered this leggy beast bearing down on us.

This is what remains of a slag heap that used to be much bigger. This is where hot waste was dumped from the foundry at the north of Barrow. The glow from this heap could regularly be seen from the Isle of Man at night.

We stopped for a short break at the north end before nipping across the have a look at 'Lowsy Point'. There are a collection of huts amongst the dunes and grassland.

Some are residences and some weekend retreats, but all of them are someones beloved pride and joy. It does seem as though some of the buildings are held together with mostly pride, and not so much text book construction techniques.

We left Lowsy Point on the ebbing tide with just 4 km remaining before we landed back at Earne Point, where the ice cream man was waiting for us.

The Entrance to the River Tees

2009-07-14T06:04:00.008+01:00

The coastline between Saltburn and Hartlepool requires a degree of imagination to blend with a sea kayakers' sense of wilderness adventure. The extensive surf beaches form the boundary between the wild rolling swells of the North Sea and the wild tangled industrial interior. We arrived at Saltburn to find a larger than expected swell generating around a metre and a half of surf.

From the car park this didn't seem to be much of a daunting prospect, but contact with the first wave brought a gritty sting to the eyes, adrenaline to the blood and a fresh burst of power to the blade. Not all of us made it beyond the break which left a daunting but eventually entertaining ride back in to the beach.

Having had all the excitement we could bear at Saltburn, we relocated to South Gare at the entrance to the River Tees in search of an easier launch. The steelworks dominates a desolate landscape here.

There is an eclectic collection of buildings here in precarious existence amongst the dunes and along the breakwater shore. The yacht club beside the old lifeboat station has an old style café that serves a traditional range of greasy delights for cold hungry yachtsmen. Kayakers are welcome too but don’t expect to find muesli on the menu.

We crossed the river past Seaton Carew and into Hartlepool Bay. The brightly painted Georgian buildings along the Hartlepool Headland made for a jolly backdrop to the end of our journey.

A Quest, to bring the boat home

2009-07-05T20:22:00.007+01:00

I have joined the P&H Custom Sea Kayaks paddlers team. I have been paddling a P&H Sirius for over 8 years now and it has seen me through some tough trips in that time. I feel the need for a change now so its time for a new boat!

I have chosen a P&H Quest LV which I collected from the P&H canalside base near Runcorn on Saturday morning. It was like christmas and birthdays all rolled into one as I cut through the wrapping to meet my new pride and joy.

What better way to get my new kayak home than to paddle the 32km along the Bridgewater Canal, though the beautiful rolling Cheshire countryside, to within a few hundred meters of my home in south Manchester.

I'll have to wait at least a week to get it out on the sea...

Thanks to Sam, Pez and the rest of the P&H team, and also to Jim from Kayaks North West for helping me with the unveiling. Thanks to Chris Krawiecki for the photos.

The Great Northeast Adventure - part 2

2009-06-26T07:22:00.012+01:00

Peter and I have come to the southern part of the Northumberland coast. We have based ourselves in the small town of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. The scenery holds less drama than up north and the local towns and villages show obvious signs of physical and financial decay when compared to the famed and tourist rich Northumbrian honeypots.

We started on Tuesday by re-visiting the area close to Amble and a more sedate viewing of Coquet Island than on race day a couple of days earlier. The air was almost still and the sea unusually flat as we made our way to the 'Fishing Boat Inn' at Boulmer. Boulmer has a reef of flat rock that protects this natural harbour and fishing is still done from here using traditional boats known as 'Cobles'.

On the way back we had a quick look at the estuary and the pretty village of Alnmouth before passing Amble and finishing for the day.

Wednesday started in similar fashion with calm seas and blue skies. We ran the gauntlet of the Tyne Tunnel, roadworks and unfamiliar streets to reach South Shields beach with the aim of paddling to Roker beach near Sunderland.

Shortly after passing Souter Lighthouse we spotted red flags on the cliff. I made enquiries but the range would be active for the rest of the day and we could make no further progress. We settled for a visit to the lighthouse before ending our curtailed trip back at South Shields.

On Thursday we headed for Seaton Sluice to paddle past St Mary's Island and Whitley Bay. The sea was a little more choppy and the swell increased as we stopped at Longsands beach for a snack at 'Robinson Crusoe's' beach cafe. Our return to Seaton Sluice was through some messy surf.

The Great Northeast Adventure - part 1

2009-06-23T21:58:00.012+01:00

A trek up to Northumberland brought me to meet up with friends old and new at Beadnell on the Northumberland coast. I set out from home early on Saturday so as to arrive in time for a paddle around the Farne Islands.

The winds had settled down overnight so we set off from Harkness Rocks towards the Longstone Lighthouse. As we drew nearer the abundant wildlife became obvious. There were sea birds all around us; rafts of puffins on the water, terns swarming over the low-lying land and guillemots standing guard upon each headland. A young inquisitive seal watched us as we ate our lunch.

Following a visit to the Inner Farne to watch the puffins clown like antics and have our heads pecked by terns, we got back on the water to head back to the beach where we started in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle.

On Sunday it was race day. So we headed off for the seaside town of Amble for the annual Coquet Island Race. The event starts on the estuary of the Coquet River, through Amble harbour, round Coquet Island and back again.

North West Sea Kayakers provided a good supply of paddlers with Kate Duffus taking the honour of first lady and John Bunyan taking second overall to finish.

Many of us are staying on for a few more days to make the most of the fine weather so to start the new week we embarked upon the classic border paddle from Eyemouth to Berwick. To start with we headed further north to have a look at the awesome cliffs at St Abbs Head.

Further south the spectacular scenery is relentless with sandstone cliffs riddled with caves, gullies and arches.

I'm heading south now to the less well paddled areas of Northumberland and then to the cliffs and stacks of the Tynemouth area.

South West Sea Kayak Meet

2009-06-16T06:53:00.009+01:00

One year on from the launch of the 'South West Sea Kayaking' guidebook, Mark Rainsley began scheming a first anniversary celebration. It was to be much the same as last year's shindig based upon paddling, tall tales and other matters to be discussed around a table full of Devonshire ales.

A hefty hoard of over 60 paddlers descended upon the misty village of East Prawle and set up camp in the farmers field. I was part of a small elite force that headed for the 'Pig's Nose Inn' to see what could be done about the local beer glut. We huffed and puffed but only managed to blow bubbles! (photo - The Rainsley collection)

The mist was still down on Saturday morning but with just a light southerly breeze we split up into small groups and began to explore the local coastline. I had travelled from Runcorn with Tim Lambert from P&H Custom Sea Kayaks and a trailer load of demo boats and we set off from Hallsands with a small group around Start Point. Graeme Mackreth was amongst our number sporting his latest acquisition. I wondered if this classic skin-on-frame 'Baidarka' was merely a purchase of passion or perhaps a cunning investment in research for a future boat design.

In the evening we gathered in the Pig's Nose hall for a series of short talks. Chris Wheeler started with a world tour of places less paddled. Olly Sanders delivered tall stories a plenty including an account of how he managed to blow the roof off a hunting cabin on the Greenland coast. Mark Rainsley described his Scottish adventures then I extolled the virtues of grim northern shores. The important thing is that we finished up in the bar. We all wore strange hats and got luciously drunk accompanied by songs the 1970s and '80s. (photo - The Rainsley collection)

On Sunday the sun came out! (photo - The Rainsley collection)

Tim and I paddled with a group to Burgh Island where the hotel and pub were overwhelmed by thirsty visitors. With the pub out of bounds we got in amongst the swell to explore the rocky shores and towering cliffs before reluctantly winding up the weekend festivities at Thurlestone Beach.

Try, try again

2009-06-12T16:02:00.010+01:00

Peter and I had been planning to repeat our Morecambe Bay crossings since our awkwardly achieved efforts last year. This trip coincided with the second day of Eric Innes circumnavigation of the British mainland in aid of the ex-serviceman's charity 'Help For Heroes'.

We assembled on the beach at Fleetwood and got underway heading north allowing the flood to push us a little to the east. The conditions became choppy as the strong easterly wind opposed the tide.

Slack water occurred around 2/3rds of the way across and before long wind and tide combined to push us rapidly west. This gave us a challenging last half hour ferry gliding into the Piel channel. Once in the channel we said farewell to Eric as he continued on his way to Silecroft on the West Cumbria Coast. After 3 hours, 15 minutes on the choppy windswept waters we landed beneath the castle on Piel Island for a well earned break.

We spent over 2 hours munching snacks and sandwiches, lying in the sun and drinking tea. All too soon it was time to head back and by this time the tide had well and truly gone out. This left us with a long muddy walk to the water with our kayaks.

The plan for the return was to head south allowing the west going ebb tide to carry us out to sea until the new flood would fetch us back in towards King's Scar, Wyre Light and eventually Fleetwood. The easterly wind was relentless and it was our underestimating this that was to be our undoing. We missed King's Scar by around 4km. We were way too far out west and now a huge sandbank stood between us and our cars parked at Fleetwood.

We cautiously drew closer to each other in the lumpy seas to hatch a plan'B'. The stern of Peter's kayak poked me in the earhole. This is my excuse for my second swim in 3 years.

We headed for the beach at Rossall Point just north of Cleveleys. After 3 hours and 40 minutes of exhausting paddling we settled for landing in the wrong place leaving a 5 km walk for the cars.

If you get a chance have a look at Eric Innes blog page and consider making a donation.

A sunny bank holiday? what next?

2009-05-29T06:27:00.013+01:00

Last Friday afternoon Kirstine and I made a dash for the coast amongst the beginnings of the traditional bank holiday chaos. Before we could cross the pennine border into Yorkshire the exhaust fell off the car and the rear suspension collapsed too. It was like a scene form 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. A very nice man from the AA came along and patched things up for us so that we limp to a nearby Kwikfit. Having initially left Manchester at 1-30pm we eventually arrived at Belford in Northumberland around 9-30pm.

On Saturday morning we headed off to circumnavigate Holy Island. We launched from the harbour on the island and following the guidance provided on John Rae's excellent kayaking website. With a Castle, sea birds, seals, rocky headlands and deserted sandy beaches this trip has it plenty to recommend it.

We even got a gloomy squall to get our hearts racing for the last part of the day as we paddled back towards the harbour.

On Sunday the wind was far stronger than we expected.

We went for a paddle in the shelter of the sandstone cliffs along the coast between Berwick upon Tweed and the Scottish border. This is a true classic amongst sea kayaking coastlines.

There are tidal lagoons, caves, arches and plenty of wildlife in amongst it all.

Later that day we drove along the coast to meet up with Ollie Jay who works as a canoe and kayak coach, and guide to the local area.

We packed up our boats with some supplies and went for a short paddle in the evening sunshine in search for a nice sheltered beach to sleep on. The night tried to draw in but never quite made it. Star gazing from amongst the dunes was good fun all the same and made all the better with a glass or two of red wine.

The bank holiday Monday morning sunshine gently warmed us from our sleeping bags. We took plenty of time over breakfast to the sound of Curlews, Oystercatchers, Skylarks and Terns. All too soon we were back in the 'real world' packing our toys away in readiness for the long haul home along the A1.

The Durham Heritage Coast

2009-05-04T20:36:00.011+01:00

Ever since the pit closures of the eighties this area has been occupied by a community short of employment and wealth. Well placed money for redevelopment has done much to revive this area but there is still much to do. Our paddling this last weekend took us from Fish Sands close to this statue of Andy Capp on the Hartlepool Headland along the Durham Heritage Coast to Sunderland.

We paddled north along the coast towards Crimdon Dene where there is a breeding colony of Little Terns hidden amongst the sand dunes. A little further on and there is a small headland called Blackhall Rocks. Closer inspection reveals the headland to be almost completely hollow. This is a huge cavern with numerous entrances at ground level, and a pebbly beach inside.

Later in the afternoon we settled for a deserted beach to camp for the night. Until the 1980s waste from the coal mines and steel industry was dumped along this shore without regard for any consequences. Following a huge clean up the beaches are turning from black to a more naturally sandy colour and wildlife is beginning to return.

The Magnesian Limestone that makes up most of this coastline is riddled with caves and arches and we made the most of the rockhopping opportunities.

The Limestone is overlaid with Boulder Clay and sandy glacial deposits and there is plenty of evidence of frequent cliff collapse.

Upon our arrival at Sunderland we found a delightful cafe by the beach inside the north pier where we found pie and chips to be our reward for paddling against tide and wind all morning.

There is a greater selection of photos here.

A Farewell To Johnny Roadhouse

2009-05-04T19:56:00.006+01:00

During my past existence as an under used musician I worked for a number of years in a well known shop called Johnny Roadhouse Music. The shop on oxford road was more an institution than a mere retail outlet. It was a place where all manner of characters (including musicians) would meet up, drink the establishment's tea and sometimes even buy things. 123 Oxford road was always a hive of activity and this was all down to the traditions laid down by the great man himself, Johnny Roadhouse! I often got a ride into work with him. Once in his car I would be captive to his teachings, points of view, awful jokes and unfeasible anecdotes. Through the din of Saturday's could be guitar gods he would declare, "There is nothing worse than a quiet music shop!"

Johnny Died aged 88 following a short illness. When I attended the funeral at Manchester Cathedral I was stunned by all of the familiar faces. People I had served, worked with and played with more than 10 years since. The shop has been run by his son John for many years now. Long may it retain its importance in Manchester's cultural landscape and stand as a living breathing and very noisy memorial to Johnny Roadhouse.

A visit to the Calf of Man

2009-05-04T10:12:00.010+01:00

Over the Easter week Kirstine and I went to the Isle of Man for some sea kayaking and exploring. We started off with a couple of short day trips.

Our first trip was to the southeast area to explore Castletown and the Langness Peninsula. The coastline is rugged with cliffs, gullies and deep caves.
Santon Burn is a deep sheltered gully with clear blue water and south-facing shingle beaches. The perfect sun trap lunch stop destination.

Another day trip took us to the northeast area of the island to have a look at Maughold head.

We continued on paddling south spending plenty of time rockhopping, sunbathing by a lagoon and exploring the wooded glen at Port Cornaa.

The highlight of the holiday was our trip over to the nature reserve on the Calf of Man.
The calm seas and light winds meant that we could paddle all the way round the island before finally landing. There is no camping allowed but we had booked some basic accommodation in the bunkhouse at the bird observatory.

In the warm sunny afternoon we took a walk around the island where we saw Willow Warblers, Wheatear, Chough, Stonechat, hundreds of seabirds and thousands of rabbits.

The wardens made us very welcome and even got the log fire going for us in time for tea. As dusk fell they allowed us to watch as birds were trapped, weighed, measured and ringed.

For most of our stay we were guests of Keirron Tastagh who runs Adventurous Experiences. He and his family always make me feel welcome and this trip was no exception.

Pass times old

2009-04-09T23:13:00.007+01:00

I years long gone I fancied myself as a musician. I played percussion and Bass Guitar in a variety of bands with styles ranging from punk, folk, jazz, blues, Latin American and I even did a spell with a 14 piece Bhangra band. A mind blowing experience!

In the last few days I have re-visited my musical past by getting together to play some tunes with a kayaking friend Mark and his son Jamie who are both crazy about Metallica.

I have not played my bass guitar in anger for about 10 years so I felt more worse than a little rusty. We were joined by Sophie who is a more than accomplished drummer. The idea was to make plenty of noise have a whole lot of fun trying to mimic the American rock gods.

There is certainly room for improvement in the quality so we will definitely have another jam in the near future.

Sunny Flamborough

2009-04-06T08:19:00.001+01:00

A sunny day on the Yorkshire coast is hard to resist especially when the North Sea is unusually calm. Dave and I arrived at South Landing close to Flamborough Head just as the lifeboat crew were getting ready for their weekly training exercise.

There are numerous caves and gullies to be explored but even on a relatively calm day conditions can be tricky in amongst the numerous stacks and reefs.

There were birds everywhere! Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Curlews...

... and the Gannets have arrived too.

Whilst we sat in the sun enjoying our lunch at North Landing local fishermen brought their catch of the day ashore in one of the traditional 'Cobles' that operate from here.

The Completed Journey

2009-03-24T08:34:00.001Z

Last week I took part in a unique voyage that linked the Irish Sea with the North Sea via the inland waterways network of northern England. And what a treat it was! The trip started near Crosby at the Mouth of the Mersey Estuary. At Runcorn the route followed a historic trading route through Manchester along inland waterways across the Pennines before reaching the Humber Estuary at Goole. On the Humber the route passes Hull and after 8 long days finished at the historic lifeboat community at Spurn Head on the North Sea Coast.

We stayed mostly in various accommodation including one night on a narrowboat and another in a lighthouse owned by an eccentric artist. The scenery was varied too. Once away from the windswept coast the rolling Cheshire countryside was soon replaced by industrial structures and inner city chaos of Manchester. The heights of the route (600ft above sea level) were adorned by the surrounding moorland and crags that mark the Lancashire - Yorkshire border.

The people we met were equally varied. On separate occasions a pub landlord and a Dog walker were instantly moved to hand over donations there and then. One character from a group of threatening looking youths recognised me as being Polish, produced a small plastic cup and poured me a generous slosh of vodka. He insisted I looked cold and needed a ' likkle sumfink' to warm me up.

The 182 mile journey involved portaging around 140 locks (I haven't counted them all yet) with many days on the go for 9-10 hours. Not surprisingly one of us took a little time out due to tiredness, injury or illness. The one exception was Jean who instead of accepting a lift around a 5 mile impass on the Calder and Hebble Navigation, chose to get up early and run it in an effort to keep a sense of completeness to the coast to coast journey.

The Kayak Coast 2 Coast blog describes the build up to the trip and includes a day by day account. Have a look and if you feel moved enough you may consider making a donation to our charitable cause.

Getting ready for Spring

2009-02-22T08:08:00.009Z

In recent weeks I've been busy getting things organised for a trans-pennine paddling adventure 'Kayak Coast 2 Coast'. Whilst this may have kept me from updating my blog, it has not kept me from getting out and about.

In the freezing stillness between Christmas and New Year I managed to get out for a dusk paddle around the Little Orme near to Llandudno, and a dawn paddle on the Dee Estuary.

On New Year's Eve, Chris and I went in search of spectacular temperature inversions that had been expected in Snowdonia. The typical valley mists didn't materialise but we did enjoy a winter wonderland walk on Moel Siabod and around Capel Curig.

Despite the freezing night temperatures we managed a New Year garden party and barbecue. We kept warm by making a roaring fire, drinking plenty of mulled wine and eating plenty of a traditional Polish winter stew called 'Bigos'.

Just as the second big freeze of was taking its grip I was attending a weekend organized by friends from North West Sea Kayakers. We were based at the YHA in Bangor and based our excuses for celebration around Burns Night with bagpipes, whisky and haggis.

I couldn't resist getting out in the snow when it came but it rarely last for long in Manchester so I headed for the nearby Peak District National Park for some hill walking and cross country skiing before all the snow melted away.

Kayak Coast 2 Coast

2009-01-28T22:08:00.005Z

This Spring I will take part in an 8 day kayaking trip that crosses northern England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. I will be joined by my good friends Jean, Glen and Liz. The trip will start on the 14th of March 2009 near Crosby at the Mouth of the Mersey Estuary. At Runcorn the route will follow a historic trading route through Manchester along inland waterways across the Pennines before reaching the Humber Estuary at Goole. On the Humber the route passes Hull and finishes at the historic lifeboat community at Spurn Head on the North Sea Coast.

We will be raising money for RNLI Lifeboats along the way. All of us taking part would be very grateful if you could make a donation on our Justgiving page. We will also be posting updates on our Kayak Coast 2 Coast blog.

Wild Bore Hunt #3. Thwarted by the Sludge

2008-12-18T10:52:00.015Z

In a final act of adventure the pre-christmas wild bore hunt took us to Glasson Dock at the mouth of the River Lune. At last we caught sight of real pig meat. Bacon baps were devoured from the 'Lantern o'er Lune' cafe in preparation for our 'Tour de Lancaster'.

'The Lancaster Round' is a lengthy day paddling trip that combines the rising waters of the Lune Estuary with the stillness of the Lancaster Canal. It took us around an hour an a half to reach Lancaster where the waterfront has undergone some splendid re-generation. Many of the original buildings from Lancaster's bustling past as a trading port remain. The wonky house with leveled windows is one that has survived in spite of some merciless subsidence.

Unless there is an unusually high spring tide it is necessary to portage Skerton Weir in order to reach the Lune Aqueduct and the Lancaster Canal less than 500 metres further upstream.

The Canal runs 19 metres above the river. It was only once a couple of kayaks has been carried up the bank to the canal we saw that the canal had been drained for maintenance. All that remained of our inland route back to Glasson was an 18th century trough full of mud.
Thwarted by the sludge, we beat a hasty return back down the Lune Eustuary to some spectacular sunset scenes.............

Wild Bore Hunt #2. Take aim .............. mist!

2008-12-18T10:48:00.007Z

The intrepid bore hunters stirred from their slumber to find the Leven Estuary blanketed in thick fog. Undeterred, the hunters hurried their kayaks to the advancing waters edge in readiness for the search for Chapel Island.

Technical minds, knowledgeable experts and a doctor from Yorkshire were summoned. They consulted their books, orientated maps, and pointed .... and following an undetermined amount of time paddling on a varied bearing the island was found much where it was last time.

Chapel Island was explored thoroughly but sadly no boar were to be found. As the mist lifted the hunters fled north with the flood in search of a place for rest and nourishment. Coffee and cakes were dispatched with yaffle and glee.
The only blot on the landscape of fulfillment was a sweltering, greasy, pungent bowl of 'Bovril and kebab floater' soup. A retreat on the ebbing estuarine waters followed soon afterwards for fear of reprisals.

Wild Bore Hunt Day 1 - The Slightly Irritated Piglet

2008-12-18T10:32:00.008Z

The elusive and notoriously fickle wild bore of Arnside haunts the shores of the Kent Estuary, in the northwest corner of Morecambe Bay. A muffled roar is often heard as the wave approaches. Small animals scatter for cover and birds take to the air. Shortly afterwards patient members of the local paddling community experience the ride of their lives, or monumental disappointment.

We paddled some way out towards the retirement capital of the south lakes coast. Grange-over-Sands has an elderly community which supports a number of doilie adorned cafes providing afternoon teas. Local residents are waited upon by the younger mini-skirt and low top clad generation, but the correlation with this 'generation gap' and an unusually high incidence heart attacks has yet to determined.

The water arrived late. Not so much a wild tidal bore but more a slightly irritated piglet. we rode the surge of rising water back to Arnside and consoled ourselves with some surfing beneath the railway viaduct.

Having failed to catch any wild boar we continued on up the estuary and into the tributary River Bela where we were tempted by some Reindeer maturing in a festive manner. Our final destination was Kate's house where we washed down a herd wild boar sausages and a mountain of mash with a good old glug of mulled plonk!

Kendal(s)

2008-11-24T21:26:00.004Z

My involvement at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival was mostly kept to the 'Basecamp' retail area at the Brewery Arts Centre. Festival folk were coming and going throughout the weekend in search of information, inspiration and the odd little bargain....

...But it was on the high street away from the hum-drum of the festivities that I spotted the real bargain!

Unfortunately the shop was closed by the time I could find my wallet so I settled for collecting a film festival souvenir on behalf a friend. Adventure film maker Justine Curgenven won 'Best Mountain Adventure Film' with the film of her circumnavigation of the South Island of New Zealand from 'This is The Sea 4'.

Congratulations Justine!

Crossing the Solway

2008-10-21T08:54:00.010+01:00

There is always a fascination in paddling across a significant body of water like a lake, large bay or a sound to a small group of intriguing islands. Such fascination is greatly increased when the destination is a different country. I stood on the promenade at Silloth gazing across the estuary to Criffel, the most obvious hill to view, and imagined that the word 'Scotland' ought to be visible on its southern slopes.

Silloth is a seaside wonderland, at throwback to the days of 19th century industry borne affluence. This purpose built seaside town still retains its Victorian charm with its wide cobbled streets, distinctive buildings, coastal park and promenade.

Sean and I started our crossing on the slipway in some ungainly fashion beside the lifeboat station. I only managed a successful second attempt after getting some welcome assistance from an onlooker. His ribs were no doubt aching having witnessed my first attempt.

The crossing was un-eventful if a little choppy and despite paddling into a stiff breeze we arrived at Southerness in around two and a half hours. We had originally planned to go further west to Hestan Island but failing light, the strong westerly and my tiredness strongly suggested we camp at Southerness.

After dark we were kept entertained by the local moluscs by candlelight.

By the morning I had come down with a well defined cold and my appetite for exploring had disappeared. The wind had also increased so we opted for the quickest route back to Silloth.

After a long carry down to the waters edge the crossing started as un-eventful as the day before, but all that changed after we had covered 4km. A line of foaming waves leapt about like a tribe doing a war dance, daring us to approach English shores. The exceptional spring tide generated confused seas around the sandbanks in the middle of the estuary. Huge breaking waves were all around me. I could only catch an occasional glimpse of Sean 20-30 metres over my right shoulder. One moment I would be surfing at great speed down the face of a favourable wave the next I might be dodging the attentions of a hungry breaker from one side or the other. This battle between exhilaration and fright went on for over 7km and lasted for the best part of an hour.

Relief at finding smoother waters close to the cumbrian shore was short lived. This is where the tidal stream runs at its strongest and we were still at risk of being swept north and completely missing our landing. Some keen paddling and a course change was the solution and we made landfall with great relief on the gritty beach south of Silloth after 13km in less than 2 hours.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sean for his good company and for tollerating my snotty feebleness. His accounts and some more photos for the outward journey and the return journey are well worth a look.

The Reefs and Caves of Flamborough Head

2008-09-29T07:02:00.006+01:00

With the North Sea so unusually calm I took the opportunity to have a look at the reefs and caves of Flamborough Head. The Yorkshire Wolds chalk foundations end abruptly here and there are frequent reminders to be seen, that the North Sea and 'god's own county' do not get on. At Flamborough the result is a spectacular headland riddled with caves, adorned by sea stacks and footed by kelp infested reefs.

On close inspection the reefs are cris-crossed with a network of narrow gullies that often lead into some of the larger caves. For once the beach at North Landing was not as tempting as on one past occasion I used this small haven to escape the ravages of a possible maritime nightmare. I find it unusual to see people angling from the edge of the 80 metre high cliffs but I suppose this high altitude technique is borne out of the necessity of keeping out of reach of the sea. We continued to the eastern end of the towering Bempton Cliffs before turning round and making our swift return to South Landing with a following flood tide.

Filey Without Fret

2008-09-29T05:43:00.007+01:00

Several weeks ago I visited Filey and paddled along the coast from there to Scarborough and back, but there was almost nothing to be seen. The Yorkshire coast is frequently fogbound with dense sea mists locally known as 'Sea Fret' and on that particular day we were deprived of any views. This time the coastal journey was bathed in glorious sunshine, good visibility and blessed with unusually calm seas.

Leaving Filey Brigg and the North Cliff behind us we explored the reefs that extend over 500 metres offshore from Grissthorpe Cliff. In stark contrast to my last visit these reefs were eerily quiet with one lone sea angler and several seals to break the spell spun by the glassy seas.

The rock ledges form long channels and sandy bottomed lagoons infested with kelp which are surely happy hunting grounds for the seals and cormorants.

The popular broad sands of Cayton Bay with its attendant buildings break the spell of solitude and wilderness, but the coast still has its charms. The wooded cliffs around Osgodby Point and White Nab are also footed by the sandy beaches of Cornelian Bay.
The protective reefs of 'High Scar' and 'Perilous Rocks' hold names that have been earned through years of mariners fear and respect.

Once around White Nab the holiday delights of Scarborough are a little over 2km away and fish, chips and mushy peas were beckoning. The food of gods was devoured eagerly and without fuss and fully re-fuelled the return to Filey was soon underway.

The Middle (north) East

2008-09-13T20:35:00.019+01:00

North Yorkshire (Sunday)

I met with Richard at Saltburn by the Sea to investigate the surf conditions that are well thought of in the region. The messy conditions were already being endured by many so we decided to head off for quieter and cleaner conditions elsewhere. Skinningrove, where the fishing fleet are celebrated with this fine monument, looked gloomy and messy too so we decided to descend upon quieter cleaner conditions at Runswick Bay.

Teeside (Monday)

Our presence along the coasts of Redcar, Teesmouth, Seaton and Hartlepool were met with comic suspicion and a relentless supply of 'John Darwin' jocularity. I came to the conclusion that the main attraction to paddling from Saltburn to Hartlepool is avoiding the traffic chaos of Teeside. After visiting the ancient semi submerged wreck at Seaton Carew beach we went in search of enlightenment at the dockside Museum Of Hartlepool. Following our taxing day off the water we found refuge at the Crimdon Dene Caravan Park north of Hartlepool where Peter was waiting with baited breath anticipating a cunning plan for paddling.

The Durham Heritage Coast (Tuesday)

Our paddle along the Durham Heritage Coast took us from Harlepool past the famous headland where there are 3 historical sites in stark contrast. The peaceful Church of St Hilda stands dangerously close to the Heugh Gun Battery, yet close by seemingly undetterred by the proximity of bibles and battles, stands a bronze statue of Andy Capp clutching a pint of ale. A little to the north the coastline is dominated by Magnesian Limestone outcrops, caves, pinnacles and deserted shingle beaches. One landing in dumping surf was enough to keep us in our boats for the rest of the day. The only potential exception may have been amongst the relentless and disorientating clapotis ridden seas near the entrance to Seaham Harbour. Thankfully we safely crossed the harbour entrance. Bums remained firmly planted upon seats until kayaks were firmly planted upon Seaham Beach. Upon our return to the caravan we were joined by Ray and Graeme.

Sunderland (Wednesday)

The 5 of us continued in the morning with a short sunny interval but once we arrived at Sunderland dark grey clouds began to gather once more. The coast between Sunderland and South Shields is a delightful mixture of rocky coves and caves, with arches, inlets and islets. We spent over an hour marveling at this short stretch beneath Souter Lighthouse before landing close to the Marsden Grotto pub at Marsden Bay.

Back at the caravan a great feast was prepared in honour of the days fine and respectable journey, then devoured by all in minutes with less than honourable style.

The Tydal Tyne (Thursday)

In search of calmer waters we aimed to go placidly amongst the noise and haste of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. The paddling idea of descending the ebbing waters of the Tyne was simple but the reality of the logistics took plenty of cunning and patience. If the peace of the paddle wasn't shattered by the dumping surf landing beside South Pier then it was lost amongst the Gateshead rush hour traffic.

The North Tyne Coast (Friday)

The adorably named Seaton Sluice was to be the start and finish of the day's paddling. We headed south towards Tynemouth. Our journey took us past 'the Sluice' and beyond the desolate reefs disused lighthouse of St Mary's Island. After crossing Whitley Bay and Cullercoates we landed through the surf at Longsands for a delicious hot chocolate treat at Crusoe's beach cafe before heading back. The return was slower than anticipated as wind and tide turned against us but the final hurdle was yet to come. Surf was now breaking heavily off the headland, over the sands and across the harbour entrance at Seaton Sluice. Careful timing and questionable skills aided our return. Not so much landing but controlled washings up!

Cresswell and Newbiggin (Saturday)

Overnight rain, the forecast of strong winds and heavy swell brought about anticlimactic feelings amongst Peter Ray and me. Peter went off in search of tea shops and surf whilst Ray and I opted for a spot of bird watching amongst the flooded dune slacks of Cresswell. Twitchers had flocked in from a far to catch glimpses of various lost feathered souls. Buff Breasted Sandpiper, Black Tern and Ruff were amongst the scrutinees.

The three of us gorged ourselves on a final supper washed down with plenty of wine before sleep preceded our respective journeys home. Thanks are due to Ray, Peter, Richard and Graeme for their company through various parts of the week.

There are more photos from this trip here.

Isle of Man August 2008

2008-08-29T07:08:00.033+01:00

For the summer holidays Kirstine and I chose to go to the Isle of Man. The first part of the holiday would be spent attending the 6th annual sea kayaking symposium run by my good friend Keirron Tastagh and his staff at Adventurous Experiences. The uniquely informal nature of this event is largely due to the way in which the whole family pitches in and everyone is made to feel really welcome. Well over 100 paddlers attended with around half of these having traveled from far flung corners of the UK, Europe and beyond. The kayaking activities included beginners, intermediate and advanced sessions whilst other activities included rock climbing coasteering and gorge walking.
For those who were camping for the duration of the symposium, additional entertainment was laid on each morning and evening by Ballabrooie flock of Chickens.

On the first day I joined Peter Jones for the day whilst he ran the first part of a 4 star training course. On the second day I got into full swing with some guidebook research and photography. Whist exploring a quiet bay on the western shores called Fleshwick Bay I happened upon Paul Wood, a lone kayaker on a mission.

Paul Wood

Paul is from West Cumbria and had paddled across from St Bees to the Isle of Man 2 days earlier. Having already paddled 20 miles or so that day he decided that was enough. Given the dismal forecast I offered Paul a lift to the symposium base for some company, a shower and some shelter from the impending storm.

The Manx Monsoon

The Rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain,

The rain on the Isle of Man falls anywhere it can!

The weekend weather turned utterly foul and the Ballabrooie chickens ran for cover. Paddling was mostly confined to sheltered locations but the rains brought good fortune for those indulging in gorge walking in the nearby Glen Maye.

The swollen river provided excellent sport for those jumping down waterfalls as well as casual onlookers. The great rains were followed by gale force winds which went largely unnoticed during the excellent evening slide show and symposium ceilidh held in the local village hall. On Sunday once the storm had passed I took Paul Wood back to Fleshwick Bay from where he would paddle on to Scotland via the Point of Ayr.

Gordin Warner

Following the weekend's hefty schedule the week after took on a slower pace with Keirron heading off to Finland to help with Jukka Linnonma' s first symposium . Plans for various trips began to take shape including circumnavigations.

Gordin Warner lives on Vancouver Island and followed Keirron's and Jeff Norville's amazing circumnavigation in aid of breast cancer research with with great interest. Inspired by their trip, Gordin decided to reciprocate by paddling solo round the Isle of Man in aid of the Canadian Cancer Society. I volunteered to Give Gordin a lift to Ballaugh Shore near Jurby Head on the West coast for what was to be the start of a strenuous and taxing adventure.

An Overnight Trip

Finally the weather settled down a little so Kirstine and I joined forces with Duncan for a 2 day kayaking trip combined with an overnight camp. We set off around lunchtime from Port e Vullen on the East coast and headed south past Maughold Head. Dhoon Bay made for an especially pretty place to stop for a while, with a waterfall and trees lining the steep glen giving an atmospheric feel of isolation.

We paddled on across the bays at Laxey and Douglas until finally arriving at Port Soderick to camp for the night. The next day we met a weary Gordin Warner just as we were leaving the bay. Gordin has been paddling since daybreak and was in need of a rest so he joined us on our short hop to finish the day in Douglas. The waters between Little Ness and Douglas Head were quite testing as the tide turned against an opposing southerly wind. Once in the smooth waters by Douglas harbour I took out my trusty camera for a quick snapshot when like a bar of soap it slipped from my hand. I briefly caught it between my fingertips and the foredeck but with a sickening splash it quickly sank into the depths taking with it the photographs from last 3 days. The depths of the despair and frustration spurned by this moment will be with me for some time.

Following some hearty replenishment at 'The Caff' Duncan and Kirstine got on the bus to Ramsey to get the car while I stayed in Douglas to help Gordin to negotiate a bed for the night. We found assistance at the welcome centre located within the ferry terminal. Once in through the door of the welcome centre, Gordin quietly admitted to me of having a strong sense of no longer being upwind of himself. He politely remained at an inoffensive distance from the receptionist and once budget accommodation was duly secured we returned to the boats for a toast to the day's triumphs and tribulations.

Gordin's Final Day

Chickens woke me early the next day so I drove the short distance to Douglas to help Gordin to the waters edge with his heavily loaded kayak. This would be a test of his resolve with a distance of nearly 30 nautical miles to complete the circumnavigation. Gordin would have to reach Maughold Head by 12.30pm and with curiosity getting the better of us Kirstine and I drove out there only to be told by some onlookers that we had missed him by over half an hour. This was great news because this meant that Gordin had a real chance of completing his mission. We drove on to meet up again at Point of Ayr and Blue Point where we gave Gordin some much needed sustenance for his last 10km.

Finally at around 7pm Gordin arrived at the Ballaugh Shore exhausted but justifiably pleased, and almost certainly relieved that it was all over.

North Barrule

It was time for a change from all of the water based activities so Kirstine and I aimed high for a view from the second tallest Manx peak. North Barrule stands at 565 metres and forms the northeastern extremity of a ridge that runs between Snaefell and Ramsey Bay. We Parked the Car in a small village called Corrany and walked North along the road to start our steep ascent of the craggy eastern slopes towards the summit of North Barrule.

Our quick ascent soon rewarded us with terrific views over the Isle of Man and across the sea to Cumbria, Scotland, Northern Ireland and even Anglesey. Over the following 3-4 hours we continued along the ridge to the summit of Clagh Ouyr before heading west along a lower ridge and footpath that led us to a fine pub at Glen Mona.

Time to Say Hello - Goodbye

As our Manx adventure was drawing to a close the gloomy weather began to make a return and we were glad to spend our final evening indoors in the company of Keirron's parents, Nadene and Jimmy. The time was spent indulging in cheese, wine and chocolate and spinning all sorts of yarns until the need for sleep defeated us. The following morning dawned late and heavy, but eager to help out We offered to collect Keirron from the airport following his return from Finland. This done there was barely time for us to say hello over a cup of tea before it was time for Kirstine and I to say goodbye to Keirron, Nadene and Jimmy, the rest of the nice folk at Ballabrooie(including Belle the collie dog) , and of course the chickens.

Between the Cheeks

2008-08-11T21:30:00.002+01:00

Robin Hood's Bay is lies between Whitby and Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast. The Village is a tightly woven mesh of terracotta roofed houses and narrow streets lining a steep gorge that runs down to the sea. Away from the humdrum is one of the most beloved youth hostels in the UK. Boggle Hole is yet another steep narrow gorge but the only buildings here belong to the youth hostel that bears the same name. The northern extremity of Robin Hoods Bay is marked by 'North Cheek'. The southern extremity is marked by 'South Cheek'. Boggle Hole is mid-way between the two (don't bother with answers on a postcard).

Ian and I paddled from the 'hole' and out past the seal infested South Cheek and continued south on our 10km trip towards Scarborough. The cliffs beneath Ravenscar are far more spectacular than I had anticipated. They rise to more than 160 metres and are well vegetated with trees, bracken and heather. Names like 'Beast Cliff' and 'Rodger Trod' added to the anticipation of the journey as force 5 winds whistled over the cliffs round our ears and out to sea. As we made our way past the sheltered bays at Hayburn and Cloughton Wykes there was no sign of civilization nor any clue as to the culture shock awaiting us upon our arrival at Scarborough. Upon arrival we did as Romans and engaged in the seaside promenade culture. One cup of tea and a whippy 99 ice cream laid the foundations for fuelling the return journey through the wilderness to Robin Hoods Bay. Although the wind funnelled strongly from the valley dealing us a proctalgic slog into the bay, it was not enough to prevent us from landing perfectly between 'the cheeks' safely back at Boggle hole.

Crossing Morecambe Bay #2 (heading South)

2008-08-05T21:26:00.008+01:00

Following the success of the journey north, our return to The Fylde Coast from Piel Island was to be a little more of a challenge. Our target this time was to be Fleetwood. Strong coffee and tea were consumed to boost our resolve. The prospect at carrying our boats to the low water was almost enough to keep us in bed! But by 9-00am were were paddling out of the Piel Channel against the incoming tide and out into Morecambe Bay.

By the time were making our way out past the outer channel marks at South East Walney we were struggling to make any headway at all and the gloomy skies did little to lift our spirits.

As we turned to make for Fleetwood we aimed our bows due south using Blackpool Tower as a visual reference and all seemed well for a while. After about an hour it was becoming clear that it was going to take much more time and effort to reach Fleetwood than we anticipated, despite the shorter distance.

We were being swept east faster than we had thought likely. The westerly breeze wasn't helping matters and conditions in some of the overfalls were both challenging and exhilarating (sorry no photos). We were unintentionally approaching the hungry jaws of the Lune Estuary when we found renewed resolve during a mars bar break, just as the tide began to loosen its grip on us.

After over four and a half hours on the waters of Morecambe Bay Peter and I arrived exhausted but relieved on Fleetwood Beach. Although some small children helped us to carry our boats ashore we still didn't have the strength for a pint at the conveniently situated 'Wyre Lounge Bar'.

Crossing Morecambe Bay #1 (heading North)

2008-08-02T22:11:00.001+01:00

With the aim of reching Piel Island near Barrow in Furness, Peter and I set off from Rossall near Cleveleys on the north Fylde Coast this Morning. The crossing involves making a 20 km ferryglide accross the powerful flood tides of Morecambe Bay.

The water was choppy right from the start and even leaving the beach presented its difficulties.Conditions remained choppy for most of the crossing and we encountered some more challenging overfalls before we had reached the half way point. The second half of the crossing was in some ways easier but with a littltiedness setting in I was finding it difficult to maintain a good pace and my cockpit plenty of water.Eventually after 3 hours and 25 minutes Peter and I arrived on the eastern shore of Piel Island and I discovered why my boat had been so sluggish. I had not fully sealed the rear hatch cover and most of my posessions were floating around gently in plenty of Irish Sea water!

Fish Chips and Mushy Peasoup

2008-07-27T07:15:00.010+01:00

In search of adventure, I met with Dave and Jules at the Yorkshire seaside town of Filey to paddle along the coast to Scarborough. I had never ventured along this stretch of coastline before and having now made a successful return journey, I feel very much none the wiser.

Shortly after leaving the beach in pleasant morning sunshine we ventured around the Filey Brigg, which is the headland and reef the forms the northern end of Filey bay. Within minutes we found ourselves in choppy conditions with dense fog locally known as 'sea fret' descending dramatically allowing us to see less than 50 metres at times. The sea conditions soon relented but it was difficult to see the shore. Pinpointing our position was tricky making map and compass essential and GPS quite reassuring.

Our 16km trip was plagued by the fret for all but the last 2 km of the approach to Scarborough where we were landed in brilliant sunshine amongst crowds of holidaymakers indulging in the great British seaside tradition of sandcastles, deckchairs and knotted hanky head wear. We opted for another great British seaside institution - Fish and Chips! It was hoped that adding mushy peas to the equation we might please the gods in the hope that they would leave our return journey clear.

It is now clear that we got that one quite wrong! Within minutes of leaving Scarborough we were paddling in fog thicker than before, making route finding amongst the reefs beneath Grissthorpe Cliff quite tricky.

Eventually we found Filey Brigg and the only challenge between us and a safe return. The north going tidal stream combined with some gentle swell to give us a roller coaster ride into Filey Bay where the mist promptly cleared allowing us to find our cars and, more importantly a tea shop.

Chorlton Beer Feshtival

2008-07-12T20:33:00.005+01:00

I live in a suburb of south Manchester called Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The name is sometimes subject to ridicule but I rather like, and am proud of it as I have lived most of my life here.

I also like beer, especially real ale so I pleased to report that the 4th annual Chorlton Beer Festival has ended in proud fashion with all barrels empty before church bells could ring 'closing time'.

Sea Kayaking in The Guardian Travel Section

2008-07-03T12:06:00.004+01:00

This week the Guardian Travel section features an article that I wrote about 10 top sea kayaking destinations in the UK and Europe.

The Article can be read by clicking here.

The windy way round the island of Walney

2008-06-23T08:06:00.002+01:00

I had originally planned for an overnight trip to camp at Peil Island and paddle round Walney. These plans were all but abandoned due to the onset of some pretty foul weather. Nevertheless Mark insisted on not staying at home and completing another circumnavigation just the same. We were joined by Bill & Royanne who met us at the village of Biggar on the island of Walney.

We started from the west shore at 'Cross Dike Scar' and paddled round the south east point amongst plenty of chop and swell generated by the strengthening force 4 southeasterly wind and opposing tidal currents.

We landed briefly on Peil Island to make sort out misplaced footrests, jammed skegs and other associated maintenance . Mark and I found time for a swift half at the Ship Inn too!

The flooding tide and freshening force 5 (gusts of 6/7) wind rushed us up the Walney Channel. It seemed that all we had to do is steer and surf all the way to the shelter of North End Haws where we took a short sandwich and chocolate break.

Progress along the west shore was fine at first in the lee shelter and with some assistance from the ebb tide. As time went on, and as the coastline turned more southeasterly our progress slowed. The last 2km took nearly half an hour!

In the interests of keeping with tradition the post circumnavigation briefing was adjourned to the nearest pub. The Queens Arms at Biggar was perfect!

Strong winds and a change of plan

2008-06-02T21:13:00.003+01:00

I took the whit week off work with a plan to paddle north along the east coast from Yorkshire to the Scottish border. With the winds forecast to be east or northeast force 4-6 for most of the week, the chances of making it from Flamborough Head to the Scottish border in one piece weren't good. Tide tables were consulted and following some head scratching we made a last minute decision to start the week with some paddling on the southwest Lake District coast.

I was joined by my friends Glen and Andy. We started at Arnside following the shallows of the Kent Channel into Morecambe Bay where we met the rising waters of the incoming tide. Once we had waited out the initial rush we turned west and made an 18km crossing from Kent Bank to Piel Island.

We made camp for a couple of days to weather out the strongest of the strong easterlies.

Ravenglass on the west Cumbrian coast was our next destination and having endured all of the fresh air one could wish for on Piel, the serenity and shelter of Ravenglass was well appreciated. High tides were in the evening and early morning so we took the opportunity of paddling up one of the estuaries to find a quiet spot to camp for the night.

As the winds dropped we took a paddle from Whitehaven to look at the cliffs at St Bees Head before heading over to the east coast via Ullswater.

Our first paddle on the east coast was a trip down the tidal section of the River Tyne following the ebbing tide through the city of Newcastle beneath the historic bridges old and new.

As the swell on the North Sea was dying away we decided to brave the Northumbria Coast with our final day of paddling. We paddled from the beach just behind the post office at Beadnell to Warkworth Beach just over a mile to the north of Amble. A strong northerly wind kept our hands firmly on the loom for most of the journey and especially through an exciting surf landing at the end of the day.

Its a shame we couldn't finish the objective, but that's difficult if the weather conditions won't even let you begin.

There are more photos of the trip to be seen here.

Hurrah!

2008-05-22T06:06:00.006+01:00

I'm waking up like I did almost exactly 9 years ago with a warm feeling attempting to cross swords with the beginnings of a vengeful, blistering hangover . The breakfast TV headlines seem to make re-living last nights victory in Europe fantastic, but life goes on and I now have to prepare for a day at work. In the meantime the complex planning for a sea kayaking trip goes on in the face of a forecast of typically British bank holiday bad weather.

A View From Above

2008-05-21T13:38:00.005+01:00

The tiredness that followed the previous weekend's crossing to the Isle of Man continued into last weekend. Fortunately the gentle northerly breeze cleared up the visibility on the east coast so I headed off for Eddsfield Airfield near Bridlington where I have made some friends. Bill and I took off early in the morning heading for Holy Island off the Northumberland Coast.

This is such a fantastic way to view the coastline (or any other landscape for that matter).

We followed the northumberland coast along through Cleveland and North Yorkshire. When we rouded the headland at Scarborough we called ahead to Eddsfield to let them know that we would be arriving shortly and also to request a couple of bacon butties.

Cheers to Bill and all of the rest of the helpful & friendly folk at Eddsfield Airfield.

There are more photos from this flight to be viewed here.