2026 05 03 Caldey Island

2026 05 03 Caldey Island

The plan was hatched, and we all left the hostel at 8:30 am bound for Tenby West Beach car park. £6 for the day, and we unloaded boats onto the foreshore, ready for launching soon after 9:40 am. The team was working like a dream. Christine led the first section across to Caldey Point. She organised the lead paddlers and “aimed off” to the left to account for the ebbing tide. In no time at all, we dropped onto the point and swapped leaders.

We followed the coast in and out of every rock and crevice with the tide gently pushing us along. We passed under Chapel Point (lighthouse high above on the cliff) and around into Priory Bay. Here we were followed by a pod of seals, which seemed very friendly and had two young pups in tow.

West Beacon Point proved a little lively for some, with breaking waves over a shallow reef. We headed into Sand Top Bay for Elevenses. The surf was small compared to yesterday’s fun and games at West Dale Bay. Elevenses over, we launched over the bar, which surfaced due to the fast-dropping tide.

On the West side of St. Margaret’s Island, we found some fantastic Arches and tunnels, which gave us a lot of fun. Some even remarked that “they were almost as good as Menorca!”

We then decided to head back to the mainland and check out some climbing slabs and caves on Giltar Point. Disapointingly, the low Spring tides meant that many of the caves were dry with a stony beach filling them. Maybe we will have more luck on a trip with higher water. On crossing “The Burrows” back to Tenby, Eamond and Andy decided to do some rolling and rescue practice; this is something we should all do more often. Once back on the beach, we secured the boats and headed to the Cafe for a late elevenses.

Later in the day, back at base, various participants went for walks, cycles, and bat spotting at dusk. Plans were made for day 3.