LCC Alpine Holiday with Staycation Alternative for 2021
This year we were all set to go to France again. All the planning had been done, restrictions checked and most of us fully jabbed. With the third wave and a month to go we started to look for an insurance option, just in case. We provisionally booked campsites in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, and the Scottish Canoe Association Campsite on the River Tay at Grandtully. With two weeks to go the UK Government decided to add France to the Amber plus list, meaning compulsory isolation for all on return. Fortunately, we had our insurance option, Plan B as travel to France was now totally unrealistic.
Alps
Alternative Week 1 Pembroke.
Day 01
Cardiff WW Course 8 Cumecs
Some of us left early and took a slight detour to visit Cardiff International White-Water Course. This was to be our river option for this week with 4 days where the course was offering “Park and Play” sessions for paddlers. 6 of us met at the course for the afternoon session. It was pumping 8 Cumecs (cubic metres a second) and true to form the course filled up and we had a great time doing laps.
On getting our wrist bands we put our boats on in the bottom pool and took the escalator to the top and set off on the course. Some of the drops and eddies were exciting and the boiling water gave a few problems for some. We had all watched the safety video beforehand and there were two people from the centre on the middle island with throw ropes to rescue any unfortunate swimmers.
At this level several of the other playboaters were performing 360-degree forward loops. As our confidence grew, we started to play a little more in each of the features. We particularly liked the bottom wave where the flow pours into the bottom pool. Two and half hours of 8 Cumecs was enough for most and we drove to the campsite fully contented with our new find. Filtered, blue, clean and warm water with good features and a user-friendly approach for paddlers. Now that is worth paying a tenner for.
Day 02a
Cardiff WW Course 8 Cumecs
Most headed off for the WW course again, still pumping 8 Cumecs it was at a good level. Mo st of the newcomers were soon up to speed and flying around the course with ease. It really was a blast.
Although relatively shallow in places most of the features had plenty of water at this level and the holes while friendly were still powerful and deserved respect. The only things to watch out for are the blue plastic rocks as they can be a pain if you bang an elbow or other part of the body if you get the breakout wrong.
There seemed to be plenty of space and only a few of the 50 public places were taken. There were rafts and inflatables on the course with centre staff, but these only numbered 3 at the most. You really do get a lot of paddling in when paddling on an artificial course with an escalator. This was really turning out to the be Alternative Alpine Rivers trip we had all hoped for.
Day 02b Abereiddy Beach to Porthgain (Sloop Inn) and return
A few Alpine paddlers had broken with the tradition of paddling the boats they were going to take the Alps and had also brought long pointed boats with hatches on.
This alternative group paddled along the rocky coasts and headlands to Porthgain, stopped for a while for lunch and then paddled back again. Apparently, the Sloop Inn was the highlight of the trip – It must have been fantastic as the coastline here is truly beautiful.
|
Porthgain History
At one time, the harbour exported
slate from quarries a few miles south at Abereiddi, Trwynllwyd and Porthgain quarry works itself.
Abereiddi and the quarries to the South were linked by a tramway,
the Porthgain Railway. Water-powered mills at Porthgain sawed the
quarried slate slabs before shipment.
In the 1980s Porthgain was
designated as a conservation area and the industrial properties and land were
purchased by local residents and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Authority. The harbour, still home to local
fishermen, can get very busy in the summer with recreational boaters. Other
attractions and conveniences include the Pembrokeshire Coast Path rambling up both sides of the harbour, the
“Strumble Shuttle” bus, and the Sloop, which used to be called the “Step In”
when boats were able to dock beside the pub and the crews could step in.
Porthgain also has the Shed, a small bistro situated by the Quay and the Harbour Lights Gallery, which is
located in the manager's office of the old works. Porthgain Kayak Club operates
voyages from the harbour during the summer months. |
Day 03 The
Bitches
There were big springs this week and ideal for a trip out to “the bitches”. These are a series of sharp rocks blocking half of Ramsey Sound. All the tide sweeps through between the Island and the mainland and pours through between and around the rocks producing a lot of white water and waves. These are a fantastic play spot, but you do need to know your tides, only venture out in calm conditions and look out for everyone in the group.
We dropped the boats off at the top of the steps leading down to the old lifeboat house and parked the cars in the few remain car park spaces. Once changed we carried down and launched on the small beach beside the lifeboat ramp. There were numerous “RHIBs” loading with people for the highspeed tour of Ramsey Island, the wildlife and rough water. We took the strong back eddy up as high as we could and then started our ferry across the to “the bitches” rocks. We were not sure we would make it as the tide was extremely strong – at least 6 knots but probably faster. We all made the first eddy behind the outer most rock and gathered our thoughts. We then began to start to play and get used to the water.
Aleksander and Stuart caught the best waves while Roy searched for the infamous large green surf wave behind the middle rock. After a while we all ferried across to the arch with the tide flowing through. It was still far too strong to try and paddle through but provided some fun. We then explored the coastline of Ramsey Island. We found a waterfall and several caves and arches – one of which was about 100m through a headland.
Eventually it was time to return to the mainland. Fortunately, the tide was beginning to slow but we still needed to keep clear of horse rocks in the middle of our return as these can produce strong overfall and whirlpools. Well worth a visit but does require a lot of respect.
Day 04a The
Bitches
The tide was an hour later today, so we headed down to the car park at St Justinian`s at 8:30am. It was too late, and all the places were taken. We dropped the kayaks off, and I was not prepared to pay the £5 for the overflow car park so dropped the car back at the campsite and walked the 1km down to the lifeboat ramp. We paddled in the back eddy as far as we could before heading over to “the bitches” again. We were a littler earlier today and the waves seemed to be a little larger. Here a fishing boat came over to take a look.
We played and surfed for a while and then attempted to get onto the main wave on the middle rock. The rocks were extremely sharp as we tried to pull ourselves forward in the eddy. The sea was pulsing all the time and we briefly managed to get on the wave for a few seconds. As the tide dropped off, we went to explore the caves and waterfalls on Ramsey Island before paddling back to St Justinian`s to meet the others.
Day 04b St
Justinian’s to Whitesands Beach
We met the others just after 11:30 at St Justinian`s
lifeboat ramp. They had been
snorkelling around the rocks and caves below St Justinian`s. Once all on the water we paddled north
around the headland to explore the cliffs and caves. There was a slight swell an this made rock
hopping interesting. We could see the
North End of Ramsey Island in the distance, and we rounded the corner into
Whitesands Bay. As we rounded the
headland, we passed between Carreg-gafeiliog island (a small rock outcrop) and
the mainland. We paddled into the beach
at Porthselau. This is the beach below
the campsite at Pencarnan Farm Camping & Caravan Park which was the first
campsite that we used to use on the Pembroke weekends back in 2009 (the one
with the milk churns).
After a short rest we explored the coastline along to
the shell white sands of Whitesands bay.
Along the way we saw a large group of people (5 or 6) on paddle boards
and rubber tubes all joined together by lines.
The front person was waving and shouting, and they were making slow
headway against the slight breeze that had picked up. Stuart and some of the others made their way
over to them to enquire if they needed assistance? They said no they were ok but soon after
turned back towards Porthselau beach.
Day 04c
Surfing at Whitesands Bay
After a snorkel round the rocks in
the morning we all regrouped and set off along the coast to white sands
bay. The beach was busy with surfers and
swimmers. We paddled over to the surfing
area between the black and white flags and where soon catching decent size
waves that when you caught a good one, you’d ride it all the way back to
shore. Even better, a super wave there
would be a few of you on the same wave. Whooping as you surfed to shore. I even
managed a mid-surf high five with Aleksander.
No surf tubes though. I’m still in search of catching one.
At the back of the breakers a seal
popped up in front of Roy. I just caught a glimpse as it dove back down below
the waves. We had to be careful with the
surfers given it was busy but there was plenty of waves for us all. As Keith was taking photo’s I caught a great
wave. I tried to turn on the wave but before I knew it, I was heading straight
for Keith. Thinking quickly, Keith
managed to tip himself over just in time for me to surf over the tip of his
boat and him! I turned back and with
skill, Keith rolled back up - camera still in hand. Sorry Keith - oops!
After an hour or so we had all tired ourselves out. We made our way back to shore and parked our boats. A group set off on foot along the headland to collect the cars, while everyone else had a well-deserved ice cream. After a short wait we heard the announcement from the lifeguards saying they were about to close the beach due to a sea fog rolling in. Within minutes the beach was completely blanketed with fog and the crowds started to disperse. Luckily for us the cars soon arrived before the rush, and we quickly packed up and set off back to camp.
A great day was had by all.
Day 04d
Coasteering at Blue Lagoon
We waited for the evening tide at 6:30pm and then drove the short distance to Abereiddy beach and the Blue Lagoon (and old slate quarry). We wore paddling gear with good foot ware and started scrambling around the bottom of the cliffs that led out from the beach. At times we had to wade through the water or climb a little higher. Eventually we came to gap that was too wide to cross so had to jump into the water and swim to the other side. We climbed up and went through an arch (hole) and climbed down into the blue Lagoon. There were several other groups in there.
We swam across the lagoon (old quarry) and climbed up onto an old wall. We were able to jump in feet first with arms tightly around our buoyancy aids. Some of us then went even higher to jump off an old quarry wall. The drop was about 6m which was good fun. We eventually swam back to the other side and Maria and Gabrielle climbed up to the path to walk back with Steve.
Sara, Keith and Nikki swam out of the Lagoon to explore a little more before scrambling and swimming our way back to the beach.
Day 05
Cardiff WW Course 4 and 6 Cumecs
Some went to the beach surfing, some walked around the coastal path and mooched about. Later that day most of us loaded up the cars and headed off to Cardiff for that evening`s “park and play session”. Some of the artificial rocks had been taken out to compensate for the lower flows. The course was on 4 Cumecs for the first hour and 6 Cumecs for the second one. At this level it was less intimidating but there were more kayaks and rafts on the course for the midweek session.
Soon everyone was up to speed with the course layout and paddling around in laps. We began to play with each feature, popping out, surfing waves and getting ever tighter breakouts. Some of the features were very shallow but the directed flow was at speed over the smooth concrete artificial bed of the course. The speed of the water meant that the depth was irrelevant here as you were speeding over a film of water only 6 cm deep and then into a deeper section. We kept going until after 8:15pm when the water and escalator were turned off. The handy retail park and Maccy D`s allowed us to enjoy a chat and some food before we drove the 2hrs back to the campsite.
Day 06 Surfing at Whitesands Bay
Roy had been up all-night checking “Magic Seaweed” and the surf was going to be up – 4-6 feet and massive. Excitedly Roy exclaimed that we must go – he was going to take all 4 of his surf toys on his roof (Short and Long surf boards, Surf Jet 2 [SOT] and his Ripper kayak). He was going to try all of them before the day was out. We headed for Whitesands Bay early to get parking near the white shell sandy beach. Even the long pointy boats with the hatches were going to practise in the surf.
|
|
|
Day 07 Cardiff WW Course 10 Cumecs
After storm Evert hit Lands’ End and South Wales overnight, we awoke to two family tents flattened and abandoned in the middle of the field – the families had up and left during the night. Several other tents around the edge of the field were looking worse for wear and many were packing up and leaving. We enjoyed a late breakfast and slowly began to pack up ourselves. Craig and Aleksander had driven to Haverford West to find a place open, St David`s does not wake up until 10:00am on a Sunday.
We enjoyed brunch in St David`s at the Mill Café – small but to be recommended. After a final wander around the shops, we headed for Cardiff and the Friday evening promised 10 Cumecs release on the White-Water course.
We were now down to only Craig, Aleksander, Sara and Keith. After a quick sighting run, we got stuck into the big boily water and stronger stoppers. Although similar to 8 Cumecs pumping of the previous weekend the extra 2 Cumecs did fill it to the brim. Some of the holes were more retentive and the waves were all larger. This was really like the Alpine water we had all missed out on this year. We played right to the end to get the most out of our ten pounds access fee. After getting changed, we drove back to Liverpool in a very quick 3.5hrs and enjoyed some very quiet roads.
