Wales - Ramsey Island,sea kayaking.

Autumn 2009 provided one of the best examples of an "Indian Summer" in recent memory for me.I took advantage and headed down Wales exploring the fantastic Pembrokeshire coast.If you've never been,then what are you like? it really is special,and for the most part very quiet and unspoilt,road access is not the best,but if it was it wouldn't be so quiet!! For me, I love it the way it is,the journey takes a bit longer,but you can park easily most of the time.I launched at Whitesands Bay,which is just west of S.t. Davids,£3 on the car park,but toilets and a little cafe.Alternatively you could launch at Porth Clais,but parking is much more limited.All down that coast to Solva is absolutely superb,with interest with every corner turned.Leaving Whitesands the view down Ramsey sound is superb,with the Bitches visible.The tide is felt halfway across,and if you get it right,you are on a tidal river all along the Northwest coast.At this point the islands to the west look particulary inviting,but that would require a very good day to go out there.A lot of the West coast wasn't fully explored by me,but as you approach the South West,which is known as Bay Dilyn,it is irresistable.The crux of the trip lies here,the Midland Gap.The tide really rips through here,I've read that it is possible to paddle through against the flow - not this day it wasn't!! such is the flow that the water is actually flowing downhill slightly,so not only have you to battle an impossible current,but also defy gravity.I just manged to paddle through the gap just further North nr Ynys Gwelltog assisted by swell which provided the deciding amount of impetus.The East coast isn't as exposed or spectacular as the west but still is immensely interesting,with "The Bitches" centre stage.Also there are some excellent ,cave,arches,tunnels and paddle throughs,the whole island is absolutely essential paddling,and not to be missed,just choose a good day because the slightest bit of wind on any of the many and varied tidal streams will cause conditions to deteriate quicky.The Music is as always my own composition,now for the first time something done on Piano,I've not been playing long,and it took many takes to get it right,guitar provided by my Jap Strat,which is as good as any other Strat I've tried.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• yt:stretch=16:9
• Ramsey Island
• sea kayaking
• sea caves
• tidal stream
• seals
• midland gap bay dilyn
• the bitches
• Ramsey Sound
• St Davids Head

[Johlibaptist]

Amazing. I love this video. You should be pleased with your achievement. Well done. Really well done.

[GBPaddling]

@Johlibaptist Why thank you,I can assure you getting good enough weather,in the month of October to go around Ramsey is a feat alone! All down that coast is excellent,and if the weather is good,you are guaranteed a good day.

[onlywhenpissed]

When we went out the other day you said "do you think you can make it through that?" I turned round like I'm the Jesus of Sea Kayaking and said nonchalantly "Yeah, piece o' piss that my duck". Lesson learned, I'll tackle these Bitches in one of them giant beer barrel things they used to go over Niagara Falls in thank you very much.

[GBPaddling]

@onlywhenpissed This is one hell of a place for tideraces,they're everywhere here.The Bitches,is just one,albeit the Daddy(Mummy,they're female) of them all.Don't worry,about having respect for these races,it's just self preservation,I too,respect them,but by slowly being exposed to them,you gain confidence,and believe it or not will grow to enjoy the challenge,I promise you!!!

[GBPaddling]

Yeah,there are hundreds of seals all around the Island,every beach had at least 1 baby seal on,and a concerned mother looking on! at some stage I had to breifly land for a" Jimmy Riddle" and it was murder finding an empty spot.

[BarnacleBi11]

Hey up mucker awsome vids keep up the good work plzzz

[WalneyCol]

oh, right, it's a seal :-)

[WalneyCol]

What on earth was that huge splash behind you at 5:34?