Cape Cornwall to Carbis Bay

This is a trip I have wanted to do for over a year but either the conditions were against us or Kevin and I could not get our free time to align. At last it all came together, and this trip was worth the wait! It should be noted that this is a full commitment paddle with few landing points at high tide and very few get-out places.

It is unusual to have flat calm conditions at Cape Cornwall, even when the weather is favourable there is usually swell and with the tidal flow (hard to avoid due to the time it takes to complete this journey), you really do need to get your planning right and not take chances.

The scenery is utterly spectacular and there is just so much to see (and avoid) it would be impossible to describe the grandeur of this piece of coastline. There is much to process, wildlife, zawn's, caves, arches stacks, rock islands and high cliffs and at the same time you are avoiding reefs, ledges, pinnacles while dealing with clapotis, swell and tidal flows.

Altogether this is a unforgettable paddle and one that I would like to do again. We went at high water but I would love to have another look at low tide on the next trip.

Wildlife Observed: Oyster catchers (many), Common Gull, Rock pipit, Grey seal (many), Kittywake (5)

Look For: 
Priests Cove
The Brisons
The Kendijack
Botallack Head
Botallack Mines
Levant Mines
Levant Cliffs (copper stained)
Pendeen Point and Lighthouse
Porthearas Cove
Bosigran Cliffs and The Great Zawn
Porthmeor Cove
Gurnards Head
Zennor Head
The Carracks
Trevega Cliffs
Pen Enys Point
St Ives Head

Hazards:
Tidal flow and overfalls at Cape Cornwall, Pendeen Point, Gurnards Head and other Headlands
Groundswell
Many rocks and reefs
Very few get-out points
Difficult landing at most coves
Instant Fog! The North coast is famous for it
Oh yes! And the £9.00 a day parking fee at Carbis bay

Details:
Paddle No: 31
Date: 22/07/2014
Wind: Force 0 - 3 SW
Temperature: 25 degrees
Weather: Sunny with some cloud.
Distance Covered: 18.4 miles.
Duration: 6 hrs
Access: Easy launch from Cape Cornwall but long walk down to slip
Sea state: Smooth with small swell.
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Quest

   Cape Cornwall
    to Carbis Bay

Click map to enlarge

Portwrinkle to Kingsand via Rame Head

Portwrinkle is a small village with a tiny harbour (badly damaged) located at the western end. It's best to drop off gear above the slipway and return to the car park on the cliff road. The access is easy at high tide but there are many rocks to avoid at low tide.

The paddle across Whitsand Bay is interesting and picturesque and you will see many chalets dotted and perched on the high cliffs. Also you cannot miss Tregantle Fort and barracks which has a firing range (check with Rame Head coastguard for firing times) there appears to be good lifeguard cover over most of this coast, indicating that conditions here can be testing in waves or large swell so beware strong SW winds and be sure to double check conditions before you set off.

Rame Head is spectacular with towering cliffs, a 14th century chapel (St Michael's), tiny sandy coves (inaccessible to walkers), a Coastwatch station and strong tidal flows. After rounding Rame it calms down as you paddle toward Penlee Point which is located just before Cawsand Bay and Plymouth Sound. The final stretch before Cawsand and Kingsand (two lovely villages joined at the hip) is a treat as it is densely wooded to the waters edge. I would advise anyone thinking about rounding Rame Head to go on slack water and at a time with little swell and calm seas.

Wildlife Observed: Common Gull, Buzzard (1), Rock pipit, Grey seal (1)

Look For:
Portwrinkle
Whitsand Bay
Tregantle Fort
Freathy
Polhown Fort
Rame Head
St Micheal's Chapel
Penlee Point (Rame)
Cawsand
Kingsand
Plymouth Breakwater
Drakes Island
Great Mew Stone

Hazards:
Particularly sharp and hazardous rocks and reefs along Whitsand Bay
Tregantle Firing Range
Difficult landing on beaches in surf
Tidal race at Rame Head
Tidal race at Penlee Point
Many other water users including ferries, sailing and motor boats at approach to Plymouth Sound
Swimmers at Kingsand and Cawsand

Details:
Paddle No: 30
Date: 19/07/2014
Wind: Force 0 - 3 SW
Temperature: 21 degrees
Weather: Sunny with some cloud.
Distance Covered: 9.40 miles.
Duration: 4.5 hrs
Access: Easy launch from Portwrikle harbour at HW, not so easy at LW.
Sea state: Smooth with small swell.
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Quest

   Portwrinkle to
   Kingsand via
   Rame Head

Courtesy of
K. Gaston.

Click map to enlarge

Looe to Portwrinkle

This trip was preceded by a night of camping on a beach about a mile West of Looe after Paul and I had paddled up from Fowey on the previous day. We kayaked to Marine Drive (Looe) in the morning to find Kevin who had driven 40 miles to meet us for the next stage to Portwrinkle. Unfortunately the weather had taken for the worse and although there was little wind at the start, there was a heavy mist on the coast and a force 3/4 SW forecast for later.

After leaving Looe the coast progressively got more interesting with many jagged rocks, high, sloping and wooded cliffs and Longstone stack between Downderry and Portwrinkle. The shoreline is very rocky at low tide with particularly jagged and dangerous reefs.

Portwrinkle has a tiny stone harbour and just a few houses, it does however have outstanding views across Whitsand Bay to Rame Head

I also got to use my P&H Quest sea kayak for the second time and I am pleased to report that this is a very fine boat indeed that fits me like comfy shoes and it handles in a predictable and pleasing manner. I have to remind myself that I have now got a thin skin of carbon/kevlar between me and sharp reefs and not my tough and forgiving Corelite Scorpio.

Wildlife Observed: Great northern diver (1), Gannet (5+), Peregrine (1), Mediterranean gull (4), Oystercatcher (5+), Rock pipit, Grey seal (1)

Look For:
Looe Island
Millendreath Beach
Seaton Beach
Downderry
Longstone Stack
Portwrinkle

Hazards:
Busy around harbour and entrance to river at Looe
No landing on Looe Island
Rocky but achievable launch and landing at Marine Drive (Looe) beach at low tide. (look for sand path)
Particularly sharp and hazardous rocks and reefs soon as you approach Portwrinkle
Rocky but achievable launch and landing at Portwrinkle at low tide (look for sand path)

Details:
Paddle No: 29
Date: 12/07/2014
Wind: Force 0 - 3 SW
Temperature: 19 degrees
Weather: Overcast, cloud and mist on the clifftops
Distance Covered: 13 miles
Duration: 4.5 hrs
Access: Rocky launch from Marine Drive at Looe (OK at high tide)
Sea state: Smooth to Chop - Small Swell
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Quest and P&H Scorpio







    Looe to
    Portwrinkle

Click map to enlarge

Falmouth to Portscatho

Kevin, Guy and I left Swanpool beach in Falmouth and paddled across the mouth of the Fal estuary where the wind was brisk and waves were moving seawards, continuing past St Anthony's lighthouse and around the Roseland peninsula to Portcatho. Guy ended the journey early and fell asleep on Porthbeor beach (said he had a late night!!) but we did see him again safe and sound at the end of our paddle.

This trip, although not as spectacular as some was very pleasant and we passed  a number of sandy beaches and rocky coves. The cliffs are low and mostly topped by fields. Apart from the mouth of the estuary, which can get very busy with sailing and power boats this is a relatively safe trip and particularly so with an offshore wind. Sit-on kayaks could have a very nice journey leaving from Portcatho harbour and heading in the Falmouth direction with safe beaches, coves and virtually no tidal flow.

Sea life was sparse on our journey bar one seal but we did spot an Eider duck at Zone point, other bird life as listed below but no performing dolphins this time.

Wildlife Observed: Gannet, Eider (1), Oystercatcher (4), Rock pipit, Grey seal (1),

Look For:
Black Rock
Pendennis Point
Pendennis Castle
St Mawes Castle
Falmouth Docks
St Athony's Lighthouse (Fraggle Rock)
Zone Point
Towan Beach
Porthbeor Beach
Portscatho

Hazards:
Many other water users including ferries, sailing and motor boats. Also be aware of the movement of large ships around Falmouth Docks and the Carrick Roads

Details:
Paddle No: 28
Date: 1/07/2014
Wind: Force 4 NE
Temperature: 16 degrees
Weather: Sun.
Distance Covered: 14.1 miles
Duration: 5hrs
Access: Easy launch, landing and exit
Sea State: Smooth except across estuary
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio







   Falmouth to
   Portscatho

Click map to enlarge