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