Walking Overnighter at Princetown

After work me and Andy had a spot of dinner and then headed up to Princetown, as we were there we popped into the Plume of Feathers for a quick drink and then headed out towards Swell Tor Quarry where we were planning on setting up camp for the night. We managed to find a flat spot, set up the tarp and then the thermarests underneath.

Andy testing out our beds

We managed to sleep pretty well, though we did get woken up in the early hours of the morning by a rave a few miles away.

A rather dilapidated old building

Although the weather wasn't the most inspiring, we still had an explore. We found the wreck of an old building that looked pretty cool and then we found some small lakes in a unused quarry.



The lake in the disused quarry


It was a great place to explore, just a shame the weather wasn't a little nicer



Pixie boy Andy

Weather Tree

 

The old tramway

We wondered round for a few hours before having to head back to the car and head home. Will definitly come here again as we have further that we want to walk.

Moo Moo

Sea Kayaking - Isles of Scilly

I've just come back from a week long trip to the Isles of Scilly with Mike Bradford and seven other fellow kayakers. I took the trusty P & H Scorpio LV, my sea kayak of choice.

The view from the pub on St Agnes



I finely got round to putting up some more details of my trip

 

We spent a night in Penzence before heading to the Isles of Scilly which gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and so we didn't have to drive a long way in the morning for the early morning ferry.

Day One

We travelled from Penzance on the Scillion II to St Mary's where we witnessed our kayaks being unloaded which was a little scary to watch as they where unloading them three at a time. We then loaded up the kayaks with out stuff ready to paddle the crossing from St Mary's to St Agnes. It was a pretty rough crossing and we were paddling into the wind, but we made it. When we got to St Agnes we unpacked our boats, pitched out tents and then went off to explore the island.

My home for the week

Day Two

After a deciding the night before that we the next day we were gonna paddle round St Agnes and then cross over to St Mary's and paddle round there, we got kitted up and set off, the weather was a little calmer. We paddled 30 km and on the way back we had to go round the bottom of St Agnes to get back to the campsite as it was so rough and windy. We were all pretty knackered by the time we got back, so i had my dinner then headed for an early night.

 

One of our many lunch stops with gorgeous views

Day Three

After a long days paddling the day before we decided to take it easy and just paddled round some small islands just off St Agnes including Annette, We paddled round Annette then went off to explore some of the smaller islands/ outcrops where we found a couple of inquisitive seals and one even posed for a picture. The weather then started to close in so we called it a day and headed back to camp.



Seal posing for a picture

Day Four

The weather had improved a lot, the wind had dropped as had the swell meaning that we could venture out further. We decided to head round Samson, Bryher and Tresco, when we made it round to the northern point of Bryher is was very rough with big swell, as we paddled round we came across a place called Hell Bay, named so because so many ships had been wrecked there, once they got into the bay they couldn't get out again. As we paddled round the headland it became very rough but once we came made it round and started to head in between Bryer and Tresco it all went very calm again. After stopping for some lunch we headed south back to St Agnes again.

The castle on Tresco another lunch stop

Day Five

Today the plan was to head upto St Martins, as some people had been ill the last couple of days we paddled past Tresco, stopping for a quick coffee at the gardens entrance so that they could see it to. We then headed onto the Eastern Isles where we found loads of seals and stopped for a spot of lunch on a lovely peaceful beach were we caught afew rays. We then continued on to St Martins where half the group paddled round the northern side (the ones that still had lots of energy) and the rest of us paddled round the southern side, the sea was so pretty and clear you could see the bottom. Yet another 30 km day of paddling.

Mike Bradford our coach

Day Six

Our last day in the Scillies, we got up and started packing everything back into our drybags and then into the kayaks. I may have quickly snuck off for a quick sausage sandwich with a couple of the guys before heading back to the camp to finish off (paddling energy). We then paddled over to St Marys for the last time landed the kayaks and unpacked everything and put it in our big bag ready to be loaded onto the ferry again. We arrived a bit early which gave us a bit of time to explore a little of St Mary's (the biggest of the islands) before sailing home again.



The sunset from our campsite



I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone, we had a total mix of abilities in the group and everyone got on fine. Although it can get a little choppy and windy at times, it is a beautiful collection of islands and perfect for wildlife spotting. Its worth going with a guide or coach for a first trip, as although the tides aren't massively big it can be hard work after a long days paddle making crossings. I enjoyed it so much I'm already trying to work out if i can go again next year.

P & H Scorpio LV, i found the boat had plenty of room even to fit all the stuff i took for the crossing to the campsite and back again. It sat well in the water loaded and empty no problem. I felt comfy and confident in the kayak and got on with it really well. It was stable even in the rough and windy conditions. Defiantly taking it out again soon.

 I went with a local coach called Mike Bradford, who i would strongly recommend he was very organised, easy going and knowledgeable on the area.

http://www.mike-bradford.co.uk/