Ramsey Island 31/05/2009

Waking to another glorious day with flat calm sea, very little wind and the tides just right for a trip around Ramsey Island, Martyn didn't need to be asked twice!


We were on the water just before 11am with the idea to get across to Ramsey before the north flowing flood tide started to gain too much speed and then use it to our advantage on the west side of the island.
Rounding Penrhyn Dalar we had a little adverse tide but nothing to worry about. The water by here is a good gauge to see how things will be later on.

We paddle through Ramsey Sound a couple of hundred yards from the main flow aided by a south flowing countereddy.

Reaching Pen Dal-aderyn we break into the main flow and are immediately turned 90 degrees and taken back down to the Bitches. It is now a matter of a bit of hard paddling to ferry glide across the current and into the calmer waters near the island.

We now have a leisurely paddle up to Penrhyn Twll with its small arch that we paddle through and then hit a small bit of adverse tide.

Passing the high cliffs at Foel Fawr we stop to look at the Razorbills on their precarious nests on tiny rocky ledges.

Twll y Dillyn or the Devil's Hole is very calm today although we still whizz through there at a fair rate of knots.

Rounding Trwynmynachdy we paddle into Porth Lleuog the steep pebbled beach which is a popular pupping beach and stop for a drink and a snack, watched closely by a group of about 5 or 6 bull seals.

Paddling past the high sea cliffs leading up to Abermawr, which I think are some of the highest in Wales, we are followed by a few of the bulls making sure we are well aware of their presence by splashing and snorting as we paddle in front of them.

We then hit a bit of rough water on the headlands but it cools us down nicely, it's going to be a another scorcher.

Paddling across Abermawr we enter one of the large caves at the headland of Trwyn-drain-du. The cave has a main entrance and then a smaller tunnel that bypasses the headland.

Heading eastward along the north coast of Ramsey up to the NE corner of the island where, although Ramsey Sound looks flat clam, the tide is running pretty fast.

Using a south flowing counter eddy we paddle southward until we break into the main northerly flow.

It is then a leisurely ferry glide across to the mainland at St John's Point and back to Porthsele passing Sian who has caught the Pencarnan fishing bug!

A great paddle of nearly 8 nautical miles (just over 9 miles or nearly 15 kms) with the tide perfect all the way around.