Table of Contents

Foreword and Dedication 3Coastal Access in Wales 6Important Notice 7Acknowledgements 7How to Use the Guide 8About the Authors 10The North Coast 111 Dee Estuary 132 The Ormes 193 Conwy Estuary 25Anglesey / Ynys Mon 294 Puffin Island 315 Menai Strait 356 South-west Anglesey 417 Cymyran Strait and Rhoscolyn 458 The Stacks 519 Irish Sea Crossing 5710 Holy Island Circumnavigation 6111 Carmel Head 6712 The Skerries 7113 Porth Wen 7514 Point Lynas 8115 Bull Bay to Isle of Man 87The Lleyn Peninsula 9116 Trefor to Porth Dinllaen 9317 Porth Dinllaen to Porth Oer 9718 Bardsey Sound 10119 Bardsey Island 10720 South-west Lleyn 11321 St Tudwal's Islands 11922 Pwllheli to Criccieth 123Cardigan Bay 12923 Dwyryd Estuary 13124 Mawddach Estuary 13525 Aberdovey to Aberystwyth 13926 Ynys-Lochtyn 14527 Mwnt 151Pembrokeshire 15528 Cemaes Head 15729 Dinas Head 16130 Strumble Head 16531 Penclegyr 16932 St David's Head 17333 Ramsey Island 17734 Bishops and Clerks 18335 Green Scar 18736 St Brides Bay 19137 Stack Rocks 19538 Skomer and Skokholm 19939 St Ann's Head 20540 Milford Haven 20941 St Govan's Head 21342 Caldey Island 21743 Carmarthen Bay 221Gower & Bristol Channel 22544 Burry Holms 22745 Worms Head 23146 Mumbles Head 23547 Tusker Rock 23948 The Most Southerly Point 24349 Flat Holm and Steep Holm 24750 Bristol Channel 253Appendices 257A Coastguard & Emergency Services 257B Weather 257C Pilots 258D Mean Tidal Ranges 258E Glossary of Welsh Language Place Names 259F Recommended Reading 260G Trip Planning Route Card - User's Guide 260H Trip Planning Route Card 263I Index 265

About the Author

Andy Biggs Andy has always had a strong affinity with the sea. From a very early age he enjoyed sailing under the watchful of his father and during later school years spent all his spare time sailing, representing Britain at World and European Championships. It has been said that it's easier to make a good sea-kayaker out of a sailor than a river kayaker. Andy has a deep understanding and love of the sea, which has inspired him to gain a great deal of technical knowledge about its movements and changeability. Those who have paddled with him comment on, and benefit from, his understanding and analysis of tidal movements and anomalies, often ensuring the most efficient and enjoyable trips with the tide and wind being allies rather than obstacles. Fascinated by the journeying nature of sea kayaking, Andy has completed many memorable trips around the UK including trips in Ireland, Scotland and extensively in Wales. He has circumnavigated the islands of Skye and Mull and recently paddled multi-day trips in Alaska and New Zealand. Andy loves remote places and has completed many challenging trips, either as a solo traveller or with his long-suffering college friend, Simon. These adventures have included trekking in the Himalayas, alpine climbing, cycling across Iceland and also crossing Eastern Europe soon after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. Andy has been a free-lance photographer and more recently, has enjoyed inspiring students in his position as a Further Education lecturer in Photography. Jim Krawiecki Jim's involvement in the outdoors and in particular the Welsh coastline started on family holidays spent at the unique Polish ex-servicemen's home near Pwllheli. Beachcombing, investigating the sea life in rock pools and walks along the dramatic headlands of the Lleyn developed an interest in the outdoors. An introduction to canoes and kayaks at school led Jim to join a local canoe club in the mid 90's, predominately a white water club, as members suggested that sea kayaking was both dangerous and boring! Undeterred and finding better-informed company through North West Sea Kayakers, a passion for the sea was rekindled and encouraged. In return Jim is now a prominent member of that group and regularly organises meets and sea trips. Sea Kayaking in Brittany, the Greek Isles, Scotland and numerous excursions to Wales have prompted him to share his enthusiasm for sea touring by putting pen to paper and hopefully opening up opportunities for others to enjoy the delights of this region. Jim is also a passionate mountaineer, which in turn has led to his current employment at the offices of the British Mountaineering Council.