Whitford Point Lighthouse

Summer has come early and an opportunity to paddle one of my last remaining gaps on the Gower coast presented itself.  The paddle was planned for Sunday so I decided to take the family camping the previous evening...

We spend the evening walking the length of Worms Head as the sun set on the western horizon before retiring to our somewhat 'cosy' tent.  Last time we all slept in here the children were a lot smaller.

The following morning Hannah headed home with the kids while I made the short journey to meet up with Sean, Paul and Katie at Pen-clawdd on the Loughor estuary.  Katie wasn't paddling today but was going to meet us at the other end of the trip.

It was around high water so the estuary was in flood, at low water it completely dries out.  We paddle down the length of the estuary was uneventful apart from a private air show from a couple of small propeller aircraft.

A the mouth of the Loughor Estuary at Whitford Points stands an impressive lighthouse which marks an extensive sandbank that almost stretches across the entire entrance.  We took the opportunity to stretch our legs before heading out to the light.

I always get a tingly feeling and a big smile on my face when paddling out to such a focal destination I haven't been to before.  This abandoned lighthouse is unique in that it is the only cast iron offshore lighthouse in Britain, despite over seventy years of disuse.  

The light has had some extensive repairs in it's time.  During it's operation bands were placed around the tower after the cast iron panels kept loosening.  Later concrete and stones were placed around it's based after soft sand foundations gave concern to sinking.    

The fast flowing ebbing estuary waters provided some playful conditions around the light.

The tower has received a white wash coat of bird poop in it's time.  In an effort to save the tower crumbling into the sea the Llanelli Coastal Millennium Park offered it for sale for £1 on the provision that the new owner repaired it.  Unfortunately the future looks uncertain for the light as prospective buyers are put off by the £100,000 repair costs.  

For this trip I brought along my new Greenland paddle to test (more to follow on later posts).

Sean seems to be enjoying the new paddle.

We cut in through the shallow waters dividing Burry Holms and Rhossili Bay and take another opportunity for a short break with Worms Head on the horizon.

Back on the water we make a loop around the island and head back in close to the shore to eventually land at Broughton Bay.

On the sands is a host of life from Spider Crabs to hundred upon hundreds of Starfish.

The carry to the car was somewhat of a record, the waters edge where we landed can be seen in the top of the above picture.

A great end to a great weekend on the Gower peninsular with great company.  Thanks to Katie, Paul and Sean for the invite and the lift back to the van.

Land of the Dragon

Worms Head, from the Viking 'Wurm', meaning Dragon.  A location I've wanted to paddle for some time.  I was denied this paddle almost two years ago and haven't been back to the Gower since.  The passing high pressure this weekend seemed like the perfect chance to reclaim the paddle.

Today I was joined by Taran and Noel.  After getting up at 6am and driving west we left my van at Llangennith and drove back to Oxwich Bay to launch.  The sun was out the sea was flat, it was perfect, if only a bit on the chilly side.  A seal was lounging in the water, a good start.

Out into the bay the low winter sun almost blinds our view.

There was a bit of swell evident out in the open.

Within no time we were paddling past Port Eynon and for me at least, new territories beyond.

The sun provided a bit of warmth on our backs as we made our way further west.

We pass Culver Hole, a large sea cave whose entrance is sealed off by a 60ft stone wall.  Culver from the Old English word 'Culfre' meaning dove or pigeon is a medieval dovecote believed to date between 13th-14 century.

Steep waves sweep in all along the shore line, the thoughts of landing at Llangennith I think on all our minds.

We receive a flyby from Whiskey Oscar 99 with a friendly whoop whoop from their siren.

Paddling on I wonder why in the two years me and Taran have been paddling together we've never been to the Gower before.  The cliffs rise and fall dramatically, can only imagine the forces involved in creating such a landscape....

Like Noel said...you have to be here to appreciate the scale of these formations.

We approach the cave where an almost complete 26,000 year old skeleton was discovered, better known at the Red Lady of Paviland.  The red lady was in fact a 25yr old male originally assumed to be a female dating back to the Roman period.

We take our time and explore every nook and cranny of this fantastic coast.

There's plenty of bird life to enjoy on the way.

The cliffs continue to rise and fall as we near our lunch stop.

We stop off at fall bay part of the Worms Head headland.

Moving on we hug the shore continuing up the neck of the head.

Deceptive waves seem to rise steeply and wrap around the end of the head as we paddle on reluctantly toward the danger.

Reaching the tip the conditions liven up slightly but the scale of the dragons head is jaw dropping.

 Gulls use the up-drafts and circle around the towering formation.  Wow what a place to be, this is the only way to view the Worm, not by foot.

Trying to get a sense of prospective.

On the dark side of the head the cliffs rise steeply from the sea, interrupted with cave arches and inlets.  Gulls, Shags and Razorbills cling to the steep cliffs above our heads.

A few seals pop up watching keeping a keen eye on our progress.

And with good reason, there are plenty of young ashore.  This small seal looks like it might have been one of this years.

We leave the shadows of the the great serpentine headland and cross over Llangennith to our final destination.  Mass flocks of birds circle around us in the open water.    

A shot of me with the Worms Head.

We land in the surf, not huge but steep fast and great fun.

We linger a little while longer enjoying the last drops of daylight in the foaming surf.

Its then a gigantic carry up the beach and over the sand dunes back to the van.

One of the best paddles in a long time, a must for all kayakers.  Thanks guys for a superb day.