Mullion to Loe Bar

Grey sky, moderate swell and spring tides were not encouraging, but this turned into a good day on the water. Jan came along with us with a borrowed P&H Vela and both were good company! We could not land at Loe Bar as there was a line of rock exposed on the low water mark and enough swell to make landing tricky, so we made this a round trip with no stops. Lots of reefs to avoid or enjoy depending on your mood and a couple of coves with good surf if you wanted to test yourself (we didn't).

Spectacular cliffs particularly around the harbour entrance to observe and a lot of damage to the harbour walls from the recent storms. Not much wildlife apart from a solitary seal near Gunwalloe Cove and a small assortment of birds. When we left in Mullion it was in calm water and little wind but on our return journey it was blowing an upper end of a force four and against us but as this was just a short paddle it was not a problem.

There were a few sit-on kayakers paddling around Mullion Island,  like us they also enjoyed the day and it was a simple pleasure to chat to them on our return.

Note: There is a launching fee for this harbour usually paid at the cafe or honesty box.

Wildlife Observed: Fulmar (5+), Curlew (5+), Oystercatcher (1), Kestrel (1), Rock pipit and Grey seal (1)

Look For:
Mullion Harbour storm damage

Mullion Island

Polurrian Cove

Marconi Memorial
Poldhu Cove

Church Cove
St Winwaloe Church

Dollar Cove

Gunwalloe Fishing Cove

Loe Bar

Hazards:
Steep slipway at Mullion
Working harbour with many holiday users
Many rock reefs and ledges
Dangerous to land/launch at Loe Bar and Gunwalloe even in small waves
All beaches and coves pick up surf with even with small swell
Not many get-out points unless sea is smooth
Many rocks and boulders on this coast

Details:
Paddle No: 25
Date: 30/3/2014
Wind: Force 1- 4 ESE
Temperature: 9 degrees
Weather: Cloud
Distance Covered: 6.75 miles
Duration: 3.5 hrs
Access: Easy launch from Mullion Harbour Slip
Sea state: Smooth to Chop - Small to Moderate Swell
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio and P&H Vela

   Mullion to
   Loe Bar

Click map to enlarge

Fowey to Looe via Polperro

What a great piece of coastline and a kayak trip well worth considering when in Cornwall. Kevin and I were joined by Guy, now fully fit and very active after a three months recovery from having a knee replacement (oh the joy of getting old). So much to see with sandy beaches scenic cliffs, an island and three classic Cornish towns. We had the wind behind us a lot of the time and the tide was also in our favour so the travelling was easy sometimes exciting as the wind accelerated us around the headlands. Care has to be taken when close inshore as the rocks are particularly sharp and pointy for most of the coast.

There are logistics to consider on this trip if you do it one way as we did. You will need to take two vehicles on the Fowey ferry and drive up the coast to Looe and park one either at the beach or the river car park if landing at high tide. This adds to the cost and time of this journey but it remains a highly recommended trip.

The wildlife was a bit thin on the ground and sea! Not much considering the amount of cliff's we went past, Kevin suggests that diversity was low as it is early in the season.

Wildlife Observed: Fulmar, Grey heron, Oystercatcher, Grey wagtail (1), Rock pipit, Raven

Look For:
Bodinnick Car Ferry
Polruan
Lantic Bay
Pencarrow Head
Lantivet Bay
Polperro
Talland Bay
Hore Stone
Looe Island
Hannfore Point
Banjo Pier (Looe)

Hazards: 
Fowey Ferry
Many sharp rock reefs and pinnacles.
Busy harbour area around Fowey, Looe and Polperro
Check that the tide is flowing in your direction if on one way trip
No landing on Looe Island (Hmm Guy)
River currents at Fowey and Looe

Details: 

Paddle No: 24
Date: 15/3/2014
Wind: Force 2 - 4 North Westerly
Temperature: 11 degrees
Weather: Sunny and clear
Distance Covered: 12.9 miles
Duration: 4.5 hrs
Access: Easy launch and land from Fowey Polperro and Looe
Sea state: Smooth to small chop
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio and North Shore Atlantic

    Fowey to Looe
    via Polperro

Click map to enlarge

Marazion to Mousehole

Only the second sea paddle that we have managed this year because of the storms, but what a difference from the near apocalyptic gale on St Valentines day. Warm sun, calm sea and a feeling that spring is just around the corner.

An easy launch from Marazion beach then following the shoreline past Long Rock, Penzance and Newlyn, finally reaching our destination of Mousehole but dissapointed to see that the harbour was shut with it's storm gate still firmly in place. We met some other kayaker's at Newlyn beach that informed us of a male dolphin that became very amorous with one of the kayaks on their return from Moushole about half an hour before us.

Wildlife Observed: Great northern diver (3), Fulmar (3), Guillemot (lots), Razorbill (lots), Oystercatcher (lots), Curlew (8)

Look For:
St Michaels Mount
Long Rock
Penzance Harbour
Penzance Lido
Penzance Promenade
Newlyn Habour
Penlee Point
Mousehole
St Clement's Isle

Hazards:
Rock Reefs off Marazion Beach, Long Rock, St Clements Isle and St Michaels Mount
Large swells even on a small day on outside of St Clements Isle
Boat traffic at Newlyn and Mousehole harbours.

Details:
Paddle No: 23
Date: 9/3/2014
Wind: Force 1-3 South Easterly
Temperature: 11 degrees
Weather: Sunny and clear
Distance Covered: 11.4 miles
Duration: 4.5 hrs
Access: Easy launch and land from Marazion Beach
Sea state: Smooth to small swell
Kayaks: Nigel Dennis Romany, P&H Scorpio




 


    Marazion to
    Mousehole

Click map to enlarge