West Wales & The Gower

[Jon Tallis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Pubs up river, now you're talking my language



Suggestions, names and locations will be well received

Steve,
Usual haunts are...
Alumchine at Neyland yacht club..
Jolly Sailor at Burton
Lawrenny Arms (aka the Doghouse) at Lawrenny quay
All the above are all-tide access, do food and have pontoons.
But the jewel in the crown is about 2 miles up the Cresswell River from the Doghouse - the Cresselly Arms at Cresswell Quay - high water only, ideally high water springs no food - a proper old fashioned drinking pub.

[Steve509926]

In West Wales last week, stayed at a site just outside New Quay. Found some really good places to launch a SIB at all states of tide with transom wheels (obvious sore point, see other thread "Broken Transom Wheels" ).
New Quay, Llangrannog and Tresaith in this part of West Wales are probably the best and easiest IMO, and just really nice places to be. All of them have parking problems, but once you know where, how and when it's realativly easy.
The Dolphins around New Quay are just amazing, swimming around and under the Redneck, but just to fast to get any pictures.
The Gower this week. Not the easiest of places to get on the water, not only due to the huge tide range, but also a lack of places to launch.
Port Eynon - a lovely place but I wouldn't want to launch there. Low tide exposes a minefield of sharp rocks, I think the fact that the Port Eynon Boat Club boat park is empty and you don't see anyone launching there apart from a couple of Shetland fishing boats, tells its own story. It's also bloody expensive and difficult to get things sorted, Swansea Council just appear to be wanting to take as much money as they can from everyone. Knab Rock at The Mumbles - again not the easiest to get things sorted. The guy at the slip just refused unless I had registered the SIB with Swansea Council, can't do this on the day, should have done it 10 days ago!
Oxwich Bay is a private beach and slip. £16 for the truck, trailer and to launch. Toilets, coffee, food incl a Michelin Star Restaurant if that's your thing. Sand is firm enough past the slip to recover even at low tide, all this with the added bonus that it is a beautiful bay. Don't think I will be launching anywhere else whilst I'm here.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

……It's also bloody expensive and difficult to get things sorted, Swansea Council just appear to be wanting to take as much money as they can from everyone……The guy at the slip just refused unless I had registered the SIB with Swansea Council, can't do this on the day, should have done it 10 days ago!

Wales, per se, seems to be coming to the conclusion that boaters are cash cows there for the milking. Each council is introducing its own individual registration scheme, so that someone on a touring holiday with a few days here & there, has to register in each area at additional expense. What happened to the internationally recognised SSR registration, isn’t it good enough for the Welsh?? The Italians, Spanish, Portuguese seem fine with it, even the French accept it, and that’s saying something.

[Steve509926]

Fully agree Dave. I don't mind paying to use a slip (New Quay and Aberaeron are free) but this having to register with all the different councils is a bit much. If they want to impose a registration scheme to prove insurance why can't it be done nationally.

I've sent you a PM Dave

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Fully agree Dave. I don't mind paying to use a slip (New Quay and Aberaeron are free) but this having to register with all the different councils is a bit much. If they want to impose a registration scheme to prove insurance why can't it be done nationally.

I've sent you a PM Dave

No PM🤷*♂️

[HDAV]

Very good question! Perhaps one that should be sent to the Welsh govt and NRW? Copy in visit wales while your at it


At least they are blocking slips and putting security guards on them to stop people using them (yet….)

Can you imagine if they started shutting roads because someone occasionally exceeded the speed limit or had a crash? And insisted you had to re register your car when you crossed the county boundary?

[Steve509926]

Sorry Dave forgot to press send

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Very good question! Perhaps one that should be sent to the Welsh govt and NRW? Copy in visit wales while your at it


At least they are blocking slips and putting security guards on them to stop people using them (yet….)

Can you imagine if they started shutting roads because someone occasionally exceeded the speed limit or had a crash? And insisted you had to re register your car when you crossed the county boundary?

Good idea, I think I will just do that when I get home.

[Fenlander]

The varying attitudes at the coast are amazing.

We wanted a day out with dog but no boat last week and checked out a favoured place 80mls north of us to find that they now want £15 a day for the beach access car parking. Worse of all for all camper and day vans you have to email ahead to get permission to use said car park.

So we went 90mls east and had a great day where the car park was free and uncontrolled... great cafe and toilet block too.

The attitude in Wales to launching smallcraft is getting excessive.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The attitude in Wales to launching smallcraft is getting excessive.

I'd agree, but I had a fantastic day again at Oxwich Bay even though it was £15.
Went from Oxwich down to Knab Rock at the Mumbles stopping off for lunch at 3 Cliffs Bay.
Fantastic scenery, another pod of dolphins and great weather.

Have to comment on the number of people out on craft of all shapes and sizes not wearing any PFDs of any description, me and Diane was definitely in the minority.

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Have to comment on the number of people out on craft of all shapes and sizes not wearing any PFDs of any description, me and Diane was definitely in the minority.

Bet they all had council stickers

Mate of mine had a dip at 3 cliffs earlier looked amazing

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Bet they all had council stickers

Mate of mine had a dip at 3 cliffs earlier looked amazing

It was stunning

[Fenlander]

Always like a free launch but I’m happy to pay £15 for a slip now and again for the pleasure of boating, less keen on the situation I mentioned where the £15 was just to park the car on a patch of gravel with no facilities.