Frontier Bushcraft Team Canoeing Weekend – Winter 2016

Tidal rapids Menai Strait
Paddling on tidal rapids in the Menai Strait, Wales. Photo: Ray Goodwin

Every year we organise a team canoeing weekend for members of the Frontier Bushcraft instructional team and their partners or best friends.

It’s meant to be a fun few days, with a serious intent.

The aim is to improve paddling skills, all the while in a social setting.

We usually go to North Wales as this is where Ray Goodwin is based. Ray works with me on all of the Frontier’s canoeing-related courses and trips, including the Expedition Canoeing Skills Course, River Spey Canoe Expedition and the likes of The Bloodvein River Expedition.

North Wales is also a compact region of outdoor possibilities, including good paddling from lakes to rivers to tidal waters.

Over the three days we were in Wales we made a couple of day trips on the River Dee as well as an excursion to paddle on the Menai Strait – the tidal water separating the island of Anglesey from mainland Wales.

 

Above are two videos I made to capture the essence of each of these mini-adventures, one full day running a lovely section of the Dee, through the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and beyond, the second when we ventured into the notorious Swellies on the Menai Strait.

A good time was had by all and paddling skills were extended in the process 🙂

Paul Kirtley padding in the Menai Strait
The author trying to paddle agains the flow in the Menai Strait. Photo: Ray Goodwin
Menai Bridge at sunset
A sublime sunset to end our time on the Swellies. Photo: Henry Landon

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Paul Kirtley is Founder and Chief Instructor of Frontier Bushcraft. He has had a lifelong passion for the great outdoors and gains great satisfaction from helping others enjoy it too. Paul writes the UK's leading bushcraft blog. He is the author of Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft, as well as having contributed to several other books. Paul has been involved in teaching bushcraft since 2003. He is also a Canoe Leader, British Canoeing Level 3 Canoe Coach and UK Summer Mountain Leader.

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