Sailing Locations
Where I’ve sailed
Where I’ve sailed, WHat I think
As my experience grows so do the number of places I have sailed. Below are some of the best places i’ve sailed so far. Be sure to check out the guides on the blog.
Click below to see specific venue types
sea
Aberffrau
My first overnighter on Lulu saw me sail from Dinowic to Aberffrau on the west coast of Anglesey.
We slipped down the Menai Strait, through the Abermenai channel doing 8.5kts and into the Irish sea, sailing over the infamous Caernafon sand bar.
We overnighted in the tidal river that leads to Aberffrau and it was an idyllic and wonderful experience, shared with some awesome sailing chums!
Highlights
- Beautiful coastline
- Stunning overnight spot
- Safe after sand bar
conwy to moelfre
My first ever sea trip on my own sailing dinghy.
They say the sea gets the sailer before it gets the boat and this trip gave me a solid lesson in that phrase. Had I been alone in the Puffin sound that day, i’m not sure what I may have done. As it happens a little “wind over tide” didn’t have my experienced co-sailer worried at all.
We sailed out of the Beacons slipway in Conwy, through Puffin Sound and on to Moelfre where we stopped for lunch and then sailed our way back again.
A wonderful first venture onto the sea, full of wonder, adventure and excitement!
Highlights
- amazing scenery
- big waves through puffin sound
- a lesson in tides!
Trearddur Bay
,My 2nd overnight cruise was in fact leg 1 of a failed Anglesey circumnavigation attempt in my Drascombe Lugger.
However this trip still lead Lulu and I further up the west coast of Anglesey on a 42KM (23nm) sail and brought a completely new sailing experience as Lulu coped with her first overfalls off the Rhosneigr coast. It taught me just how seaworthy the Lugger is.
We spent the night in the lovely sheltered bay at Porth Diana, and after pulling the boats out there the next day, we had a lovely brekky, sipping coffee and eating toast, already discussing our next attempt!
Highlights
- Challenging seas
- Stunning coastline and bays
- Watch out for lobster pots!
menai strait
The Menai Strait is a 13NM slither of water that separates the island of Anglesey from the Welsh mainland.
It’s Southern entrance is the infamous “Belan Narrows” and just past it’s Northern entrance lies the dreaded “Swellies!”
Whilst most of the Meani is sheltered and offers lovely sailing for a dinghy, some parts are notorious and need good planning and seacraft to conquer.
When too windy to venture out onto the main sea however, the Menai Strait offers a decent weekend of sheltered cruising with lots to explore.
COMING SOON
Highlights
- lots of sheltered areas
- some dangerous spots
- large area to explore and cruise
La Mere Blanche
We took Tadpole, our little packraft with us to the beach at La Letty and decided to explore the little inlet of water known as “La mere Blacnche”.
This is a very safe inlet, with a narrow mouth out to the atlantic sea and served up many lovely little places to visit.
Paddling at high water slack gave about an hour of gentle paddling into the inlet, exploring beaches, dinghy clubs, moorings and cafes. Then ride the ebb tide out to the mouth where you’re ceremoniously sucked through into the Atlantic ocean.
Paddling back through can be hard but the beaches are so close you can just get out and walk if you need to.
Highlights
- Wonderfully sheltered
- Lots to explore
- Get sucked out of the inlet!
Lakes
Lake Bala
Lake Bala is my home. It’s a 1hr 45m drive from home, but it’s worth every moment of that drive to spend the day here.
I wanted to learn on a lake that was large enough to explore but safe enough to learn on and at about 6km long by 700m wide and surrounded by beautiful woodland, it delivers just that.
The lake not only offers a low risk place to learn, with a lee shore always close by. it also offers a low risk place to gain experience with high suddenly backing and veering winds without the waves that would accompany them on the sea.
It’s a wonderful place and I feel blessed to have spent some amazing summer days here. I would recommend Lake Bala to anyone learning to sail or if you want to explore for the day.
Highlights
- 6KM long, 700M wide
- Waves never Big
- Great place to learn
Lake ULLSWATER
I was warned about Ullswater a lot before I eventually made it myself in Season 3. On a windy day, all on my own, I should have taken heed!
The winds at Ullswater can come down off any mountainside and completely reverse 180° with no warning at all and this sail was the nearest I came to capsizing the Drascombe Lugger.
If Lake Bala is beuatiful, then Ullswater is “Epic”. Thge sheer size of the lake and the height of the surrounding hills makes Ullswater an unforgettable experience.
COMING SOON
Highlights
- A lake of 3 parts!
- Crazy catatonic winds
- Much larger than bala
Lake Windermere
OK, so not exactly a sailing trip but this trip saw me hiring an electric boat with the little one on Lake Windermere.
It was an early spring day so still quite cold and wet but the covered boat meant we could have a nice half day on the water which we both enjoyed.
Windermere is a lake thats quite hard to get onto if you;re not a member or local. On paper, you can get onto the lake but in reality the permits, the lack of parking and access can make it quite difficult to get onto the water. This way there was no hassle and we were quickly gallavanting off to the North end of the lake.
COMING SOON
Highlights
- Largest lake in England
- Plenty to see and do
- Hard to access with own boat
Rivers
River Weaver
The river Weaver was my first outing on my Seahopper. You can navigate the river after purchasing a license online and then enter at will.
Once clear of the motorway section, life became slower and so peaceful I had to stop my little 2 stroke and row for a bit, just to let the peace and quiet soak in!
There’s plenty of places to get canoes and small boats in but the lock systems won’t let smaller boats in them so you have to find a way to go round those.
It would be great to get the Lugger in here one day as Lulu would be fine in the locks and we could navigate the whole 35KM and back again!
Highlights
- Super peaceful
- Very calm and sheltered
- Limited entry points
River Dee
What better way to spend an early April spring day than with a group of Dingy Cruisers on the River Dee!
It was a very steep slope to get in at Holt, but once in, it was a lovely, quiet and interesting river to navigate.
On a slow ebb, PIglet 2 and I went from Holt to Chester getting out at the boat ramp on Sandy Lane, which made for about a 10KM (5.5nm) trip in all. The Sea hopper armed with the e-Propolsuion electric motor did it easily on 1 battery with power to spare.
The river gets quite busy towards Chester and don’t go too far or you end up in the weir!
Highlights
- Loads of stopping places
- Interesting river to explore
- Few entry points
River Odet
I just can’t stay away from the water!
On a family holiday in Benodet, we spent an amazing afternoon on a motorboat exploring the beautiful rivert Odet.
Once past the busy marinas that litter the shores of the mouth, we sped up the river in our little 15hp speed boat, doing 6-7KTS.
Stopping for lunch in a lovely spot we watched the world go by, just chatting and watching the occassional water skier go by.
Taking the Ebb back to the marina, we just had time to go and explore out to the mouth the river by Benodet and Saint-Marine.
A lovely afternoon out on the water that the whole family enjoyed!
Highlights
- Easy to hire a small craft
- Beautiful river to explore
- So many slipways! unlike the uK!
