Anglesea (holy island) with a 3 year old. MTB/ inflatable canoe?

Newborough forest was great cycling with the kids. Birds, butterflys (maybe not in February) etc.

We cycled in and then walked across to the island which is lovely.

The bay there is sheltered from some directions but always a gamble with the sea.

Easiest would be to park in the beach car park. There are mapped trails from there. It's mainly forest tracks but really nice and apart from the beach quiet even in August. We had a trail map with numbered junctions. I think it may be online.

https://naturalresources.wales/days-out/places-to-visit/north-west-wales/newborough/?lang=en

Don't miss the burial chamber at Bryn Celli Dhu. It's ten minutes walk from the car park and you can go right inside the burial chamber.

https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/bryn-celli-ddu-burial-chamber

Sorry I can't remember which beaches had rockpools. Plenty of sandy ones though. Beaumaris castle also worth a visit and the bird place at South Stack.

Traeth Buchan is a nice little sheltered cove, I’ve paddled an inflatable + nipper there before happily. Red Wharf Bay is a good sandy beach too. You can also make jokes about humanoid cats, curry and strange looking androids there.  Trearddur Bay also looks good, can’t remember if I’ve been now. There’s loads!

Certainly not the sea in February half term, it's  no place for an inflatable canoe and a 3yr old I'm afraid.

Any body if water is going to be pretty cold.

Thanks!

@sharkbait do you think the inflatable canoe would be a sensible idea round Anglesea in the summer? Or still chancy and cold then?

@slowol I've only visited one burial chamber before, it was super interesting. That can go on the to do list :⁠-⁠)

@milko9000 sounds a perfect beach. I'm not sure my wife would get the red dwarf jokes, but it would keep me entertained

Tall Martin - if you asking mountain bikers whether you should use an inflatable canoe in the sea at any time of the year, then the answer is hopefully quite obvious

Just out of curiosity what gear were you think of taking with you on this mill pond sea in mid February? In fact mid summer too ?

Where is the nearest RNLI station ?

I've paddled Anglesey a lot over the years, but that's because for sea kayaking it's possible to get reasonable conditions with minimal travelling as it's an island so there's always shelter/exposure whatever the wind direction.  But large parts of it are quite advanced if you get the right combination of conditions.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">There are plenty of places around Anglesey where it's fine to take an inflatable canoe out as long as you are sensible (low winds blowing onshore) the issue is once you get out of the bays there are some punchy tides and races which you certainly don't want to be anywhere near and they can be quite close together.</span>

Generally I'd say the south coast is better, Rhosneigr bay is good because it is largely enclosed, Treaddur bay also but don't stray too far. Church bay and Red Wharf are also not too bad.  If you're on neaps it's less critical than springs but even then off the headlands the tides run strong and rough.

I have been sea kayaking round Anglesey for about twenty years and often cringe at the risks people take due not properly understanding the dangers.

February is not a good idea as the water is very cold and any mishap could be serious.

If you want to get on the water in the summer the first thing to do is to check the weather forecast particularly which way the wind is blowing. If the wind at all off shore do not go out at all. If the wind is stronger than force 3 don't go out.

To be quite honest I would take your canoe to Lynn Padarn at LLanberis and paddle round the islands and lagoons, pick a nice day in the summer and it will be great. Please wait for the summer,

Here is a link to the sea kayak safety map of Anglesey.

The Sea Zoo might be worth a look if the weather is interesting.

@sharkbait do you think the inflatable canoe would be a sensible idea round Anglesea in the summer? Or still chancy and cold then?

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">There's always a chance of something going wrong!</span>

The water temperature will be much, much better (hopefully) come June but you will have to take note of what's been said above regarding offshore winds.  You may have to travel to find somewhere sheltered , but at least you have that option.

@funkydunk

It's one of these from decalthalon

https://www.sevylor-europe.com/inflatable-kayaks-canoes/hudson-inflatable-kayak/SAP_2000014708.html

I'm asking here because if the answers is "don't take it in the sea anywhere ever, it's certain death" I'd rather find that out from the comfort of a chair rather than with the three of us in the sea with the wind pushing us off shore!

As for how far off shore I was thinking, 10meters up and down a beach for 30 Min at most

I’m asking here because if the answers is “don’t take it in the sea anywhere ever, it’s certain death” I’d rather find that out from the comfort of a chair rather than with the three of us in the sea with the wind pushing us off shore!

If you're asking the question in the first place, then you certainly shouldnt be going out into the sea!!

It’s one of these from decalthalon

Heed the warnings above, but you'll be in plenty of company with something like that on the main bathing beaches (the pale yellow areas on the map above). Even in a 32' boat, the areas outside the bays get interesting->scary at the wrong time.

And don't go out if the wind is off-shore. Every year there are loads of people brought back by the lifeboats after being blown out to sea in inflatables. That canoe will be almost impossible to paddle into a headwind.

Trearddur Bay is very popular with boating etc. Also, if you travel north out of the village, there is another bay Porth Dafarch which is very sheltered, and again popular for canoes and SUPS. Added advantage is there is a public toilet (great with a little one). During the season there is usually a catering van there. We just go loaded with food for the day and chill out.

I live on Holy Island. Here, and Anglesey as a whole, is a real pull for sea kayakers - challenging, interesting and as it's an Island you can always find good paddling in any wind direction, and state of tide, somewhere.

I know these waters well, but more as a sailor than a paddler, but I would be a little concerned about going out in a kayak in February. But if you choose to do so, Treaddur Bay / Porth Dafarch would be doable in a gentle onshore wind (W / SW) although there will still be some swell. Alternatively, Holyhead Harbour and paddle up and down the prom in a N / NW wind.

The Holyhead Country Park is interesting both from nature and maritime industrial perspectives and there are some trails which run along Rocky Coast to it on which you could cycle.

For other things to do: South Stack and the Range is amazing, the Sea Zoo in the SW of the island and Melin Llynon for the doughnuts!

Hope you have a great time!

From what you're describing with your inflatable - you'll be fine. Yes, the sea is cold - but if it's calm (and it has been recently) then Trearrdur bay is perfectly fine to paddle about in with a three year old in the way you describe. Gentle onshore wind, you'll be fine. If it's offshore, head to Red Wharf bay.

Go to the Ship if you get to Red Wharf - it's not a patch on what it was, but it's still great 🙂

Beaumaris is deffo worth a visit. Someone has already said Sea Zoo.

You're about 40 minutes drive from the big mountains if you're there for a week. Betws Y Coed is nice. Bedgellert is picturesque. There's cafes nearby (Caffi Gwynant used to be my favourite in the area but it's just changed hands - so I don't know how the quality is - but the place is great) - and there's lakes-o-rama there. (Dinas, Gwynant, could take a trip up to Geirionydd if you want to pop the inflatable out). Pubs-a-plenty.

That Hudson Inflatable Kayak isn't suitable imo for UK open waters in winter and is dicey in summer. High sides give you a lot of exposure to wind, so it suddenly picks up, trust me, it's not nice suddenly having no control in your direction. Likewise, no sprayskirt might be problematic even though it says it is in someway self-bailing, a big crashing wave could overwhelm you.

Crashing waves are a real possibility even when most of the time the area of water looks completely calm; then a larger/freak wave suddenly dumps over a reef or sandbar and suddenly you're looking at a 6ft boomer and that's going to end badly too. Also, how many air chambers does that yak have? Higher-end inflatables have several so if one valve suddenly goes or a chamber suddenly fails (uncommon but possible), you've still got enough air to hopefully remain boyant.

In terms of equipment, I think the minimum is spare paddle, whistle, lifejackets (obvs) and some sort of means of communication either an EPERB or a inReach - better would be a VHF radio and the ability to use it. In my experience, an InReach didn't seem much use when you're suddenly getting pushed towards a 100ft rocky cliff. As other people noted, you need to have proper clothing as if you end up going for a swim, winter temps will debilitate you pretty quickly.

UK waters are around 5-10 deg in Feb. Without protective clothing, you've got under 5 mins before you experience a loss of dexterity, and then within 2 hours the game could possibly be up. Recommended attire for those temps is a full dry suit. To be honest, I go out in cold waters but flat water, canals, lakes (not always flat) and wearing a full dry suit isn't so practical for kayaking.

I recommend: https://www.kayarchy.co.uk/index.htm ... as a really good free online resource. Read it and then make an informed decision. I personally wouldn't go out in Feb with that kayak, without proper equipment, alone with a young child. That said, I don't know the area or the risks so the above advice would be general for UK conditions for an inexperienced paddler.

Thanks for all the canoing tips.

We will not be going out on the sea anywhere without life guards and warm seas. If we do we will get a radio and some better kit. I'd never considered a spare paddle or crashing waves.

One of the places on the canoing map has training mentioned. Maybe we will head back in the summer for a non inflatable training morning :⁠-⁠)

I'd rather be trained than sorry!

Didn't take canoes we had a great time there this summer. Definitely take bikes , beach toys and binoculars. There is loads of wildlife to see.
Bangor pier was an unexpected hit. It goes half way across the Menai strait and you can watch birds whilst eating ice cream, coffee etc. above the sea.
We'll definitely go back for another holiday sometime.

Jeesus people - @tall_martin said this:

As for how far off shore I was thinking, 10meters up and down a beach for 30 Min at most

You'll be fine m8. Even if you capsize with your kid. You can walk back to shore from 10 meters. Have yer missus with some towels and warm clothes and a cup of tea with a flask.

Paddle about in Trearddur Bay. You'll have a chilly blast. My mate went swimming there yesterday and I went skinny dipping there about 2am on NYE (although to be fair, I was chock full of rum).

There was an 8 year old girl swimming in Llyn Idwal yesterday and it wasn't that much above freezing ffs.

Very gentle onshore breeze, it could be like a millpond. The swell might be practically zero. Unless you're an idiot, you'll be fine.

Looking at the bay online, if conditions are favorable i.e. gentle offshore wind (less than F3) and a very calm sea state then you should be okay I guess, though it’s only a sheltered bay if you’ve got northerly or easterly winds. It’s just that the sea conditions and weather can change suddenly and when approaching open water paddling it’s best to do so with caution. If you had some strong easterly winds, there’s a lot of fetch (i.e. the distance the wind can create wave trains) between Trearddur and Dublin, so even if finer weather it doesn't mean that the sea state will be calm. Windy.com is useful for judging that as has detailed info on wave height, direction and duration. If you went further afield, i.e. rounded the head to Porth Diana beach, my above post applies unequivocally.

nothing to add on the paddling, but get one of these for the shotgun seat. If you don't use any of the poppers, just push half in front of you bar between the brake levers, it sits on their arms and keeps the wind off their chest and the other half down over the knees.

www.amazon.co.uk/Novelfun-Pushchair-Waterproof-Anti-Freeze-Accessories/dp/B07Z7F51GG

gentle offshore wind (less than F3)

ON SHORE!

Other than the general hazard to "beach toys" of offshore wind, the big hazard around Anglsey (in particular) are the very strong tidal flows which will not only whisk you away if you leave the sheltered bays, but also cause overfalls (big, confused waves that you'll be drawn into) at many headlands.

Stick to the bathing beaches, preferably in warmer weather, and avoid offshore winds and you'll be fine.

If the wind/waves are up, the Inland Sea is always calmer and a pretty safe bet for a paddle. Make sure the tide is in, it's very shallow, and stay away from the bridges at either end, where the tide runs rapidly though pipes. Launch next to the bridge at Four Mile Bridge (SH280783).

Wow, there is some bonkers over the top stuff being chucked around here. I'm all for being cautious when it comes to the sea, but actually read what is being proposed rather than giving advice for crossing the Irish sea.

That said, I don’t know the area or the risks

So why bother giving advice?

If you’re asking the question in the first place, then you certainly shouldnt be going out into the sea!!

Asking advice is a good thing.

There are some very sheltered bays on Angelsey, Borthwen/Rhoscolyn is very protected indeed. I've taken small children out here and on the inland sea early in the year without mishap.

For me the biggest thing after the wind is an appreciation for how different going round any headland outside of a sheltered bay is, but it sounds like you are aware of that already.

Take the stuff with you, keep an eye on the wind forecast, if you get lucky with conditions have a nice little spalsh about in a sheltered bay.

Wow, there is some bonkers over the top stuff being chucked around here. I’m all for being cautious when it comes to the sea, but actually read what is being proposed rather than giving advice for crossing the Irish sea.

I would argue not if someone is asking about taking a 3 yr old in to a mid winter sea in a blow up toy.

I nearly died in lake Coniston when I was younger. I fell off an inflatable dinghy in to the lake in the summer whilst my parents held on to the boat via a piece of rope from the shore. I could swim, but I wasnt ready for the cold water or the cold water shock. Luckily a passing canoeist saved my life.

RNLI quote incidents for inflatable canoes are up 250%

@funkydunc - you clearly don't have much perspective, probably because of your terrified "trauma" as a child.

You said basically that inflatable kayaks are never ever to be used in the sea:

if you asking mountain bikers whether you should use an inflatable canoe in the sea at any time of the year, then the answer is hopefully quite obvious

So I hope it's quite obvious that you're bonkers (or, nicely, exceedingly risk-averse).

I know the place well. If the sea is calm, he'll be fine if he sticks to his plan.

So I hope it’s quite obvious that you’re bonkers

Harsh.

I've seen plenty of inflatables blown off the beach and I do actually think they're fairly dangerous.

Don't get me wrong - I kayak and I don't really like inflatables. But given the ask: flat water, onshore wind, 10m from shore paddling around the beach...

...it's practically zero risk. You're more likely to get stabbed by a ned from Holyhead or die of a heart attack after eating too much ice cream from the parlour on the front 🙂

What Chevy is saying is fair enough. But 3 yrs old used canoe,which means the seams are 3 years old, fabric is 3 years old, plenty of scuffs, valves maybe not as they once were. How has it been stored. That thing deflates and your fked

I've, sailed offshore, did a bit of rowing on the sea, some waterskiing and other water toys,even canoed on lochs, so I think Im reasonably clued up on safety at sea.

…it’s practically zero risk.

Truth be told nobody can say theres no risk, nobody. On the water there is always risk. Doesnt matter if its an inflatable beach toy, or a 90' fishing trawler.

Go paddling, play in the rockpools and build sandcastles. But dont take a toddler out on the water. Not in something you really dont know if its 100% reliable.

or die of a heart attack after eating too much ice cream

Thats put me right off my Haggen Daz 😡

@dyna-ti

How should it be stored? It's been used maybe 10 times. Washed, dried then folded up put in its bag and stored in the loft. Is it likely to have degraded?

I'm still happy to listen to the advise on here.

Thanks @bruce while we are members of British canoing, I'd never even thought there would be the equivalent of trail maps for canoing. They will be helpful in finding others places to explore this summer.

@funkydunc every time I've been in the sea I've been firmly of the opinion it is a dangerous place. Getting tumbled by an unexpected wave when body boarding on a fully life guarded beach. Has made me wary of even flat calm mill pond sea. A week's diving course with its focus on safely and swimming near white top reef sharks also helped to instill a respect for the sea.

I'd rather be sat on the sofa taking advice than being blown off shore. I'm happy everything has a risk, but some are better avoided.

If you look at the map of drownings in the document linked below you will see three little blobs standing for 5 drownings each along the west coast of Anglesey.
In the summer an inflatable in shallow water with a light onshore wind is not a problem, but add in low water temparatures and it's an increased risk.
It's up to the parents but I would not take the risk, especially for a half an hour.
Most water accidents start of as "what's the worst that can happen?"
In the USA.
"Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites. However, children can drown in as little as one inch of water." Stamford Medical"

NATIONALWATERSAFETY.ORG.UK "https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/media/1005/uk-drowning-prevention-strategy.pdf"

It's better to be on the beach wishing you were out there than to be out there wishing you were on the beach.

The old jail at Beaumaris is good fun for a 3 year old. And Caernarfon Castle.

The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools

There you go.

Kid in an inflatable kayak 10m from shore, with an onshore wind, and flat sea with it's dad?

I'm sorry you lot. But you're the sort of people why when kids get to 18 years old they've lived such a coddled and incredibly low-risk life that they've not learned the necessary lessons that kids should learn as children. That's why, when they leave their parents behind, they end up jumping off cliffs to their deaths because they've not learned that things can bloody hurt when they were young enough.

The sea temperature in Holyhead is 8.2 degrees today. It's "chilly" - it's not the fekking arctic.

If they took a dunk in this calm sea, then dad'd take him/her to shore and mum'd rub him/her dry and put warm dry clothes on.

It's not the worst that can happen - but the worst very very rarely happens.

4.35 million people swim in the UK sea each year. 400 people die - a vanishingly small percentage. (200 people commit suicide by jumping into the sea each year, for example). Of those 400 people - the vast majority of them are doing something a hell of a lot more dangerous than paddling about in the shallows on a flat day in an onshore wind.

Jeesus. I really didn't think that the UK population has so many people absolutely terrified of water.

You live on an island people! What if it sinks?! 😀

I'm sorry but that's a ridiculously lax attitude to take.

Yes the OP might only be intending to go a few meters off the beach but shit happens exactly when you don't expect it.  I've been sailing/surfing/windsurfing [in N Wales] since I was 6 and there's not a chance in hell I'd be taking a 3 year old out on the sea in an inflatable in February.

This is not just me being overly safety conscious either:

Llandudno Sea Temperature
(Today) 15th Feb 2023
7°C / 44.6°F

The water will feel very cold. For the hardcore only. The water is now dangerously cold and most people will risk hypothermia if not equipped with a thick, 6/5mm wetsuit along with boots and a hood

Seatemperature.org

4.35 million people swim in the UK sea each year. 400 people die

OT but I wonder what proportion of those are drunk? We often get reports around here about young men, and it's always young men, who end up in the sea or river after a night out, normally prompting calls for increased safety precautions for those of us who manage to walk along the beach without drowning ourselves.

I disagree @Sharkbait - I've been doing the same as you since the same age in the same place.

I went swimming on New Years Day in Trearddur with a bunch of mates. Shorts only. There were very young kids in the water then too - taken back out to be wrapped up warm in sensible time.

The potential to get wet and cold in calm waters on a still day is nothing to get your knickers in a twist about.

You risk hypothermia when you stay cold for a significant period. Nobody is saying throw the kid in and leave them there. You don't get hypothermia with a short dunk.

My house is longer than ten meters. You're dramatically overstating risks.

The potential to get wet and cold in calm waters on a still day is nothing to get your knickers in a twist about.

Deleted because I'd get banned.

....... but we're talking about a 3 year old kid (who probably can't swim either) here not a 'grown up' (term used loosely) who should know better.

@sharkbait - Aaand, still nope.

Interesting question tho - @tall_martin - can your kid swim? Because if yes (and it really should be yes) then crack on, ignore the worriers.

If no, swimming lessons is no.1 priority. 🙂

It also boggles my mind that some people can't swim. I could swim before I could walk.

We live on an island ffs! What if it sinks! 😀

It is sinking, just not very quickly.

I hope the OP and his familiy have a great holiday.

@chevychase
He can swim a bit with a buoyancy jacket on. He's 3 years and a month, none of his mates of a similar age can swim either.

Could you really swim before you could walk? Where did you learn? It was very tricky over covid to get any time in a pool. Now it's tricky as the pools near us get booked up quickly.

I didn't learn to swim until I was 6

The issue is no-one sets out to be irresponsible or have an accident, yet they still happen, and the nature of the coastal conditions around Anglesey increase that likelihood.

Suggestion is 10m offshore but that's an unrealistic position as on a lot of beaches your still dragging the bottom, and so you go a bit further out and it's still fine, so you go explore a bit, not far out but looking round the islands or headland. That's when you start to feel the tide, get exposed to waves or start to feel the wind and all of a sudden things become difficult.

If Chevy is swimming in the sea at new year then I'd guess he's reduced his response to cold water shock, but even so if you're swimming then you can control your entry to reduce that. Falling out of a boat into 7 Deg water will trigger cold water shock and gasp reflex in most which could easily lead to a rapid escalation even close to shore. A 3yo will shed heat at a rapid rate and you could easily be beyond a quick dry down and rub to warm up in a matter of minutes at this time of year.

The probability that something occurs if common sense measures are taken is low but the outcome could be quite severe if it did. Downplaying that is downright stupid. And the ability to mitigate effectively at this time of the year is reduced.

If you look at the map of drownings in the document linked below you will see three little blobs standing for 5 drownings each along the west coast of Anglesey.

One of those is a friend of mine, they were an experienced kayaker. They went out for a group paddle at Borthwen, do some skills practice and have a paddle, as conditions were looking ok they decided they could go out and have a longer paddle around to Cable bay, as they went out there was an incident, managing that incident meant that the group got taken by a combination of wind and tide to a more exposed place which triggered more issues, the situation snowballed, the group got split and my friend never made it to shore. That was a group with experienced paddlers led by a coach, ultimately they made the wrong decisions at a couple of points but the points they made them it didn't would not have seemed to be the wrong thing. At the point this would have become apparent this was too late to easily resolve. And that was for a group of experienced kayakers in dry kit/wetsuits with flares & radios not (without wanting to offend the OP) a dad with a kid in an inflatable that they use occasionally.

It's things like that that mean that many of us will be erring on the side of caution.

Downplaying that is downright stupid.

More delicately put than what I was thinking and that post is well thought out - sorry about your friend.

I watched a diver get pulled from the water no more than 25m from shore. He had drowned in 7' of water in August.

Back to recommends...

If leaving the island to go to Caernafon (great castle) then Caffi Maes in the square does very good ice creams.

How should it be stored? It’s been used maybe 10 times. Washed, dried then folded up put in its bag and stored in the loft. Is it likely to have degraded?

Well thats something at least. Its not been dumped in the shed subject to seasonal frost. But plastic fabric stuff can and does degrade, and while i couldn't exactly tell you the scientific effects, i wouldnt be risking everything on it being so.

An inflatable beach toy, or inflatable canoe, whatever you want to label it as is according to the link £300. A proper sea kayak ranges from £1800-£2500. Theres a reason why theres such a huge difference in price. One is designed for the sea, the other tbh isnt really. Now Im no expert on inflatable canoes, or sea toys etc. But i think i have common sense about me and if the majority are advising against, I'd listen.

You can get a towable biscuit for about £200, or a bit less, great to play on, in shore,but I certainly wouldnt put a 3yr old child in one and take them out on the water in it.

The fact you are arguing the point means you arent thinking clearly. So listen to the multitude of voices on here, and just done bother taking the risk.

OK 99 times out of a hundred it will be fine, but theres always the chance and 3 isnt old enough.

Sorry about your friend @Mrhoppy - but they're two completely different situations. Completely understand what went on there, and can easily imagine the circumstances.

But fekking about in Trearddur bay just isn't in any way similar pro-kayaking in the tidal races.

Is it because it's an inflatable kayak that's triggering people? If it was a blow-up dinghy would people really give a monkeys? Yeah, they get pulled out in the summer all the time for pile-on fun and they're great. Dangerous as hell in an offshore breeze, and certainly not the thing to take around the coastline.

I've come out on here firmly against inflatable kayaks that are being used for kayaking before - I think they're a terrible idea IMO. Just too susceptible to wind and too unweidly.

But the circumstances as described are akin to using it as a posh dinghy. And at 8.2 degrees I just don't accept the terror that some people are espousing.

But YMMV. Hey ho. 🙂

Anyway. The walk around the coast from Porth Dafarch to Holyhead mountain (and on) is brilliant. You can stop at the RSPB cafe near South Stack lighthouse. Hug the coast. Worth it.