Abergele

Trello · 24 August 2023, 15:12

Hi,

I've done a search and, although it's mentioned here and there, there's no detailed report on anyone launching from Abergele. Anyone got any advice?

Slipways?
Hard-sand beach to launch from?
Car parking?
Licence?
Tides?
etc etc.

Steve509926 · 24 August 2023, 20:23

Hi Trello, last time I was there I was very young. The only thing I remember about Abergele is a very long pebble beach separated from everything by the railway line and a sea wall. I don't think there is anywhere to launch.
I think the nearest option to launch will be Porth Eris (I've never launched there) or Beacons Jetty at Conwy. I've launched at Beacons a few times but it's not the easiest place to launch from.
Steep'ish slipway which runs onto a pebble beach at low tide. The problem is the current in the river, it can be very strong which makes launching and retrieving interesting if there is two of you and nearly impossible if you're on your own. Once in the water sandbanks are everywhere even a mile off shore especially at low tide, I'd advise a chartplotter /depth sounder as I found out first time there!
All powered craft have to be registered, The Conwy Borough Council website will give you all the costs.
Personally I'd drive a little further onto Anglesey, slightly cheaper to register (Anglesey Borough Council website for costs) and much nicer to explore. If you don't want to drive all the way to Trearddur or Rhosneigr, you can launch at ABC Powermarine Beaumaris :-
https://www.abcpm.co.uk/
I've launched here quite a few times, easy to explore the Menai both directions (chartplotter/depthsounder). I found the people at ABC very helpful and gave loads of advice about the Menai, £16 to self launch and I've never been asked to pay for parking.

Trello · 28 August 2023, 09:05

Thanks, Steve.

To be honest, I've never even been to Abergele - I was looking on a Sat Nav to see which are closest beaches to me. I'm inclined to day trips out, as opposed to overnight stays, so proximity to where I live is important. My Sat Nav tells me I'm 2 hours from Abergele - which is ok for a day trip. A journey to Anglesey, however, is over 3 hours - and doing 6 hours driving in a day is taking it to the limit of my patience.

From where I am, on the border of Worcs and West Midlands, the obvious stretches of coastline for a day trip are those of Wales. From your description, the closer parts of North Wales are not the best for launching SIBS. I've taken a couple of trips to the Eastern parts of the South Wales coast but not yet found anywhere particularly easy to launch from.
The Western coastline, although actually closer to me in mileage, takes that much longer to get to because of the roads.

Living where I do, I'm probably looking for something that doesn't exist - a coastal launch site which is within a couple of hours or so.

Steve509926 · 28 August 2023, 10:20

You could always move house

Fenlander · 28 August 2023, 10:42

We once bought a trailed boat from Rhos on Sea just up the road from Abergele and stayed overnight near Abergele so had a long wander along the front in the evening. There was no boat activity in the immediate area as you will see if you look at Google maps satellite view. That's always a good place to look and if you don't see boats pulled up to the top of the beach or clusters of smallcraft at fishing/sailing club compounds it's a good bet the area isn't great for boating. There was a bit of boat activity at Rhos on sea which is only about 5mls from Abergele and there a ramp to the beach by the mini-golf... but even then I'm not sure I'd go to the effort of a day trip to launch in that area.

Trello · 28 August 2023, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

You could always move house

Hmmm ..

So:
Get a new mortgage
Get a new job.
Persuade Mrs T to get a new job.
Put the kids into new schools.

....so I can do a bit more boating.

A bit radical, I think.
(But I'll consider it [emoji1])

Trello · 28 August 2023, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

look at Google maps satellite view. That's always a good place to look and if you don't see boats pulled up to the top of the beach or clusters of smallcraft at fishing/sailing club compounds it's a good bet the area isn't great for boating.

Satellite mapping - that's a good idea, David. It wouldn't have occurred to me. Thanks.

beamishken · 28 August 2023, 17:11

There is a slipway at Llanddulas we stayed there many years ago but vowed never to return, not a great place in our opinion. Worth a longer drive to find somewhere better imho

Steve509926 · 28 August 2023, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trello

Hmmm ..

So:
Get a new mortgage
Get a new job.
Persuade Mrs T to get a new job.
Put the kids into new schools.

....so I can do a bit more boating.

A bit radical, I think.
(But I'll consider it [emoji1])

The important words being..............

"so I can do a bit more boating"

Exactly

Trello · 28 August 2023, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

There is a slipway at Llanddulas we stayed there many years ago but vowed never to return, not a great place in our opinion. Worth a longer drive to find somewhere better imho

You vowed never to return? Good grief - it must have been bad. After an introduction like that, you've got to give us more....[emoji57]

Brinormeg · 28 August 2023, 17:58

No idea of the areas involved, your circumstances, or that of your boat.
But is there no small harbours, inlets etc where you could keep your boat for a reasonable fee for a few months.

You would save the load/unload times for starters, a lot less faff setting up/down, potentially travel a bit faster/further unloaded, and as a result get a bit more time on the water.

The way the weathers been, the bad timing with work, and the crews availability, I’m seriously considering it for next year.
Might just take a chance no thieving toe-rag steals the lot. Because at least we could grab what little opportunities arise to get out on the water.

I’ve been out so little I’m starting to worry that all the fuel I’ve got lying around will be off and non of us have petrol cars to use it up.

Trello · 28 August 2023, 18:03

To be honest, Brian, that hadn't even occurred to me, but it's an option I'll consider - thanks.

beamishken · 28 August 2023, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trello

You vowed never to return? Good grief - it must have been bad. After an introduction like that, you've got to give us more....[emoji57]

I couldnt realy say in any detail without being un pc. but basically we were looking for somwhere closer to Durham for our summer holidays than Pentewan in Cornwall but after a weeks trail holiday in Llanddulas we decided north wales wasnt for us & the extra 5 hours drive to Cornwall was well worth the extra effort.

Steve509926 · 28 August 2023, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

I couldnt realy say in any detail without being un pc. but basically we were looking for somwhere closer to Durham for our summer holidays than Pentewan in Cornwall but after a weeks trail holiday in Llanddulas we decided north wales wasnt for us & the extra 5 hours drive to Cornwall was well worth the extra effort.

Harsh!

Anglesey is one of my favourite places.

beamishken · 28 August 2023, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Harsh!

Anglesey is one of my favourite places.

Maybe the few miles extra makes all the difference but we decided it was either Cornwall or Scotland then bought a holiday house in Scotland liked it so much we stayed here

Steve509926 · 28 August 2023, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Maybe the few miles extra makes all the difference but we decided it was either Cornwall or Scotland then bought a holiday house in Scotland liked it so much we stayed here

And a very nice part of Scotland you decided upon.

Manus · 29 August 2023, 00:33

Have a try at this location

Below the What 3 Words coordinates

///extension.pouting.lifetimes

On Llanddulas Beach

Steve509926 · 29 August 2023, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manus

Have a try at this location

Below the What 3 Words coordinates

///extension.pouting.lifetimes

On Llanddulas Beach

Hi Manus, have you used this slip?

beamishken · 29 August 2023, 09:32

Thats the one we planned to use years ago, its under a railway bridge iirc? don't remember the gate being there then, looks a little neglected & unused now though

Steve509926 · 29 August 2023, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Thats the one we planned to use years ago, its under a railway bridge iirc? don't remember the gate being there then, looks a little neglected & unused now though

That's North Wales councils for you! Shut most of the slips. Force people to register at a cost and charge for the few slips that are left open.
I think it was done under the guise of accident prevention.
From a boating point of view North Wales isn't a welcoming place and I will probably never launch there again. It's much better in Anglesey, Llyn Peninsula, Cardigan Bay, West Wales and the Gower. But that's just my opinion, others will no doubt disagree.