In Partnership with Visit Britain
‘A Great British weekend away for all those who want to experience all the unique fun, excitement and adventure of a gap year without the need for a massive budget.’
Okay, so maybe Britain doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you picture your dream getaway to escape from the mundane or the stressful. In fact, I’m betting more often than not you conjure up images of a sea-soaked square on your social media grid, sand between your toes and salt in your tousled out-of-office hair.
But also, let’s be honest, lazing your way through a beach holiday and coming home half-a-stone heavier from Margaritas and stressing over holiday selfies isn’t for everyone.
If that’s not for you, and the idea of jetting off to exotic shores to climb a volcano, ski down a mountain or trek through dense forest just doesn’t quite float your boat, look no further than the diverse shores of our very own Great Britain for your next trip.
More specifically, if you fancy going wild in crystal-clear waters, look no further than the world-renowned Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. Just a few short hours’ drive away from the likes of Manchester and London, it’s perfectly accessible to those searching for a quick remedy to wanderlust.
Straddling the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, there are many ways the sea-nic (sorry) vistas here can wash away a long working week. It’s an adventure enthusiast’s paradise, and it’s right on our doorstep.
But if you’re after something more rigorous than a stroll along the picturesque clifftops, coasteering promises a totally unique perspective on the deep blue, as well as some good old outdoor exhilaration to make you forget all about your 9-to-5 for a while.
Having done it myself, let me tell you: It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before.
By 9am on an average Monday, I’ve settled down to respond ‘As per my previous email’ to the 187 emails received over the weekend.
A morning spent coasteering in Wales, however, saw me wiggling my way into a wetsuit, filling a dry bag with Welsh cakes and pasties, loading a kayak into a van, and driving down to the sea from one of the many tiny towns peppered along the Welsh coast – in my case, St. David’s.
A few tentative strokes out to sea from a pretty, secluded bay, and we were heading for the horizon, seemingly at one with the waves.
Our trusty guides took us on a tour of rugged cliffs unlike any other. Our route took us down gullies frothing with fast, white, wild waters, which had the power and playfulness to intensify and ebb as quickly as one of my midweek life admin-related mood swings.
We were unlucky as the swells were against us. Our guides told us we simply had to paddle harder as there was only one way to get through the routes carved out by the sea – brute force. Some really nice guides might even give you a push, but I preferred the joyful simplicity and autonomy in my single-person kayak.
It’s worth noting I’ve tried coasteering in France and Spain too, and would definitely recommend the spots in Wales to a friend for the views, the expertise of the guides and — believe it or not — I can’t recall the water being any colder in Blighty.
Regardless of weather, the physical exertion meant I needed the cool sea air to dry the sweat from my brow. And as I happily accepted nature’s gift, the sheer vastness of the towering cliffs and the knowledge they’ve been standing there for centuries calmed my soul, making me feel happily insignificant in this great wide world.
Before I knew it, I’d actually broken through the tough bits and arrived at the open sea.
Nothing but you and your mates, miles from your starting point, heading towards the satisfaction that comes with completing a new challenge and seeing something so many haven’t.
By this point though, it was lunchtime so we put our fishing skills to the test from the now-soggy seat of our kayaks – sea water, of course. After 30 minutes of attempting to coax some fish onto our hooks, we gave up, thankful for the pies the guides thought to bring just in case.
The tide, now on our side, washed us up onto another pebbly beach which looked as unspoiled by human footstep as any I’ve seen before. Here lies treasure of a different kind.
A quick brew and a bite to eat, and we were off again on our voyage, leaving nothing behind on the cove but our boot prints, which quickly faded in the early-afternoon sun.
A mile around the headland and we paddled up to some rocks that gently sloped up the grassy verges dotted with yellow and lilac wild flowers. Slightly less free-spirited folk were waving at us from their lofty perch as they watched us approach the verge – probably wondering why on Earth we were about to launch ourselves into the sea on such a beautiful clear day.
After lashing the kayaks together and pretending we knew what we were doing, it was time to hop out and heave ourselves up onto the rockface, following the guide up and over and around, getting an unparalleled view of this beautiful place where the sea and the land merge.
The burn in my muscles paled into insignificance as I marvelled at the little puzzles set out for us on the rocks; a stretch of an arm here and a scramble of your foot to find a hold there.
At the top of the verge, it was time to jump off and into the calm blue sea below. The nervous giggles came first. Then came the genuine belly laughs as our companions psyched themselves up before taking their own mini leaps of faith.
From just a few feet up to as high as 12 feet (basically the height of two tall men), you’ll get to experience bigger highs as your confidence and bravery grows and you push the limit of what you thought you were capable of doing, greeted by the applause of the others in your group.
Just don’t forget to stop and enjoy the views, because before you know it, the sun will be sinking in the sky and you’ll have to go back to terra firma.
Disclaimer: the kayak back to dry land will likely be the hardest part of your day. Take it from someone who only squats to reach the biscuits on the bottom shelf of the supermarket.
But once you’re back on the beach where you began, I guarantee you’ll look back at the sea with a newfound appreciation for its beauty and its power – as well as your own body and mind.
Pints in the local pub will be well deserved.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.