The General Election is days away and the country is alive with talk of the next government.

Beadnell, meanwhile, is plodding-on with charming predictability.
The only real changes, which I’m sure will cause a wave of discussion, is the new menu about to be released at the Beadnell Towers, and the semi-permanent marquee that has arrived at the Craster Arms in preparation for the World Cup next month.

The end of April gave me the opportunity to take a trip up to Thurso for the most prestigious surf contest in the British Isles, the Oneill Coldwater Classic / Highland Open 6 Star Prime WQS.

The surf was mediocre, the wind was strong, but the backdrop and area was stunning, and we got to meet some childhood icons along with way. All in all a good trip. Some photos below.

The surf here has been pretty decent in the last two weeks, much better than the previous months, and we’re crossing our fingers for more of the same.

I even managed to make a quick edit for the San Sebastian Surf Film Festibal in Spain. :)

More as it happens form the shores of Beadnell…

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The beaches around Beadnell, Seahouses and Bamburgh are literally throbbing at this time of year, and the long sunny days are both a blessing and a curse.

What do you do with all that time ?

Answer – you pick an activity and go for a ride. Some of the activities available in the area are linked below, why not give them a try ? and remember – every weather condition is perfect for the right activity!. :)

Surfing

Although this stretch of coastline is not especially famous for the surfing culture, you can enjoy as good a day as any beach in Cornwall with the right conditions. Talk to the people who know and get the right day and you’ll get your own slice of the sport of kings.

http://www.northside-surf-school.co.uk

Northside Surf School

Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding is one of those activities that needs wind, and wind is usually pretty common around here ! If the surf is flat – get the kite out and go for a ride.

http://www.ka-kitesurfing.co.uk

KA Kiteboarding

Windsurfing and Paddleboarding

Windsurfing obviously needs wind much like kiteboarding, but if there are no waves and no wind, paddleboarding can get you around and in the water with a smile on your face.

http://boardskillz.co.uk

Boardskillz

Horse-riding

Horse-riding is a superb family activity for those warm and suny days. Take a trek through the beaches and countryside past the ancient castles and along the golden sandy beaches.

http://slatehallridingcentre.com

Slatehall Riding Centre

Fishing trips

Fishing is fairly condition exempt – obviously its much nicer to have good weather and blue skies, but once you land that monster Cod, it all fades to grey.

http://unityfishingtrips.com

Unity Fishing Trips

Sea Kayaking

Ideally, calm and light conditions are required for long adventures, but paddling along the rocky coastline and beaches is easy and safe.

http://www.active4seasons.co.uk

Sea Kayaking

Snorkeling and Diving

The Area around Beadnell is rich in sealife and is peppered with rocky outcrops and reefs, further afield the Farne Islands are a popular location with experienced divers.

http://www.thedivingcentre.com

http://www.farneislanddivers.co.uk

Grey Seal

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Clean swell on monday

The previous post outlined and the predicted swell, and some early snaps indicated that it was going to be good, but really we have much more to talk about than just the waves.

Marching swell

A few highlights from the week just ended.

• Early morning session in huge overhead conditions in the middle of the Bay – including creating a new hole in my knee
• The new and highly questionable smell coming from my car
• Jumping-off Stag Rock to paddle out in huge waves with Steve, James and Murds in a classic old-school session
• Getting a luscious Sunday evening session with light off-shores and gorgeous golden light
• Covering god-knows how many miles and spending £70 on fuel chasing waves around the coast (not exactly sure this is a highlight…)
• Making ‘The Sacrifice’ successfully, twice, and scoring as a direct result… its as guaranteed as paying taxes
• Meeting and surfing with lots of new faces from up and down the coast – great to see more people in the area

Big and onshore

All things considered, we have had a sensational week, lots of swell, mixed weather including plenty of sunshine, new faces, new boards and shapes to eye-up and plenty of spots visited and surfed.

Of course there are downsides, I appear to have developed a nasty chest-hack, and my head is a bit full -hopefully with just a summer-cold and not anything to do with swine-flu ;), and of course there are always the odd gripes over who should be surfing where and what photos get taken.

Beadnell Point reeling

Racing the wall

Big hack...

The happy place

There really are not many surfers up here, and of course this is one of the attractions of living here. But once you’ve lived and surfed in genuinely busy spots such as Croyde, Bude, Newquay – all of Cornwall actually – Australia, New Zealand et-all, you can realise just how good we have it. With that in mind im never going to subscribe to the narrow-minded, selfish and generally childish mentalities of some people. Life is too good and too short to hold these sort of feelings.

The long paddle-out

So with the swell gone and a return to normality lying ahead, im sitting here watching Occy and Tom Curren tear-apart perfect JBay…  I had better hold onto these memories, they will probably have to last until the next decent swell sometime in November….  :).

Peaking...

Big out-east

Seahouses harbour taking the brunt

Screaming right

Big screaming left

Sunday evening slash

Lining-up...

Tucking-in

Sunset shimmer

It does look like there might be some nice waves at Thurso next week mind… maybe a trip is in-order.

See you in the water.

Aloha.

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This good weather and flat sea’s inspired a few toys to come out.

Water Toys at Beadnell Bay from swinhoe on Vimeo.

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