Abersoch Life Spring 2021

ABERSOCH LIFE

SPRING 2021 £3.00

WHAT’S IN A NAME? >

EXPLORING THE ORIGINS AND MEANINGS OF THE LLYN’S MOST BELOVED BEACHES

ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

ANYONE CAN SUP! A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING

TALKING TRAVEL WITH BECKY PRICE

ABERSOCH, SOMEWHERE OUTWEST PHILL BOYD AND HIS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL NEW BOOK

WWW.ABERSOCHLIFE.COM

FASHION AND INTERIORS

THE ABERSOCH DUNKERS THE CRAZE OF COLD WATER WILD SWIMMING

ABERSOCH CREW THE HEROES AMONG US WITH THE ABERSOCH RNLI

ART SCENE

WITH LOWRI LLEWELYN

LOST AT SEA FLAVOUR FAVOURS THE BRAVE

ROB SMITH YOUR TUNE PLAYS ON

VILLAGE UPDATE

ABERSOCH HASN’T BEEN STANDING STILL DURING LOCKDOWN!

SPRING & PASTELS, FLOWERS & FLORALS

SOCH PRESS | PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE | MAP AND LISTINGS

ABERSOCHLIFE.COM

WELCOME CROESO TO ABERSOCH LIFE MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 PHOTO: SPRING HAS MOST DEFINITELY SPRUNG HERE IN ABERSOCH BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

6 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

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CONTENTS ABERSOCH MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

12.

{40}

INTRODUCTION

Spring is here and there’s a whole bunch of positivity to enjoy.

16 .

SOCH PRESS

Your chance to get up to speed with important local happenings.

18 .

VILLAGE UPDATE

Editor Rebecca Hinde brings you exciting news on new businesses and changes in the village.

36.

22 .

ABERSOCH CREW

There’s a lot of heroes among us and they’re the crew of the Abersoch RNLI.

ABERSOCH, SOMEWHERE OUTWEST

Phill Boyd has a new book, and it’s a belter.

The first of many too!

40.

3 0.

TALKING TRAVEL

INTERIORS

It’s all about flowers and florals this spring.

34 .

Becky Price explores her own backyard here on the Llŷn.

48.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

FASHION

Bethan Birch has an eye on the pastels!

Lowri Llewelyn looks at the origins and meanings of the Llŷns most beloved beaches.

54.

ANYONE CAN SUP

A beginner’s guide to Stand Up Paddleboarding.

62.

LOST AT SEA

We get the lowdown on Mike and Ollie Holmes’ bold business venture inspired by their grandfathers tales.

{62}

{36} 8 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

CONTENTS ABERSOCH MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

{66}

82 .

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS

Local photographer Elin Gruffydd capturing the Pen Llŷn old school style.

ARTS COLUMN

Local talent brought to you by Lowri Llewelyn.

108.

SCYC WITH THE COMMODORE

8 4.

Nick Ansell and his hope for a full summer season at the yacht club.

Updates on this great little cafe at the end of the beach.

110.

86.

Your guide to all the key businesses in the area.

THE LIT TLE TEAROOMS

VILLAGERS LIFE

Louise Overfield brings you a warm update on life in the village.

92.

PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE

6 6.

10 4.

More stunning photos from our resident photographers.

BUSINESS LISTINGS

112.

THE MAP

Commissioned for Abersoch Life, Jessica Smith illustrated the Llŷn Peninsula perfectly.

114.

LAST WORDS

By Winston Churchill.

THE ABERSOCH DUNKERS

Meet the local crew who have kept a clear head this winter with their cold water swimming craze.

72 .

TUNING INTO WILDLIFE

Executive editor Kevin Bell speaks to Ben Porter about his love for the wealth of wildlife on the Llŷn.

78.

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ROB SMITH

We lost a great friend recently and we want his tune to always play on.

Taken on the 2nd day of March this year, Phill Boyd was in the water just off Abersoch’s main beach to capture this photo. It was taken at some rediculously early hour, which is quite normal for Phill. If you follow our social media pages you’ll enjoy regular shots like this that will always give you a great lift at the start of your day! @abersochlife Phill Boyd - Outwest Images

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ALL ADVERTISING Printed & online

Kevin Bell kevin@sensationgroup.com

Luke Pilling

Mark Durston Email mark@sensationgroup.com

EDITOR Rebecca Hinde rebecca@sensationgroup.com

SENIOR WRITERS Lowri Llewelyn Bethany Birch

STAFF WRITERS Louise Overfield Katie Atherton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Porter Sioned Jones

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Phill Boyd (outwestimages.myportfolio.com) John Wormald (totallyabersoch.co.uk) Martin Turtle (turtlephotography.co.uk) Luke Pilling (ABERSAPP) Eilir Davies-Hughes (eiliradventurephotography.co.uk)

FINANCE MANAGER Tracy Brient

MANAGING DIRECTOR Mark Durston

SENSATION GROUP CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Elin Gruffydd Becky Price Ben Porter Kevin Bell Jake Davies

Rose Cottage Abersoch Gwynedd LL53 7DS Tel: 01758 710011 / info@sensationgroup.com www.abersochlife.com

All material is copyright and should not be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. All details are correct to the best of our knowledge. The publishers do not endorse or recommend any of the entries or advertisements in the magazine unless otherwise stated. We advise that you make your own judgments, enquiries and comparisons as with any other form of advertising. When contacting any business we suggest that you confirm the exact type of goods and services offered, the qualifications held and all other relevant aspects of the service that you are seeking. The publishers cannot accept liability for loss damage or difficulties resulting from contacts made through the magazine, from errors, omissions, from claims made by the advertiser of from omissions or inaccuracies relating to advertisements or other material regardless of how caused.

WORDS BY REBECCA HINDE

INTRODUCTION As another season blossoms on the Llŷn Peninsula, hopeful talk of life returning babbles across social media. Muffled voices behind distanced masks, whispers on the wind across the achingly empty beaches and rowdy phone conversations, everyone is desperate for a reunion with familiar faces and places - both near and far. Following the extraordinary success of last summer, when the hard work of local businesses allowed us to enjoy Cardigan Bay safely, the mood is set for an even better offering this year.

Our dominance of self-catered and boutique accommodation, combined with outdoor activities, clean beaches and seas, as well as a strong sense of personal responsibility and community, has been a real blessing at facilitating freedoms. Businesses are geared up, having adapted magnificently and been rewarded with strong local support during lockdown, ensuring that they are more than ready to delight with many new offerings for our visitors in 2021.

This winter has seemed particularly long with another never-ending lockdown. Many days were too wet to even escape outdoors and no reassuring shelter from our usually warm and welcoming pubs felt pretty weighty. The heavy loss of our beloved hibernating haunts, no rowdy bars and cafes filled with ruddy cheeks and warm bodies to buoy us through those darker months.

Winter lockdown has had the whole country giddy for spring and summer and every sunny day is being celebrated as a beacon of the joy on the horizon.

Escapism has been sought via online dreaming and continued emersion into the great local outdoors. The, sometimes overwhelming, space and solitude created by the lack of people to see and places to visit, has seen even the most unexpected embarking on some more extreme pursuits to beat the boredom blues (see our article on the incredible Abersoch Dunkers bracing the freezing seas). And now finally spring

12 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

has sprung and everyone can take a huge, hearty breath and look forward to the joyous months ahead. This spring issue brings you all the things we love about Pen Llŷn; our local heroes, some history around our iconic beaches, dipping, SUPing, local nature, travel and much more.

Put your faith in Abersoch and you will never be disappointed, this place will always reward those who weather the storms knowing that there is great beauty on the other-side. We have survived and those golden times await us. The days are getting longer, the birds are getting louder and optimism radiates. Familiar faces from over the borders have their bags packed like expectant mothers, awaiting the green light and the mood is palpable. Speedboats and champagne corks will soon fill the air, BBQs, bronzed bodies and miles of sun beaming smiles. Nothing will ever suppress the Abersoch spirit. Our time is finally here, welcome back friends, let Abersoch 2021 begin!

P H O TO: SU N RISES OV E R OU R ABERSOCH DU N K E RS - F U L ARTICL E ON THIS INSP I RATIONAL BU N CH A P GE 6 8 BY: OU T WEST IMAGES

CYFLWYNIAD Wrth i dymor arall flaguro ar Benrhyn Llyn, mae clebran gobeithiol am fywyd yn dychwelyd ar draws y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Lleisiau aneglur y tu ôl i fygydau, sibrydion ar y gwynt ar draws y traethau poenus o wag a sgyrsiau ffôn swnllyd, pawb yn crefu am aduniad gydag wynebau a llefydd cyfarwydd - ymhell ac agos. Yn dilyn llwyddiant eithriadol yr haf diwethaf, pan lwyddom ni i fwynhau Bae Ceredigion yn ddiogel diolch i waith caled busnesau lleol, mae pawb mewn hwyl i gael arlwy hyd yn oed yn well eleni.

Bu’n cyfoeth o lety hunanarlwyo a gwestai bwtîc, ynghyd â gweithgareddau awyr agored, traethau a moroedd glân, yn ogystal â theimlad cryf o gyfrifoldeb personol a chymuned, yn fendith wirioneddol i hwyluso rhyddid. Mae busnesau yn awchu i agor, wedi addasu’n ardderchog ac wedi cael eu gwobrwyo a chefnogaeth leol gref yn ystod y cyfnod clo, gan sicrhau eu bod yn fwy na pharod i blesio â llawer o ddanteithion newydd i’n hymwelwyr yn 2021.

Mae’r gaeaf hwn wedi ymddangos yn un arbennig o hir gyda chyfnodau clo di-bendraw. Roedd llawer o ddiwrnodau yn rhy wlyb i allu dianc i’r tu allan hyd yn oed a’r diffyg hafan bleserus yn ein tafarndai cynnes a chroesawgar yn pwyso arnom yn drwm. Colli’n cyrchfannau gaeafol, dim bariau a chaffis swnllyd yn llawn o fochau coch a chyrff poeth i’n cynnal drwy’r misoedd tywyll hynny. Yng nghyfnod clo’r gaeaf roedd y wlad gyfan yn cynhyrfu wrth feddwl am y gwanwyn a’r haf ac mae pob diwrnod heulog yn cael ei ddathlu fel fflam o lawenydd ar y gorwel.

Chwiliwyd am ddihangfa drwy freuddwydio ar-lein a pharhau i daflu’n hunain i’r awyr agored mawr. Weithiau roedd y lle a’r unigedd llethol a grëwyd gan ddiffyg pobl i’w gweld a llefydd i ymweld â nhw, yn arwain at rai o’r anturiaethau mwyaf annisgwyl i guro’r felan (gweler ein herthygl am yr Abersoch Dunkers anhygoel yn ymwroli i fynd i mewn i’r moroedd rhewllyd). A rŵan o’r diwedd mae’r gwanwyn yn y tir a gall pawb gymryd

anadl ddofn ac iach ac edrych ymlaen at y misoedd llawen sydd i ddod. Yn y rhifyn gwanwyn hwn, fe gewch chi bopeth rydym yn ei garu am Ben Llyn; ein harwyr lleol, ychydig o hanes ein traethau enwog, ymdrochi, hwylfyrddio, natur leol, teithio a llawer mwy.

Rhowch eich ffydd yn Abersoch a chewch chi fyth mo’ch siomi, bydd y lle hwn yn gwobrwyo’r rheini sy’n brwydo’r elfennau gan wybod fod yna harddwch mawr yr ochr draw. Rydym wedi goroesi ac mae’r adegau euraid yna’n disgwyl amdanom.

Mae’r dyddiau’n mynd yn hirach, yr adar yn trydar yn uwch ac optimistiaeth yn pelydru. Mae wynebau cyfarwydd o dros y ffin wedi pacio eu bagiau fel mamau sy’n disgwyl, yn disgwyl am y golau gwyrdd a gallwch deimlo’r cynnwrf. Cyn bo hir bydd sŵn cychod modur a chyrcs siampên yn llenwi’r awyr, barbeciws, cyrff â lliw haul a milltiroedd o wenau yn adlewyrchu’r haul. Ni fydd dim yn tawelu ysbryd Abersoch. Mae’n hamser wedi dod, croeso’n ôl ffrindiau, gadewch i Abersoch 2021 ddechrau! | 13

THE WRITERS

KEVIN BELL

REBECCA HINDE

BETHANY BIRCH

Kevin spends his life in, on, or by the water and (unsurprisingly) loves all things Abersoch. Which is why after visiting for over half a century, he now lives here in a little house backing onto his favourite beach—Porth Neigwl. With a collection of boards and boats that do not necessarily reflect his abilities, Kevin is a keen surfer, paddleboarder and sailor. When he’s not out on the waves or the water he’ll be found on the shore or in a boat with one of his equally embarrassingly large collection of fishing rods in his hands. Kevin loves encouraging new writers and pursuing his own writing— about Abersoch, the wild places on the peninsula and the water-sports that have been close to his heart all his life.

Rebecca has recently made the move from London to live in Abersoch full-time with her family. Having spent 13 years living in South East London where she founded Someth1ng Gallery, she is now looking forward to bringing more contemporary art up to Abersoch and taking talented Welsh artists down to the city. Going back to her roots, she knows Abersoch to be the perfect place for children to have the necessary space and freedom to grow through adolescence. The unique combination of energy and opportunity, peace and escapism that Abersoch offers, while being surrounded by spectacular pristine beaches and water, have made the move a simple decision.

Born and raised in the Midlands, Bethany spent her childhood escaping to the Welsh coast with her family where they holidayed most weekends.

Graduating from her Journalism degree at Nottingham Trent University in June 2020, she has since followed her dreams of moving full-time to the coast.

Swapping the city smog for the fresh air and simplicity of seaside living, Bethany made the move to Pwllheli to pursue her coastal desires. With a passion for writing and storytelling, Bethany now works as a freelance writer. Her happy place is an evening spent at Llanbedrog beach, watching the sky turn amber with her partner Ollie (and a G&T in hand!) Abersoch is calling!

LOWRI LLEWELYN

LOUISE OVERFIELD

KATIE ATHERTON

Lowri is a freelance lifestyle and travel journalist born and raised in north Wales. A first language Welsh speaker, she’s passionate about helping visitors gain understanding of, and confidence speaking, this ancient tongue, and is proud that a piece on the subject was shared 27k times. When she’s not keeping you up-to-date with happenings on the Llŷn, she loves visiting offbeat destinations from Pakistan to Chernobyl.

At the young age of seventeen, Louise went travelling for thirteen years! She spent eight winter seasons snowboarding the slopes of Meribel, where she met her partner Dylan from Abersoch. After her travels, Louise decided to go to university to study English Language and Literature, then completed a PGCE so that she could become a teacher. Louise now lives on the peninsula with her partner and two kids Luca and Ronnie, and Nelly the dog.

Brought up on the Llŷn Peninsula, just outside Abersoch, having spent her childhood between Abersoch and Pembrokeshire, Katie developed a love for being in the outdoors and by the sea. This lead her to achieving a bronze in Duke of Edinburgh and taking up kayaking as a water sport. After studying Business in Bangor University, she soon found her passion and eagerness to further her knowledge in joining Sensation Group.

14 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

SOCH PRESS

News from in and around Abersoch this Spring

From a steak to a clothing brand and electric car chargers to a luxury lodge, this is where you get to know those really useful local bits of information that will make you feel invincible as an Abersoch know-it-all.

Porth Tocyn has been busy during the

lockdown upholstering the Hotel ready for when they can re-open, they have also added a new facility. As technology is forever changing and evolving, Porth Tocyn Hotel are keeping up with the times and have recently installed electric car charge points!

Hafod B&B “A Newly renovated B&B, with 6 luxury en-suite rooms and sea views, located in the heart of the village”

The new owner, Jonathon Whipp, has been busy during the lockdown period, renovating Hafod. Catering for those who are looking for a luxury seaside stay, in the centre of Abersoch.

Set to open at the end of May!

Steve Fox

Retires after 30 years service with the Abersoch RNLI

Abersoch Regatta

With the unfortunate turn of events last year, that lead to many cancellations, this year is looking more promising with the planned easing of lockdown restrictions.

Regatta week is without a doubt one of the most exciting weeks of August here in Abersoch!

Words from the Commodore “This season, we hope that an easing of restrictions will allow us to offer a full programme of Club racing for the various fleets, and, once again, to host the day of racing in August that is the highlight of Abersoch Regatta Week.”

Abersoch Triple Crown

What a crazy time for events, with a clean sweep last year of cancellations for all the races we wait with baited breath to see if the Abersoch 10K, Triathlon and Half Marathon, as well as the 1K, 2K and 3K beach races can go ahead this year.

Originally from The Wirral, Steve Fox (known around the village as Foxy) always wanted to be part of the lifeboat, but lived too far away from the station. However, in 1985 he moved to Abersoch.

Firstly he joined the Coastguard and worked in the Boatyard, where many people told him he should join the Lifeboat. So, eventually, in 1988, he did. Steve volunteered for 30 years as a member of the RNLI crew in Abersoch, spending many years as a Helmsman on both of the Atlantic 21 Lifeboats; the ‘Wolverhampton’ and ‘Borough of Solihull’.

He retired at the RNLI retirement age of 45 and quickly realised that retirement was not for him, so volunteered as Shore Crew and then as Deputy Launch Authority.

He has now only just fully retired at the age of 70, leaving his youngest son Ioan to follow in his footsteps by serving as a Crew Member at RNLI Abersoch.

Organisers are ready with COVID safe plans but we can only wait and see if the Welsh Government and local councils rules will allow them to.

For up-to-date details go to

BEACH SCHOOLS Ysgol Abersoch Sailing into the future by Louise Overfield As the United Kingdom is surrounded by 11,000 miles of coastline, Abersoch and the surrounding areas certainly holds its own, boastfully playing host to many beautiful beaches. Life has certainly changed for everyone, evidence of this is the year of disruption the children have had to endure. Working from home and teaching children at the same time has many challenges. I have never seen children so excited to return back to school and I never thought I would hear the words in my lifetime ‘I want to go to school’!

The children of Ysgol Abersoch are possibly the luckiest children around, as the classroom environment also shares itself with the beach. The teachers try to incorporate as much of the lessons outside, in fact most of the curriculum could be taught on the beach.....

The full report can be found at www.abersochlife.com/beach-school/

www.abersochtriplecrown.com

BRYN CETHIN BACH 5* EXCELLENCE In its tranquil setting, close to Abersoch amidst the backdrop of Snowdonia, Bryn Cethin Bach Holiday Park is special and has a Pemberton Glendale 3 bedroom Lodge available, with an all in price of £295,000!

This lodge is a true classic with no compromises and with the platinum specification. The Glendale comes in a musty grey with anthracite windows and double fronted bifold doors. The family run Park is a popular one with so much to offer, and these opportunities don’t come along often, so get in touch to find out more.

Tel 01758 712719 or email john@bryncethinbach.co.uk

Everyone has their personal favourite restaurant to eat in. Here’s a selection with the Chef’s top kitchen tips and personal favourite meal to make on the menu – a must to try for when you next visit.

THe Dining Room

Si Toft, a very talented chef and well worth a follow on Twitter!

For Si, it’s all about flavoured oils, “flavoured oils are a staple in our house.

Garlic, rosemary, and chilli infused oils all add a brilliant, easy blast of flavour when browning meat or drizzled over a piece of fish on the barbecue”.

Not so much as a favourite meal, but more of favourite ingredients, and fresh local ingredients is the key. “We change the menu at least once a week dependant on what’s looking good. When the ingredients are as good as we have locally it’s a shame to mess around with them too much, so it’s clean, fresh flavour combinations, maybe with a bit of a twist here and there!”

ZINC

Mañana

Oli Haywood - know’s all about cooking, and hygiene, thankfully!

“As we use a lot of fresh garlic this is a good tip for anyone cooking fresh at home..

After handling raw garlic always wash your hands with cold water... this will stop your hands stinking of garlic all day as using hot water will open the pores in your hands and force the smell further into your skin”.

A Favourite meal of Oli’s to make at Mananas is the Chicken burritos!

“We only started doing them last year and they quickly became a best seller. They are just packed full of fresh Mexican flavours.

Also Burrito translates as ‘little donkey’ and who doesn’t like a donkey!”

HOPALONG CLOTHING Hopalong, a sports brand founded by Llywelyn Williams, Abersoch’s very own Surfing Champion. With exciting news of launching a gym-wear range ready for Summer 2021!

Always striving to be the best and pushing himself to the limits in the sport, the same passion and determination is no different for him when it comes to making his brand a success. The idea of his company simply “formed like all good companies, over a nice beer and conversation between two friends”, was soon put into action after thorough research, sampling and testing to ensure only the best quality at a reasonable, competitive price. As Llywelyn states not only is it “priced correctly, looks fantastic and something people enjoy to wear, but you’re also helping to clean the oceans”.

As an athlete who spends a lot of time in the ocean, it’s important to him, that he does his bit to keep the ocean clean, and the ethos of Hopalong matches this. A percentage of Hopalong’s profits is donated to ocean cleaning projects, so not only are you purchasing top quality sportswear / gym-wear, but you’re also help saving the environment. When asked what’s the aim of the company, it’s simply “to be the best, provide the best, and help make a change”.

THe Pontoon

Phill Boyd - chargrilled bone-in rib eye steak, covered in a rosemary, garlic and parsley butter sauce

Chris Higson - Lamb Meatballs in Mole topped with a roasted tomatillo salsa, a red onion & cilantro salad & Mexican dukkah

“When it comes down to cooking it’s all about preparation. Obviously getting the ingredients in order goes without saying but think about getting pots, pans, trays all to hand to save time. Going hand in hand with preparation and probably my most important practice in the kitchen is working tidy. It really helps by cleaning as you go and keep workspaces clear”.

Phil’s favourite meal to cook “would have to be a good chunky piece of steak. We have fillet and sirloin on the menu but every now and again we have bone-in rib eye steaks, which cook really well on our chargrill. With steaks it’s good to have a nice thick steak to get plenty of colour on the outside without overcooking it. I like to make a flavoured butter to melt over as it rests too. Rosemary, garlic and parsley is always a winner!”

Chris says it’s all about using the right tool.

“Treat yourself to some good quality tools, like a super hard knife, good quality pots and pans, cooking can either be that chore you have to do or it can be fun.”

Chris’s favourite part about cooking from the menu is “anything that includes a mole, which is a very ancient and culturally important sauce from Mexico, it can come in many flavours and varieties.

So a mole to me is more of a technique or a tradition rather than an individual dish.

What I love about it is the many techniques and processes you have to do to each ingredient, before slowly combining all these separate elements until they come together to make this crazy deep, flavourful sauce.”

FOR SIMILAR NEWS STORIES: ABERSOCHLIFE.COM...

| 17

VILLAGE UPDATE

PHOTO: THE VILLAGE BOUNCING BACK WITH AVENGENCE THIS YEAR - LOTS OF EXCITING NEW VENTURES

WORDS BY REBECCA HINDE

C

LOSED BORDERS AND HOSPITALITY VENUES ARE THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE EVENTS FOR OUR VIBRANT VILLAGE, THAT IS SO RELIANT, MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY, ON THE DRAMATIC YET REGULAR INFLUXES AND RECESSES THAT WE ALL KNOW SO WELL. FORTUNATELY, STRICT REGULATIONS AND THE MOST UNFAMILIAR WORKING ENVIRONMENTS HAVE DONE LITTLE TO CURB THE ENTHUSIASM EVERYONE HAS FOR THIS ESCAPIST POWERHOUSE BY THE SEA. THE DEEP AND UNRELENTING SUPPORT AND LOYALTY COMBINED WITH THE BIZARRE AND EERILY CLOSED HIGH STREET HAS, IN FACT, GIVEN THE (USUALLY FLAT-OUT) BUSINESS OWNERS SOME TIME TO REGROUP AND PLAN FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE KNOW WILL SOON BE ARRIVING. Optimistic as always and encouraged by the incredible success of last summer, the Abersoch entrepreneurs are bringing some very exciting new offerings to the village from Spring 2021. No sad, rundown, barely

surviving seaside town vibes here, that’s not how we roll on the Peninsula.

Bring your bellies and your smiles and prepare to be utterly delighted, we have some lost time to make up for!

Firstly there is a lot happening as soon as you enter the village, the plans for the luxury hotel complex at the, formerly iconic, Whitehouse site are firmly back on the table with exciting things promised over the next couple of years. Just a stone’s throw from there, Land and Sea have drawn up plans to make space around the luxury speedboats for the addition of a brand new cafe, right on its forecourt.

Most thrilling of all though, at that end of town, has to be the imminently opening Black Sheep restaurant.

Brought to you by the heavyweight of hospitality, Led Leadbetter - from the highly successful Fresh, this new venture has been eagerly anticipated.

18 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

Led knows his way around a cocktail bar like no other and is well respected for uniting fine food with great drinks and a fantastic ambience. His delivery cocktail service has kept many a local buzzing throughout the long, lockeddown winter months and his energy and vision are inspirational. The Black Sheep is to delight with Welsh Wagu beef, Ibiza worthy beverages, and an al fresco seating area complete with fire pit. Not content with relaunching the old coconut kitchen site just in the evenings, the Black Sheep will also bring a sensational breakfast menu, for those of you who need an early refuel to begin your day on the beach.

Satiating every possible need while gazing upon our glorious harbour, everyone will be clambering to get to the bar, bar, Black Sheep!”

PWLLHELI & SOUTHAMPTON TEL: 01758 703 013 - 07813 581 937 EMAIL: SALES@IDEALBOAT.COM

WWW.IDEALBOAT.COM

Chaparral_IND_154.indd 1

02/04/2019 15:58

VILLAGE UPDATE

Just a stone’s throw further along and The Shack has been snapped up as a new offering as yet undisclosed, check out our next edition for more info. It’s then up into the village where the resoundingly successful Two Islands greets you with even more to delight. The exceptionally gorgeous Jack and Laura simply ooze finery. The laid back, natural demeanours of this cool couple do little to hide their extraordinary talents and vision. So much more than an ice cream parlour and coffee shop, Two Islands is up there with the best the country has to offer. The substance comes from their exquisite ingredients and innovative ice cream and cake recipes, delivered with effortless style. The conclusive feedback they have received over the last few years has been “We want more!” And so they have obliged by taking over the whole of the old bank site, offering a new spacious seating and counter area to be revealed after Easter.

PHOTO: EXCITING PLANS FOR THE NEW APRES SOLEIL ON THE FORECOURT OF ABERSOCH LAND & SEA

PHOTO: JACK FROM TWO ISLANDS GIVING US A WAVE FROM THEIR NEW EXTENDED PREMISES INTO THE OLD BANK SITE

Could it get any better? Yes it could. We sadly waved goodbye to Jack Wills, but the site has been already filled by the new White Stuff shop and there are some very exciting rumours that the empty Porters Cove has been snapped up, and may be bringing lobster and champagne to the high street (yes please).

While they are thinking about it, Abersoch’s newest entrepreneur is doing it! Olivia Simpson is a well-known face around the village, you may have seen her beaming smile behind the counter in Kin and Co. Fitness trainer turned business owner, Olivia has all the energy and drive necessary to transform the old Abersoch Diner (known to many as, the longer running, East Meets West -opposite Fresh) into the blessing that will be Aprés Sea. A brand new cafe/bar (yes we have missed socialising A LOT on the Llyn), Aprés Sea is set to open after Easter and will provide breakfast, lunch and tapas with a guaranteed great atmosphere. A casual dining feel which can be extended out onto the full sun terrace at the back, seating around 40 people. Great coffee, a fantastic selection of beers and wines, and a new bar providing providing many delights on draft. The good times really are back with a vengeance!

20 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

PHOTO: THE SHACK ON THE BRIDGE INTO THE VILLAGE SNAPPED UP RECENTLY

PWLLHELI & SOUTHAMPTON TEL: 01758 703 013 - 07813 581 937 EMAIL: SALES@IDEALBOAT.COM

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THE THEHEROES HEROES AMONG AMONG US US WORDS BY REBECCA HINDE

PHOTO: A REASSURING SITE - THE CREW AT WORK IN FRONT OF ST. TUDWALS WEST BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

22 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

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BERSOCH 2021 IS UPON US AND, IF LAST SUMMER WAS ANY INDICATION, IT COULD BE ONE OF THE BUSIEST SEASONS TO DATE. EVERY PART OF THE VILLAGE PREPARES FOR THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED ANNUAL SWITCH FROM SECLUDED ISOLATION - TO THE HIGH-OCTANE, HIGHLY POPULATED BEACHES WE ALL KNOW SO WELL. “SAFE” HAS BEEN THE WORD ON EVERY BUSINESS’S LIPS FOR THE LAST YEAR, BUT THERE’S ONE DEDICATED GROUP WHO MAINTAIN OUR SAFETY ALL YEAR ROUND, EVERY YEAR, AND THAT’S OUR MUCH ADORED, ABERSOCH LIFEBOAT CREW. FOR OVER 100 YEARS THESE LOCAL HEROES HAVE BEEN SAVING LIVES ON THE SEAS AROUND PEN LL N, AND WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SALUTE THEM. The RNLI is the perfect fusion of tradition and progression, combined to create cohesion and success. The tradition of the lifeboat has seen generations of family members enrol here in Abersoch. Take the familiar local character that is foxy Steve Fox who retired this year, after decades serving the Abersoch Lifeboat Station, leaving his son Ioan to continue the family boat crew line. Ioan’s

PHOTO: HELMSMAN GUY WILLIAMS’ FAMILY BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN PART OF VILLAGE LIFE FOR OVER A CENTURY BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

longer serving 2nd cousin Guy Williams qualified as helmsman in 2019, having began as volunteer crew in 2008, just as his own father did before him in the 1960s. The progression in Abersoch sees the unity of the Welsh and English mixed crew, that welcomed its first female helmsman, Elissa Williams, in 2019.

The RNLI and local crews operate independently from the usual emergency services, who are backed and regulated by the government. Instead, the RNLI is a registered charity and funded by donations, they also rely heavily on many dedicated volunteer staff.

The result is pretty awe inspiring with committed, professional teams and boat houses all along our shores. This system, rather than being lacking, has resulted in the some of the most respected sea rescue facilities and equipment across the globe. Utilising personal responsibility and autonomy removes the bureaucracy and outside pressures from potentially volatile regulations and funding, having allowed the RNLI to maintain continuity and develop strong bonds with its supporters. The voluntary nature of the staff has resulted in professional and highly devoted teams who respect each other and work efficiently together.

PHOTO: HELMSMAN PHIL WOOD, DIRECTOR OF ABERSOCH WATERSPORTS, FATHER, SURFING LEGEND BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

No guaranteed funding is, however, precarious, especially this year when people have so many personal concerns that they can easily overlook charity donations. The staff too are not immune to these worries, having their own day to day careers | 23

THE ABERSOCH RNLI “Honestly I think everyone is desperate to get back to a new normal.

Yes when travel restrictions open up we are preparing for what could be one of our busiest seasons ever & we look forward to seeing all your happy faces. Please stick to government guidelines & if water activities are allowed always be fully prepared, check tide times, think twice about higher risk activities currently.”

- Andy Gunby -

PHOTO: ANN SETTEN’S BEQUEST FUNDED ABERSOCH’S ATLANTIC 85 LIFEBOAT, NAMED AFTER ANN AND HER HUSBAND BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

and appreciated member of the local community, they are our partners, our families and our childhood friends.

PHOTO: HELMSMAN ELISSA WILLIAMS, EMPLOYMENT LAWYER & COMPANY DIRECTOR BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

and livelihoods to maintain. The Abersoch Crew are a highly skilled and professional bunch; a lawyer, a jeweller, engineer, mechanic and several local business owners to name a few. Each one a well-known

It’s easy to watch the crew in training on a beautiful blush evening and romanticise their roles, to lose sight of what they’re actually preparing themselves for. Many crew join from having grown up sailing or boating and having seen the power of the sea to turn and the necessity of having someone prepared to help you when that happens. The serene beauty of the water when calm is partly so magnificent because we understand her potential for brutal rage and destruction.

The sea is dangerous and must be respected, and the bravery of our crews to be physically exposed to that is something that should never be downplayed. When speaking about the most frightening experiences they have had during their

24 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

time at the lifeboat the answers were sobering:

“On a practice in some rough weather over 10 years ago, once we rounded Wilfa Headland, the seas were extraordinary, it was dark, raining and extremely windy. The boat landed hard and at an angle after taking a wave, I had been learning to drive in rough conditions. I heard a sickening crack and everything went black. I remember very little of the trip back to the station, but I had been moved to the crew seat and was lying down and could hear the helm on the radio asking for an ambulance to meet us when we returned to station. I had fractured by back when the boat hit the water and was fitted with a back brace for 3 months and underwent Physio for 9 months. Looking up at the sky from the crew seat was probably one of the most frightening experiences of my life. I was in pain, knew something had gone horribly wrong and was scared of what was to come next. The fact that the helm and crew were able to get me off the helm seat, onto the crew seat and navigate back to the station as they did is a testament to their experience, skill and ability to remain calm.”

- Elissa Williams “Some calls stay with you & make you think what if. My first call as helm was one of those where I ask myself what if.

PHOTO: LIMITED TRAINING DAYS TAKE PLACE ON THE DESERTED CARDIGAN BAY DURING LOCKDOWN BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

I asked a crew member to go onto rocks near Porth Ceiriad in heavy waves to assist some spear fishermen in trouble.

Soon following him onto the rocks myself. A set of big waves engulfed us all & swept the crew member off & down the rocks. Thankfully he was ok but for a brief period I lost sight of him & thought the worst. Afterwards I have had many periods of thinking what if...... water is dangerous & it must be respected.” - Andy Gunby It’s not just the physical bravery placed upon them that makes the crew extraordinary but the mental bravery, that would be too much for many. Anyone who has heard/seen the recent emergency call from Alfie (featured on BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea) cannot fail to see the pressure that our responders can be placed under, even when the sea is not showing any threat to them personally. The gut wrenching call from the 17 year old close to drowning, combined with the crew frantically trying to find him before it’s too late. It is overwhelmingly emotional to listen to and the thought of them not succeeding, unimaginable.

That is why these guys are heroes beyond the courage of running in the opposite direction when faced with danger. Many people in life do not try many things from a fear of failure and embarrassment but failure to the lifeboat crew is life changing, and yet

they selflessly put themselves forward to shoulder that burden.

The noble sacrifices of the crew have, in turn, lead to the fantastic voluntary support network of organisers, administrators and fundraisers surrounding them, all vital to keep the Abersoch Crew afloat.

Andy Vowell, retired local policeman turned Lifeboat Operations Manager is the father figure and spoken about with incredible fondness. Phill Brown, volunteer Chairman of 8 years in charge of operational activities and overviewing the Fundraising Group assisted by Sue McCann, Fundraising Chair and her team of volunteers. Sarah Leather, Press Officer and Emma Wood Social Media Officer, all behind the scenes sacrificing their time and working hard to ensure that we all have the continued protection of the lifeboat. With the upcoming season

PHOTO: CREW MEMBER IFAN ROBERTS, MANNING THE ABERSOCH LIFEBOAT WHILE ALSO IN TRAINING FOR THE MERCHANT NAVY BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

all thoughts are focused on being prepared physically and financially for the extraordinary strain that will soon be put on their resources.

The quiet bay will be unrecognisable | 25

THE ABERSOCH RNLI PHOTO: HELMSMAN PHIL WOOD BACKED BY CREW MEMBER IOAN FOX BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

Donate HTTPS://JUSTGIVING.COM/FUNDRAISING/ABERSOCH-RNLI

by summer, as hundreds of holidaymakers enthusiastically take to the seas. The increased accessibility of communication devices and mobile phones means that many people in minor trouble will not need to call out the RNLI as in previous years, as help nowadays is often supplied by friends and passers-by. However, this has given way to a more unnerving anticipation as the calls that do come through are likely to be more severe in nature.

The increase of highly powerful boats and jet skis, driven sometimes by young people with little experience, has led the crew to all speak of an unsettling sense of imminent catastrophe.

They are of course also having to deal with the monumental disruption of Covid 19, resulting in rapid retraining while simultaneously not being able to train as usual, a new unpredictable threat to crew members, a huge strain placed on fundraising as all events cancelled and the important community and social side of the crew, so important for mental wellbeing, being entirely removed.

“The summer used to be littered with social events, from open day, flag day, regatta week and the infamous hog roasts. Summer passes as a whirlwind of pager interrupted days, laughing and joking with crew mates, the smell of bbq’s, social events and friends. This summer couldn’t have been more different.” - Elissa Williams Despite their regular support networks removed, the forthcoming season will be anything other than paired down, with many new visitors arriving who know little of the area or hazardous areas such as Bardsey Sound, the surf at Porth Ceriad and Porth Neigwl, and the risk for swimmers and boaters from fast moving craft off the Warren.

“All the waters around the peninsula offer their own risk, so always be careful no matter where you are. Understanding the local area is essential.” - Guto Glyn 26 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

The term zero to hero will take on a whole new meaning once the borders finally open but the entire Abersoch Crew are all more than ready to welcome everyone back.

“Honestly I think everyone is desperate to get back to a new normal. Yes when travel restrictions open up we are preparing for what could be one of our busiest seasons ever & we look forward to seeing all your happy faces. Please stick to government guidelines & if water activities are allowed always be fully prepared, check tide times, think twice about higher risk activities currently.” - Andy Gunby We are also looking forward to seeing the crew’s happy faces too, when hospitality finally reopens here. The familiar beaming smiles at the bar, following the usual Thursday lifeboat training, are a feature we all miss. There is something ironically reassuring about living in a small village and so seeing the various emergency service brigade merrily relaxing in the pub, and it will be one heck of a party when everyone is finally reunited. Until the time that you can show your appreciation for all they do by buying them a drink, get online and donate whatever you can.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE IN DIFFICULTY AROUND OUR COAST PLEASE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES. CALL FOR HELP: Call 999 or 112. Ask for the coastguard.

THROW THEM A LINE: Have something that floats or that they can hold on to? Throw it to them.

STAY SAFE: Do not enter the water yourself.

Too many people drown trying to save others.

INTERIORS ABERSOCH MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

CREATED BY BETHANY BIRCH

BRIGHTEN UP THE HOME THIS SEASON WITH FRESH FLOWERS AND FLORALS. Spring is all about blooming. With beautiful flowers, cherry blossom trees and sunnier days, it’s the season when nature truly begins to come to life again. So it’s the perfect time to add a little of the outdoors, indoors.

Be it a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a floral candle or

Everlasting Dried Flowers KIN & Co.

incorporating florals, fresh blooms and hints of nature in other innovative ways to brighten up the home, spring is the perfect time for it. We’ve picked our favourite interior finds from our local stores this season to freshen up the home this spring!

Everlasting Dried Flowers KIN & Co.

Dried Flower Spring Wreath KIN & Co.

£12.50

Spring Bouquets COASTAL CULTURE

£40

Olive Tree & Stone Plant Pot TOTALLY ABERSOCH

£VARIOUS

30 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

£18.50 - £26.00

Tall Pink Plant TOTALLY ABERSOCH

£49

£85

INTERIORS

Pink Floral Clock LAVENDER HOUSE

Studio Wald Sunflower Tea Towel KIN & Co.

£29

Studio Wald Flower Press KIN & Co.

£12

Floral Fanciful Canvas LAVENDER HOUSE

£19.95

Green Gardenia Scented Candle FIRST LIGHT

Tall Glass Bottle Vase TOTALLY ABERSOCH

32 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

£29

Run With Wolves Essential Oil Candles KIN & Co.

£150

£25

Floral Clock LAVENDER HOUSE

£8-£26

Jug & Flowers / Gray Tray / Coral TOTALLY ABERSOCH

£50-£65

£70 / £14 / £15

Enjoy national reach and expertise with our local, personal service

Homeowners, make yourself at home with our holiday property experts

114% increase in bookings*

Find out more today at abersochholidayhomes.co.uk

or call us on 0800 3689358

*July 2020 to October 2020 versus the same period during 2019

FASHION PREVIEW ABERSOCH MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

CREATED BY BETHANY BIRCH

Spring and pastels go hand in hand, they’re fun, playful and offer the perfect nod to the summer to come. Pastels are less saturated than our primary colours, giving them a soft, light and calming feel to our spring wardrobe. Spring reminds us of sunnier days, flowers blooming and the long awaited return of pretty dresses and soft pastel colours, there’s no doubt that pastels are a spring trend mainstay. So add hues of sky blue, lavender, lemon, lilac, blush and sweet butterscotch to your wardrobe this season with some of Aberoch’s finest finds.

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1

2 4

POWER OF PASTELS 7 8 5

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1. ABERSOCH OFFAXIS - Rip Curl Tallows One Piece Swimsuit £65 2. FIRST LIGHT - Sonoma Vintage Long sleeve V Neck T-shirt £POA 3. FIRST LIGHT - East Sky Blue Malange Loose Jumper £150 4. LAVENDER HOUSE - Lemon Light Knit Jumper £35 5. LAVENDER HOUSE - Green Light Knit Jumper £35 6. FIRST LIGHT - Omphalodes Beanie £18 7. FIRST LIGHT - Tie Dye T-Shirt £POA 8. Kin & Co - Rains Short Jacket Coral £75 TO FIND FULL DETAILS OF ALL SHOPS IN THIS ARTICLE VISIT WWWW.ABERSOCHLIFE.COM 34 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

Somewhere

WORDS BY BETHANY BIRCH

Capturing the Llŷn in all of it’s glory - come rain or shine - local photographer Phill Boyd has won over the area time and time again, leading him to uproot and call this place home in 2003. Phill’s passion for the area and his love of photography shine through in every image, his talents running wild whilst capturing the raw land and seascapes of Abersoch.

Phill’s work has been regularly featured throughout issues of Abersoch publications, as well as well-known surfing magazines such as Carve, when he won the Carve magazine surfing photography contest in 2019. Alongside being featured in magazines, Phill’s talents are also hung proudly in many homes across the country, with a selection of Phill’s prints available to buy via his online portfolio.

You’re also likely to come across Phill’s work online, with his well-loved photos circulating the web and his social media, he’s unsurprisingly grown a dedicated and loyal following and name for himself within the area and beyond. His talents have made his name synonymous with beautiful naturebased photography.

With all this considered, it seemed only natural to create a book showcasing Phill’s most recent photographs of the local area, so the idea of ‘Abersoch, Somewhere Outwest’ was born and then published last winter. Phill’s finest work adorns the pages of this highquality book, complemented by carefully considered words detailing Phill’s personal story and photography journey.

With the release of ‘Abersoch, Somewhere Outwest’ being received so fondly by lovers of Abersoch and beyond, the idea of a sequel book was put into fruition.

36 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

As the subject of seasons had evolved naturally throughout the previous book, we felt it only right to create a second book dedicated to the seasonal changes here on the Llŷn.

Split into four main sections - one for each season - the book discusses Phill’s photography experiences of capturing the Llŷn throughout the year in depth. In keeping with the previous book, the photos make up the majority of the book - after all, “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

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SOMEWHERE OUTWEST

From his challenges to his favourite elements of each season we get to know Phill and his photography on the Llŷn a little better.

Consisting of 100 pages of imagery and text, bound into a high-quality soft covered book, ‘Abersoch, Somewhere Outwest’ would look perfect adorned atop your coffee table to remind you of local memories and inspire you to continue planning future trips.

Showcasing Phill’s photos, it’s no surprise that the book was received with such success.

Gifting keen photographers, like Phill, with an uncompromising beautiful canvas to capture. From the first frost of winter through to the hazy days of summer, the Llŷn is adored throughout each and every season. The next book features more of Phill’s photography while discussing his love for the area and it’s faithful transformations with each passing season.

Encompassing Phill’s passions and endeavours to capture the Llŷn’s landscapes, magnificent coastline and its defining mountains in all of their wonder continues to inspire Phill to get out and shoot through all weather conditions. The coloured leaves and skies of autumn continue to be some of Phill’s favourite subjects to photograph, while the fierce waters of winter as southerly storms roll in create some ever dramatic scenes to capture. Spring is full of hope, with delicate snowdrops and vibrant

daffodils blooming; we know that the upbeat atmosphere and salad days of summer are not too far away.

Phill credits his constant enthusiasm for photography to the entire experience of shooting - stating that for him, photography is a whole journey involving all of the senses. The Llŷn boasts awe-worthy views and plenty of photography opportunities but it’s the moments of solitude, rare sightings of wildlife and unmatchable fulfilment that he gains during his photography outings that keeps him coming back for more.

The coming book will make for Abersoch, Somewhere Outwest’s perfect companion, or can be purchased as a stand alone copy if you prefer. We can guarantee that the soon to be released book will not disappoint, with new tales to tell of Phill and fresh photographs to marvel over it’s certainly not one to miss.

Through both books we hope to continue recounting Phill’s story and offering readers a form of visual escapism with each page turned.

‘Abersoch, Somewhere Outwest’ is still available to buy online via the Abersoch Shopify store. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on the launch of the follow on book ‘Abersoch, Needs No Season’ - it’s coming soon!

AVAILABLE IN KIN & CO, FIRST LIGHT, ABERSOCH WATERSPORTS, ABERSOCH BOATYARD OR LAVENDER HOUSE. OR ONLINE AT www.abersochlife.com/abersoch-somewhere-outwest 38 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

PHOTO: A SUNNY DAY OUT SPENT AT NEWBOROUGH BEACH, ANGLESEY BY: BECKY PRICE

Currently living in Mynytho with her fiancé Tommy and beloved dog Bohdi, Becky moved to the area from Mid Wales in 2016 to be with her partner and very quickly fell in love with the Llŷn Peninsula. From the beautiful coastline to the mountains of Snowdonia on your doorstep, Becky poses the rhetoric of “what’s not to love?”, and it’s a statement that I’m sure many share.

WORDS BY BETHANY BIRCH

A

n intense desire for freedom and irresistible sense of wanderlust are two things that I’m sure we can all relate to, now more than ever. In an attempt to satisfy her travel cravings Becky Price has grasped the opportunities of the past year and took to exploring her own backyard here on the Llŷn.

Granted, she lives in one of the most picturesque and diverse places in the UK (if not the world!?), but her adventurous spirit and relentless urge to explore more, has taken her to some beautiful corners of the Peninsula and created for some great stories that she’s ready to share.

40 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

Crediting the close-knit community of Abersoch for one of the many reasons that she feels so lucky to call this place home. “This is the first place I’ve ever lived where I feel like I could settle down and place my roots,” a feeling that’s undoubtedly shared by many, “I feel very lucky to live here”.

The past year has only deepened Becky’s immense gratitude for living in such a beautiful place. The year of 2020 has encouraged her to discover more of the wonders on her own doorstep. When restrictions have permitted, Becky has made it her mission to explore more of her own backyard - along with Tommy and

PHOTO: TIME SPENT EXPLORING THE LOCAL COASTLINE IS ENOUGH TO LEAVE ANYONE SMILING BY: BECKY PRICE

Bohdi, of course - taking advantage of exploring more places across North Wales.

This past year has undoubtedly been hard for us all in different ways, with the restrictions surrounding the pandemic massively limiting our freedom, the joys of travelling being just one of them. As an avid traveller, Becky says that “I’ve always enjoyed getting out and exploring new places, but the pandemic has definitely given me a new appreciation for what we have right here in our own country.”, which is a mutual attitude and a mindset now adopted by many.

Her passion for travel, wildlife and exploring new places has remained faithful year after year. Travelling to nearby destinations during her spare time; camping at Porth Iago, walks in Aberdaron and a short holiday in Anglesey back in September have been some of the ways that Becky has continued travelling locally. The past year has encouraged her to discover

new spots, including a footpath running from Mynytho directly to Quarry beach. “It’s how I’ve been curbing my insatiable wanderlust” she shares.

Discovering plenty of places through her work as an Environment Officer, Becky often finds places either accidentally, through word of mouth or by looking at OS maps or books. She gives praise to apps such as ‘All Trails’ and Instagram for also being especially useful to find new walking routes and locations.

Admittedly, there aren’t a plethora of secret spots here on the Llŷn anymore, “I have a fair few hidden gems that I like to keep hidden”, says Becky. However, “the Afon Croesor

waterfalls are a gem that not many people haven’t heard about”; located between the Aberglaslyn Gorge and Penrhyndeudraeth, the Croesor river is a delightfully rugged watercourse consisting of several drops making for a great walk and natural attraction to visit.

It was her first solo trip to Costa Rica, volunteering at a sea turtle conservation that really gave her the bug for international travel. The wildlife is a huge attraction to each destination, “I think it was the desire to see all the amazing creatures I’d seen in books as a child that made me want to travel so much”. This particular trip has been a real catalyst for Becky’s relentless wanderlust.

Since then she has visited over ten destinations including, Australia, Greece, Canada and Nicaragua.

Her time in Costa Rica also holds a special place in her heart for another reason, being that “it’s also where I met my fiancé Tommy, a decade ago this April whilst volunteering with sea turtles”. It’s clear that Becky has a deep | 41

TALKING TRAVEL

PHOTO: LEFT IN AWE AT THE BEAUTY OF GREECE WHILE TRAVELLING SARAKINIKO, KIKLADHES BY: BECKY PRICE

love for this Central American country admiring its biodiversity, raw beauty and the fact that sustainability remains faithfully at its heart.

Becky’s bucket list is ever-growing, consisting of converting a campervan to travel around the UK and potentially other European countries as well as dreams to visit more faraway countries.

But an African safari remains strongly at the top. Going on an African safari has been a lifelong dream of Becky’s since she was a little girl, “it would be a dream to see and volunteer with some of the incredible wildlife there”.

“I’ve never had a particular number of countries to visit every year, and every year is different, in the past it’s been one or two countries per year, usually in winter”, the process of organising a trip generally starts with choosing a particular destination for Becky. Never one to book an all inclusive holiday, admitting that “I would get itchy feet after about half a day”. For Becky, there has to be a good reason for wanting to visit somewhere, as she’s not one to travel somewhere just for the sake of holidaying.

“I don’t like to plan too far ahead because you never know which place you may like better and it just leaves room for spontaneity”, explains Becky.

Ever inspired by the opportunity to see or volunteer with a particular animal, unless participating in a programme she tends to just book her flights and the first few days accommodation, “I prefer to have an authentic experience where I can really immerse myself in the local cultures”.

Recently finding the creative outlet of photography has only deepened Becky’s love for the area, photographing local landscapes has become a newfound passion of hers. Although her love for exploring new places precedes her love for photography, she credits her interest in photography for getting out and seeing more sunrises!

Always one to enjoy being active and spending time outdoors, Becky loves paddle boarding, canoeing and walking. Loving the mindfulness, nature and escapism that paddle boarding provides, she loves getting out on the water and seeing her surroundings from a different

42 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

PHOTO: BECKY & HER FIANCÉ, TOMMY, MARVELLING AT THE GREEK COASTLINE AT MILOS, KIKLADHES BY: BECKY PRICE

PHOTO: PADDLE-BOARDING IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO BECAUSE IT ALWAYS MAKES ME LIVE IN THE MOMENT AND BE COMPLETELY PRESENT BY: BECKY PRICE

perspective. These hobbies motivate Becky to spend more time outdoors, but when the sun doesn’t shine and the weather is wild, Becky heads to the kitchen, enjoying time spent cooking and baking.

“I love the freedom, uncertainty and sense of adventure that comes with travel, no day is the same and you never know who you might meet along the way.” Travelling encompasses a sense of spontaneity, unpredictability and exploration that is near impossible to replicate elsewhere, it’s not difficult to understand why Becky has a deeprooted love for exploration.

Naturally, her local explorations differ with the seasons and weather.

Preferring to stay near the coast during the warmer months, taking advantage of the calmer seas and getting out on the water. Loving the quieter beaches at the western end of the Peninsula, with Porth Ysgo being a personal favourite as it was where her fiancé proposed. With mountains on the horizon, cafes nearby and easy access for watersports she considers Porth Ceiriad and Abersoch beach to be pretty hard to beat too.

During autumn and winter she opts to remain inland, often visiting Snowdonia, saying that “it’s so beautiful when the autumnal tree colours come to life or when the mountains are covered in snow!”.

Always keen to get outdoors and make

the most of the day, keeps Becky exploring all year round.

Sharing that her recipe for the perfect day would be “waking up early to catch the sunrise, go for a morning paddleboard and take some photos in the beautiful morning light.

Then set off on a walk with Bohdi, either taking a packed lunch or visiting one of the local cafes for a bite to eat halfway,” adding that “catching the sunset would be a bonus too”.

Despite being incredibly appreciative of living and having access to such local beauty - especially during the pandemic - the past year hasn’t been plain-sailing for Becky.

“The year of 2020 was supposed to be a huge year for me”, explains Becky, full of travel and life milestones. The biggest event that got cancelled was her wedding, “it was supposed to be

PHOTO: A MUTUAL LOVE FOR TRAVEL AND VOLUNTEERING BROUGHT THE TWO TOGETHER BY: BECKY PRICE

in June 2020 at St Cian’s Church in Llangian with the reception at the SCYC”.

“I had planned on honeymooning in Indonesia in June,” followed by a Tanzanian safari in October that also got cancelled. The couple tried

| 43

TALKING TRAVEL PHOTO: BECKY CAPTURED IN THE FOREGROUND AT TALACRE BEACH WITH POINT OF AYR LIGHTHOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND BY: BECKY PRICE

to rearrange their wedding and honeymoon to September 2020, but sadly that didn’t happen either.

With the year ahead looking more optimistic, Tommy and Becky have hopes for rearranging their wedding for later this year, celebrating here on the Llŷn with the company of wellmissed loved ones.

With more time on their hands, the pair decided to busy themselves with buying and renovating their new home. Utilising their spare time well, alongside working, exploring and navigating the struggles of the past year, they spent the lockdowns demolishing and decorating - making their new house a home.

Combatting the inevitable difficulties of the lockdown’s, Becky has made a conscious effort to get outdoors for a walk at least once a day, generally during her lunch break or after work if she’s been on her laptop all day.

Admitting that, “it’s certainly not been easy, despite having so much to be thankful for, but I think getting outside and being in nature does wonders for my mental health.”

The past year in particular has seen her enjoying more coastal and circular walks, with some of her favourites being the Cim circular work which

leads to Porth Ceiriad past the Tudwals Islands; the Nefyn to Porthdinllaen coastal path walk and her local Mynytho Common loop walk.

Becky also acknowledges the positive impact of having a good morning routine, “I like to start the day focussing on movement and mindset”.

Beginning her day with gratitude, listing three things that she’s thankful for each morning, has played its part in transforming her way of thinking, saying that “it’s helped me to stay positive during these tough times”.

As someone who has always had a deep interest in nature and wildlife, there’s no denying that Becky is a real lover of nature; really thriving when spending time outdoors, watching wildlife and observing the beauty of the physical world. Her job as an Environmental Officer sees her travelling to beautiful destinations across North Wales.

Driven by her love for the natural world and wildlife, sustainability is at the heart of everything that she does.

Having a love for the environment since she was little, it seems only natural for Becky to have a passion for sustainability, hence why she believes it to be “so important that we don’t deplete our planet of it’s natural world

44 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

and resources”.

Dedicating a lot of time to educating herself and others on sustainability is something that Becky feels strongly about. Spreading the message that “it is possible to live in a world where there are enough resources for both people and wildlife” is what led her to create the campaign ‘Do it for David’. The campaign focuses on encouraging people to reduce their plastic consumption and live in a more sustainable way.

With countless stories up her sleeve, Becky also shares that “I actually got to meet Sir David Attenborough a few years ago after attending a wildlife filmmaking event in Bristol”, after starting her ‘Do it for David’ campaign Becky also received a lovely letter in the post from David thanking her for her work. Asking Becky what the well-loved national treasure was like in person she delights that “he was the loveliest guy and has been an inspiration to me for years”, continuing that “he’s such a lovely man, and hilarious too!”

Combining her two biggest passions of travel and sustainability, Becky makes a conscious effort to be environmentally-friendly while travelling. Whether this be

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TALKING TRAVEL PHOTO: A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC TO END THE DAY AS THE SUN SETS IN ABERSOCH BY: BECKY PRICE

international or domestic travel, there are many ways that she aspires to be mindful.

Including, but certainly not limited to choosing your location wisely, booking more sustainable accommodation and opting for more sustainable transport options where possible.

we’re able to travel it’s vital that we do so mindfully.

Opting for a country that is known for its sustainability or that depends on tourism, or simply exploring nearer to home are both ways that Becky encourages others to consider when travelling. Although it may be something that’s typically overlooked, trying to stay in places owned by local people or businesses that are evidently trying to reduce their environmental impact are other things to think about.

“So many places in the world depend on tourism, and the protection of some of our most amazing wildlife depends on it”, the absence of safari tourists in Africa is just one example of how the pandemic has affected tourism and consequently impacted wildlife.

Becky elaborates saying that “the lack of tourists visiting Africa has led to an increase in animal poaching as there’s less chance of them getting caught, and there’s a lack of funding to protect and conserve the wildlife there”.

The pandemic has seen many tourism companies struggling, with the likes of STA Travel closing - who Becky had international trips booked with in 2020. “It’s such a shame that so many companies linked to tourism are suffering right now”, hence why when

However, it’s not all negative, “in terms of climate change, I would say the pandemic has had a positive influence on our natural world - the people have moved out and the animals have moved in.” Less traffic has resulted in a reduction of emissions and less

46 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

roadkill. Then there’s air travel, “suddenly we can’t all just hop on a plane whenever we wish, meaning that most people will have reduced their carbon footprint, even if only temporarily.

I think we now need to apply some of the things that the pandemic has taught us over this past year.”

Anticipating a summer of more normality, Becky is excited to see more of the UK, with wishes of visiting Scotland later this year and more local trips on her agenda. But most of all, she’s excited to see family and friends again, spending more time with loved ones is something that I’m sure we’re all ready for.

With hopes of more travelling on the not too distant horizon, Becky is keen to continue quenching her inner wanderlust with wishes of visiting Scotland later this year. Despite the uncertainty of the year ahead, becoming a tourist in your own home town is something that we can all enjoy while waiting for grander travel plans to be permitted.

WORDS BY LOWRI LLEWELYN

IN THE SECOND OF A TWO-PART SERIES, LOWRI LLEWELYN DELVES INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE LLN’S MOST BELOVED BEACHES.

PHOTO: THE BEAUTIFULLY SECLUDED PORTH YSGADEN BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

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HE MOST FORTUNATE ASPECT OF BEING PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IS OUR ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE SEVERAL CULTURES WITHIN ONE VERY SMALL ISLAND. HOP OVER THE BORDER FROM CHESTER AND YOU’VE ENTERED A COUNTRY WITH A DISTINCTIVE HISTORY AND ITS VERY OWN LANGUAGE; A LANGUAGE DERIVED FROM THE ANCIENT BRYTHONIC WHICH ORIGINATED 1000 YEARS BEFORE ENGLISH, LENDING ITSELF TO ANCIENT BEACH NAMES WHICH HARK BACK TO BYGONE DAYS. Here on the Llŷn, a range of influences have in some cases generated an alternative name that sits alongside the traditional names. Sometimes a translation of the original name, in others an entirely different name. In a video by comedian Tudur Owen, which can be viewed on YouTube under ‘Disappearing Welsh names’, he cites Porth Trecastell (also known as Cable Bay) on Anglesey as an example. The original name is rooted in the history of the place - ‘Porth’ translates to ‘access point’ or gateway - for travel, trade and fishing - while ‘Trecastell’ suggests an ancient fort or castle that would have defended that stretch of coastline. So you see, the original names tell a story, whereas the alternative may offer no direct connection to the place or its past.

BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards refers to this practice as ‘linguistic cleansing’, and it’s not just beach names affected. In the first of our What’s in a name? series we looked into the trend of replacing historic property names, where a recent petition saw more than 18,000 people support consideration of the issue in the Senedd (Welsh parliament). Thanks to a real enthusiasm for recognising the importance of history and heritage, it is now under consideration from the Petitions Committee. Campaigners Cymdeithas yr Iaith—the Welsh Language Society—have meanwhile launched a scheme named ‘Diogelwn’, which provides legal documents homeowners can use to protect the name of their property in future sales.

To return to the emergence of alternative beach names, a prime example is Abersoch main beach, or Borth Fawr to give it its correct name. While ‘Borth’ means portal or access point, ‘Fawr’ means large likely selected to differentiate it from its smaller neighbour, Porth Bach

(little), which will be familiar to many by its alternative name of Six Penny Beach.

Another example is Warren Beach, originally named

Harbwch Castellmarch.

While ‘Harbwch’ refers to a harbour, ‘castell’ refers to a castle. March, finally, refers to the legendary king March ab Meirchion, a successful sea trader who harboured the terrible secret of being born with the ears of a donkey!

PHOTO: INDIGENOUS NAMES CONNECT US TO OUR PAST BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

PHOTO: HERRING WAS PLENTIFUL AT PORTH YSGADEN BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

One of the most infamous beaches on the Llŷn is Porth Neigwl, also known as Hell’s Mouth. While its English name refers to the peril many a shipping vessel has found itself in over the centuries—more than 140 shipwrecks have been recorded here— it’s been theorised that Neigwl is an ancient name for the Llŷn, or a reference to a person of Scandinavian or Irish origin.

Abersoch Life’s Kevin Bell is now keen to use the original name of his local beach. ‘It’s only since I’ve moved here that I’ve properly understood the importance of original names to many people. Like me, I just don’t think visitors neccessarily realise the significance of the original name.

I like to think I’m relatively sensitive to cultural issues but I didn’t really understand. So, education about the history and importance of Welsh names, and the connection to local | 49

WHAT’S IN A NAME

heritage, is the way forward.’

PHOTO: THE SOUTHERN END OF PORTH CEIRIAD WITH ITS STEEP CLIFFS BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

imposing cliffs prove an inhospitable climb for humans, but rather a doddle for cats - hence the name Llwybr y Gath (cat’s path).

Traeth yr Arian, meanwhile, is said to refer to the silver coins washed up ashore following a shipwreck.

He continues, ‘I’ve still got lots to learn! But I now consciously try and use the Welsh name first in social media posts for example, and I’ve got a couple of local friends I’ve asked to keep an eye on me if I err! I now also better understand the Just north of Nefyn is meaning or translation Nant Gwrtheyrn of more common local (now the National names. I think what Welsh Language & would be good is if Heritage Centre so it’s there was more regular especially important we presentation of phonetic understand it!), named PHOTO: KEVIN BELL’S CARVINGS AT PORTH NEIGWL HONOUR BOTH NATIONAL LANGUAGES spelling of local names after the fifth century BY: OUTWEST PHOTO so that visitors could King Gwrtheyrn. Portrayed by Jude Law more easily pronounce them; I think also refers to the abundance of fish in the film King Arthur: Legend of the they would then use them more and found along these shores. Porth Sword, the disgraced Gwrtheyrn (also thus make an effort to also understand Ysgyfarnog is a reference to hares, known as Vortigern) escaped from them.’ while Porth Llwynog makes his enemies—who’d burned his town note of local foxes. So you see, if of Radnorshire to the ground in the Slightly further afield from Porth you explore the translation you will hope he himself would be among the Neigwl is Porth Gwylan , which discover many of these names provide debris—and took refuge in this isolated refers to the gulls that are so familiar a rich description of the Llŷn’s natural valley. to everyone on the Llŷn. Porth habitat.

Ysgaden, meanwhile, refers to the Some names are open to Possibly the loveliest name in the herring said to be taken in abundance interpretation, however. While Porth area is Porth Llanllawen . ‘Llan’ to Bardsey Island. Welsh naturalist and y Wrach most likely refers to the is used to denote the land around a writer Thomas Pennant documented fish found around rocky shorelines, it church where Christians have settled in 1771 that the catch would normally could also refer to a local witch!

- you’ll find the word in around 630 be valued at £4000 and either salted names across Wales, while ‘llawen’ ashore or continue on to Dublin.

According to Elfed Gruffydd, author of means jolly. Sounds like you’d have Likewise, it’s probable Porth Ysgo Ar Hyd Ben ‘Rallt, Porth Ceiriad’s received an especially warm welcome here!

50 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

WHAT’S IN A NAME

North Wales native Bethan Jones is keen to see the region’s traditional names respected and maintained. ‘Local communities have always recognised areas by their original names. It’s important to our heritage and identity that they are used by all, even if they can sometimes be a challenge to pronounce!

We welcome visitors and want to help and encourage them to use the Welsh language and indigenous names, in the same way they do in Scotland and Ireland, and England too.’

We understand that our ancient names can be hard to pronounce and to remember, but you will get so much more out of any visit across the world when you better understand the local history and heritage of a place – traditional names are a great way into that understanding and no more so than here on the Llŷn. It means the world to us when you give them a go - an inquisitive visitor is an especially rewarding visitor. So, in advance, please give it a go, ask for help where you need it and thank you for respecting our history!

PHOTO: A LONE SURFER AT SUNSET OVER AT PORTH NEIGWL BY: OUTWEST PHOTO

52 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

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PHOTO: O N CE YO U ’ V E GOT YO U R CO N F I DENCE O N YO U R SU P, IT ’S ADVENT U R E T I M E HEADING F O R T H E ISLANDS BY: O U T W E ST IM AGES

54 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

PHOTO: YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR FROM ABERSOCH BEACH TO HAVE A WONDERFUL SUP ADVENTURE BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

WORDS BY REBECCA HINDE

I

T MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO BUT I REMEMBER IT LIKE YESTERDAY. WANDERING DOWN TO THE BEACH I SAW SOMEONE APPARENTLY WALKING ON WATER. I SOON LEARNT THAT THIS WAS STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING (SUP). ALWAYS A BOARDING ENTHUSIAST, I WAS IMMEDIATELY CONVERTED AND SHOT ALONG TO BROOKBANK CANOES WHERE, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY AVAILABLE ADVICE ON THIS NEWLY MINTED SPORT, I CHOSE ‘THE YELLOW ONE’. THIS PROVED TO BE TOO SMALL, SO I TOOK IT BACK AND SWAPPED IT FOR ‘THE BLACK & WHITE ONE’. I’VE STILL GOT IT – IT’S ONE OF THE BOARDS THAT TOOK ME ON #THEHOMETOWNPADDLE FROM ABERSOCH BACK TO CHESHIRE – ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS I’VE EVER MADE.

In reality, various traditional forms of paddle-boarding have been around for centuries, but it is only in the last ten years or so that it has really taken off as a mainstream sport. It’s not hard to see why. With a little tuition and effort anybody can do it (you can make the sport as challenging or as modestly fun-filled as you want it to be), entry costs are not unreasonable and it is as fabulous for your mental health as it is wonderful for your overall fitness, not least your all-important ‘core’. Whatever your age, size, shape or fitness you really can SUP. There’s even room for your dog on some boards!

As someone who has dabbled in most watersports over the decades, perhaps its biggest attraction is the simplicity of the kit. Essentially all you need is a board and a paddle and, with modern advances in the manufacture of

inflatable boards (iSUP’s), storage and transport are super-easy. You have no excuses not to get involved!

Unlike my experience twenty years ago, virtually pre-internet and with little or no advice to fall back on, new

entrants to the sport now have a wealth of advice and quality gear to turn to.

Especially here in Abersoch which has become something of a mecca for the sport, a perfect SUP location backed up by a host of shops selling and hiring high quality gear across the price ranges and offering excellent advice and tuition. If you want to

learn to paddleboard, the sheltered waters of Abersoch are the place.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, Abersoch remains the perfect location for your SUP adventures, to take to the waves at wonderful Porth Neigwl on a SurfSUP or as a base to head up into the mountains to paddle the beautiful lakes and rivers of Snowdonia.

It’s also worth saying that it’s a sport you can adopt as softcore or as hardcore as you prefer. Plenty of folk buy a mid-range iSUP for use primarily as a robust, fun beach toy for the family, just taking a longer paddle when the fancy takes them. It’s all cool – SUP is quite literally what you make it - let’s get you started!

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ANYONE CAN SUP

PHOTO: SAFE LAUNCHING IN THE SHALLOWS OFF THE BEACH BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

TAKING THE PLUNGE? TAKE A LESSON! We’d strongly recommend you start with a lesson. Lots of our local watersports shops offer tuition, some of them may even discount your lesson or hire cost if you go on to buy a board. They’ll help you choose the right board, get you started safely and healthily, show you the basics, give you confidence when you first fall in (it happens and it’s fine, fun even!), surround you with friendly fellow learners and make sure you know how to use and deal with the gear safely and without damaging it.

PHOTO: A HUGE RANGE OF RED BOARDS AT ABERSOCH WATERSPORTS BY: NIC KINGS

For those who already have some boarding experience and feel confident to learn solo I’d strongly recommend listening carefully to the shop advice when you rent or buy your board, watch lots of up-to-date online videos before you go, have a read of guides like this and in particular follow the safety advice carefully.

Pursued sensibly, SUP should not be a dangerous sport at all, but tidal waters and inexperience and lack of knowledge are a dangerous mix – please follow the guidance.

CHOOSING YOUR BOARD For most folk an iSUP is the way to go. Rigid (what most folk think of as ‘fibreglass’) boards are great, particularly for racing and surfing, but for the average user an inflatable is far easier to store and transport, the better ones are relatively light, they are remarkably robust, and they are more comfortable to use – a little softer underfoot and a lot more forgiving if you fall on them.

Broadly speaking you get what you pay for. Above all design, quality, stiffness and durability are what you are paying for. Modern iSUPs from established brands are remarkably rigid and increasingly are light too, as materials and construction improve year on year. A ‘bargain Amazon board’ may well work as a fun beach toy but if it’s bendy or excessively ‘fat’ to gain the

stiffness it needs, it will be a lot less fun than a quality board. Poorly made and it is a safety risk. Good quality brands available in the village include Red, Jobe, Bic, Fanatic and highly

56 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

regarded local brand, O’Shea.

Most adults will want an ‘all-round’ board between 10’ and 11’ 6”, around 32” wide and with a rounded nose

are better still. It should not be too tight a fit – we all know how hard it is getting a tent back into a too small bag – it’s the same with iSUPs.

SETTING UP

PUMP Your board package should come with a pump. Again, you get what you pay for. The double chamber pumps are definitely a bonus. Some of the better modern boards can reach maximum stiffness at lower pressure – this is worth looking out for – less pumping!

Provided it can reach the psi you need, its worth thinking about an electric pump that runs off your car accessory point – to save time, personally I pump the board up ‘to shape’ by hand then let the electric pump take over.

PHOTO: A DRY BAG IS A LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO A DECK BAG FOR LONGER TRIPS - ABERSOCH SURF SHOP HAVE A WIDE RANGE

PHOTO: AGOOD QUALITY ADJUSTABLE PADDLE IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT (ABERSOCH SURF SHOP)

LEASH Your board should come with a leash. If it doesn’t, please buy one there and then. Do not venture out without one.

Ever. Coiled leashes are best for flat water.

PADDLE

Most boards come as a package with a budget paddle.

If I had one recommendation for someone who thinks they will really get into this sport it is to invest in a better paddle. The ‘package paddles’ are completely fine if you want to mess around off the beach – it’s great fun. If you want to progress, then invest in a composite paddle or stretch to a full carbon one. Many shops will let you trade up to a better paddle at a good price when you buy your board.

BAG Your iSUP will spend a lot of time packed away. It’s worth checking that your board comes with a decent bag that won’t fall apart. The wheeled ones

and a waterproof deck bag or dry bag is great for spare clothes, flask and food if you want a little adventure.

Take your board out of its bag and unroll it away from any sharp items.

Set the valve to ‘inflate’ (usually a little button you need to lock up or down in the valve – don’t get it wrong, it’s heart-breaking to lose all that air!) connect the pump and start pumping.

Pumping the board to shape is easy.

Taking it to the recommended psi can be harder. Some folks say it’s a great warm up, some say it’s just plain hard!

Take your time, take breaks, share the load if you can, use your pump as instructed (many pumps allow for an adjustment for easier high-pressure strokes towards the end) and if you really struggle, invest in an electric pump. Tighten the valve securely.

If the board has fixed fins no worries.

If the fins are detachable, check the instructions for when to fit – some go on before you pump up, some after. The fins angle backwards, not forwards! Tighten any fixing nuts securely.

Fit the leash to the board– the thinner end goes through a metal ring or loop at the fin end of the board. Fix it securely – it is your lifeline remember.

Adjust your paddle to size. Opinions vary but about 6” longer than your head height is a good starting point.

ROOF-RACK? If you’re here for a while you may want to invest in a roof rack (the ‘soft’ strapon ones are fine for shorter journeys).

That way you don’t have to pump your board up every day.

ACCESSORIES Like most sports, it’s great fun browsing for any number of accessories, but you don’t really ‘need’ any more than the basics. A waterproof phone case is a valuable safety aid,

PHOTO: RED PADDLE CO. ‘DRYROBE’ FROM ABERSOCH WATERSPORTS - PERFFECT FOR BEFORE & AFTER A PADDLE!

to give maximum stability the length of the board. Personally, I’m a fan of ‘if in doubt, bigger is better’ for most family purchases as they will have a wide range of users and it is safe, stable progress that helps you fall in love with the sport, as opposed to constantly falling in the water!

But if you are reasonably athletic or crossing over from other board sports (or simply smaller in stature) you may prefer more of an ‘all round tourer’ type board shape like the Red Sport which will track a little more fluently.

Broadly speaking touring boards are a little longer, thinner and ‘pointier’ than all-round boards - you trade a little stability for better speed and tracking.

Talk to our watersports shops, they will help you choose.

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ANYONE CAN SUP

PHOTO: PICK A CALM FLAT DAY FOR YOUR FIRST SUP SESSIONS BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

WHERE TO START For your first sessions, choose a day when there is little wind and the water is as calm as possible. Generally, in Abersoch where westerly winds prevail, the two most sheltered areas at higher tide are the harbour area or the top end of the bay at Machroes.

Abersoch main beach and the Warren beach have large areas marked by big yellow buoys that are off-limits to power craft. As it happens these areas are generally shallower water too. So, when its busy, these are the safest places for you and your family to learn and have fun on your SUP. Generally be mindful of other water users make sure you have plenty of room to practice standing, falling and paddling without hitting others.

See below for safety notes but set off into the wind, not with it. That way you know you will get back. Go with the wind first and you may find yourself with a long walk back carrying your board.

HITTING THE WATER Check you have clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, especially wet boots to protect your feet. Loop the big end

of the leash through the carry handle (you don’t want to ruin it dragging it through the sand), lift the board by the handle in one hand, paddle in the other and head for the shallows.

Now attach the fat end of your leash just below your knee, place your board gently on the sand, the nose facing the water and the fin to land. Fins at the back help keep the board straight while you paddle, this is called tracking.

MAKE SURE YOUR PADDLE IS THE RIGHT WAY ROUND! It seems counter-intuitive, but the blade of the paddle should angle away from you towards the front of the board. That way as it passes your body it’s vertical for maximum forward thrust on each stroke.

HERE WE GO! Place your board in the water with the fins clear of the bottom and climb onto it on your hands and knees. Then sit back on your knees. You need to be at the centre-point of the board. Happily, that is knees either side of the carry

58 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

handle, well spaced for a stable base.

Start off by paddling on your knees.

In this position you have both hands on the shaft of the paddle. Take two or three strokes each side of the board and you will get that delicious feeling of self-propulsion!

GOOD PADDLING TECHNIQUE When you are feeling comfortable, slowly stand up one foot at a time keeping your feet shoulder width apart, again feet either side of the carry handle. Now you need to hold the paddle ’properly’. So, if you are paddling on the right side of the board your left hand should be at the top of the paddle (holding the ‘T’ handle) and your right hand about 20” down the shaft, the angle of the blade facing away from you.

Once standing, plant yourself firmly and then begin by flexing your knees slightly to adopt an effective paddling position. Stable legs will guarantee good balance. You are actually trying to ‘pull’ the board past your paddle so plant your paddle into the water, well forward to optimize your stroke, and pull it towards you alongside the board. Bend your body slightly forward

PADDLE TIPS

7.

To turn right, put the paddle in the water on the left side and make a few firm strokes a little wider from your board than normal. Do the opposite to go left.

1.

Remember, don’t look at your feet but straight ahead at a fixed point.

2.

Your feet should be parallel, either side of the carry handle and shoulder-width apart.

3. Grip the paddle firmly but not too tight – it will tire you

out if you do.

4.

In the early days do not reach too far ahead of you so that you don’t overstrain.

5. Keep your paddle strokes as close to your board as you can – the wider you paddle the harder it is to go straight.

6.

Keep your grip on the paddle about shoulder-width apart. Hands too close together will reduce your paddling power.

8.

Take a short break after each stroke, to recentre yourself, feel for how the board is moving and checking your direction.

9.

In your first sessions you tend to be very ‘stiff ’ on the board. It’s natural self protection (although actually the key to stability is to be as relaxed as possible on your board) but it can lead to a form of pins and needles in your feet. Its no big deal but to stop it happening just keep your feet moving a little on the board – tiny shuffling movements, curling your toes occasionally etc.

10.

When arriving back, remember your fin! If it hits the sand as you paddle into the beach you will fall forward onto your board. It’s like falling in the snow in front of the mountain restaurant - not cool! Dismount before you hit the shallows.

and stretch your arms out for leverage.

The top arm pushes, while the lower arm pulls. When the paddle comes past your feet, lift the paddle out and do it over again.

you do. But if you can, try to fall to the sides and keep hold of your paddle so you don’t lose it, but away from your body so you don’t hit it. It’s all a lot more natural than it sounds – trust me!

Try to keep your arms reasonably straight. It is your whole body that provides the connection between the paddle and the board, not just your arms. It’s not your back that bends, but your hips. Remember if you are paddling on the right you go left, and vice versa. So, switch sides every three or four strokes so that you end up straight. When you switch sides, you’ll reverse hand positions on the paddle.

To get back on, give yourself a moment to compose yourself. Position yourself in the middle of the board, place your paddle on it and climb on. Reach over to the handle or far rail to give you an ‘edge’ to hold onto if that helps. You might well be very inelegant the first few times – don’t worry, we’ve all been there!

Do not look at your feet, that’s how to fall off! Instead, fix your eyes on a point on the horizon and aim for that. Periodically, check your feet are centred either side of the carry-handle.

Little ‘shuffling’ movements are the way to go so that you stay stable as you move them. If you begin to feel uncomfortable at any time, slowly go back down on your knees as this is a very stable position. If you fall in, don’t worry about it. Just climb back on your board and try again. It’s part of the fun.

FALLING IN! It’s probably going to happen in the early days so go with it. Try not to fall forwards or backwards as you might hit your SUP. Although that’s why iSUPs are so good – its not really an issue if

It’s a good idea to stay on your knees in shallow water. You are less likely to fall in and if you do it is not from a height into shallow water which carries obvious risks.

PROGRESSING Really that’s it! You are up and paddling and ready to have the time of your life. If you want to progress then take lessons or watch online videos (chose current ones as techniques have rapidly improved). You can soon improve the efficiency of your paddle stroke, learn a basic ‘pivot turn’ or even take a look at SUP surfing, SUP Yoga, SUP fishing, SUP adventure tours and SUP racing (check out Abersoch Regatta for some fun local SUP racing!)

debate, location recommendations, permit advice on inland waters (the sea is free!) etc. And don’t forget our local Watersports stores – their social media pages are brilliant, including information on the wonderful Abersoch Watersports SUP Socials, when conditions permit.

WHAT TO WEAR When you’re learning and likely to fall in then a wetsuit is the way to go.

Unless it’s very hot (but remember the water is always cold), when you might get away with boardies and a rash vest.

Once you’re confident, layering is the way to go (which is where a dry deck bag is handy for spare clothes) with board shorts, rash vests, quick dry tops and maybe a thin shell layer.

In colder months once you’ve mastered paddling, unless you are SUP surfing, you are better with leggings and tops rather than a wetsuit, which will generally leave you too warm.

On sunny days polarised sunglasses are great to reduce glare and help you spot fish. Use a lanyard to stop you losing them if you hit the water.

Similarly a cap or floppy hat are good to reduce sun glare. Use high SPF sunscreen – it can feel deceptively cool on the water.

There are loads of SUP Facebook groups with some great advice,

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ANYONE CAN SUP

PHOTO: SUNRISE OR SUNSET - IT’S ALWAYS BETTER ON A SUP BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

STAYING SAFE Use your leash. Always. It is your lifeline. SUP is generally safe but iSUPS are particularly wind-affected. If you fall off without a leash, your board can be away from you within seconds.

Even close to the shore this could lead to disaster. So, wear your leash – always.

Use a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). When you’re learning its an extra safety fallback and once you start exploring it can prevent a tradgedy.

Don’t paddle alone, especially when a novice or in a new area.

Tell somebody where you are going and when you will be back.

Then if anything goes wrong, they can call help.

The most important rule to follow with any water sport is ‘if in doubt, don’t go out’. If you were to get it into any difficulty it’s not only yourself you put in danger, but also your potential rescuers.

Check the weather, wind and the tides, particularly if you are heading any distance from the shore.

Conditions change frighteningly fast at sea. The wind can shift 180 degrees and double in strength in minutes, a fast-ebbing tide can create a significant counter current. Remember tide times change about an hour every day – conditions on a Friday are very different from the Saturday you arrived. I use WindGuru for Wind forecasts (direction and strength) and XC Weather, whilst Magic Seaweed gives you tide times and wave conditions. There are free versions of all three aps. Use them and stay safe.

If you are going any distance, have a plan for how you will deal with changes in conditions or equipment failure. Keep spare layers in a deck bag, especially a shell layer. Similarly take your phone in a waterproof case.

Be aware of dehydration, especially on hot days, carry water with you and drink regularly.

LOOK AFTER YOUR GEAR. A quality brand iSUP is pretty tough. Try and rinse the saltwater off with fresh water regularly, including rinsing sand from the valve.

If your SUP is going to be off the water in full sun maybe let a little pressure out to protect it. Conversely when on the water, ensure it is kept fully inflated to the recommended psi.

Check your board for damage or abrasions. Use the repair kit that comes with your board to repair any damaged areas.

Check your leash and leash fittings regularly for damage and replace immediately if it is. If you are storing in the bag for long periods, rinse first and ensure it is rolled and folded as instructed to prolong its life.

AND FINALLY. This may seem a lot to take in. It’s not really, the beauty of SUP is that it is simple and fun. You don’t have to be ‘good’ at it to love it. Just be sensible and, even if you never go more than 20 yards from the shore in Abersoch bay, it can transport you, your body and your mind to a better place.

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PHOTO: THE ABERSOCH WATERSPORTS SUP SOCIAL TEAM ROUND THE ISLANDS BY: NIC KINGS

Once you’re confident, if you do nothing else, then on a calm, warm, high tide evening, launch your SUP at Machroes and head out to the old Lifeboat station. If you are still a novice stay the shore side of it – conditions can be very different just round the headland. Turn round and look back at the setting sun, take in the beauty. And if you are lucky, the dolphins may just join you, slipping and sliding around you in the magical evening light – life does not get much better.

e r e h t t u o Geet njoy! &

WORDS BY BETHANY BIRCH

HORIZONS ARE CLEAR AND WATERS STEADY FOR THE BREWERY BROTHERS MIKE AND OLLIE HOLMES - FOUNDERS OF THE BEER BRAND, LOST AT SEA.

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OST AT SEA IS AN INDEPENDENT BEER BRAND WITH A RANGE OF HERITAGEINSPIRED, AUTHENTIC BEERS CHARACTERISED

BY CRAFTSMANSHIP, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND A PASSION FOR THE BRITISH COAST. THE BRAND, STARTED BY BROTHERS, MIKE AND OLLIE HOLMES, IN 2019, WAS INSPIRED BY THEIR GRANDFATHER’S TALES OF LIFE AS A SEASIDE EVACUEE TO NORTH WALES AND BRITAIN’S PROUD SEAFARING HERITAGE. The brothers long standing love affair began from family holidays around the Llŷn Peninsula. From afternoons rock pooling as kids in Morfa Nefyn to their first beers in the Ty Coch after hours at sea in search of elusive mackerel.

The brothers have spent their later years enjoying the picturesque village of Abersoch and the brilliant community that makes it a very special place.

inclusive beer, after all “it’d be a shame for us to lose people just for being too experimental with the beer and it’s taste”. You can currently purchase their beers from several stores across the country, and online - see their website for more information: lostatsea.co.uk .

Curiosity, endeavour and adventure underline everything LAS stands for.

Which is why the brothers donate 5p from every can sold to the RNLI. They recently marked their 20,000th sale with a £1,000 donation to the Abersoch Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) - which is actually how we came to discover the brand!

They also give monthly to the marine conservation charity who work to protect our oceans, beaches and marine life, Surfers Against Sewage.

With fabulous flavour and heaps of hops, the beers are the perfect accompaniment to any good time.

The business currently offers three different flavours - North Point, Voyager, Wipeout. They aim to produce

The brothers are shortly setting sail on their first crowdfunding campaign which will give people the unique opportunity to contribute to the future of their company and catch themselves some shares in the business. The campaign is due to go live shortly, on April 14th, on the well-known crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.

When the campaign launches in April, people will be able to help the brothers raise capital in exchange for shares in the company.

Deciding to gain capital from a crowdfunding campaign was made after previously exploring more traditional methods of funding, such as bank loans. Launching a crowdfunding page seemed like the best fit for Lost At Sea and what they stand for as a business, whilst being an exciting venture for both the PHOTO: THE NORTH POINT PALE ALE - ALL IN RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS brand and contributors. The brothers aim to raise £500,000 through the campaign, and are inspired by other wellknown breweries such Equity For Punks, The brother’s trust that “It’s an easy business for people to understand - we make beer we sell beer”, to put it simply “everyone loves beer!”.

Amongst other things the brothers plan to spend the money on setting up their first flagship seafood bar in Abersoch, becoming true advocates for local produce and sustainability. Noticing a potential gap in the market, they aim to open their flagship seafood restaurant in 2022 with intentions of the restaurant to encompass a relaxed, casual atmosphere where customers can enjoy a drink and high quality seafood after a long day spent at the beach.

Lost at Sea champions British manufacturing by brewing and canning all their beers from their Yorkshire brewery. Through blending classic British and continental techniques with the innovative spirit that characterises New World brewing, the brothers produce balanced, flavoursome, highly drinkable beers with uncompromising integrity.

Yorkshire based, the brothers frequently escape to their spiritual home in Abersoch where they spend their days exploring land and sea in pursuit of adventure. Ollie has a passion for watersports whereas Mike will be found on his boat dropping lobster pots or trawling the rugged coastline in search of Bass.

enjoying our great beer.

They’re also environmentally and ethically conscious, with initiatives like sponsored beach cleans and their commitment to sustainable packaging.

They tread lightly on the environment by only using recycled aluminium cans – one of the most sustainable forms of packaging around, with Mike stating that “as it says on our website, we can because we care”. Cans are energy - efficient to manufacture, fuel-efficient to transport and supersimple to recycle – all of which reduces their carbon footprint and means their customers can feel good about

As a new business expanding their brand is something that they’re especially focused on, “once we’ve got a flagship venue then we’re on the map as a serious brand”. The brother’s are keen to become part of the Abersoch community both personally and professionally, to develop and strengthen relationships within the close-knit community; seeking to only enhance the already thriving highstreet.

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The brother’s also have plans of to our passion and love for the coast, attending all mainline UK festivals in specifically north wales and the Llŷn the future, selling their beer from a Peninsula”, it’s evident that their zest mobile bar. Names like Boardmasters, for coastal escapades is an integral Glastonbury and even the ever-familiar component of Lost At Sea. Time Glass Butter Beach are mentioned; spent beside the ocean has a way of with the boys nostalgically recalling washing all worries away that we’re all summer days spent at Llanbedrog undoubtedly familiar with; this sense beach at the local festival. With of being truly lost and happy in the dreams of purchasing a Citröen H Van PHOTO: MIKE AND OLLIE WITH THEIR GENEROUS DONATION TO ABERSOCH RNLI - classically - THEY PLEDGE TO DONATE 5P FROM EVERY French, with CAN SOLD corrugated sides and easily customisable - to use when attending events.

Alongside the brother’s unmissable zest and ambitious natures, their professional backgrounds undoubtedly enhance their brand.

Previously working in marketing and bars/ restaurants has granted Mike with industry-led knowledge and talents that shine through in several areas of the brand. Whereas Ollie has experience within the Social Media industry, working for FMCG brands and the likes of Vocation Brewery, as well as having the greatest love for beer. Their combined knowledge and enthusiasm makes for the perfect blend.

Driven by an inner desire to explore, the brothers constantly find themselves wondering “what’s round that corner, over that horizon, beyond that ocean?”, and endeavour to always find the answers in an attempt to try and quench their insatiable curiosity and thirst for adventure.

With both men being self-confessed thalassophile’s (lover of the sea), it seems only natural for the boys to build their business on the foundations of this. It’s this inquisitiveness that they have built Lost At Sea on and continue to grow a community of like minded individuals, searching for more answers and more adventures.

“The brand was conceived really down

moment is what the brothers aim to create through their brand.

A sense of utter peace and being intensely present is what Mike and Ollie visualise when thinking of customers enjoying their beers. The scene of friends laughing around a bonfire at Hell’s Mouth with one of Lost At Sea’s flavoursome beers in hand comes to mind when the brothers discuss their products being part of a whole experience rather than just a drink.

The brother’s have received plenty of love for the brand’s name, although there have been questions raised about the name and it’s meaning. In short, “It’s an invitation for people to lose themselves in exploration and adventure”, explains Mike, “It’s all about losing yourself at the sea”. Mike and Ollie champion the simple things in life, like being beside the sea with good company, and getting lost in the great outdoors.

Pre-pandemic both Ollie and Mike followed their internal compass to Abersoch at least once a month... “It’s

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my happiest place”, admits Ollie with his brother quick to agree, “Abersoch has always amazed me”. The brother’s certainly aren’t alone with their deep love for the area, with the Llŷn being loved by so many for many years Abersoch has won so many over, like many others the boys are truly itching to get back to the place that they belong.

Associated with countless joyous memories, the brothers recount story after story of their times at the coast.

From many a day spent at Morfa Nefyn throughout their childhood progressing to evenings spent at the Ty Coch as late-teens, to hours spent on the water exploring the local coast, they speak of the Llŷn Peninsula with such merriment.

While discussing their love for the area, the brother’s tell of how they regularly assess the housing market, fantasising about living in the area.

With big dreams for the future, it may not be too long until we see at least one of the brother’s going with the current and anchoring down here more permanently.

The brothers invite people wanting to join their voyage to please visit their website and register (lostatsea.co.uk/invest) your interest. By pre-registering, you will be amongst the first to know when the campaign goes live on www.crowdcube.com. By joining the brothers you’ll be helping to build a community of likeminded beer lovers with a shared passion for quality, community and business done the right way.

Although it may be early days for the business, I anticipate big things to be on the horizon for Lost At Sea.

PHOTO: COLD GOLD. SUNRISE WINTER SWIMMING OFF THE MAIN BEACH, ABERSOCH BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

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WORDS BY REBECCA HINDE

I

t was a glorious November morning in Abersoch, one where the low winter sun bathes everything in an amber light, the imperial blue mountains beckon from across the bay and, best of all, the children have all been dropped off at school.

Usually these mornings see locals head to the beaches, often with friends of the two or four legged variety, some go for a ride or run over the quiet, undulating lanes.

The mist on the fields clings to deepening breaths as it is rapidly burnt away by the slowly rising beams, baptising Abersoch into the village of gold.

The winter sea is glistening, a never ending blanket of emptiness. Undisturbed by boats and boarders, cormorants and gulls bathe in her glory as she rhythmically laps the sands, hypnotising all who look upon her with her intoxicating beauty. On these mornings I have often reflected that the water looks incredibly inviting, gazing upon her whilst I am cocooned in a warm wadding of puffer

jackets, jumpers, hats, hoods and gloves. Never once though, had I ever thought so inviting that I would obliterate the moment by de-robing and hurling myself into the freezing extremities and potentially dying, instantaneously, from the sheer shock of it. Until today, when that was precisely what I was on my way to do…I was fresh from the school run and about to meet up with the Abersoch Dunkers.

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ABERSOCH DUNKERS PHOTO: EMMA WOOD - CO FOUNDER OF THE ABERSOCH DUNKERS BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

PHOTO: MARK & SUE PEDLEY WARMING EACH OTHER UP POST DUNK BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

Many people who live on the Llŷn surf or swim when others may choose not to, but recently the craze of cold water/ wild swimming that has swept the entire globe, has also made its way to the Peninsula. Maybe it’s due to the pandemic moving so many more of us to connect with nature, as walking and exercising rapidly became the

PHOTO: MATT NICHOLS TAKING A TEMPERATURE CHECK...YES...IT’S DEFINITELY REFRESHING! BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

only social event permitted.

Perhaps the need for a challenge or routine, for a sense of community and sharing, for something to feel exhilarated and removed by during these times of the mundane and the mentally unsettling.

For me it certainly felt like a more exciting Monday morning, I was giddy with anticipation as I approached the excited group on the main beach. It was a small gathering of bobble hats and bathing suits, jubilant in each other’s company, delighted by the inspiring weather conditions and the sheer perfection of the view across to

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the islands that lay before us.

The Abersoch Dunkers was formed in September 2020 by Emma Wood and Harry Cavill, longtime friends who were interested in the benefits of cold water swimming. Harry and Emma are energetic, fun, blonde-bombshells.

They are regulars on the water with Emma running Abersoch Watersports events throughout the year, and Harry an avid paddle boarder, who had delved into the dipping phenomena by following the legendary Wim Hof method. Both are precisely the sort of people you would place to challenge themselves in this way, but many others of those they have inspired to

PHOTO: VANESSA HAYES “BEING IN THE SEA WHEN THE SUN RISES BY THE ISLANDS IS BREATHTAKING (NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLD!)” BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

“Feeling the cold water over my skin is incredible, it’s exciting.

Seeing the sunrise, the peace of the sea, walking over a frost covered beach, seeing my fellow dunkers puts me in a great head space. And it gives my dog a good swim every day, she loves it and the company.”

- Vanessa Hayes -

take the plunge are far more surprising contributors. The girls were so thrilled with their personal experiences from the brisk early morning swims that they began together, that they put out a call for anyone else wanting to join in - they never expected the outcome that followed. As the temperatures continued to fall, the numbers joining their WhatsApp group continued to rise, resulting in a membership of over 40 and counting.

My first dunk was as gentle an introduction as possible, the conditions really were ideal, practically inviting, and the whole mood was magical. The sheer beauty of the surroundings, coupled by a truly uplifting group of people, made the burning of the water far less noticeable. In fact the shock of going from the cold into even more cold, was almost less than in the summer when you go from the warm into the cold, but there was a definite searing sensation and I really had to focus to control my breathing from becoming a manic panting. I stayed in for 5 minutes (the group usually begin with a minute per degree with the more experienced staying in untimed for as long as they feel comfortable) and when I had got out and dressed I felt fantastic. Arriving back home by 9:30am feeling as though I had achieved something extraordinary (I

think my body thought I had survived a near death experience) was a new sensation for me and I can absolutely see me doing it regularly once the dreaded school run begins again.

Most Abersoch Dunkers have never looked back since their very first submersion. As we come into spring, with the bitterly cold sea reaching its most freezing - having absorbed the entire winter’s frosts, the dedicated disciples have religiously continued to take the daily plunge. During the storms, the snow, the howling rain that has marked our winter this year, even in the darkness they have peeled themselves from warm beds and into the icy waters. How do I know? Because they each send photos to the WhatsApp group advising on conditions and celebrating one another’s achievements. They checkin like a family and just knowing that they were continuing supporting each other from a distance, when everything else had stopped, was reassuring even purely as an observer. It is very much a team sport, but they can play on even when the team cannot all meet together. But who forms this ever growing team and what is it that drives them to continue on this, sometimes seemingly masochistic, ritual? Well they cannot be defined by age or background or gender; they are young and they are also retired, fit and far

less fit, extroverts and very quiet and unassuming, some are human and a few are dogs. The only commonality they all share is that they never dreamt that they would be doing this, and now they can never imagine not doing it.

I asked a number of the group what made them take the plunge and what personal benefits have they felt since embarking on this daily, often gruelling, pilgrimage. Emma and Harry ranked most highly as the initial driving force behind getting them into the water, and a sea of gratitude is felt for them having organised the group.

The support of the group is what keeps them returning, as well as the many health benefits they are experiencing - from improved circulation and skin, fewer aches and pains, to dramatically improved moods and outlooks.

Another surprising thing about cold water swimmers is that, although it is undeniably an endurance sport, many who commit themselves do so driven by health complaints not by fitness, and they experience real respite from a variety of conditions - both mental and physical.

“I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a couple of years ago and I’ve found that it really helps relieve my symptoms and gives me more energy for the day ahead. It gets me out of bed in the morning and gives my mood a real | 69

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PHOTO: KERRY PHILLIPS’ REMARKABLE COMMITMENT SAW HER COMPLETE A WET/DRY JANUARY. NO BOOZE AND A DIP EVERYDAY! RAISING THOUSANDS FOR CANCER RESEARCH. BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

PHOTO: KERRY’S SMILE WARMS THE COLDEST OF SEAS! BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

boost. I always feel so calm and energised after getting out the water. Feeling a part of something so significant reminds me that any problems I face are relatively small and can easily be dealt with.” - Rosie Haywood “Being in the sea - especially when it’s cold - brings a peace that nothing else does. I find myself being forced into my own body, to really experience the moment as it’s so visceral that there isn’t space for drifting off in my thoughts. It also helps me to feel connected to nature, which I find extremely comforting especially when so much in life at the moment is uncertain.” - Lucy Wright While the village sank deeper into the lonely, long, darkness of an isolated winter, a never-ending grief poured from the skies as water covered the land and closed the roads. The added burden of no households sharing company or pubs uniting us, meant that locals had to find a greater personal resolve to get them through to spring. The lighting up of

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PHOTO: DAILY DUNKER ANGELA NICOL’S 3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE GROUP - “BRAVE, BONKERS & SUPPORTIVE” BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

phones on dark mornings reminded them that they were not alone, and some began leaving their houses to watch the heavens illuminating at dawn. A therapy in witnessing the wonder and reassurance of the breaking of a new day, that profound spiritual awakening that can only really be provided by succumbing to the overwhelming beauty of the natural universe. Daily exercise became a sun salutation and unity was found through the fleeting passing of grateful smiles and laughter, on the beaches and in the waves.

“My husband and I love swimming off the main beach, our 2 year old daughter Seren can play safely on the beach and our 10 month old Benjamin can sit in his pram watching us whilst we dunk. Sunrise is the absolute perfect time, it’s stunning when you’re dunking and the sun starts appearing from behind the islands.” - Gemma Nichols “I honestly feel like a different person since I’ve been doing this. Times are tough at the moment for everyone so to

PHOTO: ROSIE DECKER, HARRY CAVILL, EMMA WOOD & ANGELA NICOL FOCUS ON REGULATING THEIR BREATHING AS THE SUN RISES BY: OUTWEST IMAGES

It’s the ultimate start to the day. I literally roll out of bed, put on my bikini, get myself to the beach and dunk. Et viola I am wide awake, invigorated and ready to take on the world. Sounds dramatic but I can’t imagine functioning without it now. It’s the start of my day, Everyday.

- Harry Cavill -

have this little bit of me time first thing in the morning really sets me up for the day. This time last year if someone asked me to get in the sea in winter without a wetsuit I’d tell them to get lost! Now I can’t wait to get in.

Although when the water hits my knees I do think for a split second “why the hell am I doing this”. Anyone else who is dunking motivates each other to get in” - Vanessa Hayes The more you speak to the Dunkers the more you understand that this is an act of unity, of coming together to prop up one another during these times of separation and worry. A couple of the Dunkers have raised thousands for charities, receiving sponsorship from enthused online onlookers, uplifted and entertained by their “bonkers” morning pursuits. The words repeated over when I asked the group to describe The Abersoch Dunkers were “supportive” “welcoming” and “empowering”, they are grateful and amazed by the whole unexpected experience. Underpinning this camaraderie is, of course, the actual deed of taking yourself so abruptly out of your comfort zone that your body goes into survival mode, then releases a euphoric sense of achievement and gratitude - and the result is clearly intoxicating.

“It gives me a purpose and reason to get up in the morning which I have really needed in this lockdown. It has become an addiction, a good for you addiction.” - Stephanie Clueit Here is a pastime that requires no equipment (many Dunkers have Dryrobes or use neoprene gloves and boots in the very cold months - all easily available from our local surf shops - but state these are personal not vital), a hobby that needs little planning and takes up little time, something so easily accessible and yet so incredibly viscerally rewarding.

“It has definitely improved my mental health. Swimming in the elements makes you feel you can overcome anything” - Phaedra Wood I asked them what had been the most memorable dunk; “Christmas”, “birthdays”, “epic sunrises” and “rainbows” were mentioned but the overriding view is that every single time feels momentous, and that is certainly reinforced by the unwavering daily excitement from the WhatsApp’s group.

“Every time ....when I’m in the ocean as the sun streams across the Islands onto dunkers accompanied by the sound of laughter”. - Mark Pedley

The group is so encouraging to newcomers, they delight in sharing this new found experience. When asked what advice they would give anyone considering taking the plunge, the response was a resounding and simple “Do it!”

“Just get in there, you don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer. Breathe, let the cold pass, take in your special surroundings. Don’t do it alone, get warm quickly and into dry clothes, don’t shower straight away and let your body get warm naturally if possible” - Emma Wood It really feels as though The Abersoch Dunkers have undergone some kind of awakening. They have found a new appreciation of the sea, they have connected with the surroundings here on a far more primal level and discovered personal inner strengths that have surprised and invigorated them. They have made new unexpected friends and found life and community at a time when everyone else was hibernating.

The question that we should all be asking ourselves would appear not to be “Why on earth would you put yourself through the ordeal of cold water swimming?” but instead “Why on earth wouldn’t you?”

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WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN PORTER

A

midst the challenges and difficult circumstances facing so many people over the last year, solace for some has come through their daily interaction with nature; watching birds squabbling at the feeders outside our kitchen windows, taking a few deep breaths as we walk among trees and plants in our parks and woodlands, watching wading birds scurrying up and down the beach as they pick out invertebrates exposed by the ebbing tide. It’s maybe easier here around Abersoch on the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula, but I think a lot of people’s appreciation for nature and wild spaces has grown deeper since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

I’ve always been a bit of a nature nerd, fascinated in every facet of the natural world: from the minutest of insects to the mighty ocean-going seabirds. After moving to Bardsey Island in 2007, however, this interest took a hold in a new way. Surrounded by nature on this very special isle, I spent all my spare time (and perhaps a bit too much of my homeschooling time too for that matter) exploring the island’s treasure trove of natural wonders: Manx Shearwaters filling the night sky in their thousands in spring and summer as birds returned from their South American wintering grounds to breed on Bardsey; Oystercatchers noisily patrolling coastal territories with fierce boldness; Choughs playing in the updrafts of wind on breezy days (which is most of the time!), giving out their uplifting ‘cheaaa!’ call in a manner which surely attested to the fun they must be having.

PHOTO: BEN USING HIS PLANTPOT PARABOLIC AND ABOVE LISTENING OUT FOR THE UPLIFTING SONGS OF THE SKYLARK ON HEATHERY HILLTOPS AND AREAS OF GRASSLAND BY: BEN PORTER

Alongside the study and observations of nature on the island, I developed a real love for wildlife photography: capturing images of wildlife and trying to communicate something of its splendour and its importance to those around me. After completing a three-year degree in Conservation Biology with the University of Exeter, I have

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WILDLIFE WATCH

since launched into the challenge of making a career out of my passions back here on the peninsula, both in the research of biology and in science communication; pairing the tools of visual storytelling with the hard data provided by research.

One of my real passions is trying to engage people with nature. We live in a world where people are increasingly disconnected from nature: spending ever greater periods of time staring at our screens, or simply living in places where physical interaction with natural spaces is limited. In the UK, for example, the proportion of our population living in cities is expected to exceed 92% by 2030. How can we expect people to care about the natural world when we’re increasingly isolated and distanced from its beauty and intricate wonders which some of us are privileged enough to experience?

Enter 2020. With the world turned upside down amidst the chaos and quiet of lockdown, it gave some a time to pause; to stop, listen and spend more time noticing and enjoying nature around them. It provided a brilliant opportunity to encourage those venturing into this realm for the first time, and to provide ways of sharing our experiences and sightings through social media and other platforms.

I was lucky enough to be on the Llŷn Peninsula through the periods of lockdown we’ve experienced and was able (like many) to find peace and comfort in my daily explorations of the area around my home: the hillside,

PHOTO: MANX SHEARWATER ON YNYS ENLLI (BARDSEY ISLAND) BY: BEN PORTER

woodlands and coastal bay of Porth Neigwl. Having been fortunate to learn a wealth about identifying birds, insects and plants whilst growing up on Bardsey, I was keen to share some of these insights with others during a period when many people were trying to learn more about nature and perhaps had some spare time on their hands too.

As spring unfolded, I started documenting the sounds of the birdlife and landscapes around Pen Llŷn, creating short films and weekly Instagram series which allowed people to lose themselves in the soundscapes of nature and learn some birdsong identification at the same time. Sound is a powerful medium, perhaps even more so than visual cues; it has been scientifically shown that listening to the sounds of nature can greatly reduce the levels of stress hormones and stabilise blood pressure amongst other physiological benefits. By tuning in to the sounds around us, it also allows for a deeper connection with the natural world. This surely could not be more important than in the times we are living through.

A particularly enjoyable development in this process of sound recording was crafting a makeshift ‘parabolic reflector’ out of a plant pot. This device essentially amplifies any sounds you’re attempting to record and is particularly effective when trying to record the fainter songs and calls of elusive wildlife. By mounting a smartphone in the base of the plant pot and using headphones to listen to what you record at the same time, this device

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PHOTO: A CHOUGH IN FLIGHT ABOVE THE PENINSULA BY: BEN PORTER

provides an amazing and very cheap way of capturing high quality sounds of nature. I’ve spent the last year using this device for a variety of projects here on the peninsula.

One of these projects is the LIVE operation (which stands for the ‘Llŷn and Iveragh Ecomuseums’). LIVE is a collaboration between Welsh and Irish community organisations, academic departments and local governments that aims to increase the opportunities for regenerative tourism here on the Llŷn Peninsula and on the Iveragh Peninsula in south-west Ireland. This project will be building on the brilliant work of the ‘Ecoamgueddfa’ heritage centres around Llŷn and will explore opportunities to entice visitors outside of the traditional peak tourist seasons.

I feel this is particularly vital if we are to build a year-round sustainable visitor economy here on the Llŷn Peninsula that will retain a permanent, thriving population for years to come.

My work has included documenting the nature of the peninsula and producing short films and articles to help engage both visitors and local people with the wildlife of the area.

As we edge into spring once again, I would encourage anyone to have a go at making their own parabolic reflector and try to record the wildlife you see and hear around you.

It’s an incredibly exciting time of year as we leave the bleak days of winter

behind. Here are a few things we can expect to start hearing once again as the days lengthen and sub-Saharan migrant birds return to our shores…

1. On heathery hilltops and areas of

grassland, listen out for the uplifting song of Skylarks blasted out from high in the sky; a continuous stream of musical notes which lift the spirits of anyone lucky to hear one.

2. Whilst increasingly scarce in the Llŷn landscape, Curlews still breed in one or two moorland areas. Their call epitomises the uplands of Britain: a rising, bubbling cry given out by male birds slowly flying over their breeding territories. The heathland of Llanbedrog and Mynytho are great sites to keep an ear open for these special wading birds.

3. The easily recognised and repetitive ‘chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff ’ song of Chiffchaffs will become increasingly audible from patches of woodland and scrub as males set up territory and proclaim the emergence of spring in earnest.

4. Given out from high atop trees and bushes, Song Thrushes will take their stand in the early hours of the morning and blast out their song at impressive volume: a stream of phrases and notes given in sets of

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three to four, each set different to the last as they draw on a repertoire of dizzying variety.

5. Come May, keep your ears peeled for the call of the Cuckoo, a plaintive and yet beautiful two-note song which everyone should be familiar with! The two-note ‘ho-hoo…… ho-hoo’ is most often encountered around heathland and upland hills, but can also be heard where migrating birds arrive in off the sea, for example around Trwyn Cilan.

I hope you too can find some enjoyment in experiencing the natural world this spring and tuning in to the wildlife on your doorstep, hopefully here too as visitors make their way back once conditions allow. You’ll find me wandering the hillside of Mynydd Rhiw in the early hours of the day, waving a plant pot around as I capture recordings of the dawn chorus!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LLŶN ECOMUSEUM AND LIVE PROJECT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW, AND YOU CAN SHARE YOUR SIGHTINGS AND RECORDINGS ONLINE THROUGH THE PROJECT’S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. WWW.ECOAMGUEDDFA.ORG

uitars”

“Sunshine & G

“Always Playing” “Nicki &

ROB SMITH

Rob”

YOUR TUNE PLAYS ON

WORDS BY KEVIN BELL (WITH THANKS TO ROB’S FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS FOR THE PICTURES & HELP WITH THE WORDS)

A

bersoch stood still on November 11 th last year.

On the face of it the village was deserted. Midpandemic, lockdown, the heart ripped out of the normally bustling village. But as the clock turned towards noon it was if a magic wand had been waved. From all corners, from every doorway they emerged into the late autumn sunshine, the heart restored for the day by a mix of love, sadness and respect. It seemed as though every resident, every worker, every tradesperson, all the folk that Rob Smith had befriended, had made smile, came into the light to watch and salute as he made his final journey. His sister Nicki described it as feeling as uplifting as it was heart-breaking. Rob probably wouldn’t have approved – he liked it livelier, rowdier even – but I think he would have been proud.

Abersoch loved Rob Smith and the love shone through that day.

It wasn’t only Abersoch that loved Rob. He made many friends in many places in a life that may have been too short but was not short lived. His love of life, of music, of cricket, of debate, of rugby, of a party, of the simple joy of making somebody else smile with a tale or joke that may not have borne telling by others, saw to that.

If you knew Rob, or just met him briefly, he stayed with you. A maverick spirit (you had to be to invade the stage wearing nothing but cowboy boots and a big smile!) with a view on everything, but one rooted in a thoughtful, intelligent, independent spirit that gave his opinions a fresh perspective. Which meant that whether 78 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

“Rob & D

obby”

you agreed with them or not, you couldn’t help respecting them.

For many visitors and residents, they knew Rob as the manager and front of house at Abersoch Boatyard.

As Rob himself said, “The last ten years I’ve spent on Llyn have been very happy. Fifteen years ago, you would have heard me say that I could never work for anyone except myself but, as ever, I was wrong. I have been lucky enough to work for Mr Nigel S. Bourne esq. A wonderful boss and friend. A kinder and more generous person you will struggle to find. Thank you, Nigel, and

all my long-suffering colleagues at Abersoch Boatyard in no particular order including; Carolyn, Carys, Nigel, Josh, Jim, Robbie, George, Nia, Michelle, Will, Dale, Jojo, Zozo, Mizza, Charlotte, Harriet, Alex, Abi, I’m sure you’ll miss my jokes.” They will. Nigel never doubted his commitment, “Rob’s total Boatyard wardrobe was evidence enough of that!”

Rob’s friendly influence spread far beyond the Boatyard, he was much loved across the village.

I always think a good test of someone’s character is their courtesy to the waiting-on team in cafes and restaurants.

Rob passed that test with flying colours – local Jasmine Roberts (who herself stormed the iTunes rock charts a couple of years ago) takes up the story: “I met Rob when I started working in what was then Abersoch Cafe (now Zinc) when I was just 13. He used to come in for a coffee and sometimes a “Fatboy breakfast” as he christened it. We quickly hit it off, particularly over music. Rob was a great story teller too. The last story he told me was the famous naked dash across stage with a loo roll (if you’ve seen the painting you would know the one)! He was so full of wit, right to the end.

Aged 18, I was organising acoustic nights at a local rock pub. Rob was one of the first acts I booked (and one of the only ones I re-booked!). He would get up, sing and play and finish it all off with a pint of Guinness. He’d stay to support the other musicians and was always full of compliments and advice. Everyone loved him, he was always so charming and somehow even in a dark, grungy rock pub, always managed to light up the room. We ended up playing in a couple bands together – always good fun, punctual at practice, first in and last out, and brought the tea gear to make sure we all had a hot drink to keep us warm in the winter. In the village we’d have a catch up over a coffee and a calm five minutes in the sun before we opened our shop doors, and then a good moan at the end of the day! Despite knowing he was unwell, he carried on working as a delivery driver and taxi during the first lockdown because he was “bored sat at home!” We ended up buying matching guitars too.

Because “why not!”

A month before his death he sent me some lyrics and an idea that he wanted me to finish. The song was called “Dream land”. We made a deal that once the studios re-opened I would record it for him and any profit would go to his chosen charity. My favourite lyric is, “It’s weight off my shoulder, as I never wanted to get older.” He kept saying how he wanted to hang on to see me get married. He made it and rounded off ten years of friendship. I think of him every time I pick up my guitar, a lump in my throat when ‘Robs playlist’ comes on shuffle. Thanks for everything Rob – we will not forget you.”

Rob’s life saw him move from London to Marlow in Buckinghamshire, then to mid-Wales, before settling here in Abersoch. Rob was born on 23rd November 1965 in London, son of Joy and Ralph, younger brother of Nicki. A very bright child and a talented sportman (with a particular love for rugby and cricket), he excelled at mathematics and was described by childhood friends as, “just all-round very smart”. He wasn’t particularly focused on school and exams, dropped out half-way through his A-levels and didn’t bother with university. He later did an Open University course and, perhaps more revealing still of his unique character, dropped the bomb that in his fifties he had mastered the 99,999 times table!

He had a number of jobs before setting up a screen-printing business, which he eventually moved to Llanidloes in mid Wales, where he also took his love of cricket from his hometown club of Flackwell Heath, becoming an established top order batsman at Llanidloes Cricket Club. Cricket was a big part of his life and a shared love for the game was what he and I bonded over out here in the cricket outpost that is Abersoch. It’s a measure of Rob’s talent that, less than two months before his death, he turned out for Flackwell Heath Old Boys in a special Rob Smith Invitation match against local rivals Wooburn Narkovians. A wonderful day and a special tribute to Rob, who proved he hadn’t lost his touch in scoring a half century.

Love brought him to the Llyn Peninsula, and he fell in love with Abersoch too, enjoying his role at the Boatyard and that short but very happy stint as a taxi driver. I can just | 79

IN LOVING MEMORY

nny Abersoch”

in su “Boatyard pals

imagine how much he enjoyed having a captive audience in his cab - nobody could have convinced him that his passengers emerged anything but wiser for his company!

“More cricket!”

PHOTO: ROB’S LEGENDARY STAGE INVASION FOREVER IMMORTALISED IN PAINT!

on the bea

ch”

Collective via the link at the foot of this article – take a listen, it really is lovely.

Rob lives on in the village. A big dog-lover, he had adopted Dobby, a rescue dog who kept his spirits up through his illness. Dobby is still here, now adopted by Louise Overfield & Dylan Evans and their children Luca and Ronnie in Llanengan. I see Dobby most days, sprinting in the sunshine across the sands at Porth Neigwl – it’s a lovely sight and jogs good memories.

Rob musical gifts saw him in various bands from his teens.

The guitar was his passion. He had eight guitars in the house including two which are unique and very special – he called those Hector and Ralphie! He loved listening to all sorts of music and had a massive iTunes library, with Bowie, Springsteen, Pink Floyd and The Who among his favourite artists. If you didn’t share his tastes, he was not short of energy in attempting to prove what you were missing, with an almost missionary zeal for the words and music of Springsteen in particular.

Friends around Abersoch talk of his love of for the guitar, as he enjoyed various collaborations with local singers and musicians. No lover of the festive season, he still picked up his guitar to accompany local singer and friend Lauren Griffiths in entertaining the village children at Christmas in 2020. It’s a mark of Rob, his passion for music and talent as a musician, that 2021 will see the inaugural Rob Smith Tribute Festival.

A day of fun and tunes in memory of Rob led by his friend Andy Bloom, with musicians from all over congregating in Llanidloes to celebrate the life and times of their friend. You can find out more at the Rob Smith Tribute Festival page on Facebook.

“Basking

Out of the sadness of the news of Rob’s illness came a wonderful reconnection, as Rob and his old band mates put together a powerful collection of songs. A project that re-bonded a disparate group and kept them going through the tough times of last year.

The music is beautiful - Rob went into the crematorium to Comfortably Numb and left with Heroes. You could hear him in both. Incredibly moving. His band-mate Simon Australia captures it best, “We’ve all got a few funny tales from our times with Rob. For me though, the biggest and best ‘story’ is what he achieved in the last six months of his life. Reconnecting a group of people with himself and each other. It’s beautiful.” You can hear Rob and The

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2020 was a difficult, challenging year for so many folk, as so many lost loved ones. The unusual circumstances made grieving difficult for many and it was no different for Rob’s family and friends, particularly with such an untimely loss that came upon Rob far too quickly and too soon.

Perhaps out of the darkness came some light, as first the village stood in salute to the final journey of their friend and then his friends across the UK tuned into the virtual service that captured his music and the shared love that his illness had reignited. With his music now available forever, and a festival in his memory inked into the calendar (that will doubtless see his life celebrated in a ‘louder’ fashion more akin to the life of its star), it may just be that Rob would have approved.

The music of The Collective can be heard at www.emastered.com/profile/TheCollective

PHOTO: LLUN DWBL O’R MACHLUD DOUBLE EXPOSURE SUNSET BY: ELIN GRUFFYDD

WORDS BY ELIN GRUFFYDD & KEVIN BELL

“I’ve always enjoyed taking photographs of the area around me and recently traded my digital camera for a 35mm film one. The outcome can sometimes be hit and miss, but this is one of the aspects I enjoy most of using film. Unlike a digital camera where you have a preview on screen, you never quite know how your pictures will turn out!

There is certainly a different feel to film photography, there’s more magic and the grain adds a layer of texture that is hard to get through a digital camera.

It can be hugely satisfying when they

IN THE COMING MONTHS WE HOPE TO FEATURE MORE WORK FROM LOCAL ELIN GRUFFYDD, AS SHE SPENDS A SUMMER WORKING ON YNYS ENLLI (BARDSEY ISLAND), A RICH LOCATION FOR A PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIAST. UNUSUALLY IN THESE DAYS OF DIGITAL CAMERAS AND HIGH QUALITY CAMERA PHONES, ELIN STILL LIKES TO WORK WITH 35MM FILM. WE SPOKE TO ELIN ABOUT HER HIGHLY PERSONAL APPROACH TO CAPTURING THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND MAINTAINING LOCAL HERITAGE.

come back how I’d hoped. It’s fun to experiment with different types of films that offer different colour tones.

My camera is a Pentax K1000, it’s often difficult to get the lighting right, but I enjoy the imperfections, it makes the photos more unique.

I consider myself to be very lucky to have been born and raised in a vibrant Welsh community in Llangian, Pen Llŷn. With Welsh being my first language, I’m very passionate about keeping the language thriving in the area. I believe that it is crucial that we work together to secure the use of

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the original and indigenous names for places, by locals and tourists alike. We have an incredible wealth of beautiful and special names for the beaches, coves, fields around us and very importantly, houses names that take us back to the first settlements in Llŷn. We must protect them, use them, learn them and above all; never change them. That’s why I always caption my images in Welsh first!”

We’ve showcased some of Elin’s images here and look forward to seeing more of her highly individual work over the summer. >>>

PHOTO: EIRLYSIAU NEU’R LILI WEN FACH YN LLANENGAN - SNOWDROPS IN LLANENGAN BY: ELIN GRUFFYDD

PHOTO: MWYNHAU DYDDIAU OLAF HAF BACH MIHANGEL - ENJOYING THE LAST DAYS OF THE INDIAN SUMMER BY: ELIN GRUFFYDD

PHOTO: DIWRNOD GAEAFOL A STORMUS YM MHORTH NEIGWL - A WINTERY AND STORMY DAY IN PORTH NEIGWL BY: ELIN GRUFFYDD

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PHOTO: LOOKING GOOD FOR SUMMER BY: JAMES NOON

THE LITTLE TEA ROOMS WORDS BY KEVIN BELL

AT MICKEY’S BOAT YARD

D

ESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGES 2020 PRESENTED, THE LITTLE TEA ROOMS AT MICKEY’S WAS A BIG, BIG SUCCESS. A GREAT MENU, A LOVELY TEAM, AND A LOCATION TO DIE FOR, CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE THE PERFECT WATERSIDE LOCATION FOR A COFFEE, SNACK, OR FULL MEAL. WHETHER TAKEAWAY, OR THE SHORT PERIOD WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO EAT-IN LAST SUMMER, IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SAMPLE IT. A WONDERFUL CONTINUATION OF THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL MICKEY’S, WITH A NEWLY PERSONALISED TWIST, IT WAS BUSY ALL SEASON LONG. That great response from customers gave Carron and James, the team behind The Little Tea Rooms, the confidence to invest and diversify. We spoke to them about their plans, now completed as the 2021 season starts to get underway: “We had lots of feedback from customers last season on queue times, ice creams and Covid measures, which we wanted to tackle head on for the 2021 season. The support we were shown in our first year here was incredible, so we felt it was important to make improvements to the operation. We wanted to broaden our range, improve the experience for our lovely customers and fast-track the order process for everybody. The improvements we’ve made to the service include:

• Grab and Go section for cold drinks.

• Three tills with most current POS ordering software, including a fasttrack coffee and ice cream till at busy times • Customer LCD screens to provide a visual showcase of our menu • New illuminated pastry and cake displays • New Coffee Counter • New outdoor ‘Ice Cream Garden’ and ‘Food Collection Point’

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PHOTO: GRAB & GO DRINKS BY: JAMES NOON

PHOTO: A LOVELY ENVIRONMENT FOR CUSTOMERS & STAFF BY: JAMES NOON

The menu has seen us retain our customer favourites and add some new choices which we think our customers will love. We have some stunning new dishes including ‘Cig Eidion Taco’s’ made with slow cooked Beef Brisket from the nearby Nanhoran estate, as well as a new vegan ‘Shitake Flatbread’ using mushrooms from Yr Ardd Fadarch in Nantmor, Snowdonia.

We also have a completely new salad menu, featuring a Japanese Crab Kani using fresh crab from Bwyd Mor Abersoch, together with new breakfast choices. We think it’s important too that we are now able to offer equal choices across the menu for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans.

The new Ice Cream counter is finally here. After only being able to provide help-yourself tubs last year, we are thrilled to be able to offer proper ice creams and milkshakes from our new facility. Customers can look forward to fabulous ice creams with a huge array of gourmet toppings, as well as a speciality menu of thelittletearooms creations, alongside freshly made milkshakes for those extra sunny days by the beach.

precautions to be traded off against enjoyment, which is part of what drove the new garden area with its chill-out canopies.

As restrictions are gradually lifted, we PHOTO: NEW DEDICATED COUNTERS TO SPEED THINGS UP will reinstate the BY: JAMES NOON tables and chairs asap so that customers can eventually enjoy the fully relaxed We also wanted to step up the café experience. Our facilities for both our business and our primary agenda is to create a safe customers. We added outdoor cover environment for all our customers with addition of canopy parasols, which is why we’ve added: including our Ice Cream Garden Cantilever to give customers shelter • More useable outdoor and shade on hot days. We’ve made space improvements to the kitchen including a new Bakery and Patisserie Section • New glass screens for dedicated to Carron’s first love of cake customer and staff safety creating. Further food preparation with intercom to assist in areas have been built for additional communication between staff to further improve efficiency and customers and staff customer service times. In addition to our fancy new thelittletearooms neon • More hand sanitizer sign we’ve not forgotten the boatyard stations heritage that so many of our customers love - we hope they will approve of our • Social distance spacing’s refurbished yard hoist!

between tills

Covid clearly isn’t going to go away in a hurry so it was important to us to work on improving the customer environment. We didn’t want

We are so excited to welcome all of our customers, both those returning and new in 2021, and hope that you will love what we have done.“

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Many of you will remember from my previous walking articles my beloved dog, Nelly the Affenpinscher, who in later years had to hitch a ride in my rucksack when the going got tough. I rescued Nelly and her brother Jack 15 years ago. Jack sadly passed away five years ago and Nelly (nicknamed Yoda) managed another five years. Nelly passed away on December the 5th 2020 and, as a family, we were heartbroken we thought she would live forever. We gently placed her under her favourite tree in our garden, wrapped in my children’s baby blankets.

PHOTO: OUR GANG WITH OUR NEWLY ADOPTED FURRY FRIEND ‘DOBBY’

WORDS BY LOUISE OVERFIELD

Not being able to imagine our house without a dog, the kids immediately began begging for another; I told them we would find another but when the time was right. Five nights later I received a phone call from my friend Heidi (renowned dog lover and owner of Fresh Abersoch), asking me if I might consider another dog. The dog in question was Dobby, the sadly orphaned Border Collie who had belonged to dear Rob from the Boatyard. My first rush of emotion was that I was really not ready and, if I was being completely honest, I am used to having small terriers and I felt that he might not be suitable for us. I asked if I could have a think and speak to my family about it. I don’t even think that I managed to get any further than the words ‘dog’, before the kids started shouting, ‘please mum please’! I called Heidi back, “Look I am not promising but let’s meet each other and see how we get on”. I kept telling myself that I would just have a look…as I am not after a dog right now.

We met up outside on a cold, dark, December night.

Dobby rushed towards us and was so loving that the kids and Dylan said yes straight away. I was more reserved, I was still too upset about Nelly, it felt as though I was betraying her.

The next Saturday we went back to the pick-up point to collect Dobby. He instantly leapt into our car boot and was very excited, as were we. Heidi thought it was 86 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

PHOTO:THE MUCH LOVED AND FONDLY REMEMBERED NELLY

a sign that he wanted to be with us…I have subsequently found out that he likes jumping in random strangers’ cars after a long walk…and does not always respond to his own name!

Dobby has settled into his new home and, although I did not think so at the time, he was just the tonic we needed. We are all in love with him. He is hilarious and very cheeky, he managed to take a box of six eggs off my kitchen top and hide it in his bed for a scooby snack. He likes Thai curry and the occasional cup of tea. A lot of people already know him on the beach and ask if it is “Dobby, Robs dog?” and we always reply with “Yes, it is Robs dog” and we are his new guardians but we are very mindful of his loss. I have now met and made friends with Rob’s sister Nicky and if someone had told me that this time last year that I would have Rob’s dog I would never have believed it. I am a believer in fate and I think that by knowing who his previous owner was has made it more special. I think he is looking down on us all and he will be very pleased to know how loved Dobby is; and that he is in a household that worships the same God as Rob, ‘David Bowie’ and I think this is a familiar comfort to Dobby too.

PHOTO: CELEBRATIONS WELL DESERVED

Stephanie Clueit A.K.A Renaldo Jones

PHOTO: STEPHANIE FEARLESS IN ALL CONDITIONS

PHOTO: SIMON, CHRIS, LEE, STEPHANIE, BRYN AND HARRIET

There is a lot of talk about the Abersoch Dunkers and Dippers at the moment and people are discovering and enjoying this all over the UK. I know some people only just manage a dip in the bay in July never mind February; however, Stephanie Clueit and her sister Lee Partington have very personal reasons for wanting to raise some much needed funds for Alzeimers research. Steph’s brother-in-law Chris, who lives in Bolton, was diagnosed with the early onset of Dementia at just 53 and, this devastating news, was a big blow for his family and friends. The family have had to quickly come to terms with this cruel disease and it has prompted Lee and Stephanie to do a 26 mile walk around London in June.

It is an organised event through the Alzheimers society to help raise the profile and as much money as possible in the process. Steph said that she felt helpless and wanted to make sure she could definitely raise the muchneeded funds, even if the walk did not take place due to the ever changing lock down rules. She decided that she should kick start the fundraising immediately. Inspired by friend and fellow Abersoch Dunker Kerry Philips, who had raised money for Cancer research in January, Stephanie thought what better way to do it than by using the freezing cold February sea on her doorstep.

Armed with advice, support and motivation from fellow dunkers (obviously social distancing rules

were obeyed throughout any dunking) she began raising sponsorship to daily brave the waves. The water was piercing and on a few occasions the conditions so wild on the main beach that Steph had to go into the inner harbour, as she did not want to put anyone’s life at risk. On the coldest morning Steph was greeted with hailstones and gales and she could not warm up for the rest of the day. Steph said “that going into the sea in freezing temperatures is far easier than having to provide care for someone constantly day in day out which is what her sister Lee is doing”. The support and generosity has overwhelmed Stephanie and her family. She had thought that if she raised £50 that would be something, however the total so far is £3,164 plus gift aid of £620.

Lee’s husband Chris was a builder, he had been active and healthy all of his life, now at the age of 57 he cannot work, he is unable to drive and struggles to do simple tasks. Chris is struggling to communicate properly as he cannot always find the words to describe what he wants to say, this is having a massive impact on his family life and it is emotionally tough for everyone involved; especially his two sons Jack and Joe who are having to face this ordeal on a daily basis.

It is not just about raising the money it is also about raising awareness of Dementia as the research is desperately underfunded, Steph does not want anyone else to go through what Lee, Chris and his family are bravely facing, Chris’ condition will deteriorate, there is no cure. Stephanie said that in the United Kingdom one person every three minutes will be diagnosed with Alzheimers! If you want to support the girls on their walk then visit https://www.justgiving. com/team/Chris Just to clarify Renaldo was the name of the family pet Gerbil and also Stephanie’s name on her facebook page. Stephanie’s own family, husband Simon and her son and daughter are very proud of her achievements to date, spurring her on and spectating from the side lines. Steph is a familiar face in the community and many of you may know her from Working in White Stuff in Abersoch. Exciting times are ahead as the shop has just changed location and is now in the prominent position between First Light and Boardrider. Steph has just about managed to thaw out and the White Stuff team are getting ready to welcome you all back soon. We wish Stephanie and Lee lots of luck for their walk in June and hope that lots of money is raised for the charity, giving families much needed support.

Stephanie Clueit A.K.A. Renaldo Jones you are my hero and I felt cold just looking at you on your Facebook page.

Stephanie, Chris and Lee would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt support shown to them all on this emotional journey.

| 87

VILLAGERS LIFE

Ysgol Abersoch A Village Affair December 2020 was a month and a Christmas like no other. Before the Welsh Government put Wales back into lockdown, the friends, parents and staff at Ysgol Abersoch decided to light the school up to offer some winter cheer. The unique wooden school has a very high roof apex, and it soon became apparent why it may not have been lit up before! On the night in question it was blowing a gale and the rain managed to penetrate through my four layers of protective gear. Nick Kings (Coasteering legend) and his two friends Andy and Bip, kindly turned up with a very tall ladder and lots of enthusiasm. Nick made short work of shimmying up the wet slippery ladder like a mountain goat, whilst I looked on with Elf and Safety concerns! It was the sort of evening that people might have questioned our sanity, but we were spurred on by passing cars beeping and people stopping to shout encouragement. The school looked like it belonged in Lapland and it was all worth it when the children’s

faces beamed to see it lit up in the morning. It looked magical and gave every passerby a lift. The Christmas tree was kindly gifted and put up by Lee and Angie, from the Creel Fish and Chip shop. The school was adorned with lights and trimmings and it really gave the children a much needed boost before we prepared for the next lockdown. The school even had a secret late night visit from the big guy himself, he posed for a quick photo before heading off to deliver presents!

Like so many places the school has been unable to fundraise, with beloved events such as The Duck Race and the Christmas show all put on hold.

Therefore it is more important than ever to say a big thank you to Kin&Co, Blades Deli and Terry’s for kindly selling mystery wrapped books in aid of the school. The total raised was £208 and a few people had a good laugh on Christmas day with some very random titles, many used the books in place of festive crackers. Kay from Blades said she has a few leftovers so if you fancy a surprise book whilst giving to the school, treat yourself, go on, I dare you!

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The next step for Ysgol Abersoch Well, what a fantastic response from far and wide, this little school has certainly touched the hearts of all who know it. Ysgol Abersoch is the Welsh speaking school situated in the heart of Abersoch. The council have commenced a Statutory consultation process with the aim of closing the school after nearly 97 years. The council gave the community six weeks to put it into writing, via an email or handwritten letter, to state your concerns and objections. As a community we really did struggle with this as we are used to holding meetings in the Village hall, and something that would impact the community as much as this, deserved very careful consideration. However, the council would not let us put this on hold and due to the Covid 19 pandemic we were unable to hold any public meetings.

Under normal circumstances we would have letter dropped throughout the community to inform them of the ongoing situation and been able to pull everyone together.

VILLAGERS LIFE

We did not take this lying down though and sprang into action to do all we could to spread awareness; time was of the essence and, thankfully, we were totally overwhelmed by the response. We have so far received over 140 emails (and still counting) in support of the school, not to mention that many of these emails were from local clubs, organisations and groups whereby if the number of people where individually named, it would reach into the high hundreds. We even had an email from Gail Baker who had visited the school whilst on holiday from Melbourne, Australia, she claimed that this “Gem” should be held onto (we certainly intend to). This unprecedented response has surely exceeded the council’s expectations as they initially thought they would submit the responses into the cabinet in March, however they have released a new date today stating May. The online petition set up by parent Eva Palanova, has over 1500 names so far and the paper petitions in the shops in Abersoch have also received lots of support. A facebook page has been set up in support of the school and it can be reached by ‘Cyfeillion Ysgol Abersoch Friends’, this page has attracted the support of many friends who have offered us kind words and solidarity. We now have to wait and see what the Council proposes to do next, thanks to everyone’s support so far, we could not have done this without you all. If you still haven’t signed the petition, then please go to: https://www.change.org/p/ukgovernment-arbedwch-ysgolabersoch-rhag-cau-save-ysgolabersoch-from-closing The impact of the loss of the school on the community would be devastating.

The loss of the Welsh Language in the village would be irreplaceable and the children’s interaction with the shops would be a loss to everyone. If you want to help with regards to funding or just in general, then please do not hesitate to contact the school. The school would like to become the first beach school in the area and also host a Year 4 group, as it currently only goes up to Year 3. The school thinks this makes perfect sense with less disruption for the children able to continue, instead of starting in the middle of an academic year, as Years 3 and 4 are taught together. The children

cannot understand why anyone would want to close a school that takes them swimming every single week on the public service bus, this ties in with the schools environmentally friendly ethos. The adventures these children go on are out of this world, such as P.E on the beach and discovering fossils at the Harbour. Science projects looking at Archimedes and creating boats to float in the river…It’s no wonder the children won the Llaeth y Llan competition with their creativity receiving a £1000 prize for the school.

The children were so excited to return to lessons, outside as usual - this is the norm for these blossoming beach pioneers. The Cylch is back open for business and is looking forward to welcoming new children into this homely yet inspiring setting. There were reports of a lot of tired children after the first few days, as learning through play seemed to be too much fun; with the lovely gardens and playground to enjoy with friends, following their return back to school.

Digging and planting new seeds to start the life cycle are a way for children to develop into independent

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free thinkers. For more information regarding the Cylch Meithrin please contact 07833531186 or email: info@ cylchmeithrinabersoch.org if you want more information regarding enrolling your child for September in Ysgol Abersoch, please contact the school directly on 01758 712764.

I have done lots of lovely new walks with Dobby and I look forward to sharing them with you in the next edition. Let’s also hope we have good news about Ysgol Abersoch as well.

Photography

Showcase

Porth Ceiriad Surfer by Phill Boyd That umistakable wave Porth Ceiriad is so famous for, caught perfectly in the evening sunlight.

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The best time of the day by Luke Pilling We've said it so many times, if you get down to the beach earlier enough, you will be rewarded. Take a coat on frosty days though!

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Photography

Showcase

Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)

by Turtle Photography The Island of 20,000 Saints hogging the last of the sun from Porth Neigwl

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HOTEL • RESTAURANT SELF CATERING 2021 SEASON 19th March - End November Porth Tocyn Hotel, Abersoch, Gwynedd, LL53 7BU bookings@porthtocynhotel.co.uk

01758 713303 • PORTHTOCYNHOTEL.CO.UK

Photography

Showcase Swimmer off Abersoch Main Beach

by Phill Boyd You will find more swimmers than ever before are enjoying the relatively calm waters in the bay. Dan Brook-Sutton is a regular out there, and you'll do well to keep up with him!

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THE FLITEBOARD™ EFOIL GIVES THE EXHILARATING SENSATION OF FLYING OVER WATER. IT CARVES LIKE A SNOWBOARD IN FRESH POWDER, BUT WITH THE FREEDOM TO RIDE ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, WITHOUT WIND OR WAVES. FLITEBOARD IS FAST, QUIET, AND EMISSION FREE WITH A RANGE OF UP TO 30KM PER CHARGE.

WWW. TOTALBOATSALES .COM Outer Harbour, South Beach, Pwllheli LL53 5AY

01758 437600

Photography

Showcase

Abersoch at Low Tide by Phill Boyd This gives you a great view of the channel that runs into Abersoch Harbour and the sandbar that catches many watercraft owners out!

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ROB DAVID INTERIOR DESIGN

SPECIALIST IN RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES Tel 01758 740 125 Mob 07775 806 035 robdavidinteriordesign.com

HR Advert A4 Abersoch 2020 - PRINT.pdf

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Photography

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Hiding in the dunes by Luke Pilling OK so it's not always calm and sunny on Abersoch beach, and sometimes we can even lose the sand for a week or two. Maybe the fences don't always stand up straight either, usually when a photographer is too eager to capture this moment!

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As I write this it’s just gone St David’s Day and so the art I’ve been enjoying is a celebration of Welsh heritage and culture. One of my favourite pieces I’ve come across is Anna Gwenllian’s depiction of Blodeuwedd, goddess of spring, whose story originates in the ancient Mabinogi. Her name literally translating to ‘Flower Face’, Blodeuwedd was created out of flowers to wed a man cursed from ever knowing the love of a mortal woman. Falling hopelessly in love with his bride, poor Blodeuwedd was doomed to a life of darkness concealed from the light of the sun.

WORDS BY LOWRI LLEWELYN

Another design I loved was Tu Fewn’s tongue in cheek Welsh lady.

Reading ‘I might be Welsh but I ain’t no lady’, the piece pokes fun at our tendency to indulge in a bit too much Wenglish from time to time! And if you think this lady looks mischievous, just wait til you see what Nain (Nan’s) up to on Etsy...

PHOTO: CARYS MEWN VERSACE

BY SEREN MORGAN JONES

PHOTO: THE GODDESS BLODEUWEDD

BY ANNA GWENLLIAN

Next, an artist I’m so excited to have discovered is Seren Morgan Jones.

Placing Welsh women front and centre of her work, her oeuvre includes historical figures and suffragettes as well as more contemporary characters. Aside from being a spectacular artist, what I love most about Seren’s work is how older women and marginalised communities are celebrated not as a tokenistic gesture but standing proud as they take their rightful place in society. In a world of botox, diet shakes and skin bleaching her work challenges the beauty standards the media has relentlessly attempted to drum into us.

Another creator I’m happy to have come across is Carissa Tanton. Inspired by simplicity and minimalism, her work can often be achieved with no more than a pen and paper. Aside from tea (visit Etsy for her depiction of the Beatles enjoying a cuppa) Carissa is passionate 104 | ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021

about protecting the environment and celebrating what we have on our doorstep in North Wales—I love this sweet illustration of our national flower.

ARTS COLUMN

PHOTO: CARISSA TANTON IS INSPIRED

BY SIMPLICITY AND MINIMALISM

My final pick for your art collection this spring is my old favourite, Pwllheli native Niki Pilkington. I was first gifted one of Niki’s prints over a decade ago as I headed off to university and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local girl she’s not beloved by. Aside from her intricate drawings depicting young women—often coupled with traditional Welsh idioms—Niki is famed for both her world and Welsh maps. Sadly, these designs have been heavily plagiarised and as she recently explained to the BBC, the issue has only escalated over the pandemic as people scramble to make ends meet.

If you’d like your own map they’re available in a seemingly endless variety of colour combinations and designs, and she’ll even draw a little heart over Abersoch for you. She’s also got the snazziest social media feed in the biz so go give her some love.

In terms of telly, with travel plans scuppered this winter I found myself watching lots of travel series, from classic Michael Palin to Emily in Paris. A film I quite enjoyed was One Way to Denmark (Now TV) from the award-winning team behind Hinterland. When down on his luck Herb (Rafe Spall) discovers Danish convicts live a comparable life of luxury, he hatches a plan to escape Wales for a new life in the Danish prison system. Humorous and heartwarming, will running away help Herb realize his life is worth salvaging?

I’ve also been watching a lot of documentaries and have a selection of highlights for you. First up is the one everybody’s been talking about,

Framing Britney Spears (Now TV). Centering on the conservatorship which puts her father in charge of every aspect of her life—including her finances—it becomes glaringly clear just how badly one of the most iconic performers of our times has been let down by everyone around her.

Another highlight was Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix). Exploring PHOTO: ONE OF MANY MAP DESIGNS the mysterious 2013

BY OLD FAVOURITE NIKKI PILKINGTON disappearance of university student Elisa Lam, this is a mystery that’s sent me the Pirate and the Aberfan disaster. down many rabbit holes in recent Author Ifan Morgan Jones was also years. With input from investigators careful to acknowledge our country’s and internet sleuths, prepare to dive historical wrongdoings including into the murky depths of downtown LA slavery and race riots, stating: ‘Every and its most infamous hotel. nation has shameful things in their past - it’s how we deal with them now For the art lovers out there, I’m that defines who we are as a country.’ currently watching and can recommend The Story of Welsh Art Finally, my musical pick for you (iPlayer) with Huw Stephens. Travelling this spring is country blues singerthe length and breadth of Wales over songwriter Laura Evans. Despite a three-part series, we’re introduced fitting right in on the Nashville scene, to everything from prehistoric rock Laura’s heart will forever belong to carvings at an Anglesey burial chamber her hometown of Aberdare—give Take to artists finding innovative and even Me Back Home and the rest of her radical ways of portraying Wales in the repertoire a listen on Spotify, and do 20th century. I wonder if any of the visit www.thelauraevans.com for tour intricate Celtic crosses mentioned can dates once the the show’s back on the be found on the Llŷn? road.

I’m also currently enjoying Surviving Death (Netflix), an investigative series which considers whether we’re capable of retaining consciousness even when our hearts stop beating. Is death really the end? Combining innovative new research with firsthand accounts from those who’ve been to the brink of and even experienced death, this series attempts to answer one of life’s biggest questions.

Books next: if you’ve

got a child in your life, buy them 10 Stories From Welsh History That Everyone Should Know (though I suspect most adults could do with having a read). Born out of concern for the lack of Welsh history taught in schools, tales range from royal heroes to Black Bart

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PHOTO: COUNTRY BLUES SINGER SONGWRITER LAURA EVANS

A WORD FROM

THE COMMODORE service, from the first May Bank Holiday weekend -which will mean that members will be able to enjoy a full summer season at the Club. The renowned Cove Restaurant, too, will open, firing up the kitchen and offering service in whatever form is permitted, to provide members with the great food that has become its hallmark.

“A PINT OF TIM TAYLOR IS IT, NICK?” THOSE MAGICAL AND MUCH MISSED WORDS FROM SIMON, OUR CLUB STEWARD, WILL SOON SIGNAL THAT WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS AND READY TO REOPEN SCYC’S UNRIVALLED AND STUNNING SETTING TO OUR MEMBERS. At the time of writing, as we await guidance from the First Minister, we are planning to be ready to reopen the clubhouse, and operate the launch

Despite the restrictions, last summer was a great success at the Club, with record numbers joining, and ending with membership at the highest level it has been in years. We are lucky to have the large outdoor deck and balcony areas, all enjoying fabulous views of Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia, so members were able to socialise in a safe space from the moment outdoor service was permitted. It is, indeed, ironic that many members commented that they enjoyed last season at the Club more than ever, making more use of the Club and meeting new friends.

Every cloud, as they say!

Waterside activity was obviously limited by the restrictions in place but the launch service operated throughout the summer and members enjoyed a season of informal activity on the water. This season, however, we hope that an easing of restrictions will allow us to offer a full programme of

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Club racing for the various fleets and, once again, to host the day of racing in August that is the highlight of Abersoch Regatta Week. Dinghy Week, a key date in the SCYC calendar for the past fifty years, was a casualty of last year’s restrictions but we hope to be able to offer a slimmed-down “Dinghy WeekLite” week of racing this year at the end of July, if restrictions permit. The Club’s season will be rounded off at the end of August with Abersoch Keelboat Week – a week of full-fat competition for sailors and a great spectacle from the shore.

Another casualty of last year’s restrictions was the social programme.

SCYC is very much a family club (I, myself, have a seven-year-old daughter, Polly) and offers just as much to non-boaters as it does to boaters. We aim to make membership every bit as enjoyable on the shoreside for members who prefer to keep their feet dry as it is for members on the waterside, and to encourage members of all ages to treat the Club as their social hub when in Abersoch. The timing of the easing of restrictions will again dictate what we are able to organise this year on the social front but, regardless of what we are able to do, there will, as ever, be a warm welcome waiting for all.

BUSINESS LISTINGS ABERSOCH MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

FOOD & DRINK 1 FRESH CAFE BAR & GRILL, High St. Abersoch. 01758 710033 Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. Breakfast, lunch & evening menus. fresh-abersoch.co.uk 2 TREMFAN HALL, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli 01758 740169 Delicious Food, Great Atmosphere, Stunning Views. tremfanhall.com 3 PORTH TOCYN, Bwlchtocyn, Abersoch, LL53 7BU 01758 713303 One of Wales' country hotel classics porthtocynhotel.co.uk 4 CRUST PIZZERIA Lon Pont Morgan, Abersoch, LL53 7AN 01758 712896 Your Italian Exerience, Crafted with car. Eat in or Takeaway www.crust.wales 5 LLANBEDROG BEACH BAR & RESTAURANT, Llanbedrog, LL53 7TR 01758 740730 Fully licensed in the most idylic location on Llanbedrog beach aquabeachbar.co.uk 6 THE SNACK SHACK, TynY-mur, Lon Garmon, Abersoch, LL537UL 07899 788788 A flavour full street food vibe mixed with some banging creative specials sourced locally FB: @/thesnackshack

HOTELS & B&B'S 7 PORTH TOCYN, Bwlchtocyn, Abersoch, LL53 7BU 01758 713303 Continuous entry in the Good Food Guide since 1957. porthtocynhotel.co.uk 8 TREMFAN HALL, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli 01758 740169 Delicious Food, Great Atmosphere, Stunning Views. tremfanhall.com

ACCOMMODATION 9 ABERSOCH HOLIDAY HOMES, 01758 740992 Stunning holiday properties to rent in the village. abersochholidayhomes.co.uk

10 HOME FROM HOME BERESFORD ADAMS, 01758 712408 Offering a wide selection of personally inspected properties in Abersoch & surrounding areas abersochhomefromhome.co.uk

20 WEST COAST SURF SHOP, Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch LL53 7AP. 01758 713067 Wetsuit sales & hire, Learn to surf, Ray-Ban sunnies, Patagonia clothing & wetsuits westcoastsurf.co.uk

11 BRYN BACH, Bwlchtocyn, Pwllheli LL53 7BY. 07391 561160 Touring Caravans, Camping & Boutique Camping in a superb location. abersochcamping.co.uk

21 GWIN LLŶN WINES Pwllheli 01758 701004 Stocking all that you need by way of wines and spirits this summer with some fantastic brands on offer. gwinllynwines.co.uk

12 WERN FAWR MANOR FARM, Llanbedrog, LL53 7PH 01758 740156 High quality holiday homes & cottages near Abersoch in a delightful & unique setting. wernfawr.co.uk

22 AP CARAVANS, Abersoch LL53 7AA Caravan sales and repairs with Hobby and LMC apcaravans.co.uk

13 BRYN CETHIN BACH Abersoch, LL53 7UL 01758 712719 5 Star Caravan & Chalet Park with private fishing lake and stunning views bryncethinbach.co.uk 14 NIGHTSKY GLAMPING, Llangian, Abersoch LL53 7LN 01758 712811 Luxury Safari Tents, Bell Tents and Alpacas. A memorable glamping experience in a stunning location. nightskyglamping.co.uk

SHOPS 15 TURTLE PHOTOGRAPHY, Aber Uchaf, Abersoch 01758 713641 Landscape & seascape gallery, prints, postcards, framed pictures, photo restoration. turtlephotography.co.uk 16 TOTALLY ABERSOCH, Abersoch. 01758 713666 Gallery and gifts, 800 yrds up the road past Golf Rd & Cae Du. totallyabersoch.co.uk 17 SPAR CAE DU, Abersoch.

Providing you with all your local shopping needs 18 LAVENDER HOUSE, Between Abersoch and Pwllheli on the A499, Nr Llyn Golf Range. 01758 614343 A great destination for home lovers. 10-4.30 p.m 7days a week. lovelavenderhouse.co.u 19 COURTS, High Street, 01758 712318 Local newsagents with a big selection of toys, sweets, beach items, and much more

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23 WEEKEND IN, ABERSOCH Be stylish by the sea weekendin.co.uk 24 SOCH SOCH, Organic clothing made from smiles sochsoch.co.uk

RECREATION 25 ABERSOCH GOLF CLUB, Abersoch 01758 712662 18 hole stunning links course. abersochgolf.co.uk 26 SOUTH CAERNARFONSHIRE YACHT CLUB, Abersoch, 01758 712338 One of the most iconic yacht clubs in the UK. scyc.co.uk 27 HAFAN PWLLHELI, Pwllheli, 01758 701219 One of the finest yachting venues in Europe with pontoon beerthing. hafanpwllheli.co.uk 28 FFESTINIOG & WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS , Porthmadog, 01766 516024 Santa Trains, Christmas Gifts, Pullman afternoon Tea & Snowdonia Specials. festrail.co.uk 29 SCUBA DIVE LLYN, Abersoch. 07944 253 242 Dive in for an unforgettable experience and discover Scuba Diving. scubadivellyn.co.uk

BUILDERS & HOME IMPROVEMENTS 30 CHRIS JONES BUILDING & PLASTERING, Dinas Gwynedd, 07765 593221.

Plastering, Roofing, Patios & Extensions 31 LLŶN BUILDING CONTRACTORS Abersoch Road, Llanbedrog 01758 740406 Building and civil engineering contractors, plumbing heating and electrical contractors. Plus much more.

32 DERWEN LLYN, CONSTRUCTION 01758 614 776, Pwllheli, LL53 7RT Delivering all types of construction projects throughout North Wales to a wide range of public and private sector clients derwenllyn.co.uk 33 SUNROCK BALCONIES & BALUSTRADES, 07778 464464 Specialising in balconies & balustrading in a wide variety of styles, sizes & finishes. sunrockbalconies.co.u 34 ALTRA GLASS, Caernarfon 01286 875697 Double Glazing Repair. altraglass.co.uk 35 DONNATELLA DOMESTIC SERVICES, Abersoch 07967 713417 Domestic cleaning for all types of accommodation. donnatelladomesticservices. com 36 ROB DAVID INTERIOR DESIGN & ART, 01758 740125 Interior design with over 20 years' of experience on residential & commercial projects. robdavidinteriordesign.com 37 PETER COX, 01248 848785 Specialists in Rising damp, penetrating damp repairs, structural timber repairs, woodworm treatments, cavity wall repairs & waterproofing petercox.com 38 TY'N LLWYN TREE SERVICES Llannor, Pwllheli 01758 612608 All aspects of tree work including log splitting and 24 hour emergency call out.

BOAT BROKERS & SAILING 39 IDEAL BOAT Pwllheli Harbour. 01758 614600 Dealers in Chaparral, AMP, Saxdor, Husky, Robalo and HO boats. idealboat.com

TO BUY A FRAMED PRINT OF THE MAP GO TO

ABERSOCHLIFE .COM & SELECT 'SHOP'

40 HARBOUR MARINE SERVICES Pwllheli Harbour.

01758 701707 Authorised Suzuki Dealer and agents for GRAND inflatable Boats. harbourmarinepwllheli.co.uk 41 TOTAL BOAT SALES Pwllheli Outer Harbour.

LL53 5AW 01758 437600 Boat brokerage specialising in ew and used Ribs, Sports Boats, Day Fishing Boats. totalboatsales.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY 42 PEN LLŶN PHYSIOTHERAPY, Abersoch Craft Centre. 07971 121613.

Rebecca Bode, Chartered Physiotherapist B’Phys(Hons) MCSP. penllynphysio.co.uk 43 ABERSOCH & LLANBEDROG PHARMACY, Abersoch Rd, Llanbedrog, LL53 7TH 01758 740229 Offering a range of NHS & private services. Medicines, toiletries, health & beauty fferyllwyrllyn.co.uk

WEDDINGS 44 PLAS BODUAN WEDDING VENUE, Boduan, LL53 6DR 01758 720286 Plas Boduan is a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian style Manor House specialising in weddings with accommodation for the bride & groom only! plasboduan.com

ACCOUNTS & LEGAL 45 GWYN THOMAS ACCOUNTANTS, New Street, Pwllheli. 01758 701770 Chartered accountants gwynthomas-co.co.uk 46 ROBYNS OWEN SOLICITORS, Pwllheli, LL53 5RY 01758 613177 For all your legal requirements robynsowen.co.uk

FOR OUR FULL LIST OF ABERSOCH RELATED BUSINESSES CHECK

ABERSOCHLIFE .COM LISTINGS

ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA SMITH - COPYRIGHT SENSATION GROUP 2021

| 111

AVAILABLE TO BUY AT WWW.ABERSOCHLIFE.COM

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LAST WORDS

To improve is to change; To be perfect is to change often - Winston Churchill PHOT :

A N E W DAWN ON A N E W DAY OV E R TH E ST. TU D WAL’S I S LAN D S BY: OU T WE ST P H OTO

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ABERSOCH LIFE

SPRING 2021 £3.00

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ABERSOCH SENSATION MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

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FASHION AND INTERIORS

THE ABERSOCH DUNKERS THE CRAZE OF COLD WATER WILD SWIMMING

ABERSOCH CREW THE HEROES AMONG US WITH THE ABERSOCH RNLI

ART SCENE

WITH LOWRI LLEWELYN

LOST AT SEA FLAVOUR FAVOURS THE BRAVE

ROB SMITH YOUR TUNE PLAYS ON

VILLAGE UPDATE

ABERSOCH HASN’T BEEN STANDING STILL DURING LOCKDOWN!

SPRING & PASTELS, FLOWERS & FLORALS

SOCH PRESS | PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE | MAP AND LISTINGS

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