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Posts Tagged ‘North West’

Prepare to Cruise Wales, Discover Secrets of Anglesey Island

November 20th, 2009 No comments

With increasing numbers of people wanting to cruise Wales along with other UK ports, there is a strong possibility that Wales will before long emulate major European cruise ports as a destination for the big leisure cruise market. This is how the Welsh Affairs Select Committee of legislators in the House of Commons, the British Parliament, concluded their report. It points to strong growth in the UK cruise market over the last ten years or so, and urges the need to secure some growth in cruise ship visits to bolster the economies of Welsh port communities.

Any keen cruise travellers should note that before they make advanced bookings to cruise Wales there is currently a slight difficulty with providing adequate facilities for berthing and Welsh ports infrastructure to service the fast growing fleet of big ships cruising European waters needs to be upgraded. Meanwhile there is a campaign called the “Celtic Wave” led by Anglesey, which has a budget of around $2m and covers ports in Ireland and Wales, with the aim of attracting more cruise visitors to these ports and their wider regional economies.

In Cardiff the Welsh Assembly Government is urging the UK government to offer extra infrastructure investment to get ports like Holyhead on Anglesey, Swansea and Milford Haven up to a quality threshold demanded by the cruise line operators. There is a mega potential boost for local port economies, according to the conclusions of the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, and their regional economies would benefit by making it easier for people to cruise Wales as part of the UK cruising vacation.

Over the longer term the prospects of Welsh ports catching up with Baltic ports is encouraging, an area where a popular cruise market already thrives. From Holyhead in the North West of Wales to Newport via Swansea and Milford Haven, ports in Wales can act as catalysts for economic regeneration when they attract visitors to cruise Wales. In 2009 the first cruise ship visited Newport, close to Celtic Manor which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The cruise visitors arriving in Newport had the opportunity to visit Cardiff sites such as the Millennium Centre and the castle.

Similarly, there are many attractions for cruise visitors when their ship arrives at Holyhead, Anglesey, including World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, South Stack Lighthouse and Llynnon Mill, along with the excellent island coastal path, as well as the Oriel Art Gallery and Seawatch centre at Moelfre.

The Welsh Assembly Government is offering financial support to strengthen the facilities for the expected rise in cruise ship visits to Holyhead, most notably to strengthen the jetty used by Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM), which offers an ideal anchorage and a perfect disembarkation berth for cruise ship passengers. When finished this improvement will mean this Holyhead Port outer harbour pier will be strong enough to take huge ships like the Westerdam, a 2,000 passengers carrying, 285 metre liner.

The future looks bright and exciting for visitors to the UK looking to cruise Wales as part of their overall experience, and Holyhead port will be ready to welcome them as they look to explore the many island attractions.

The author, David Phillips, comes from the magical island of Anglesey off North Wales, UK and runs an informative website focusing on local news and information. Find out more about preparing to cruise Wales here to help make your holiday more enjoyable.

Skerries Lighthouse, Holyhead Bay, Coastal Navigator and Bird Sanctuary

August 20th, 2009 No comments
by David Phillips

Yachtsmen and women across the Irish Sea will probably have sailed past Skerries Lighthouse in Holyhead Bay, off North West Anglesey, Wales at some time or other in their sailing career. Whether they approach, from Dublin in the west, Port St Mary, Isle of Man to the north or nearby Pwllheli, Skerries rock and light soon comes into view. In fact the white flashing light of this modern automated 23 m high Trinity House lighthouse can be seen 22 miles away.

And Skerries rock is also home to one of the largest tern colonies in the world, which are monitored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who occasionally send a team out to the rock. But just go back over 200 years in history and there was barely any navigational help on this treacherous Anglesey coast. Then in 1713 Irishman William Trench took out a 99 year lease on the rock from local landowner William Robinson, and events soon took on a new dynamic.

Mr Trench was a determined man and his efforts paid off and when in 1716 the first Skerries Lighthouse started operating. Compared to todays modern lighthouse it was only a 35 foot high tower with an open grate, and a coal burning flame for a light. To make it worth his efforts, William Trench used his business skills and charged a fee on all passing ships except the British Navy based on their tonnage.

Levies charged in 1730 amounted to as much as $2,200 each year, a significant reward for the time. And over the following years the annual fees increased so that they were about $23,000 in 1828. During this time ownership of Skerries Lighthouse changed a few times and significantly in 1841, Trinity House paid $990,000 for the freehold, a very large figure for the 19th century.

Sailing through the gap between the Skerries Rock and Carmel Head on Anglesey, known as Langdon Ridge, can be a tough challenge for sailors even in fine conditions. In fact, some yachtsmen choose not to go through this channel at Langdon, especially at night because of the strong currents and closeness of the rocks. A full flood tide from Holyhead can push your boat along quickly towards Cemlyn Nature Reserve and Wylfa Power Station. These waters have now attracted the interest of tidal energy companies wanting to provide green, alternative energy.

It’s fantastic sailing around the Anglesey coast. Either from a boat or the coastal path you can appreciate rich and diverse marine wildlife – razorbills, porpoises, seals, and puffins. As you pass Skerries just imagine the efforts of young Trench, and the ships since saved by the reassuring presence of these Anglesey Lighthouses. A flotilla of kayaks can sometimes be seen leaving Church Bay on an expedition to Skerries lighthouse. They need to get the tide and wind right to avoid being carried way off course.

So over 250 years ago William Trench started the Skerries Lighthouse story and it has been a colourful one since. The rock witnessed the end of sail and advent of steam, and the lighthouse keepers would have admired famous ships like the Great Eastern and Royal Charter, as well as seen numerous wrecks. Yachts and kayaks sometimes visit the rock and this Anglesey Lighthouse, while a large tern colony exists on the rock.

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Amazing Water Sports Holidays in Thailand

April 29th, 2009 No comments

Thailand is a great place to indulge in water sports. In fact, it is well recognized as one of the top places which offer great water sports holidays. People from all around the world love to visit Thailand and enjoy a great water sports holiday here.

Packed with ethnicity, and beautiful scenes, you will get the most marvelous water sports activities here. Thailand has a fortune of superb and remarkable lifestyle, foods and culture. Its beaches are certainly its hallmarks and for this reason, people love to come here to benefit from water sports of all sorts.

If you are crazy about water sports, Thailand is definitely the top holiday destination for you. You will get to indulge in remarkable and risky water sports here. You can take part in huge range of water sports here like beach volleyball, swimming, rafting, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, or scuba diving.

Amongst the most popular places in Thailand for this purpose are Mae Hong Son, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chumpon, Ko Chang, and Koh Tao. Mae Hong Son is placed in the surrounding area of Myanmar close to the river Pai. It is an astonishing place located in the North West area of this state. You can have a wonderful time enjoying rafting in the River Pai. You can indulge in the rafting journeys which are frequently organized in Mae Hong Son.

Another great destination for water sports is Hua Hin. It is sited in the northern region of the Malay Peninsula. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most popular beach resort town here. Its highlight is kitesurfing which people simply love to take part in. You can rent your kitesurfing apparatus, have guidance from the professional staff and have a great experience. Not only this, you can also formally join the lessons offered here for this amazing water sports. In addition, swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, and rowing all are accessible to you in this great place.

Phuket is yet an additional incredible place packed with beaches. The fantastic beaches here make it a great place for water sports holidays. Here also you will love swimming, kitesurfing, yachting, windsurfing, wave surfing, and rowing. Some other sports you will love incorporate snorkeling, diving, and scuba diving. Some of the famous beaches of Phuket are Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, and Rawai Beach.

Chumphon is one more astonishing place, ideal for water sports holidays. The highlights of Chumphon are kitesurfing / kite boarding. Additional water sports you can take pleasure in here are swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, as well as fishing.

One more place for water sports enjoyment is Ko Chang. It is the second biggest island of this state and is admired for sailing as well as scuba diving. You can also take part in additional water sports activities in Ko Change such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, and diving. Therefore plan a trip in Thailand and enjoy astonishing water sports activities now!

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