Sea Kayaking the Bishops and The Clerks

Although most sea kayaking trips to the Bishops and the Clerks usually start from either Porthclais or Whitesands, my favourite way to paddle the Bishops and the Clerks is to launch from Aberieddy and use the tide to drop down onto North Bishop. This usually means that it’s a big tide so time wise it isn’t much longer to get out to the offshore Pembrokeshire islands.

Paddling West from Carreg Gwylan Fach with only open sea in front of you feels like the beginning of a big trip and sets the mood nicely for what is to come. Get your times right and you’ll be rewarded with races to play in; firstly a warm up at North Bishop and Carreg Rhosson, followed by a great race to surf at Maen Daufraich. We were a little late to catch it at it’s best for the video.

It’s worth arriving at South Bishop at least an hour and a half before slack water so you can jump out for a leg stretch and a rest before making the crossing back to Ramsey Island. By the time you pass through the Midland Gap the tide will have begun in Ramsey Sound and the famous Bitches will be running, providing another couple of hours to play on the waves before using the tide to bring you into Whitesands Bay to end your trip with a smile on your face having paddled one the most iconic of the Pembrokeshire Classics.