Last weekend my husband’s best friend and family came down from Essex to visit and I wanted to do something fun with them. The weather was forecast to be warm and sunny so I booked for us to go kayaking at Studland.
We were booked in for 11am but as it was Bank Holiday weekend we set off early as we didn’t know how busy the Sandbanks Ferry would be. Thank goodness we did as the queues were huge already and we had to wait 40 minutes to get on it.
It was warm and sunny when we left home, so we were confident that it was going to be just as lovely on the water. We have been out with Studland Sea School a few times before and the sea has always been like a millpond so I was very surprised when we turned up to see the sea looking choppy.
I made camp on the beach with Sebastian and Eliza whilst the others went and got suited up.
As we sat on the beach I could see the weather was starting to turn, but that didn’t stop the intrepid explorers going on their adventure. They arrived on the beach in their warm wetsuits and after a brief training session were ready to set off.
The sea did make launching their kayaks a little more challenging than they were used to, but with a bit of help from Guy from Studland Sea School they managed and they all managed to stay on top of the kayaks, despite the best efforts of the sea to get them off.
Because the conditions were quite challenging one of our party decided they couldn’t continue, so Guy took over and had one of the boys aboard his kayak and off they went.
They explored Studland for around an hour before heading back, and there appeared to be some racing going on as they approached the shore.
The boys (men included) seemed to be having a whale of a time as they rode the waves back into shore.
Whilst the boys got changed, I packed up all the stuff I had with me on the beach. By now the weather was that bad that I was stranded as the waves were lapping over the slipway, but thankfully Guy and Kian came to my rescue and helped carry Eliza, Sebastian and the pram off the sand and up the slipway.
We then headed for The Crows Nest Inn in Swanage for a spot of lunch which I had found on Trip Advisor. It was a good, old-fashioned pub with lots for the kids to do including a play area and games for them to play. The food was home-cooked and absolute delicious as well as reasonably priced. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
The weather had cheered up again so we then took a wander around Swanage to look around the quaint seaside town. You cannot visit Swanage without stopping for a Fortes ice cream – there were so many flavours to choose from!
It was then time to head back across the sand to our car and home!
I am linking up with Country Kids from CoombeMill, why not click the badge below and link up your outdoor adventures too.
Looks great fun – we live near Alton Water and the kids love sailing and kayaking there.
What a great day. I really would love to take my boys on a water based adventure soon but I am not the best of swimmers! It will have to be a daddy adventure I think!
Looks lots of fun .x
Oh wow Kayaking looks like soo much fun!! Even if the weather did turn abit!
That’s certainly an adventure – it looks like you had such a fun time! x
Your days out always look like so much fun. We love trip to the seaside. Great pictures x
Husband is a keen kayaker and he wants our son to join him sometimes. I think this is a great place for that. Sadly this is a bit far from us. #countrykids
Looks like you all had a great day 🙂
Now that looked like fun! I’m sure our children would all love to have a go too. Judging by the smiles in the photos they all had a fun time, I’m sure your friends were impressed with the booked activity and the choice of place for dining too. Thanks for linking up and sharing your fun with Country Kids.
looks fabulous! My girls would love it there!
Wow – what an adventure! I’d be on the beach eating an ice-cream but I bet that’d be just as fun 🙂
Sounds like they had a great time, it certainly did look choppy! x
Beautiful pictures, the kayaking looks like so much fun and well who doesn’t love being on the beach. #countrykids
Great post! I used to kayak as a child and loved it! x
Sounds like a wonderful day at the beach.
What a brilliant family day out! My son has just started kayaking and loves it, I am hoping we can have a family trip soon.
It looks amazing, I think you have inspired me to book something similar for us
I like to look at the water rather than be on it but this looks fun!
What an adventurous day out! Probably alien to people who don’t live anywhere near the sea lol! Love the pic of Sebastian at the top in that adorable blue cardigan, I remember my twins having a knitted cardi like that in that baby blue colour and they too looked so cute in them 🙂
Wow what brilliant fun thats looks like. I cant wait for my sons to be a little older and spend quality time with their daddy, having great adventures.
That looks like fun – no sure I’d talk my two into doing that but I bet they’d love it if I could!
Some fab pictures of a wonderful day! I’m terrified of the sea so id be sat on the beach scoffing ice cream haha x
oh swanage is so nice! I’ve not been there for ages! x
You’ve had fun! Kayaking on the sea looks scary – I don’t think I would be that brave, especially with a tot in tow!
#countrykids
It looks like you all had a fantastic time. I’ve only been kayaking once but it was a lot of fun!