Category Archives: Trip

Take an Over-Night Boat Trip – How to Gunkhole

For many boaters, cruising usually means launching their boat on a lake and heading out for the day to fish, to sunbath or to enjoy an outing with some friends and beer. For others, it means spending the day discovering the shoreline, snugging down for a night in a secluded cove and then returning the next day. An over-night boat trip is an excellent way to enjoy a summer weekend.

The type of boat you own determines how comfortable your cruising trip will be. Sailboats greater than 21 feet have interior cabins that can act as a mobile ‘Anchor Hotel’. Power boat owners can’t comfortable sleep aboard their craft but can anchor and camp along a distant sandy shore.

How to Gunkhole
A gunkhole is a small, sheltered cove where small boats can anchor. Because each shoreline is different, the surrounding topography determines how much a cove will be exposed to the wind. Here are a few tips to make your overnight boating trip safer & more enjoyable:

  • Look at the surrounding hills and forest to determine how exposed a cove is. You want a place where the anchor will not drag during an unexpected storm.
  • Talk to local boaters to find out the seasonal wind patterns. Some coves may only be protected from the prevailing skies during certain times of the year. Be extremely cautious of storms which can approach from the opposite direction and can turn a calm bay into a wind-tunnel.
  • Anchor in a sheltered spot that’s protected from the wind and waves and away from marine traffic.
  • Leave enough scope (ratio between the depth of the water and the length of the rode) for a secure anchorage:
    • For a lunch stop, a scope of 3:1 should be good.
    • For overnighting, a scope of 5:1 should be good.
    • For rough weather, a scope of 7:1 should be good.
    • When in doubt, let it out!
  • Be a good neighbor and leave enough room to swing between your boat and a neighboring one.
  • Consider dropping two anchors, one aft and stern, just in case the winds pick up. If possible, try securing the boat with an extra line to a tree or boulder on the shore.
  • Ensure to properly secure your tender or pull the light raft high on the shore. Wind and waves (or tides out on the ocean) can grab your inflatable and set it adrift unmanned.
  • Always turn on your mast light at night. It gets very dark on remote shores so let others see your position.

If you’re an avid boater, try gunkholing one of these weekends. An overnight boating trip is a great way to feel the peaceful isolation of nature that few can afford or have time to experience.

Travelling to Stunning Cantabria on School Trips

School trips are a fundamental part of a student’s social and academic development. Giving young people the chance to explore boundaries and investigate their own opinions and pre-conceived ideas is an important part of growing up and developing intellectually. Taking students away from what is familiar will pose challenges and consequently build personal and social confidence. School trips are well-catered for and destinations chosen are suited to accommodating groups of young people.

In today’s modern world, because most countries are very accessible and easy to travel around, the list of possible destinations is extensive. Every one of the school trips offered by a reputable travel company will have a particular study focus, regardless of the age of the children involved. Trips are tailored to suit your group of students in terms of the age and dynamics, whilst aiming to combine the academic side with plenty of free time, fun and opportunities to make unforgettable memories.

Discover Northern Spain

Travelling from the UK is convenient, as you do not have to travel far before you are totally transported into another world with a different culture, history, language, and environment. Cantabria is a stunning part of Northern Spain, easily accessible from the UK and an ideal place to take students on school trips.

An ideal base for groups on school trips is in one of the tiny historic Spanish villages, such as Santillana del Mar. Immediately students will feel like they have stepped into the past and they can begin to absorb the rich historic traditions and culture that dominates the region. This medieval village is full of wonderful historic buildings plus the ancient Altamira Caves, which have a very interesting and artistically significant history. Explore the cobbled street and visit the Colegiata, the ancient Romanesque church and former Benedictine monetary.

From the village, this beautiful region is on your doorstep. With the Los Picos de Europa national park, lush forests and some wonderful coastline there is ample opportunity for walking, biking and exploring the countryside. Some of the best beaches in the region are in San Sebastian, the quirky Basque town bordering France, famous for its delicious tapas and pichos and fascinating Basque heritage.

Santander is the capital of the region; its coastal location with its spectacular mountainous backdrop makes it a very popular city to spend a few days. Overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, Cantabria quickly became a top-class resort destination for the affluent Spanish holidaymakers. Today, its friendly atmosphere and vibrant buzz still attracts people from all over the world. The Magdalena Peninsula, the beach and the promenade are among its biggest attractions.

One of the must-sees for students on school trips to this region is most certainly Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, in Bilbao. An innovation in the art world, built to challenge the stereotypical idea of museums, this incredible building houses some of the most famous exhibitions in the world and will be a definite highlight.