After a four-stage journey, we arrived in beautiful Pembrokeshire on Tuesday. The boys were fantastic, and we had the small matter of scaling Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons on the way! We could not have asked for better weather - allowing us a safe and sunny passage - and we were treated to a stunning view along the coastline before turning up our final road to our accommodation at the lodge. Dinner awaited us on our arrival and the boys were in good spirits, looking forward to SUPs and bugs the next day!

It dawned a glorious day on Wednesday. After a rather protracted grapple into wetsuits during the 'kitting up' process, we got the boys to the beautiful little Porthclais harbour for 10.15am. In teams, they undertook the mega stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), largely kneeling down! They had a brilliant paddle out along a short stretch of coast to the east of the harbour mouth, working in their teams of 7 and 8. The photos give you an idea of what a brilliant experience this was. En route, they were given an introduction to the nature of the Pembrokeshire coast as a special and protected environment. 

Another protracted grapple - this time out of wetsuits - and we were on the road to Dr Beynon's Bug Farm. Here the boys had an introduction session from Sarah Beynon about insects' place in the world's ecosystems, a visit to the insect 'zoo', a hands-on workshop with some of the insects, and then an insect culinary experience. They were brilliant – some fears were met and overcome, and there was little hesitation in trying out the 'lite bites'!

After a short drive back to the lodge, team-building games awaited with the activity instructors and dinner awaited!

It was another wonderful day, with kayaking and coasteering to look forward to the next day....

And, by the next day, Thursday, it was yet another fantastic day. The weather has spoiled us, once again, and we are so fortunate to have glorious sunshine and little wind... ideal for the day's kayaking and coasteering. The boys have been terrific. In their different groups, they boarded the kayaks on Thursday morning back at the idyllic little harbour of Porthclais. Paddling out of the harbour mouth and around the nearby coastline, the boys tackled kayaking through narrow channels and were learning how to manage the swell at the sea's edge.  

After a couple of hours, it was back into the harbour and time for packed lunches, with just a couple of queasy paddlers feeling the after-effects of some time out on the roll of the sea! After re-energising, we went back out to the coastal fringes by foot, making our way carefully down to the sea before embarking on the total joy of the coasteering. All the things we would have hoped came to be: the boys each wore a huge smile at the end, having tackled jumps, overcome some anxieties and felt the liberation of building confidence in such a dynamic environment.  

Although the instructors were able to get some photographs of the coasteering which we hope to attain soon, the photos here are restricted to those we could capture of the kayaking. 

When we returned to the lodge, a delicious dinner of homemade lasagne, garlic bread and salad awaited, with treacle tart for pudding: it has to be said that the meals have been an absolute highlight of the trip. Tomorrow, Friday, we enjoy our boat trips out to Ramsey Island on the RIBs - and we hear word that there are plenty of seal pups still around! - and then a gentle walk on the final stages of the pilgrimage path to the Cathedral in the afternoon. 

Looking forward to it!

The Pembrokeshire Team