Lacock to Bradford on Avon by canoe - wild camp overnighter
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- A two day meander by canoe down the river Avon from Lacock to Bradford on Avon. About 12 miles in all, through some exceedingly quiet Wiltshire countryside which by and large we had to ourselves most of the time. A perfect overnight camp on the riverbank was the icing on the cake. There are 3 substantial weirs to portage on this stretch - the first at Melksham, the second just outside Trowbridge and the third above the town of Bradford on Avon. This portion of the river is also blessed with some fine looking bridges. Summer in England at its best.
•
Cameras: Canon EOSR with 35mm RF lens, EOS760D with 10-20mm sigma wide angle lens. GoPro 4 and 8 Black ed.
Drone: DJI Mavic Air
Edited in FCPX 10.4.8
Music: Epidemicsound.com
What a fantastic short film, I keep noticing more little tricks that you do with filming and editing that I want to learn (speed warps for example). You are incredibly clever in how you film and edit your projects Andy and this one was no exception. Thanks for making the second trip to finish up the filming! Wonderful music and great narration just add to the creativity, another great film Andy🍻
Thoughtful and much appreciated comment, thanks Pete. Speed ramp? it's always very effective on drone footage esp. As a fellow creative glad to see you're noticing the little editing tricks. I always film in 2.7k on the GoPro's mounted to the canoe - that way it leaves me some room to punch in and out on a 1080p timeline. I'm looking forward to your visit to Grey Owl's cabin very much. Canada... one day maybe!
Another really enjoyable video. I like how you explained the ending segment, where you had to come back to finish the project.
Thanks, yes the day both of us were paddling it absolutely hacked down, torrential! Water and expensive camera equipment aren't a great mix!
Looks like a peaceful stretch of water, not many people about either by the look of it, nice!
It is Billy, highly recommended.
I like your hou canoe. I've been trying to get a Hou 14 canoe but they don't come up for sale very often. I enjoyed your videos, especially as you ended your trip at the rowing club where I learned to canoe over fifty years ago.
The Hou is a great little canoe... I only wished that I'd bought a 14'ft instead of a 13'. That extra foot makes all the difference. Have you tried the Hou website or are you after a second hand boat?
Do you mind saying where you put in at Lacock? Grid reference?
Right by Lacock Bridge, just down from the Abbey Grid ref: ST921681 (public footpath & stile from the road).
Such chill vibes
chill vibes for a chill river 👌
Please make more of these videos. They are very calming to watch.
That's a very satisfying comment to read, thank you very much. If it's calming, I'm pleased.
Andy that was a fantastic paddle. Commenting again - other disappeared. That's what we like a nice wild start to a river. Mind you there were some nice sections further down - just different. The medieval bridge latterly. Fortuitous pitch and loved the jumping fish. I was hoping to see one on the grill. Well, that was a cool mini adventure. Take care Andy. All the best. Mark
Ah you're back Mark! YT's a funny thing at times, disappearing comments, what's that all about? We're spoilt for beautiful bridges on the Avon for sure - all handsome Bath stone most of em, one round every corner it seems. Yes, that camp spot was lovely and serene, couldn't of asked for a better pitch. Yep, all the best to you too Mark.
@@MrAndyballard Yeah, funny old business Andy. It looks as if you have a plethora of bridges. We can get a bit geeky about them. Love it when the camp gods answer back.
Very classy Andy. Love it.
churs mucker 👍
Superb again👌👏👏👏
Thanks Marcin 👍
9:23 how is it that even the local lock ups used to be made to be beautiful with real craftsmanship. We certainly have lost something really important.
What is the map reference number for where you launched?
No map ref. but it's easy to find. We launched in the field immediately south of the arched bridge in Lacock v near the Abbey. There's a public footpath too - an easy launch spot.
Just looked on the map... it's called ‘the wharf"
Hi Andy, great video. Looking to do something like this myself. Is camping on the river banks allowed? I’d hate to be told to move on and be stuck. Thanks
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. ‘Allowed’ is a bit of a weird word with me. It's your world too... people would say you're trespassing to sleep on the riverbank, others would say you're merely placing your head to sleep on god's earth? It's an odd one isn't it? and depends entirely on the sticky issue and acceptance of land ownership (or theft of the countryside in some people's eyes). So you have to make your own decision on that one.
@@MrAndyballard thanks for your reply, I guess a lot of it is about location. We had an issue with a land owner in Sussex with going around a weir the other week, done it for years and it was bad timing I think. It won’t stop use.
@@stevofxone2630 Just use common sense and a bit of stealth... you can't go wrong. The same here, there's a weir on the Avon where a local gives all paddlers a hard time, these people think that they own the world... they don't.
Loving your films, Andy. Very high-quality. I also like your accent, pitch, and tone. Very soothing to the ear.
That's a very nice comment to receive. Thank you. I've lost my mojo a bit producing these videos of late. Maybe something to do with editing for a living... it takes the shine off doing it for fun.
Very well narrated.
Kind of you to say so, thank you.
What a lovely adventure and a sublime film - thanks for sharing. More river Avon to explore :-)
Cheers Murray, the upper Avon is a little secret I reckon, very underused! which is alright with me.
Great Andy!
Cheers Tumblehome 👍
Great video. Would this be possible with a inflatable kayak
Yeah, it would be worth a crack... a few sections are quite narrow though, but to be honest an inflatable kayak would be easier to get down over the weirs
@@MrAndyballard that's brilliant thanks for replying so quickly. And thanks for showing me some local places to go have a paddle 👍
@@garethbrown8947 No worries Gareth, I have a new trip video coming up which shows a 30 mile paddle on the Wye if you're interested
@@MrAndyballard I definitely am my friend I'm planning as many trips out as possible so there's all help loads
I have done Melksham to Lacock several times the last part of the river is pure hell especially against the flow-The EA need to clear all those fallen and overhanging trees - a great presentation 👍
Cheers James. Ah upstream hey? crikey... yeah there were a few big fallen willows very close to Melksham as I remember, it was very tricky in places. My mate (the one in this vid) said that the EA's new policy is to leave the fallen trees in the river?! I can't see the logic in that, and I can't remember what he told me was their reasoning. It's a beautiful river though, esp that bridge at Broughton Gifford.
Amazing content again Andy thanks, as a new paddler and being a Bristol local, your vids have opened my eyes to some great routes all close to me to explore so thank you! Can I ask, what is the make of your green waterproof jacket please? Keep up the great content cheers.
Yes, we've got a few good rivers close by, I keep returning to the Avon because it's such a beautiful river, There's about 80 odd miles of it I believe so plenty of stretches to paddle. me jacket? I just looked, it's a ‘Surfanic’ (TK Maxx special) but a bloody good waterproof coat once treated with Nikwax.
Another aquatic adventure shared so beautifully by your videography Andy! Love your dedication in going back for the reshoot. I've been meaning to explore upstream of B-o-A, think I'll put in a bit lower that you though, it looked like you were charting a new route into unexplored Wiltshire!
Nice one George, yeah I can't leave something incomplete. Upstream of BoA is much quieter than downstream for sure. There's a good put in spot next to that weir near Staverton/Trowbridge. Very peaceful paddle indeed.
Loved it Andy good to see Melvin looks like yu had a brilliant time! With stunning views . Made me laugh out loud in places 😁👍
Ah.. there you are! Yeah, it felt like a real Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn adventure for these old boys. A stretch I hadn't paddled before so that made it interesting as well. Hope all's well.
Wonderful trip and inspiration. I never thought of going down a weir like that, wow.
Its a lovely stretch of river... do it! Kayak, canoe, spare innertube... whatever. You won't regret it.
Thank you so much for making this video. I've been looking at the same route to take the kids out during the summer hols.
Glad you found it Greg. There are a lot of trees across the river in places - close to Melksham I seem to remember. You will have to haul your boat over a few trunks across the river in places. Not a drama really, especially if you end up in the drink when it's a warm day, it's fun!
Fantastic film Andy, love that part if the country .
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yes, lucky to live quite close by to it.
Hi Andy, I'm looking forward to every your video. It's a great relaxation to just watch it. Beauty! David PT
Thanks, I'll get over and check out some of your films later, where are you located in the world?
@@MrAndyballard Hi, thank you. I'm from Czech Republic.
Thank you so much for this video - a real eye-opener that I will certainly be having a look at one day as it is very near by
Glad you enjoyed it. It was the first time I've paddled this particular stretch of the Avon as my mate lived in Lacock then, it's a very little paddled stretch of the river too.
Excellent film as usual Andy, very refreshing. Admire your dedication returning to complete the last leg.
Always good to get a comment from WA, thanks. The Blackwood down south is on my ‘to do’ list... one day! Have you paddled that river?
@@MrAndyballard sure have, our class at school was lucky enough to do a camp and paddle a section of the river in year 11. Great memories.
Such a beautiful film. I paddleboard this section regularly, you really capture it's beauty and serenity, something I struggle to visualise to people. It's always so peaceful.
You're lucky if you live close by, it's quite a hike for me south of Bristol, my mate lives in Lacock, so it's his local stretch... he fishes and canoes so has the best of it really.
Andy this film is fab, always makes me feel calm, love your photography , only sad thing is I wish I was there 🥲 . Thank you for sharing, really appreciate 👌👌
If it's calming that's good with me 👌
Exactly what "Latitude" says...been waiting for a canoe and camp film from you....just gorgeous!
Much appreciated comment Laurie, seems like eons ago now (it was... back in July). Glad you enjoyed it.
@@MrAndyballard Yeah but "oi don't do no rushin' 'round, bor..." 😃
Welcome back Andy, excellent footage. Well done to you two for bringing that to us, thankyou.
Just spent two wks kayaking around Falmouth and Flushing estuary, amazing. Thankyou both again, regards steve
Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Funny you should mention Falmouth and Flushing... my mate Wol (in the red canoe) lived on a boat up Sailor's Creek in Flushing at one point. Some time back though. I know it quite well.
@@MrAndyballard yea, paddled there a few times whilst there, it great looking around the boats and yachts and just being politely looking 🤔, anyway take care till next time.
Rehards
Steve