Three boys camped out on the sunny shores of the North Antrim Coast and enjoyed a day of waters sports at Dunseverick Harbour.
It was a welcome return to our annual coastal camp after a year’s absence due to our Normandy Trip in August 2025.
An advanced party of leaders had transported the canoe trailer and set up camp, allowing the boys to quickly transfer their camping gear into their tent when they arrived at the harbour.
We were blessed with a sunnier evening than forecast, and made the most of the it with a short walk to explore the rock pools west of the harbour. The clear skies gave fantastic views of the bothy at Port Moon to the west and Rathlin Island to the east.
We returned to camp and fired up the BBQ to enjoy a selection of burgers and sausages, then sat around the fire pit chatting the night away. The cloudless sky offered amazing views of the constellations and the waning crescent moon.
Leader-in-Charge Jonathan had brought his spearfishing gear for an evening dive, and returned to camp with a sole to reward his efforts. He demonstrated to the boys how to fillet a fish, and explained how its skin and organs could be kept as bait for fishing the next day.
With midnight passed boys and leaders gradually retired to their tents, leaving three leaders to enjoy fish cooked on the coals of the fire.
Saturday
We awoke to an overcast but pleasant day, and gathered around the fire pit to eat breakfast. Jonathan then took the boys crab fishing at the mouth of the harbour, while the remaining leaders prepared the canoes and kayaks for launch.
The silver lining of having only three boys was that everyone could hit the water at once, and our flotilla of two canoes and two kayaks explored the waters east of the harbour. The fishing continued with boys casting a rod from the side of the canoe, unfortunately the fish weren’t biting.
We returned to land and left the boats at camp, then walked back to the rock pools we had explored the night before. This time with the plan of jumping in for a swim. Despite their lack of wetsuits the boys braved the chilly waters with jump after jump. But eventually the warm embrace of their towel and dry clothes pulled them away and back to camp.
With our time drawing to a close, we loaded the trailer, packed up camp and drove to Bushmills. Our outing concluded with our traditional takeaway of chips, enjoyed beside the babbling waters of the Bush river.
Many thanks to Anchor Boys leader Gary for his help during the camp. Special thanks to Louise Graham for the kind donation of a tent, which housed the boys comfortably on its first BB outing.
