I think I should also meantion that I have found one of the cranks for the gate in the swamp if this effects anything.

enter the swamp go right infront of tree gofuther right thorue a hidden path and you will fight a boss infront of a gate then find chests in the visinity to open the gate with 2 cranks.

It sounds like you've reached the point in the story just after Olia has joined your party and you had just defeated the Chomper Boss? In the area where Olia joins the party, there is a gate at the top of the area. You'll need two cranks to open it and as you mentioned you've found one. Im assuming its the one in the same room as the gate? The second crank is in the room to the right, in the chest on the other side of the river. There is a way around the river if you go through the hidden passage way. Notice the frogs on the ground leading you through it. Once you've grabbed the second crank you can open the gate and continue on through the next part of the story.

As for the game being unbalanced, the Tremel Tree area becomes important further on in the story which is why it's much more difficult.

Thanks a lot I've enjoyed the game so much so far even including the 4 hours of running in circles I've been doing

Not only did I miss the same path in the game, but we also have the same profile pictures. Yeah, I agree- they spawn enemies right next to it, so I'm focused on them and that problem. By the time I dodge or fight, I'm noticing the chest across the water and thinking there must be a way around to it, in another room or something. I missed the cave entirely.