Best place/s to head for in A Coruna N Spain

ritchyp

ritchyp

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On Friday 30th myself and 3 other crew will be setting sail for Falmouth as a staging point to head down across Biscay to A Coruna.
Can anybody recommend a marina we can stay at for a few nights while we reprovision and and swap over some of the crew? Similarly, with Falmouth. Whilst I have visited the Port, I have never sailed in there. We will need shops and a pub within walking distance. We will probably anchor if we have to stay a while whilst waiting for a weather window but perhaps one night walk ashore. One of the crew has sailed in and out of there but it was probably 20 years ago.
A place to make for in A Coruna is more important really. There may be a place that is not listed in the almanac or cruising guide that is accommodating so I would need to know its name and VHF channel etc.

Any helpful information would be useful and I would be grateful...
 
Either of the two marinas are well within walking distance. We found a super market in the centre of town that we were able to restock at. Checking in/out is a bit of a hike.

We found a stunning wee bar just off the main square that sold the local wine in puros and beer.
 
ritchyp said:
Similarly, with Falmouth. Whilst I have visited the Port, I have never sailed in there. We will need shops and a pub within walking distance. We will probably anchor if we have to stay a while whilst waiting for a weather window but perhaps one night walk ashore.
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You have a choice of 3 marinas in Falmouth; Pendennis, Yachthaven and Falmouth Marina. The most centrally located of these is the Yachthaven but all have supermarkets within walking distance.

Pendennis is handy for the Tesco Express near the maritime museum and an easy walk in to town for the pubs.

Yachthaven is right next to The Chain Locker pub and handy for many more. There is a Tesco Express at each end of town, the one at the N. end being bigger (I think) than the one near Pendennis.

Falmouth Marina is further out of town, has a Sainsbury’s and a Lidl nearby but a longer walk to any pubs.

There is an anchorage between the Pendennis and Yachthaven marinas (you will be charged) if you want to wait close to town. Once re-provisioned, there are plenty of other anchorages in the area but not within easy reach of shops.

As an aside, what I have done previously is cross to NW France before crossing Biscay which offers several advantages, particularly if the 90 day Schengen limit is not going to be a problem. Clearing in to Schengen at Brest is easy and convenient with the office being a very short walk from Marina Chateau, it offers a ‘last chance’ to fill up with fuel and update the weather forecast prior to Biscay and crossing from NW Brittany to A Coruña both shortens the distance across Biscay and keeps you displaced to the East of the procession of shipping between Finisterre and Ushant. On our last couple of crossings, I think we’ve only seen a single ship on each crossing (not counting the fishing boats on the edge of the Continental Shelf).

Have a good trip!
 
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A few miles further south than A Coruña is Camariñas. Much quieter but with nice bars and supermarket near by. No nightlife to speak of but easy anchoring in all weather. We spent two weeks there before returning to blighty.
 
Goldie said:
You have a choice of 3 marinas in Falmouth; Pendennis, Yachthaven and Falmouth Marina. The most centrally located of these is the Yachthaven but all have supermarkets within walking distance.

Pendennis is handy for the Tesco Express near the maritime museum and an easy walk in to town for the pubs.

Yachthaven is right next to The Chain Locker pub and handy for many more. There is a Tesco Express at each end of town, the one at the N. end being bigger (I think) than the one near Pendennis.

Falmouth Marina is further out of town, has a Sainsbury’s and a Lidl nearby but a longer walk to any pubs.

There is an anchorage between the Pendennis and Yachthaven marinas (you will be charged) if you want to wait close to town. Once re-provisioned, there are plenty of other anchorages in the area but not within easy reach of shops.

As an aside, what I have done previously is cross to NW France before crossing Biscay which offers several advantages, particularly if the 90 day Schengen limit is not going to be a problem. Clearing in to Schengen at Brest is easy and convenient with the office being a very short walk from Marina Chateau, it offers a ‘last chance’ to fill up with fuel and update the weather forecast prior to Biscay and crossing from NW Brittany to A Coruña both shortens the distance across Biscay and keeps you displaced to the East of the procession of shipping between Finisterre and Ushant. On our last couple of crossings, I think we’ve only seen a single ship on each crossing (not counting the fishing boats on the edge of the Continental Shelf).

Have a good trip!
Click to expand...
 
mattonthesea said:
A few miles further south than A Coruña is Camariñas. Much quieter but with nice bars and supermarket near by. No nightlife to speak of but easy anchoring in all weather. We spent two weeks there before returning to blighty.
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Okay, that's good to know. Presumably you check in at A Coruna first yes? Then move down to Camarinãs once we are checked into EU Shengen at A Coruna?
 
Sandy said:
Either of the two marinas are well within walking distance. We found a super market in the centre of town that we were able to restock at. Checking in/out is a bit of a hike.

We found a stunning wee bar just off the main square that sold the local wine in puros and beer.
Click to expand...
Was that the one where if you ordered nuts they tipped a tin mugfu onto the table.l
 
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