Brown Sea Island

[marklucas]

All

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

I'm taking my son (10) and some school and rugby friends sailing on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, and we'll head out of the Solent, possibly overnight in Lulworth and then head to Poole for a showers and a curry.

On the way into Poole, we should of course let the boys run off some steam on Brown Sea Island. Any recommendations for anchoring / landing spots from those in the know gratefully received.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[Boathook]

Blood Lake Alley or is it Blood Alley Lake. Either way its to the south of Brownsea. Not knowing your boat draft this may be a bit shallow but you can land nearly anywhere along the shore. The other option is to the NW of Brownsea near Pottery Pier. Deeper water and landing seems ok when I last tried it.

 

[DJE]

If you're shallow enough for Blood Alley then you could also make it to Shipstal Point in the Upper Wych Channel. Sadly Long Island is now private (it was heaven for 10 year olds when mine were that age) but there is still plenty of scope if you land on the West shore with Arne Heath, the beach, and adjacent marshes and woodland.
If you're deep then anchor at Pottery Pier and land on Brownsea.

 

[steve6367]

It does not stop you using the beach at Pottery Pier, but the landing stage has been closed by the NT as deemed to be unsafe.

Also note, you should not land on the DWT (North) side of the island, to protect nesting birds.

 

[snowleopard]

My sister (are you there Pragmatist?) landed on Brownsea and were accosted by National Trust officials. They were carrying their NT membership cards so were OK but you might get some grief otherwise.

p.s. Brown Sea is something entirely different, see here.

 

[PurpleKate]

Pottery Pier

I anchored just East of Pottery Pier and its an easy Dingy trip ashore, just watch for the pottery shards as you come up the beach. Spent a lovely day wandering around Brownsea. The NT lady we bumped into as we landed seemed unbothered that we had not paid.

 

[marklucas]

Thanks

For all the advice - will let you know how it goes.

 

[Angele]

Take a look here.

I once found a map of the island on the web, showing landing areas/no-go areas, but can't remember where.

Edit: found it.

 

[Csail]

If you're shallow enough for Blood Alley then you could also make it to Shipstal Point in the Upper Wych Channel. Sadly Long Island is now private (it was heaven for 10 year olds when mine were that age) but there is still plenty of scope if you land on the West shore with Arne Heath, the beach, and adjacent marshes and woodland.
If you're deep then anchor at Pottery Pier and land on Brownsea.

Even if its private you could get permission.....mr branson allowed us on his island!

 

[jhr]

Even if its private you could get permission.....mr branson allowed us on his island!

A lengthy saga. I'm not sure of the current state of affairs, but the island changed hands a couple of years ago and the new owners were much more rigorous about enforcing their privacy than the old ones. They installed a warden on the island who started being extremely officious, although he didn't seem to realise that the land below the mhw mark doesn't belong to the owners of the island but to the Queen - who, so far as I am aware, has never prohibited people from enjoying this particular piece of her property .

I haven't heard any further developments so I guess this is still the situation.

 

[blackbeard]

Best anchorage in Poole depends on wind direction. With Shipstal Pt, Pottery Pier area, Blood Alley Lake and South Deep (and with ingenuity a few others) you can find one that suits, but South Deep could give a problem getting ashore and it's private land anyway. I hadn't realised that Pottery Pier had been deemed unsafe but I'm not surprised. Note that entry into Blood Alley has allegedly 0.1 m depth at CD, which I suspect is an overstatement. Also that Poole tides have not read the tide tables, and that weather (esp. baro pressure) is critical.
But.
I note that it appears you intend taking a party of (possibly) relative novices including one 10 y o from Solent to Lulworth in one day - is this correct? This seems to make for a VERY long day and a tired fractious crew.
There's something to be said for a stop at Studland if wind is W or S, you can easily get ashore at South Beach, gorgeous scenery, coastal footpath, pub, shop ...
(was it something I said?)
or Swanage if you have a W wind...