Circumnavigation of Britain & Ireland : 2021 to 2024

[Bristolfashion]

My description of "marina" or "pontoon" is a bit random - the associated services ranged from zero to luxurious (and not necessarily following price!) - but with either, there's a pontoon!

Frankly, we were usually just happy to tie up somewhere and toddle off the boat.

 

[Concerto]

Very interesting thread, we’re planning to do circumnavigation next year and just starting looking at route etc. most will be single handed with starting from Hull and probably going anti clockwise as well.
Do you have your list on a spreadsheet by any chance?

You may find my list of threads I wrote on my anti clockwise single handed Round Britain trip starting from Chatham. They are all in my About Me page, along with the associated YouTube videos.

 

[Greg2]

Some very interesting and helpful information here so thanks for sharing.

I would like to do a leisurely circumnavigation, taking time to go inland on rivers and in particular going up the Shannon in Ireland as SWMBO is from the north of Ireland, but I have not entirely convinced her that it is a good plan for retirement. I suspect she finds the inland waters of Europe and possibly a trip down to the Med via canals and rivers more alluring.

As an east coast boater was I wasn’t surprised to see the Butt and Oyster your list of notable pubs but I didn’t expect to see the Kings Head at Tollesbury included. We love Tollesbury but rarely frequent the pub, are we missing a trick?!

 

[Bristolfashion]

Some very interesting and helpful information here so thanks for sharing.

I would like to do a leisurely circumnavigation, taking time to go inland on rivers and in particular going up the Shannon in Ireland as SWMBO is from the north of Ireland, but I have not entirely convinced her that it is a good plan for retirement. I suspect she finds the inland waters of Europe and possibly a trip down to the Med via canals and rivers more alluring.

As an east coast boater was I wasn’t surprised to see the Butt and Oyster your list of notable pubs but I didn’t expect to see the Kings Head at Tollesbury included. We love Tollesbury but rarely frequent the pub, are we missing a trick?!

Well, on pubs, as I have said on everything else, these preferences are 100% personal bias. We strolled past the pub, they were advertising roast lunch the next day, they were friendly and had the superb Colleys Dog from Tring Brewery on pump. The lunch was excellent.

Can't guarantee that you'll have the same experience, but worth a go.

 

[Bristolfashion]

I think I'll add The Fisherman's Arms at Golant to my list of memorable pubs!

 

[LittleSister]

. . . You don't mention a life raft and can imagine you didn't carry one? We don't but crossing the channel I believe it is a requirement. . .

No, it's not a requirement to have a liferaft to cross the channel.

 

[Bristolfashion]

No, it's not a requirement to have a liferaft to cross the channel.

Yes, I wondered about that.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Not sure at what point I thought it might be a requirement, maybe it is one of my wife's requirements ....and therefore it is

 

[benjenbav]

Very well done. It sounds as though you enjoyed it thoroughly.

Did your plans change significantly as you progressed or did you more or less reach your intended destinations throughout - other than retracing your steps to accommodate friends as you have explained?

 

[Daverw]

If it’s any help, I’ve just put the list onto excel spreadsheet to use whilst we plan ours next year, pm me if you want a copy

 

[Bristolfashion]

Very well done. It sounds as though you enjoyed it thoroughly.

Did your plans change significantly as you progressed or did you more or less reach your intended destinations throughout - other than retracing your steps to accommodate friends as you have explained?

Well, we didn't make a detailed plan - little more than : 3 seasons, around UK, including "over the top" of Scotland.

We then planned sensible passages bearing in mind weather, tides, access and places we simply fancied going.

Both Orkney & Shetland came about because we saw highly suitable weather windows to go with plenty of time for a return passage.

In year 3, the big change was that we realised that we had time to include Ireland.

We were very fortunate that we had no time constraints and could also leave the boat at any suitable location.

I'm sure that some people like to research every location and make a detailed itinerary - we were less structured.

 

[Concerto]

Being too structured does not allow you to go to places other sailors suggest when nearby or change plans if the weather is not suitable. Only select the most important places you want to visit and then plan enroute, you may find some absolute gems that detailed pre-planning miss. A number of places I visited on my circumnavigation were purely on local recommendations.

 

[Daverw]

Being too structured does not allow you to go to places other sailors suggest when nearby or change plans if the weather is not suitable. Only select the most important places you want to visit and then plan enroute, you may find some absolute gems that detailed pre-planning miss. A number of places I visited on my circumnavigation were purely on local recommendations.

This is exactly what we are just starting to do, we are doing it as two boats mostly single handed without real time constraints, been wanting to do this for a few years but only retired this January so now have the chance, my mate is the same

 

[Bristolfashion]

And once you read the pilot guide carefully, there are a good few "oooh, look, we could go THERE" moments! Newry Canal comes to mind.

 

[Daverw]

This is exactly what we are just starting to do, we are doing it as two boats mostly single handed without real time constraints, been wanting to do this for a few years but only retired this January so now have the chance, my mate is the same

Just to also add, we are starting to look for cruising guides for east coast of Scotland and lower west coast of Scotland if anyone has anything usefull they want to sell, and guides for Caledonian canal

 

[Bristolfashion]

Just to also add, we are starting to look for cruising guides for east coast of Scotland and lower west coast of Scotland if anyone has anything usefull they want to sell, and guides for Caledonian canal

I think that I just read in the CA magazine that there's a new CCC guide to the Outer Hebrides just published.

I'd happily sell our range of guides - but the admiral wants to keep 'em as souvenirs!

 

[dunedin]

I think that I just read in the CA magazine that there's a new CCC guide to the Outer Hebrides just published.

I'd happily sell our range of guides - but the admiral wants to keep 'em as souvenirs!

Yes new CCC Guide for Outer Hebrides was published in 2024 (though with weather this year I never managed to use it!). And another update planned for 2025, but can't remember which volume(s) that covers.

But yes, they are fantastic books with lots of lovely pictures and a great memento to keep. I have our superseded sets in the boating bookcase just an arms reach away,

 

[dunedin]

Well, we didn't make a detailed plan - little more than : 3 seasons, around UK, including "over the top" of Scotland.

We then planned sensible passages bearing in mind weather, tides, access and places we simply fancied going.

Both Orkney & Shetland came about because we saw highly suitable weather windows to go with plenty of time for a return passage.

.........

That is indeed the best "plan" to be flexible and go with what the weather enables.
As ever, fixed plans and fixed timetables do not make a comfortable cruise.

 

[Daverw]

I think that I just read in the CA magazine that there's a new CCC guide to the Outer Hebrides just published.

I'd happily sell our range of guides - but the admiral wants to keep 'em as souvenirs!

Will be shopping next week at SIBS good job it’s birthday month

 

[Bristolfashion]

Whilst I realise that many here will have achieved WAY more epic adventures, it has been a big thing for us ...... but, the big question is "what next"? Should we back off sailing for a while and tick off a few other things or press on?

It's a dilemma!