Cruising North Wales

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tyce

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Planning ahead to my cruise next year and fancy cruising around North Wales, i am sailing there from Morecambe bay and have about 2 weeks available.
Where are the must see places and anyone offer a cruising route, Wales is new ground for me so all suggestions welcome
 
The Liverpool Bay bit is not too scenic apart from Conwy. Gets worse as you go East from there.

Holyhead is a safe harbour entrance in any conditions, but not a convenient or pretty town.

Menai Straits beautiful, but fearsome tides and rocks.

The South side of Anglesey is excellent, but no harbours. You can find protection from all directions except the South.

The North side of the Lleyn peninsular is very scenic, but no harbours and no protection from N-NE.

Bardsey Sound needs your tides to be right to get through.

South side of Lleyn peninsular similar to North side, but little protection from the South.

Pwllheli full services, but less water in the channel than they say.

Portmadog can give you a deep water mooring if you ask. Very scenic estuary, but limited tidal access.

Mochras lagoon only ok if you can dry.

Barmouth/Aberdyfi both have deep water moorings available if you arrange it with the HM in advance, but don't try to get in if strong W wind.

Aberystwyth full service marina, half tide, open to W.

A few drying/limited shelter places on the way to Fishguard, which doesn't have as much shelter as it looks.

Tides and rocks again to get past St Davids/St Brides Bay. A few small places, but excellent scenery.

Then you're into Milford Haven area, which is safe, sheltered, scenic in parts if a bit industrial in others.


I would head to Holyhead and use it as a base to explore Anglesey/Menai/Carnarvon Bay area for a couple of days. Then go round Bardsey and do the Tremadog Bay/Porthmadog bit. Then coast hop round Cardigan Bay and if time permits have a look at Pembrokeshire/Milford Haven area.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
The Liverpool Bay bit is not too scenic apart from Conwy. Gets worse as you go East from there.

Holyhead is a safe harbour entrance in any conditions, but not a convenient or pretty town.

Menai Straits beautiful, but fearsome tides and rocks.

The South side of Anglesey is excellent, but no harbours. You can find protection from all directions except the South.

The North side of the Lleyn peninsular is very scenic, but no harbours and no protection from N-NE.

Bardsey Sound needs your tides to be right to get through.

South side of Lleyn peninsular similar to North side, but little protection from the South.

Pwllheli full services, but less water in the channel than they say.

Portmadog can give you a deep water mooring if you ask. Very scenic estuary, but limited tidal access.

Mochras lagoon only ok if you can dry.

Barmouth/Aberdyfi both have deep water moorings available if you arrange it with the HM in advance, but don't try to get in if strong W wind.

Aberystwyth full service marina, half tide, open to W.

A few drying/limited shelter places on the way to Fishguard, which doesn't have as much shelter as it looks.

Tides and rocks again to get past St Davids/St Brides Bay. A few small places, but excellent scenery.

Then you're into Milford Haven area, which is safe, sheltered, scenic in parts if a bit industrial in others.


You a member of the Welsh Tourist Board ???.
Click to expand...
 
You can do a round Anglesey sail in a day if you pick your timing with the tides. Don't be too put off by them, just use 'em right and they're your friend.

Other tried and tested anchorages/ stopovers are Abermenai and Llandwyn Island.

Might be worth seeking out David Rainsbury's pilot of the area, and looking at the NWVYC website for info.
 
Yes there are big & fast tides, use them as your friend & you will make amazing passage times. Holyhead costs £15 a night for a swinging mooring but is easy entrance & safe. Town is a bit grim & grey tho, but land trips to South Stack are worth while.

Amlwch is another safe harbour & interesting for the old copper mines at Parys Montain. Many other bays offer beautiful sheltered anchorages given the right weather. Take care to watch out for wind shifts which can leave you exposed.

Red Wharf Bay is a favourite for my family due to the enormous beach, but you have to be able to dry out. The Straits themselves offer sheltered & free private moorings if vacant, but try to go with the tide. You must not miss taking at least one trip thro the Swellies (slack is 2 hrs before HW Liverpool) a true "life-time" experience.

Caernarfon charges £10 a night for a mooring on the Slate Quay right under the famous Castle - with water & shops very convenient. Days out - the Castle, & the Welsh Highland Railway, trip p Snowden, bike hire on the Slate Quay. Beaumaris moorings tend to roll like a pig, but the town & castle are charming. There are also fabulous anchorages like Llandwyn Island. Bardsey Island is worth a day or two as is Porth Dinllaen.

Conway has strong tides so you need an o/b on your dinghy or use the club launch (a couple of quid a head, I think) but again, good shops & amazing castle. Rhyl is a difficult entrance & the town is very run-down these days. Day trips from Conway should include Llandudno & the Gt Orme (Bronze Age copper mine) & Bodnant Gardens.

PM me if you want any more specific info.
 
The post by Angus says it all, really.

Suggest that you buy a pilot guide and read it over winter. I recommend Crusing Anglesey and Adjoining Waters by Ralph Morris although others are available.

Fortunately, God made Anglesey square so you're never far from a lee. He also had a sense of humour because you'll be beating to windward regardless of where ever you decide to sail!

I'd love to take issue with the assertion that Holyhead is neither a convenient nor pretty town...............but I can't.
 
Agree with all said about cruising this area.

Must add you will get the warmest of welcomes in RWYC or "Santas Grotto" if you visit Caernarfon.:)

If you are planning an extended tour I thoroughly recommend a stay at Porthmadog where the Madog YC should not be missed for its friendly welcome and superb showers. Get an update on where the bar and channel is next year from HM. (this applies to Caernarfon Bar also) Deep keelers can be accomodated by prior arrangement with HM otherwise twin keels can dry out on club pontoons

Should you pass through the Menai Strait you need to be aware of the greatest uncharted danger. Not the Swellies . Thats a pussy cat at the right time. No you must watch out for the hidden unmarked dangers lurking at Felinheli. Apparently innocent looking forumites may approach you. Do not be taken in as they will have emptied their fun lockers and only have eyes on yours.:)


Yachi da
 
Wow thanks everyone for passing on your excellent advice, plenty to go at there.
Will get my charts and pilots out and start planning.
The boat is a bilge keel so all your options are open to me, just need the weather!
 
Searush said:
That the lions guarding the Brittannia Bridge then?
Click to expand...

Be nice if they raised them up to road level


images


images
 
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