Destinations in UK eastcoast

[steffen]

I am about to start planning for next years trip from Holland to England. First crossing for my wife so its sort of a trial. I have about three weeks to spent on the whole trip and want to see some nice places en route.

Can you suggest destinations on the eastcoast? Whats the favorite port of entry into the UK coming from Holland.

 

[lezgar]

You could read
East Coast Rivers
ISBN 0-333-904559
Burnham on Crouch in the River Crouch is a good port of entry

 

[Guest]

You could also try Southwold Nice little town on East Coast.

 

[johndf]

Don't miss out a trip up the Thames to London - it's quite straightforward to go as far as St katherine's Dock, just East of Tower Bridge.

 

[Guest]

Er ........ actually the "UK East Coast" extends a bit further North than England.

Heading North on the English side of the border a "must visit" has to include the Farne Islands and a few hours further on into Scotland and you have half a dozen more "visitable" ports (Eyemouth, Dunbar etc) as you wander up to the Firth of Forth.

Further North brings St Andrews, Stonehaven and Peterhead as stopping places before turning into the Moray Firth where there are another half dozen or so fine places to visit. (Fraserburgh, Banff, Macduff, Pennan, Whitehills, Buckie, Lossiemouth etc).

One of the benefits is that there are fewer boats up here and you really can "get away from it all" a lot easier.

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[steffen]

John,
Are berths available in june or do you have to make reservations or call in advance?

 

[ChrisJ]

How much experience do you have? How quick does the boat travel? How many hours a day do you want to spend sailing? How much sight-seeing do you want to do? What do you like to do?
All these questions could vary the advice.....

Harwich harbour and Shotley Point marina - easy to find at night. 24 hour lock available. Once there its an easy 3 to 4 hour sail to Ipswich (moor in the new marina in the old docks), Levington (nice marina, nothing on shore), Pin Mill (crowded mooring, but good pub), Woolverstone (watch the boats racing), Wrabness (walks on the sea wall, need a dinghy to get ashore), and up the muddy creek to Mistley or Manningtree (just to say you have done it).
Then up the coast to the River Deben (Woodbridge marina always seems to find space, and the shops, swimming pool and little town are very close. Also you are only 100yds from the railway station for trips to other places). Further up the coast is the Alde/Ore (more wild, need a dinghy, no marinas, good villages at Aldeburgh and Orford); Southwold and Lowestoft if you want a good sandy beach to play on.

South from Harwich gets you the Walton backwaters (dinghy exploring, or Titchmarsh marina 2 miles from the nearest whatever; or up the creek to Walton itself).

5 to 6 hours sailing south west will find Brightlingsea, Tollesbury, Mersea, Bradwell, and up the Blackwater to Heybridge Basin or Maldon.

South again to Burnham - A very long entrance from the Whittaker buoy, but good places to visit once you get into the rivers Crouch and Roach.

Then South again, across the Thames estuary to the Medway and Swale (Gillingham, Hoo, Queenborough etc.).

My preferences for landing from NL would be:
- Ramsgate (shorter passage, fairly straight forward entrance, no booking needed, expensive, safe) then travel West and then North up coasts.
- Harwich (longer passage, easy to see entrance, but need to read the buoys) and then a quick excursion Northwards, before travelling south and East, leaving from Ramsgate at the end.

Don't forget your tide tables! Many places are only reachable close to high tide!

Generally, places can be found for visitors in most marinas - although boats of under 30feet (9 metres or so) find more places easier than boats over 40ft (12 metres or so).

Cheers, Chris

 

[mikeb]

Places I like to visit include

Southwold
Woodbridge both mentioned by others

Ipswich - top of the River Orwell, a nice pretty river and the new marina in the old Ipswich docks has good facilities and is only 10 minutes from the City centre

Harwich - mentioned by others

Brightlingsea - an old sea town

Tollesbury
Burnham
Ramsgate all mentioned by others

St Katherines mentioned by someone else is excellent value for money. It is close to the Tower of London so very well placed for a stay in town

 

[AndrewB]

St Katherine\'s Dock.

You are very strongly advised to book in advance during the Summer.

There are alternative marinas in London which are less in demand, but none anything like so attractive.

 

[johndf]

Probably best to book in advance even in June. I booked about a month in advance for an August visit. It was pretty fullat the weekend when I was there, with a rally of about 50 Fishers, but there were a few vacant berths during the week. You can book on their website at www.stkaths.co.uk

 

[TonyMS]

If you prefer not to use marinas, favourite places for us are: Ramsholt on the Deben (pick up a bouy, nice pub), Orford on the Ore (pick up a bouy, beautiful village with outstanding castle), Butley River (off the Ore, anchor), Southwold (raft alongside, quite pricey, fresh fish on quay).

You'll enjoy your trip!

 

[Plum]

Re: Harwich as a landfall

As other have already recommended, Harwich Harbour makes an ideal initial landfall as it is very easy to enter day or night at any state of tide (just watch out for the big ships). Check out http://www.hha.co.uk/ygmain.htm and in particular, click on "chart" for lots of information about the harbour and also many rivers close by.

 

[DavidofMersea]

The East Coast of the UK

The Blackwater has been mentioned briefly in passing, but let me say more.

West Mersea is very nice, I liked it so much, I moved here 22years ago.

Towards the top of the Blackwater is Heybridge. At Heybridge there is a lock with a canal behind, many Dutchmen go into the lock, although I cannot understand why, unless they are feeling homesick and want to see a canal again!

Just above Heybridge is Maldon. If you are around at high water, it is worth a sail up to see the barges, you can tie up alongside the pub. Avoid Bradwell, there is a nasty entrance, and apart from the Green Man pub there is nothing worth seeing in Bradwell

Brightlingsea is worth a visit. If you have time and the tide is right, sail up to Rowhedge and back. There is another waterside pub there that you can moor alongside.

Someone mentioned buying a copy of East Coast rivers by Janet Harber (not sure about the spelling of her name). This is a very good publication with lots of good aerial photos, and only about £10.

 

[steffen]

Thanks a lot for all the the advises on destinations. It will keep me busy during the winter with sorting out, finding further details, etc.
Great stuff.