Dover to Blackwater. First time anchoring (Harty Ferry, The Swale?)

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jbm1967

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Hi, I am moving my boat from Dover to the River Blackwater. I am thinking of doing it in 2 days, stopping overnight at the Swale (open to other suggestions). It looks like Harty Ferry could be a good place to moor up (ideally get a free buoy). Obviously we would like to visit the local pub that evening. How do you get there? I appreciate you will probably use your dinghy but what happens if the tide is falling and you return to mud? Also do you just leave your dinghy unattended? Might seem silly questions but this is all new to me. Thanks.
 
I once visited Harty Ferry by land, as we walked out on the causeway for a look the local mutants ( there are a great many on Sheppey ) thought it a great laugh to change direction of their clay pigeon shoot next to the pub and pepper us with shot landing sizzling in the mud all around.

I certainly wouldn't leave a tender or anything else unattended anywhere on Sheppey, it's a horrible place full of gangsters from London - as evidenced from visiting other pubs with the traditional cease in conversation when one walks in - I'd go straight past !
 
Haha thanks for advice but the reviews of the Ferry House Inn are very good. I take your point about leaving the tender. I’ve seen that others have anchored at Harty Ferry and visited so intrigued how they did it. It’s a Cat with a low draft if that helps.
 
The only time we visited Harty Ferry was 1973, so I'm not going to be much help. I do remember that the water from an artesian well was especially good, if it's still available.
 
Not been on the northern side, but if you are careful about choice of mooring on the southern side you can pick one up. It is possible to walk round to a couple of pubs on the mainland from there, so you do have options both sides. There are a couple at Oare which you could get to either by walking round the sea wall or up the track, or for an even longer walk there is the Shipwrights Arms at the head of Oare Creek. On Sheppy the Ferry House is much closer.

I have left a dinghy there for hours in the evening with no problem - it is not very busy - some other boaters, dog walkers etc.

If you wish to anchor on the northern side of the channel then that is also good. The tides can run pretty hard through the Swale, so if you are rowing it can be hard work, but It looks as though the northern side is more gentle - and more peaceful if you get wind against tide.

The causeway makes landing possible - the mud each side is very gloopy. The causeway half way down is muddy so choose footware accordingly.
 
Thanks. From reviews it looks like the Shipwrights is worth a visit too. I guess I'll see where I can find a mooring. If north I'll go Ferry House and if South shipwrights. Dinghy has an outboard so still worried about leaving it. I guess we can just row it.
 
One of my all time favourite sailing memories is of waking up at Harty Ferry one beautiful calm morning in the 1980s, having anchored there on our way from Blackwater to Dover. My annoyance at having to get up at dawn to catch the tide immediately gone when I came on deck to a stunning vista, with a little mist burning off as the sun came up, and birds the only sound.

I've always intended to return, but never quite made it yet.
 
I have anchored/moored at Harty Ferry a couple of times in the last 5 years. The first time we went to the pub on the north shore. The second time we just overnighted on the mooring. No problems on either occasion and really peaceful.
 
If I was making that passage I would only stop over in Harty if I was looking for a peaceful evening on board at one with nature. If I was planning on finding a pub ashore I'd carry on a bit further and go into Queenborough where I could go on the ATL or grab a mooring and use the trot boat. If you really want to go to Harty then if you were lucky with tides and weather the Ferry House is a practicable option, but it's one heck of a hike on the south side into the pubs at Oare.
 
The more I think about it a evening on the boat with friends and enjoying the natural surroundings sounds like a good choice. Plenty of time to hit the pub but will probably make sure we have a few bevies aboard! :)
 
Personally I would go Dover-Blackwater in one trip. It is a 10 hour trip - 9 if you get out of Dover easily & get the tides right
Why bother getting in a position that makes the second bit hassle going through the banks.
Why splodge about in mud in a dump like Harty Ferry
Just go via Fisherman's gat, over the sunk, swin Spitway & you are there
 
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Thanks for advice. The cat only cruises around 5kts. If I could do the trip in 10 hours but even with favourable tides I was thinking it would take quite a bit longer than that. Is 10 hours realistic for my boat? Also going to Blackwater Marina so a little trip after I hit the river.
 
jbm1967 said:
Thanks. From reviews it looks like the Shipwrights is worth a visit too. I guess I'll see where I can find a mooring. If north I'll go Ferry House and if South shipwrights. Dinghy has an outboard so still worried about leaving it. I guess we can just row it.
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Shipwrights is a heck of a walk from the Harty causeway. Better, I'd suggest, to head straight up Faversham Creek in your dinghy to its junction with Oare Creek, there stands the pub. A lot quicker. Or simply walk into Oare (about 20 mins) and go to the Castle. The Three Mariners is a bit of an up-market eatery, the Castle is a good old pub but also has good pub grub.
 
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Minn said:
Snap!

What an odd coincidence!

I’d recommend the pub at Oare for preference, and dry out for a quiet night. Harty can be a bit bouncy
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Nah. I didn't see you there. At the time we had a Westerly Cirrus. I remember watching a Mystere 26 tacking out of the river. I had seen one of these at the Boat Show and it looked very purposeful as it sailed. I ordered one shortly after and took delivery in the autumn after it was shown at Southampton.
 
johnalison said:
Nah. I didn't see you there. At the time we had a Westerly Cirrus. I remember watching a Mystere 26 tacking out of the river. I had seen one of these at the Boat Show and it looked very purposeful as it sailed. I ordered one shortly after and took delivery in the autumn after it was shown at Southampton.
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At the time I was in this, but the topsides were pale green and she was Bermuda rigged, towing a pram.



PS. Found log: Monday August 20th at the Ferry House Inn, Tuesday 21st strong Easterly ruled out starting for Ramsgate so we went to the Shipwrights and walked into Oare for provisions.
 
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Cantata said:
Shipwrights is a heck of a walk from the Harty causeway. Better, I'd suggest, to head straight up Faversham Creek in your dinghy to its junction with Oare Creek, there stands the pub. A lot quicker. Or simply walk into Oare (about 20 mins) and go to the Castle. The Three Mariners is a bit of an up-market eatery, the Castle is a good old pub but also has good pub grub.
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Only try and land at the steps outside the Shipwrights an hour of so either side of high water or you probably won't get a very warm welcome due to the mud you have covered yourself in. I have landed at the boatyard slip in the past that gives a bit more access. I spoke to a couple of young lads launching a dinghy to go fishing who told me I could land. Not really sure they were old enough to give me permission, but I didn't see anyone else to ask. The causeway on the Sheppey side was at one time concrete but has quite a few gaps now. However, the Northern side of the concrete is walkable with wellies all but at the lowest of tides. Your dinghy will be safe, the Sheppey low life rarely venture out there, it's about 3 miles from their normal haunts. Where ever you decide to go it's probably worth phoning ahead as being in remote locations they don't necessarily keep normal pub hours. The Shipwrights weren't serving food of an evening and not open Mondays (Tuesday after a Bank Holiday). The Ferry Inn sometimes closes the pub if they have a big wedding on. Weddings can sometimes disturb the peace of Harty. We have also been there at 9pm on a Saturday night and are the only customers and the staff are obviously waiting for you to leave, so they can go home.
 
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