Duck Puntable places around the Solent

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Mar 2005
Messages
12,954
Location
Buckingham
www.keepturningleft.co.uk
Katie L is now 300 miles away

The duck punt is in the garage

I have punted and explored almost every inch of sheltered water within 50 miles of home

Can anyone suggest good places to duck punt

the ideal is narrow channels that dry to a trickle at low tide

mud and sand is better than rocks


I car top the punt so easy place to park and short carry to the water is ideal

Dylan

PS - just in case you have no idea what the Punt is

.... a boxy canoe with a sail from an Optimist

it sails in 4 inches of water

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/category/duck-punt-films/
 
There must be some good puntering in Langstone and Chichester.

In my neck of the woods, you could see how far you can get up the Itchen.

Pete
 
Should be plenty of places in Chichester/Langstone harbours

Pagham Harbour should also be good to explore
 
Plenty of rythes around Hayling island and in Chichester harbour, including seal colony off the south of Thorney. Rythe is an ancient word with the same root as river (and rother).
 
prv said:
In my neck of the woods, you could see how far you can get up the Itchen.

Pete
Click to expand...

Depending on how big an adventure you wanted, the Itchen appears to have quite a long stretch you could get into. Towards Winchester it was made into a canal system. I know there is a 17km path along it but have not seen any navigation notes.

It goes through some wonderful countryside but there are a few bits (like Eastleigh) you may not be too impressed with.
 
laika said:
Can't get up the meon as it goes under the big roundabout, which you could pretty much get a small yacht up to anyway.

What about further west? Keyhaven, christchurch and the rivers feeding into poole harbour?
Click to expand...

Point of information. At the head of Fareham Creek it is the Wallington River. The Meon comes out at Titchfield Haven.

The punt might get under the bridges and up to Wallington at the right state of the tide but there is a weir under one of the road bridges at LW. The Meon is closed off by sluice gates and not navigable above Titchfield Haven.

Across the flats from Fareham Creek to Portchester Castle at HW could be interesting.

Or go round Fawley way and launch into Ashlett Creek.
 
bedouin said:
Should be plenty of places in Chichester/Langstone harbours

Pagham Harbour should also be good to explore
Click to expand...

Plenty of wild fowl around I guess but shooting ducks is not going to go down well with the bird people.

OTOH those of us with moorings in the Prinsted area would quite like to see a dramatic reduction in the numbers of turnstones!
 
Lots of skinny water in the marshes either side of Lymington.

Top of the tidal Itchen & Test.

The Beaulieu, but you may have to pay Montague for the privilege.

Haslar Creek.

On the IOW (but you've got to get across the Solent - I'm sure one of us would be happy to tow you across) the Yar upstream from Yarmouth. Newtown Creeks. King Harry's Creek, the other Yar upstream from Bembridge.

Harbours: Langstone, Chichester and Pagham (provided you don't get twitchers being excessively rude to you).

Further afield, the Arun, the Cuckmere and the Sussex Ouse.
 
Punting

Try the Arun River, beautiful deserted countryside past Arundel


dylanwinter said:
Katie L is now 300 miles away

The duck punt is in the garage

I have punted and explored almost every inch of sheltered water within 50 miles of home

Can anyone suggest good places to duck punt

the ideal is narrow channels that dry to a trickle at low tide

mud and sand is better than rocks


I car top the punt so easy place to park and short carry to the water is ideal

Dylan

PS - just in case you have no idea what the Punt is

.... a boxy canoe with a sail from an Optimist

it sails in 4 inches of water

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/category/duck-punt-films/
Click to expand...
 
DJE said:
Point of information. At the head of Fareham Creek it is the Wallington River. The Meon comes out at Titchfield Haven.

The punt might get under the bridges and up to Wallington at the right state of the tide but there is a weir under one of the road bridges at LW.
Click to expand...

Yes yes I realised before returning to the thread that someone would have pointed that out :-).

And you might be right about it being possible to get under the roundabout and up to wallington: I've only looked from the road (not the water) but there doesn't look to be much room between the river bed and the road. If there is sufficient (mast down, and probably body down) clearance, the wallington isn't wide enough for much fun in a duck puntl unless it's a quick dash up to sainsbury's or the cob and pen with a tail wind. As you say, portchester looks more inviting
 
Dylan
If its a wet winter the river Arun and specifically the area around Amberley, known as Amberley wild brooks, a large flood plain, would be an interesting area to explore. Inland with great views of the South downs.
 
Dylan don't know how much I can add to the list but:

Langstone, Chichester, Portsmouth If you got it right you maybe able to sail between all three. Some one would tell me I am wrong but seems to me you have a couple of weeks exploring here. I am sure a kind forumite will lend you his garden to save taking the punt home every time...

Certainly if you come further west into the New Forest, I can supply a garage that can take a punt and a bit of a base.

Keyhaven, to Lymington and down to Tanners lake... If I am home I can supply transport between the two so you can park one end an you can go "one way".. If I am away I can know a characters that would probably be delighted help.

The pub called the Gun at Keyhaven has nothing to do with cannons but a Colonel Hawkers Punt Gun makes it a must...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hawker

Christchurch - there is a great short circular at the top mainly paddle but still worth it Google it or PM me can also advise on put ins for HW and LW expeditions.

Hamble River - Better than you would expect above the bridges not done it but well worth a visit.

River Yarmouth IOW - If you can afford the ferry fare, but you might get your punt on at bike rates if you can put it on wheels. Make interesting day out...

Beaulieu - As others have said Lord Monty might be an issue but I think Canoes Park At Leape Beach and Sail up with the tide I don't think its an issue. Google will help.

Launch at Eeling and explore up under the Redbridge flyover, I have always been curious whats up there...

Reminds me why when I get chance I must build a Punt.. In the mean time if you want an inflatable side kick I have an inflatable canoe...

Poole Harbour has weeks of options to, what is above the bridge at Whareham? A little open at HW but keep to the creeks than and explore the big bits at LW..

Itchen - Think the canal system is pretty much un-navigable I have walked a couple of stretches of it keep meaning to do it all..

If thats the one your settled on, I would say start at SO19 9EF, contact the sailing club but I m sure you can park on the street there for the day... But the river is still quite wide there, so it might scare you off! Further up Kemps are quite friendly, and so are Drivers wharf the other side....
 
Last edited:
+1

Prinstead/Thorney channel, up to Bosham, Itchenor - miles of it....

For nature in the raw Langstone - there are some bird reservations alongside Farlington marshes that would provide some interesting mooching....
 
dylanwinter said:
the itchen it is then

where shall I launch?
Click to expand...

Well, the easiest and most conventional would be the free council slip at Crosshouse, immediately upstream of the Itchen Bridge. Pay-and-display parking on site.

If you're wanting to emphasise the industrial history aspect of the lower reaches, you could launch from the disused (but still usable for a duck punt) slip tucked between the scrap-metal yard and the Chinese takeaway wholesaler. Not sure about parking, but you could probably find somewhere.

Obviously there are lots of marinas, boatyards and wharves all along the river, but they may need their palms crossed with silver (or at least some silvertongued persuasion).

Pete
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top