Edinburgh to London

[Fascadale]

Just beginning to dream about next years sailing.

If one were sailing from Edinburgh to London then what would be the most worthwhile places to stop on the way?

I was having a look at the charts and thought the Wash looked interesting, very foreign to a west coast of Scotland yottie. Are either Boston or Kings Lynn worth a visit or should the whole place be bypassed? Is there anywhere worth a visit between Whitby and East Anglia?

I want to stop at Southwold,would like to visit a " typical east coast river" and fancy a venture up the Thames to London.

Suggestions and recommendations please. (or should I just go back to the west coast?)

26ft boat, draws 4ft, long keel

 

[Ludd]

edinburgh to london

FIRST REACTION----Why would anyone?

Anyway--Arbroath,Stonehaven,Peterhead, Whitehills,Wick,Scrabster, Kinlochbervie,Mallaig Oban, Islay,Rathlin,Portpatrick,I o M, Dublin,Newquay,Falmouth,Dover,Limehouse if you must, e-r-r is there a pattern forming? Oh yes---all points in between---

 

[Fascadale]

FIRST REACTION----Why would anyone?

Anyway--Arbroath,Stonehaven,Peterhead, Whitehills,Wick,Scrabster, Kinlochbervie,Mallaig Oban, Islay,Rathlin,Portpatrick,I o M, Dublin,Newquay,Falmouth,Dover,Limehouse if you must, e-r-r is there a pattern forming? Oh yes---all points in between---

I've done the Cardiff to Edinburgh,via Dublin and Stromness, part of what you suggest.

The Edinburgh to London stretch is just part of a slightly longer voyage

If I do sail down to London I'll probably go home via the Scilly Isles and the Forth Clyde canal.

I'm just curious as to whether there is anywhere on England's east coast worth a visit

Oh yes, I'm not sure that I would recommend a stop at Mallaig on a trip down the west coast; lots of really nice alternatives close by, Lochs Scavaig or Nevis, or even better Soay Harbour

 

[Ludd]

Mallaig?.

Only for the fish,chips and tarry tea at the RNMDSF!

 

[Fascadale]

I'll drink tea to that.

I was stuck in Mallaig for a few days one winter, unable to land at Inverie. Spent alot of time at the mission.

 

[kacecar]

I have some sympathy with the views of other posters about the relative merits and demerits of the Scotland's west coast versus that of eastern England, and of the east coast route versus the west coast route. However, having sailed from the Thames to Edinburgh earlier this year (admittedly quite quickly, so not too many stops) I offer the following observations:
Amble - didn't warm to it
Whitby - great. NB: From here on in prepare yourself for muddy and shallow water edged by mudflats, marshes and some of the flattest countryside you'll ever see.
The Wash - wouldn't bother. However, if you do, Kings Lynn is quite a pleasant place.
Great Yarmouth - I didn't stop here but considered it. Might be interesting, but not sure about access/facilities.
Lowestoft - a useful passage stop. On the way down, if you haven't already stopped at Gt.yarmouth, take a rest here before cruising the "East Coast Rivers".
Southwold - yes
Alde and Aldeburgh - well worth it. Take care at the entrance.
Deben - yes. Again, care at entrance.
Orwell - Another yes. Harwich, Pin Mill and Ipswich all worth a visit.
Blackwater/Colne - yes, particularly if you like to see classics
Crouch/Roach - easy access and good facilities but not much to do/see (unless you are a fan of the aforementioned mudflats, marshes, etc.).
Shalfleet/Stangate Creek - a great little anchorage while you wait for the tide up the Thames.
Thames - not pretty and a bit of a slog. Get a guide book so you know what you are looking at all the way up (or down) - its packed full of history.
London - mooring in the centre of London is really rather cool and, IMO, worth the trip.

 

[EdWingfield]

what would be the most worthwhile places to stop on the way?

What do you mean 'worthwhile'?

 

[Alfie168]

If you decided to come down the East Coast its matter of places worth visiting and/or places you can get into in adverse weather. So as boltholes I think you would have to include Hartlepool and Hull or possibly Grimsby. You must include Whitby which is a superb spot, but its a narrow entry and not possible in a northern swell, so you have to factor in Scarborough or Bridlington as well just in case.

I live in Boston and its a fair motor up river from the Wash..an hour or so, and we have no all tide moorings/berths..unless you can drop your mast, so you will be drying out. Boston is a medium sized market town with Dutch influences in the older architecture and the largest parish church in England with a magnificent tall tower you can climb 'The Stump' and get a fabulous view on a clear day of the southern Lincolnshire flatlands. Other than that the town is unremarkable except for the number of foreign accents you hear these days. A few decent pubs, a small mutiplex cinema. A few reasonable chinese restaurants, a good market on wednesdays, a working windmill with a nice tea room attached...and still..just...a working port with small ships from the Baltic mainly. We lost the Lys Line a few years back and they brought the biggest ships up the Haven (which becomes the Witham after the Grand Sluice Bridge)

Some just miss out the Wash and go to Wells Next the Sea in Norfolk, which is small but perfectly formed, then its Great Yarmouth which I don't know at all i'm afraid.

The trouble with the East Coast is that after you leave Bridlington the Holderness coast is boring, the Humber entry is extremely busy and then after Grimsby the Lincolnshire coast is boring low lying coastal plain. Ditto Norfolk from Wells to Yarmouth.

I've never sailed the suffolk coast so will hand over to other who know, but as for places to visit..Southwold is a must. I'l stop at that.

I would just add that The Wash has many detractors, but in other ways it is a fascinating place and unique in its nature. It has its own beauty...which is a compliment coming from a Yorkshireman.

Tim

 

[Fascadale]

What do you mean 'worthwhile'?

Good question

Perhaps "worthwhile" is a place one might wish to commend to another, for whatever reason

 

[Twister_Ken]

Newcastle, anyone?

 

[jac]

Never sailed North of North Norfolk but some thoughts once you get past the Wash.

Wells - Definitely worth it but forget the rule of twelths!!!!!

Yarmouth - NO. NEVER.

Lowestoft - I quite like and the most easterly point in UK and a decent sail from North Norfolk.

SOuthwold - really atractive but strong tides.

Alde / Ore. Worth a day or two to explore. Better the further up you go - Care re the bar.

Deben - as the alde / ore . Potentially one or two pubs worthy of custom.

Stour / Orwell. You have to go to Pin Mill - lunch and a pint at the Butt. Wolverstone Marina was always quite good for the dometic chores and RHYC next door was ok but not been there in years.

Also - must try the backwaters - read Secret Water again before you go.

 

[snowleopard]

I've done the passage 4 times so far (North Foreland to Inverness). Mostly it's been more of a hurry than I'd have liked but we have made a few stops along the way and there are others that I plan to include next time round (next summer I hope)

Grimsby - a forced stop for repairs tuned out to be much nicer than we expected, the basic but friendly clubhouse in the marina and the fishing museum were highlights.

Bridlington - we enjoyed a couple of hours while refuelling and would have liked to stay longer. Not sure about staying and drying out but a good spot if you can.

For the future, I've always wanted to anchor at Lindisfarne and get in close to the Farne Islands.

Reading One Summer's Grace by Libby Purves is a good start. She has good descriptions of IIRC Amble & Whitby and an entertaining but rather offputting account of a night in Wells.

 

[boomerangben]

How about doing it up the other side - Holland, Germany, Denmark (and Southern Norway if you get carried away)?

 

[Mudplugger]

East Coast Southbound..

Just beginning to dream about next years sailing.

If one were sailing from Edinburgh to London then what would be the most worthwhile places to stop on the way?

I was having a look at the charts and thought the Wash looked interesting, very foreign to a west coast of Scotland yottie. Are either Boston or Kings Lynn worth a visit or should the whole place be bypassed? Is there anywhere worth a visit between Whitby and East Anglia?

I want to stop at Southwold,would like to visit a " typical east coast river" and fancy a venture up the Thames to London.

Suggestions and recommendations please. (or should I just go back to the west coast?)

26ft boat, draws 4ft, long keel

Having had the pleasure of of returning home during September from the wilds of Caledonia, to the sanctuary of God,s own Country in East Anglia, might one suggest that possible ports of call could include Arbroath, Eyemouth, Amble, Tynemouth or Hartlepool, Whitby, Bridlington, Wells (being dredged over the winter for service to Lincoln Wind Farms),, Lowestoft, Southwold, Aldeburgh (Bar on entrance) Deben (Boe) Orwell ( Ipswich, plus Pin Mill et all) Colne /Blackwater,( Brightlingsea/ Maldon) Crouch/Roach, Chatham, St Kats (Tower Bridge) Most of these should be possible as long day sails, with the exception of the leg from Whitby to Lowestoft/Wells, but Grimsby would split that leg. HTH