Exmouth to Dartmouth and everything in between

[henryf]

Currently in Weymouth enjoying the sunshine and avoiding the wind. Got to go back to London for the weekend so putting the boat into Portland on Thursday for a few days returning Monday.

The plan then is to head for Exmouth on Monday and work our way round to Dartmouth over a few days leaving Dartmouth sometime the next week in time for the powerboat racing in Cowes where I think we are a marshal boat if they ever get themselves organised!!

When we visited Dartmouth a couple of years ago we got some great pointers on here hoping for the same in terms of ports of call overnight stop offs and moorings.

We've got a genny on board as well as a decent tender so we don't necessarily need to be in a marina. The hope is as well that given shelter from the land and predominantly westerly winds we shouldn't find it too hard to move from place to place during the week.

Over to the learned masses....

Henry

 

[gjgm]

Currently in Weymouth enjoying the sunshine and avoiding the wind. Got to go back to London for the weekend so putting the boat into Portland on Thursday for a few days returning Monday.

The plan then is to head for Exmouth on Monday and work our way round to Dartmouth over a few days leaving Dartmouth sometime the next week in time for the powerboat racing in Cowes where I think we are a marshal boat if they ever get themselves organised!!

When we visited Dartmouth a couple of years ago we got some great pointers on here hoping for the same in terms of ports of call overnight stop offs and moorings.

We've got a genny on board as well as a decent tender so we don't necessarily need to be in a marina. The hope is as well that given shelter from the land and predominantly westerly winds we shouldn't find it too hard to move from place to place during the week.

Over to the learned masses....

Henry

See if you can get into Teignmouth for lunch- great real pubs on the waterfront- but there is quite a flow through the rather small pontoons.. still if you cant get in, its not far further to Torquay et al.
From Dartmouth, just keep going west, young man

 

[duncan]

where can I buy some of these reliable W winds?

seems to have been about 6 years since you could reasonably expect a SW 2-4 for most of July and August.

Places worth a call (that usually get missed) with a good anchor and tender include the area just East of Exmouth - Lyme Regis and even Sidmouth if conditions permit.

Teighnmouth/Shaldon as mentioned already (and a lot more sheltered)

Any appropriate sheltered anchorage (ie from just about any winds) between there and .... the Lizard really but plently around Tor Bay

Blackpool Sands, just south of Dartmouth, can work well too - but then again you will find all the good local spots busy with craft from Torquay/Brixham and Dartmouth if the weather is right at that time of year. We ran Poole/Torquay/Dartmouth/Plymouth early last August - but the weather was so poor there was nobody anywhere!

 

[hlb]

Teignmouth is much nicer than Exmouth and easier to get into.

 

[wonky]

If I may pop in on this one too, I'm heading west at then end of the month but I prefer mooring bouys at the mo (still fairly new) any recommendations for these please.

Sorry to semi-hijack

 

[rbcoomer]

If you need to stop over around Exmouth then I personally would opt for Topsham - great spot, more sheltered and interesting town. (IMHO of course)

Also worth venturing up the Dart to Dittisham or even Totnes depending on time

 

[NoviceRod]

Up the Exe to Turf Lock is good. Pub accessible only by boat or on foot from Exminster. Also Exe estuary is sheltered but strong tides.

Teignmouth - watch the bar and tides near Shaldon.

Babbacombe, Anstey's Cove and Hope Cove (not the one near Salcombe, but the one just East of Hope's Nose) are very sheltered from Westerlies, but would be evil in Easterlies.

Hope this helps

 

[henryf]

Thank you for all the responses thus far keep them coming.

So where, working north to south from Exmouth should we be planning for overnight stops?

Henry

 

[whisper]

If you need to stop over around Exmouth then I personally would opt for Topsham - great spot, more sheltered and interesting town. (IMHO of course)

Also worth venturing up the Dart to Dittisham or even Totnes depending on time

Doesn't Topsham dry out - it did when I was there a few years ago. Nice spot though.

Also agree re. Dittisham - lots of vis. buoys. Not very good berthing to be had at Totnes - town missing a trick IMHO. Hippie capital of the SW.

 

[whisper]

Thank you for all the responses thus far keep them coming.

So where, working north to south from Exmouth should we be planning for overnight stops?

Henry

Personally wouldn't bother with Exmouth. I'd stop o'night at Teignmouth vis. pontoons (no water and elect.though).

Then either Torquay or Brixham marinas (faded elegance or trippery character)

Then Dartmouth or Dittisham (pontoons/buoys or buoys) Dartmouth for activities, Dittsam for relative peace and quiet.

Then Salcombe (buoys or pontoon) - no water or elect. Kingsbridge for victuals!!

Then Yealm (buoys or pontoons) - no water or elect. A Gem.

 

[rbcoomer]

Doesn't Topsham dry out - it did when I was there a few years ago. Nice spot though.

Also agree re. Dittisham - lots of vis. buoys. Not very good berthing to be had at Totnes - town missing a trick IMHO. Hippie capital of the SW.

I don't believe it all drys, but certainly a lot does and the Exe has extensive mud banks. I don't have a chart to hand, but I think slightly upriver is fine - although I personally wouldn't enter/exit on a low tide! Perhaps someone who uses regularly will advise? Topsham worth the effort however IMO - and not that big a town to tour.

Sidmouth is interesting too, but really not sure about from a boat - problematic and exposed I think.

 

[whisper]

I don't believe it all drys, but certainly a lot does and the Exe has extensive mud banks. I don't have a chart to hand, but I think slightly upriver is fine - although I personally wouldn't enter/exit on a low tide! Perhaps someone who uses regularly will advise? Topsham worth the effort however IMO - and not that big a town to tour.

Sidmouth is interesting too, but really not sure about from a boat - problematic and exposed I think.

IIRC you can stay afloat as far up as Turf Lock at LW Springs. Possibly also at Trouts BY at LW Neaps.

Don't think the entrance is that bad provided you have updated charts and don't attempt to enter at LW Springs with a moderate or rough sea running.

En route to the SW I'd also pop in to Lyme Regis - interesting little place with buoys outside that are ok in settled conditions. I think there used to be a couple of "trot" moorings just inside as well.

 

[Ripster]

Personally wouldn't bother with Exmouth. I'd stop o'night at Teignmouth vis. pontoons (no water and elect.though).

Then either Torquay or Brixham marinas (faded elegance or trippery character)

Then Dartmouth or Dittisham (pontoons/buoys or buoys) Dartmouth for activities, Dittsam for relative peace and quiet.

Then Salcombe (buoys or pontoon) - no water or elect. Kingsbridge for victuals!!

Then Yealm (buoys or pontoons) - no water or elect. A Gem.

Whisper... very good summary - agree entirely , but just to add, there is water at Salc and Yealm temp visitors pontoons, but indeed not on the VPs themselves and despite its relative quiet, even some easy access showers at Yealm if you need them!

 

[Hurricane]

We have been having strong westerlies recently so perhaps a marina would be the safest place.
That really means Torquay, Brixham or Dartmouth.
But if the weather is good enough to stay out on anchor, I think there are some good places in Torbay especially during westerlies.

See here - Goodrington and and Broad Sands.

 

[whisper]

Whisper... very good summary - agree entirely , but just to add, there is water at Salc and Yealm temp visitors pontoons, but indeed not on the VPs themselves and despite its relative quiet, even some easy access showers at Yealm if you need them!

Yes, you're right about the water situation at Salcombe and the Yealm - I was thinking only of what was available for 24hrs on the main vis. pontoons.

Nice part of the world innit. Especially good 'cos from Lyme Regis downwards there is a varied chain of ports that are all worth visiting, for different reasons. Yet you never have to do more than about 20 miles from one to the next, often much less.

 

[hlb]

Brixam HM pontoon is fun and far closer to the town. We never went to the marina, less forced to. Not often.

There is water, but you all have to club together, to provide about a hundred yard hose pipe, quite enjoyable really.

 

[henryf]

Thanks for all that, particularly whisper.

We have genny, decent tankage for water and so on, showers on board so no issues taking a bouy or mid channel pontoon. In fact if anything I quite like the thought.

Winds have been a bit on the strong side for setting the anchor overnight, particularly the missus isn't keen!

Hoping to make the Portland - West Lyme bay run on Monday.

Henry

 

[henryf]

Right then, a bit of an update.....

We had been at Weymouth last week, left the boat in Portland for the weekend whilst we returned to the smoke for a couple of parties back down late last night and across Lyme Bay this morning. Headed for Anstey's Cove which we'd seen when staying in the Palace Hotel Torquay for a motorsport awards evening. Then popped round the corner to Babbacombe Bay and dropped the hook for the afternoon. Absolute bliss. Flat as a pancake. Nearly took one of the Cary Arms bouys for the night but it looked lime rain and there might be a little wind tonight (wife and daughter get a bit worried) so headed round to Torquay where we are on the Town Pontoon. Family coming to say hello tomorrow so we may well stay tomorrow night as well. Then I'm fancying Teignmouth, almanac puts the fear of god into you but if these sailors can get in then surely so can we !

Couldn't believe the difference in sea state as we rounded the corner into Torbay !!! Trim down and bash through it. To be fair the waves we very tight and close together so just rode through the top but on that western stretch around Babbacombe and Teignmouth it was flat calm!

Will probably end up in Dartmouth eventually but a bit of exploring first

Henry.

 

[longjohnsilver]

We stopped on the pontoon in Teignmouth a few weeks back, easy to get in after half tide, would recommend facing upstream as the tide runs hard on the ebb. Some good pubs and an interesting town.
I've got a few moorings on the Exe, you're welcome to use the larger one if you wish, it's just off Dawlish Warren, a large green buoy about the 5th buoy along on your port side, it's a lovely spot but Exmouth itself is ****. Turf Locks is great and Topsham is a super place, if you get on the outside of the Trout pontoons you should be fine but phone them first to check for space and only go up towards the top of the tide.
Don't forget it's Dartmouth regatta next week so it will be busy!

 

[henryf]

Thanks for that. Very kind of you. I think we're going to try Teignmouth tomorrow and will try to pop into Exmouth at some stage.

Henry