Seagul
New Member
How navigable is the Teignmouth estuary/river at low tide, and using a very shallow draft inflatable, how far upstream would it be possible to explore? Can you suggest any waterfront pubs that might do a good lunch? Thanks.
Exploring Teignmouth estuary
- Thread starter Seagul
- Start date
henryf
Well-Known Member
Not that far is the answer. I took out tender out whilst visiting last year and got a little way beyond the bridge opposite Shaldon. The prop started to ground. It was fairly straight forward to get a feel for where the water is as you potter.
I think you will need a tide to do any significant exploration.
Henry
I think you will need a tide to do any significant exploration.
Henry
rbcoomer
Well-Known Member
With care you should be able to get up almost as far as the A38 flyover - depending on flow and tides - spring neap tides might be tricky. Weed and mud becomes problematic for our 14' once up past Bishopsteignton at low tide because of the deep V/long shaft outboard, so unless you can trim right up or paddle where shallow, use caution. I've seen rowed craft/kayaks go well beyond the A38. Pub-wise, Coombe Cellars or The Passage House Inn are usually reachable, but the latter possibly not at low tide unless you don't mind wading through the mud? 
Those at the seaward end like the Ship are reachable all the time however - just pull up on the beach and watch it. There are always channels, but knowing where they are helps or you'll be sitting around waiting for the tide! 
Those at the seaward end like the Ship are reachable all the time however - just pull up on the beach and watch it. There are always channels, but knowing where they are helps or you'll be sitting around waiting for the tide!
rbcoomer
Well-Known Member
P.S. If you are looking for local river exploration then the Dart is much better and you can easily spend a day exploring (or more) and you would be able to get to Totnes in an inflatable - even at low tide!
We really enjoy the river exploration and looking to do the Tamar this year too. I've added a GPS/chartplotter for this year as the depth from fishfinder and a paper chart really isn't enough information for us as novices when navigating narrow channels in wide estuaries! I found everytime I took my eye off the river/depth readings to study the chart, I would start going off course!
So much more relaxing having the info in one place!
Henry, there are a couple of areas around the Shaldon bridge that are quite shallow, but deeper again further up and worth another run if you get the chance. A lot of drying mud banks however so pick your route with care - even at high tide!
We really enjoy the river exploration and looking to do the Tamar this year too. I've added a GPS/chartplotter for this year as the depth from fishfinder and a paper chart really isn't enough information for us as novices when navigating narrow channels in wide estuaries! I found everytime I took my eye off the river/depth readings to study the chart, I would start going off course!
So much more relaxing having the info in one place!Henry, there are a couple of areas around the Shaldon bridge that are quite shallow, but deeper again further up and worth another run if you get the chance.
A lot of drying mud banks however so pick your route with care - even at high tide!
henryf
Well-Known Member
I often get the tender out and potter about until I can see the bottom. It gives you a greater understanding of the area. I used to have a jet ski on the back of the Fairline and I would potter around at a couple of knots exploring. I remember doing Cherbourg and finding out more about the Eastern part of the Harbour.
By Spring Neaps do you mean Spring Lows?
I think the trick is to go up on a rising tide your first time. Low water shows you the channels.
Pleased we visited though.
I agree with your comment about Dartmouth, loads to explore even on a larger boat.
Henry
By Spring Neaps do you mean Spring Lows?
I think the trick is to go up on a rising tide your first time. Low water shows you the channels.
Pleased we visited though.
I agree with your comment about Dartmouth, loads to explore even on a larger boat.
Henry
tangerine
Well-Known Member
Welcome to my patch. If your familiar with the channel,you can navigate an inflateable up as far as Newton Abbot Quay on springs, and with care ,as far as the Passage House Inn at Kingsteignton on Neaps. Coombe Cellars has been a regular haunt for me since a child,and you can reach here with the tide on Neaps. Thats not to say we,ve not been caught out on a few occasions on anb ebb tide generally after a good session. There is a jetty at Coombe Cellars and we often bring the LennyVee here for a meal. We draw .75mtr. and its no problem on springs a couple of hours either side of high tide,again as long as you know the channel. Down river at Teignmouth there is the Jolly Sailor,the Ship,and the New Quay inn all on the back beach. Be careful at the moment though as there is a lot of work on the sea defences ,which hopefully will be finished by August.
psymon
New Member
I used to frequent those parts 15 or so years ago. I used to have a little 16' fletcher that we'd launch from the quay in Newton, ended up sinking her in the mouth on the shaldon side one summer! ripped the transom right off.
is the Coombe Cellars on the shaldon side? used to have a pirate ship for the kids to play on? i can still remember the smell of that old pub.
thanks for the memories
is the Coombe Cellars on the shaldon side? used to have a pirate ship for the kids to play on? i can still remember the smell of that old pub.
thanks for the memories
tangerine
Well-Known Member
Yes,Coombe Cellars is a couple of miles up river from Shaldon bridge on the Shaldon side
rbcoomer
Well-Known Member
Henry - yes 'Spring Lows' was what I meant to write o) - I wrote a long waffling paragraph which I then shortened... (Perhaps should have re-read it!) As Tangerine says, the neaps usually allow enough even at low tide to get quite a way if you're careful. It's my nearest (and cheapest!) slipway, so I prefer to launch there, but tides are a big consideration at the slipway too.
Psymon - Yes indeed on Shaldon side, but sadly lost much of that character now IMHO. It's gone all up-market and posh, but still a great pub. A number of boats have fallen victim to the Teignmouth Bar so you're in good company... A couple grounded and swamped there last year - including a Fletcher () and more recently the fishing boat 'Girl Rona'. It is certainly a challenge at times and used to scare the heck out of us - still does if I'm honest! (Although better when you understand it and know when not to try I guess?) We have gone down on a calm day and launched at Polly Steps only to be confronted by a wall of white raging water at the bar and decided to turn around and go back - I always look at the camera first now! Not been up as far a The Quay yet, although I'd been told it was possible. Unlike Henry's tender, we can't see over the bow that easily in our Fletcher and looking at the side it's often too late - the prop's churned up a fair bit of mud up there!
o) - I wrote a long waffling paragraph which I then shortened... (Perhaps should have re-read it!) As Tangerine says, the neaps usually allow enough even at low tide to get quite a way if you're careful. It's my nearest (and cheapest!) slipway, so I prefer to launch there, but tides are a big consideration at the slipway too.Psymon - Yes indeed on Shaldon side, but sadly lost much of that character now IMHO. It's gone all up-market and posh, but still a great pub. A number of boats have fallen victim to the Teignmouth Bar so you're in good company...
A couple grounded and swamped there last year - including a Fletcher () and more recently the fishing boat 'Girl Rona'. It is certainly a challenge at times and used to scare the heck out of us - still does if I'm honest! (Although better when you understand it and know when not to try I guess?) We have gone down on a calm day and launched at Polly Steps only to be confronted by a wall of white raging water at the bar and decided to turn around and go back - I always look at the camera first now! Not been up as far a The Quay yet, although I'd been told it was possible. Unlike Henry's tender, we can't see over the bow that easily in our Fletcher and looking at the side it's often too late - the prop's churned up a fair bit of mud up there!
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gjgm
Well-Known Member
By foot
For pubs, tie up at the pontoon, though watch that viscious current when berthing. Short paddle to the beach and the rest of the day becomes one long lunch at the local pub in front of you!
psymon
New Member
Shame about the pub 
.
I learned to sail gp14's with the school on shaldon beach, the summers there really were magical. the regatta still the same i hope? :O
I live in Indonesia now and the boating is a little different! the weather too, its cold today and it about 27.
did have a great childhood in that area though many fond memories.
ref the thread my vote would be for the dart too.
.I learned to sail gp14's with the school on shaldon beach, the summers there really were magical. the regatta still the same i hope? :O
I live in Indonesia now and the boating is a little different! the weather too, its cold today and it about 27.
did have a great childhood in that area though many fond memories.
ref the thread my vote would be for the dart too.