Falmouth

[bob_tyler]

While in Falmouth visit the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. Visiting sailors can sign themselves in. Looks rather formidable but really friendly and welcoming with excellent food, especially in the bar at lunchtime and good draught beer @ £1.80 per pint.

You can land there at all states of the tide, even LW springs (just).

I agree that while there you must visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, by the Pendennis Marina & a short walk from the Visitors marina. Unfortunately, for insurance reasons, landing in your tender on the NMMC display pontoon is not permitted.

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[doug748]

You must use some of the anchorages in the river. Opposite Smugglers Cottage is good, but he no longer opens in the evening so you will be stuck for a pint. Very, very peaceful when the tripper boats finish.
Agree about the Helford, but avoid Helford Passage at all costs. A dreadful spot.

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[pragmatist]

Oh just cut one off and revert to normality !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK

 

[pragmatist]

It may be too quiet for a bunch of gels (razz or not to razz ?) but the Helford is beautiful and quiet (except in an easterly or a Bank Holiday). Nice beaches and walks - last time I went it was £5 a night for a buoy and plenty of anchoring room. No restaurants though.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK

 

[Miles]

There's lots to see on the east side (Rosleand Peninsula) though it can be a bit exposed in a blow. St Mawes has a lovely atmosphere. The Rising Sun is well worth a visit at lunchtime. There's a good new deli/cafe called Chalmers and Short just across the road from the harbour and a good Spar for provisions. The Waterside Gallery has great prints of the gaff rigged Falmouth working boats and lovely wood, pottery, cards and glass.

Try sailing round St Anthony's Head and anchor up for lunch in one of the bays on the east side of the Roseland peninsula. You may be the only boat there and there are several gently sloping sandy beaches with good holding that don't seem to feature in the pilot books.

The Church at St Just in Roseland attracts visitors from all over the world. Anchor just outside and south of St Just creek and take a dinghy ashore. Or walk the coastal path from St Mawes (around 3 miles each way).

The upper reaches of the Fal are beautiful. Take care coming back as there's quite a dog-leg (round Turnaware Point if I remember correctly).

I like Mylor even if a bit expensive. The Ganges and the Castaway bistro are both good.

You can also anchor off beaches like Maenporh just SW of the harbour entrance and others on the way down to the Helford. The Three Mackerels restaurant at Swanpool beach was excellent when we went last year.

Having had our boat there most of this summer and spent this weekend on the Solent, I think that Falmouth outscores on all counts. Have fun.

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[cgull]

Dont agree about Mylor..hundreds of yachts there.

My favourites.... (i keep my boat in Falmouth(Penryn)marina, it a bilge keeler.

Good breakfast at the fishermans Quay at Penryn(Portacabin)
(dinghy up there or go at HW, its quite shallow.

Malpas up the Fal, beyond Smugglers, look at chart, go to harbourmasters visitors pontoon (room for 3 or 4 boats) and visit Heron pub..excellent.
Pontoon is £8.00/nt regardless of size

You could try going Truro to Gweek(top of Helford)..on the right tides.

And the Helford River Sailing Club is super for food and shower facilities.





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[milltech]

Re: Helford Passage

Not sure why you think Helford Passage is a dreadful spot. Yes it's 90% rental cottages/flats but the cleintele is mostly OCD, and yes the standard of food seems to change each year, you get lucky or you don't. But having spent many fantastic family holidays there since about 1955 (when it was still a hotel), the nature of the place continues to enchant me.

Met my first girlfriend there. In the little rental boats one can explore all the reaches of the Helford, have beach bar-b-ques, go water skiing (if you have boat), cross to Helford Village, loads of walks both sides of the river, rockpools to explore, safe for kids....... actually great for kids of all ages. A traditional holiday destination.

It may not be the greatest cruising destination, but that doesn't make it dreadful.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[janeK]

'A bunch of gels (razz or not to razz ?' well put it one way none of us will see 30 again.

Thanks everyone for your contributions, excellent tips on extra places to go.
Will let you know how we got on.

<hr width=100% size=1>If work was so good, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.

 

[doug748]

Re: Helford Passage

We will have to disagree on this one Milltech. The pub would be better placed in Blackpool, they now have live rock music that reverberates the whole length of the river.

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[milltech]

Re: Helford Passage

I didn't know that, it's a new departure. In Cornwall they have to work hard for a buck in a short season but I would have thought that was damaging the very thing they have that's most valuable.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com