Heybridge Basin / Tollesbury / Maldon

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paulrossall

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Having a trip down the Blackwater sarting Saturday next for 5 days. I have never been into Heybridge basin or Tollesbury but have read the pilots. Are they worth visiting and are there any facilities (eg showers) at Heybridge? Can I dry out easily against the quay at Maldon? (I draw 1 metre and have bilge keels). Hopeing to leave the Deben at low water saturday to take the flod down to Brightlingsea or Bradwell.
 
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Having a trip down the Blackwater sarting Saturday next for 5 days. I have never been into Heybridge basin or Tollesbury but have read the pilots.

Are they worth visiting?

Yes, in a quiet sort of way.

... and are there any facilities (eg showers) at Heybridge?

None that I have discovered; locals may know better. There is a public loo, a good pub and a less good one. You can walk along the towpath to shops.

Can I dry out easily against the quay at Maldon?

Only if you can find room between the Thames barges - but you can often sink into a mud berth within ape-swinging distance of a staging at one of the two yards above it.
 
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You can walk along the towpath to shops

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It's a long walk (2-3 miles). We took the tender up the canal and tied up outside tescos. Had to stop a few times to remove the weed form the outboard prop though. Nice place and I would go again.

Tollesbury also liked. Has its' own swimming pool and tennis court, if you are in to that sort of thing.

kim
 
We visited Heybridge a month or so back. There's a small shower/toilet block on the left hand side of the canal just after you lock in. It's a small black timber building. The lock-keeper will give you the code. The food in the cafe is really pretty good and much better than either of the pubs (unless you prefer your food deep-fried /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

Tollesbury's certainly worth a visit. Nice, friendly place with a reasonably good bar/restaurant too.
 
Tollesbury - great marina with swimming pool and frequent bbqs at weekends - very tight though - make sure you've got the pilot book and time your run. If you mistime you can always ask West Mersea for one of their moorings for the night - v friendly club - call YC1 on 37.

Heybridge - you can take a tender up the canal to tescos - quickesst route - again v restricted lock-in / out times.

Or pick up a spare mooring at Marconi SC opposite Osea - you'll be welcome in the club and the bar should be open all week next week (as will showers etc). Not easy to get provisions however without a bike as it's a long walk to the shops

Simon
 
I suspect we'll pass you going the other depending upon when laid back son and fiancee turn up.

Kept TG on a swinging mooring at Heybridge for 10 years and still winter there. It is, as said, a quiet sort of place. There is a pleasantness about the canal basin which people like and as said there are now showers and a toilet block. There is only one locking generally per day during midday tides but two a day when HW is between sort of 5am and 9am. Generally Colin locks just before HW and will exit traffic first so it can be necessary to gill around off the SHM. Plenty of room. Withies mark the gutway to the lock but with your draft that won't be an issue.

Heybridge uses HW Southend-on-Sea for its tide tables so:

HW (daytimeish)

Sunday 3oth 1632
Monday 1704
Tuesday 1738
Wednesday 1819
Thursday 0658 and 1913
Friday 0757 and 2024
Saturday 0907 and 2141
Sunday 1022 and 2300

Neaps of course. Ringing Colin Edmunds 01621-853506 is worthwhile to get exact times and tell them you are coming. The canal company now do shopping trips up the canal to quite a good Tescos. Indeed you can walk into town from there (half a mile) where there is quite a nice High Street. Food at Heybridge is obtainable at the Little Ship on the canal side. Not bad there last week on Regatta Weekend. Probably the best spot on the Blackwater for provisions.

Mirelle is right about Maldon - worth a visit on the top of the tide, you will see a fair bit of Thames Barge traffic but alongside stuff is limited and with the Neaps its going to be quite shallow.

West Mersea will provide a nice swinging mooring (and it will be free). With the Eaterly sea breeze going further in avoids the rolling in the Quarters. Salcott Creek is great if you like peace and quiet. Yesterday I watched an Egret feeding on the waters edge, A flock of Whimbrel flew over followed by some Snipe while Oyster Catchers, Redshank and Turnstones will amuse you at low water. The Club launch will take you ashore and back (call Jeff on YC1) who will advise on a mooring and collect you. Unfortunately the launch does stop at 5pm or 6pm at weekends (its the cost you know). Meals in the Yacht Club on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and all luchtimes (best to book for the evenings 01206-384463) Quality is pretty good at present. There is also the Coast Inn and the famous Company Shed (for fresh seafood) - be prepared to get there early or queue - bring your own wine. There is another seafood place in front of the Victory Hotel, can't remember the name although I'll pass it in a minute, right next to the boatyard of West Mersea Marine. Provisions up the hill at Mersea Stores where there is also a fish and chip shop, curry house and other things. Co-op is a further walk. Good chandlery.

Tollesbury is pleasant but as said restricted to top of the tide but even on neaps you should get in. Had a good meal in the Club House (newish chef) a couple of months ago and there is a pool. Anything else is quite a long walk and then there isn't a lot.

Anchorages - lots of people do Osea Island although it can be a little exposed at times but it never seems to cause much of a problem. Lawling Creek can be very pleasant just inside if its blowing and you can land at the Marina at the head of the creek and take the ground I think but I've never done it. Pick up a buoy off the Marconi or at Stone although the tide does run hard here (but then its neaps). Bradwell marina is pleasant but sights are limited to the Green Man, the Clubhouse and the house that the angry man just demolished. St Peters on the wall is well worth visiting but a fair walk (3 miles I think).

Enjoy.
 
Hi pvr

Regards to the river Blackwater, at Heybridge Basin, just outside the lock you have CRS Marine and Stebbens boat yard. Adrian and Judy at Stebbens s' Yard have drying poles and a hard stand beach area. Clint at CRS Marine has visitor mooring and limited space along side. The Heybridge Basin sailing Association also control some visitor moorings.

Colin at the lock, along with his team of helper's lock in and out 1 hour before high tide. I would recommend calling him though to confirm lock times. Also speak to Colin with regard to elec, limited but is available.

Shower block, Yes male and female shower's, laundry room are next to the lock and are available 24hrs via a security code.

Eating, The tea rooms/cafe that are mentioned above are now run by Tiptree Jam, the world famous preserve company based in near by Tiptree surprisingly enough. Good quality food. service sometimes a bit slow, and the usuall young girl surly manor, but don't let it detract from the fantastic view's over to Osea island.

The two puplic houses, run by Mick and Carole, The top pub, 'The old ship', (which is also HQ for the HBSA) has great view's over the river to enjoy your ales and food. The bottom pub, 'The Jolly Sailor' is the bottom pub. More for the younger more colourful speaking visitors!

Mark run's a pleasure boat tour up to Tesco's every two hours, Book with him and he'll run you up there and then bring you back for a nominal fee.

Maldon, Yes some times the London Barges at the quay dominate the berthing, but the visitors quay should be left free for 'visitors'. The ancient maritime town of Maldon has a high street providing every thing you could wish for, and I do mean everything. There must be approx twenty different places to eat.
Back to the quay, two public houses right next to you, The Queen's head, and the Jolly Sailor. both do food and the Jolly does B&B with notice. MarineStore chandlery, Omi and his staff very helpfull indeed.

Downs road boat yard, speak with Jim Dines for spaces, he has a rolling hoist which you could utilise for a bottom scrub if needed.


Wow I just read all this!

Do I work for Information? No I just live in the Basin very close to the lock. And I own and run a sail and power RYA training school, Thought I'd get that in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy your stay, tell us the name of your vessel and I'll give you knock if you do decide to come and visit the Cannibals. get here and have a pint!

Happy sailing

Al /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Don't forget about Bradwell on your way in.
 
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Maldon, Yes some times the London Barges at the quay dominate the berthing, but the visitors quay should be left free for 'visitors'. The ancient maritime town of Maldon has a high street providing every thing you could wish for, and I do mean everything. There must be approx twenty different places to eat.
Back to the quay, two public houses right next to you, The Queen's head, and the Jolly Sailor. both do food and the Jolly does B&B with notice. MarineStore chandlery, Omi and his staff very helpfull indeed.


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Granted my data is 18mths old but I used to live in Maldon near the Hythe Quay. There was/still maybe a visitors pontoon upriver of the barges. If you want to stay for more than a couple of hours over high tide then obviously you will dry out. Soft mud though!

Unless things have improved dramatically over the past 18mths the Jolly Sailer at the Hythe should be avoided IMHO. Its the only pub I know that runs out of beer and my last meal there was inedible and got taken back (with little suprise by the staff.) Queens Head does an excellent pint (ohh I miss Maldon Gold) but seating area outside gets very busy in the summer. On the High St a short walk you have the Swan Hotel which does excellent pub grub. Further up the Blue Boar taproom is worth a look too.

AJ
 
Hi Al, I'd forgotten the cream teas! Which they can also get in West Mersea at the Coast Inn - whether its as good as the Tiptree stuff I don't know. And for pvr, the other seafood place in West Mersea is the Oyster Bar by the Victory.

Only one thing pvr - don't tell anyone....
 
Many thanks for all the replies, especially the longer ones that must have taken some time to type. I will report back in a weeks time.
 
Re: Good reading . . .

Thank you for such informative posts, good reading too, whetted my appetite for a return visit.
They say the East Coast is different, it appears the sailors are too. Don't come down to the Solent, you'll hate it, all g-strings and 30-knot madmen!
 
Had an eventfull trip.
First my car engine stopped dead whilst crawling along in the outside lane of the A14 (due to an earlier accident) on the Friday afternoon. Pushed the car into the BP petrol station and quickly worked out that the coil had packed up. Almost regretted not renewing my AA cover 6 years ago, but then thought of the money I had saved. An AA engineer was working on a members car so I got him to confirm my coil was the culprit and gave him a fiver for his help. Car is 14 year old Volvo 940 that runs on lpg and has done 205,000 miles so no real complaints about the coil's lifespan. Daughter was 1/2 hour behind me so got new coil from Bury St Edmunds and was back on the road in no time.
Came out of the Deben bang on low water and took the tide down to Tollesbury. Had a great time there. Interesting place, the yacht club is one of the most hospitable I have ever been to and the BBQ food is great value. Ideal place for anyone with kids.
Three of us were leaving to dash to Heybridge Basin on the tide but the last one had a engine control failure, so then there were 2!
Full speed up the Blackwater to make the locking at Heybridge. Stayed 2 nights. Great place, good showers etc. Made the 30 minute dinghy trip to Tesco, well worth doing. Again something kids would enjoy. Left on the Tuesday morning at 5am and took the ebb all the way up to Shotlety, arriving 1030am. Other boat had a forestay problem so waited for the rigger. They later left on the evening lockout but lost their rudder off Brightlingsea and there they remained. So then there was 1!

Appeared to be the only boat leaving Shotley to go out to sea on the Wednesday morning. Forcast was West 5 or 6 veering North or NorthWest 6 to 8 later. Port Control reporting wind 22 knots gusting 30 off Landguard Point. Rang Stephen Reed (debenentrance sketch map for number) to check what the Deben bar was like. He said that a strong westerly was OK on the flood, and indeed the bar was fine. Only had a postage stamp sized genoa out. If I had more sail out I would have been laid flat by the sudden squalls.
An excellant trip. Will certainly do the Blackwater again, spending longer and visiting more places. Thanks to all who helped to make this such a good trip with their info.
Paul
 
Hi PVR

Glad you enjoyed the Basin. It's Essex s' best kept secret !!!!

Sorry I wasn't about, but I was racing on the Solent! Earning doing it though so hey!, I am sure you would understand.

See you next time.

Reagards

AJ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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