Is Benbridge worth a visit?

[SolentPhill]

we are thinking of doing Benbridge on Friday, is it worth a visit do they raft you? is there anywhere local to eat/drink? any really good places? I know it dries but not all of it I take it?.

Thanks

SP

 

[volvopaul]

Hi we were there all weekend, the sun shone it was great.

Yes you raft up, if your lucky you can get electric.

We draw 1 metre and crept out yesterday 3.5 hours before HW yes we could see the bottom in a lot of places and scared us a few times looking at the sounder, we never went above tickover all the way out to the last buoys, we had to leave that early to get the bridge at Bursledon.

There are not many pubs, a long walk or taxi to the Crab and lobster actually east end of bembridge/st helens area.

Theres a yacht club, if the tides right you can dinghy over.

There a shop at the caravan park for food etc if you run low.

Bbq area at marina office.

Well worth a visit, very pretty place.

Time it for hw portsmouth follow the channel, tide gauge at entrance west of sthelens fort,
dont cut the corners or try and follow the fishing boats as they bump over the bar, they were going out hours before hw! local knowledge eh.

33.00 per night for 41ft boat.

 

[malcolm2]

Yes it definitely is worth a visit. Very friendly. Yes you will probably have to raft up at weekends. In some ways a step back in time to pre MDL/Premier days which is all part of its charm. You have to be prepared to walk (or cycle) to the nearest pub/ restaurant etc. Entrance can require a bit of concentration.

 

[benjenbav]

As VP says, it's a lovely spot. Quiet. Tide guage by St Helen's Fort is useful. Follow the marked channel!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

have they finished the shower and toilet block renovation yet? It was ongoing at all three of our visits last year.... and I suspect for quite a long time before then.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Great place and having moved to the Thames I rather miss it. Carry an extra lontg shorepower lead, and if you are as cunning as me put a splitter in the shore end so you can patch in if the socket is already in use (they didn't seem to mind). Expect to raft, been 5th out before now, with two outside. YC dries if you go by tender, but over to Bembridge is fine. Walking into St Helens is fine, its a fair stumble back again though

Entrance can be scary, you may still have water when the channel markers are high and dry!

 

[Keen_Ed]

The St Helens' Restaurant, on the south side of the green in St Helens (duh!) is gaining a good reputation.

Baywatch on the Beach cafe isn't too bad either. And it's a nice walk across the causeway.

 

[RIN]

Its a bit of a walk down the causeway and back into town. You can cross by dingy but if you do, you will miss the wonderful houseboats on the opposite shore

If you are thinking of cooking a meal on the boat, (we love sitting on the back of the boat eating and quaffing vino) there is a great butchers in the town which does magnificent beef pies.

Great walks too, we walked up to Ryde in the North and down to Shanklin in the South (came back to Brading on a London tube train then short walk back to Bembridge.

Also Look at the monument you can see on top of the hill. You can walk up there and you are above the airplanes taking off from the airport below - a great sight.