Moorings/anchoring at Swanage

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RobbieH

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Hi,

We're hoping to cruise from Belgium down to Penzance and back this year stopping of and doing a bit of rockclimbing on the way.

Does anyone know if there are any visitors moorings reliable enough to leave the boat unattended during the day at Swanage? Or failing that how good is the holding?

Would prefer to be on the spot rather than in a marina in poole Harbour and catching a ferry/bus to Swanage

Cheers,

R.
 
I agree that the holding is not that good and wouldn't want to leave the boat unattended for long.

The other option is to pick up one of the bouys in Studland Bay and catch the bus into Swanage or walk over the cliff.
 
Gelfie said:
I agree that the holding is not that good and wouldn't want to leave the boat unattended for long.

The other option is to pick up one of the bouys in Studland Bay and catch the bus into Swanage or walk over the cliff.
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If they are the buoys I think you mean, the red conical ones, they belong to the Banks Arms PH so you can leave your boat unattended whilst you go for lunch or dinner at the pub. Bad form to use them for a day trip to Swanage. However if there are other buoys please let me know where they are as it would be good to use them for times I'm just staying on board...cheers.
 
In settled weather Swanage is OK. It is open to the south and east, but sheltered from the north and south.

Don't know about the rock climbing possibilities, but further west Chapmans Pool and Worbarrow Bay can be good daytime anchorages in settled weather.
 
RobbieH said:
Hi,

We're hoping to cruise from Belgium down to Penzance and back this year stopping of and doing a bit of rockclimbing on the way.

Does anyone know if there are any visitors moorings reliable enough to leave the boat unattended during the day at Swanage? Or failing that how good is the holding?

Would prefer to be on the spot rather than in a marina in poole Harbour and catching a ferry/bus to Swanage

Cheers,

R.
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It strikes me as one place that I would pay a small charge to use a well maintained buoy.

If u cannot leave the boat unattended otherwise. .
 
Iain C said:
If they are the buoys I think you mean, the red conical ones, they belong to the Banks Arms PH so you can leave your boat unattended whilst you go for lunch or dinner at the pub. Bad form to use them for a day trip to Swanage. However if there are other buoys please let me know where they are as it would be good to use them for times I'm just staying on board...cheers.
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There are some 49 permanent moorings at Studland owned by locals; they've been there a long time, and I have no idea as to condition or if any are available for a day.

The owners should be contactable via SBPA -Studland Bay Preservation Association who continue to fight the idiot career conservationists, and / or through the 'Save Studland' forum, both on Facebook.
 
It has always struck me as strange that there are no visitors facilities at Swanage. You'd think someone would have put in some serviced morrings for a charge.

There is mooring available (recently rebuilt) on the south side of the pier. I believe the harbourmaster can give details. I just wonder whether it is accessible at night, when the pier is closed?

Rob.
 
Climbing

Hi
There is plenty of climbing west of Durlston Point. Watched them going up and down the cliffs on Saturday as we came up to Swanage from Portland. There are lots of limestone quarries on that stretch of coast whereas further west past St Albans Head the rock turns more like shale followed by chalk and a little limestone around Lulworth. Finally lots of great limestone climbing on Portland (according to my eldest).

I've anchored in Swanage a couple of times, but I would never trust the holding having dragged across the bay on a very wet and windy night with a NW wind. Eventaully I came in and picked up any mooring that was available.

If you go into Portland AFTER the Olympics/Paralympics then the marina will be avilable as will the moorings outside the marina.

If you are looking for a great guide on the Dorset coast try "Inshore along the Dorset Coast" (on Amazon)
 
I've over-nighted on anchor a few times in Swanage, usually just on the (small) stone slipway side of the moorings (I draw 1.4m).
No problems there in settled weather and you get Poole 'double highs'.
A well marked tripping line might be in order.
 
Iain C said:
If they are the buoys I think you mean, the red conical ones, they belong to the Banks Arms PH so you can leave your boat unattended whilst you go for lunch or dinner at the pub. Bad form to use them for a day trip to Swanage. However if there are other buoys please let me know where they are as it would be good to use them for times I'm just staying on board...cheers.
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Bankeses buoys are inStudland not Swanage. Wrong bay!
 
Of course if its a very calm day day you could always tie up at the cliff bottom as the lighters used to carry out the quarried stone would once have done.

Sailed past Dancing Ledge one very foggy day, pre-GPS. We were able to pinpoint our position from the soft chink of climbing hardware close by :D
 
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