N Cornwall/Devon ports

snowleopard

snowleopard

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
33,645
Location
Oxford
Visit site
I was in Bude today, travelling by road. The place looked pleasant but the entrance looked a bit tricky with fishing boats moored in the narrow approach. Anyone been in there by water?

Also any views on Bideford/Barnstaple as stopoffs? I'm planning to go from the Scillies to Lundy in a few weeks.
 
Yes, I've been to Padstow a couple of times and, apart from forming part of the entertainment for the hordes of emmets round the harbour and having to queue for a fish supper, found it a nice place.
 
there's a bar at Barnstaple, which can kick up a bit in strong W/SW winds. However, once through it's well sheltered, and you have the choice (excellent if I may so say !) of Instow/ Appledore with some deep moorings but mainly drying further up the Taw. I love Instow to pieces. N Devon YC is very very friendly, and practical.
Up river is delightful, and Bideford good fun to explore. Nice new fish market.


Barnstaple itself is a reasonably enticing town, Best bit is the Pannier Market. Moorings alongside are a bit steep to in places, and do seem to change a bit year by year. It's not a "natural" boaty place, much drying areas (see Google Earth) with occasional petty misbehaviour. The bridge limits upriver exploration.

Lots of decent, and not too expensive fooderies in both areas.
 
snowleopard said:
Yes, I've been to Padstow a couple of times and, apart from forming part of the entertainment for the hordes of emmets round the harbour and having to queue for a fish supper, found it a nice place.
Click to expand...
When I first went to Padstow, there was no floating dock - the harbour dried, so I spent a week tending the lines to see the boat settle leaning against the wall for every tide!

Now that was entertainment for the emmets..

If you wonder why we spend a week there, the answer lies in "...NW gale force eight veering SW nine...."
 
john_morris_uk said:
When I first went to Padstow, there was no floating dock - the harbour dried, so I spent a week tending the lines to see the boat settle leaning against the wall for every tide!

Now that was entertainment for the emmets..

If you wonder why we spend a week there, the answer lies in "...NW gale force eight veering SW nine...."
Click to expand...

Ah, the good old days when you could get the Shipping Forecast on LW. Last time I was in Padstow, BBC Cornwall was f**ked on FM, and the O2 phone mast was over the hill and out of range.
 
Bude - I livee and work there so PM me for specific advice. The entrance is tricky and needs the leading lines followed. You basically skirt thru a deeper channel adjacent to the surf beach so swell and surf can be interesting. I have never taken a yacht in there but have gone in my RIB a few times and also rowed a Cornish Pilot Gig in, although one year the swell was too much and we had to return to Port Isaac, some 20+ miles and 4 hours rowing away!.

There are no visitor moorings as far as I know and most of the resident moorings dry. The trick is to "lock in" thru the sea lock (needs to be arranged with the volunteers in advance) then into the canal, but this doesn't have great depth - I'm unsure how much, but a year or so ago the lock gates were damaged in a big storm and the canal drained, with depth of approx 1m.

Boscastle is a possibility if you are happy drying against a wall, although it is infrequently used by yachts and can have large swell in the harbour - I only ever see perhaps one or two yachts a year in there.

Port Isaac may be another possibility if you can dry out.

Padstow is the usual yachtie choice in this part of North Cornwall.

Hope that helps,

rgds
chris
 
Every time I used to sail along that stretch of coast, one of those useful mariners rhymes (like 'Red sky at night, shepherds cottage on fire') came into my mind. It was:
From Padstow bar to Lundy light, watery grave by day or night.
 
"From Hartland Point to Padstow Light Is a watery grave, by day or night."

It's not for the faint hearted, full of reefs and often lee shore.

rgds
chris
 
reddragon2 said:
Port Isaac may be another possibility if you can dry out.

Padstow is the usual yachtie choice in this part of North Cornwall.

Hope that helps,

rgds
chris
Click to expand...

Are yachties welcome in Port Isaac? I have always fancied stopping there.
 
Port Isaac

I used to row the gigs at Port Isaac and I never saw a yacht in there, however whenever I take my RIB there I have no hassle, juts run into the sandy bottom, drag the anchor onto the shore and go for a pint and pasty.

Its a sandy harbour, not a lot of boats, so drying out a distinct possibility.

From http://www.intocornwall.com/features/sailing.asp

"Bude. On the North coast, Bude is a drying harbour which provides temporary moorings for visiting craft.

The harbour must be approached from a south westerly direction and boatmasters should follow the line of the first pair of leading marks. Access 2 hours either side of high water. Entrance and exit during rough weather should be avoided.

For more information: Bude Harbourmaster Tel: +44 (0) 1288 353111 / 07789 033573.



Port Isaac is a picturesque port with its own fishing fleet. It has a small harbour with a breakwater but in other than calm conditions care should be taken on entering the harbour and this should only be attempted by small craft. There are few moorings available for visiting craft.

For more information: Port Isaac Harbour Master Tel: +44 (0) 1208 88060"


From http://destination-cornwall.co.uk/infile11.htm#Port Isaac

"Port Isaac Bay.

Tel: 01208 880607

In winter and in storm the North Coast of Cornwall provides few places for a boat to run to and Port Isaac Bay is reputed to have over a thousand wrecks in it to prove this point. There are few places to find shelter. Port Isaac has always been there offering that shelter and although the breakwater at its entrance is a relative late comer it adds that extra bit of protection which allows all but the smaller fishing boats to stay at their moorings all year round.


Visiting marine craft should be aware that there is little spare mooring available and the harbour is tidal. Unless conditions are calm the entry requires experience and even then is only viable for smaller craft.


To visit Port Isaac is a pure pleasure however and if conditions are right and the inclination takes you the reward is there. Imagine the pleasure of passing the harbour breakwaters on a summer's evening as dusk is falling. The calm of the harbour, the village lights on the water. The Golden Lion and the restaurants crowding round the Platt, a traditional fishing village at peace. For perfection imagine the silver band playing on the Platt and the music carrying across the water.

Bude Harbour.

With thanks to Harbour Master, Mike Vanstone.
Tel: +44 (0)1288 353111 Website: (Bude Canal & Harbour) www.bude-canal.co.uk

Directions for Entry to Harbour

Entry to the Harbour is made by leaving Chapel Rock (linked to the Mainland by a breakwater) to starboard. Head towards the lock in the channel marked by two pairs of leading beacons.


The outer pair of beacons, bearing 075 degrees 30' (T) consist of:

Front Mark - White spar with yellow diamond topmark.

Rear Mark - White spar with yellow triangle topmark, placed half cable west of lock entrance.


The approach to Bude, either from the north or south, should be made from a south westerly direction in line with first pair of leading marks.


Immediately on passing Barrel Rock (half cable north of Chapel Rock and marked by a beacon barrel) turn to starboard and pick up the inner pair of leading marks from which the lock is clearly visible.

Warnings.


Entry to the harbour at night is not recommended.


Heavy ground swell and breaking seas may prohibit entry and exit.


The harbour dries out at each tide and entry of vessels is normally restricted to two hours either side of high water.


For locking a depth of 5.5 metres is required to lock. A heavy ground swell may also prohibit the operation of the lock.


Prior notification of arrival should be made to the Harbourmaster if possible.

Facilities.


Temporary moorings available for visiting craft depending on tides etc. in outer harbour.


Mooring inside lock gates in the canal basin is available depending on tides and weather conditions. At present the lock gates are inoperable due to storm damage. Hopefully they will be operable within the next few months (written in January 1999), North Cornwall District Council are awaiting finance from other parties.


Disposal of rubbish and supplying of fresh water by arrangement. No general bunkering facilities. "

This link may also be of interest http://bude-canal.co.uk/

rgds
chris
 
reddragon2 said:
This link may also be of interest http://bude-canal.co.uk/

rgds
chris
Click to expand...

Many thanks Chris, we are hoping this weather holds and we get down to Cornwall again this year, port Issac will definitely be higher than Padstow this time. I fancy a few days in St. Ives, not been there since 1989.

I will be printing this and checking the pilot, but it looks good. Hopefully I can get 'I used to be a fisherman' in when speaking to the locals so they don't sneer at me :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top