Ore/Alde places to go

[leomagill]

Are there any easy places to get moorings around orford or aldeburgh for a shallow draught stinky?
We are complete novices at this muddy river stuff so would like to find somewhere with a landing possible with somewhere close to get fed and slaughtered(or is it watered?), we have never overnighted on an anchor before so would like a marina type berth or mooring buoy if possible, how busy does it get up there?
I have the east coast pilot but would appreciate some up to date local knowledge of what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[fergie_mac66]

Snape

We have been up to snape a couple of times no marinas on ore/alde a few mooring buoys at Orford and Aldeburgh but both times we went all occupied some with 2 boats rafted manage to get on the quay at Snape though .. So you will have to anchor .. Pilot gives advice where . we dragged a bit below Aldeburge. If going as far as Snape You need good eyes to assertain the port hand milk cartons and the starboard twigs(withies).

 

[leomagill]

Cheers for that, thinking about snape, whats the mooring like there for an overnight? I understand it dries but I assume landing is still easy enough.

 

[fergie_mac66]

Dont get neaped

No landing, just a wall I did have some pics but cant find them, Ladders about 6 foot or so to climb up . There was a sign ! no staying but it was very old and I think it was from when the quay was used fro work.A time long since gone . There are a couple of sailing barges that go there . The channel to get there takes a lot of following. If you end up on the mud on the way up . You should be able to work the channel markers out while the tides out . If going up to Snape choose a time when successive tides are rising , to make sure you don't get neaped.

Our Garmin Blue chart had the channel almost to the inch took us right to the top without getting us on the mud ! that was with hindsight tho as the first time up we didnt know the channel was correct !

 

[leomagill]

Thanks for the neap tip, I hadn't considered that one, still tempted as my outdrives lift so mud is no big problem, as long as we can get to a pub safely for the evening we'll be happy

 

[MrCramp]

Aldeburgh is the place to go if you want a bit of life. There are some visitors mooring bouys at the end of the long straight approach, just before the yacht club, on the right. They are big ones capable of holding more than one boat. Otherwise you can anchor just past there before the corner and it is fine, but a bit unnerveing when the tide turns as you can hear your anchor resetting in the gravel. As you are a mobo you will be able to get there before the raggies. It is easy to dinghy to the yacht club pontoon but be aware that it dries out at low water apart from the most downstream end. You cannot moor alongside anywhere at Aldeburgh.

It is very dark if there is no moon so make sure you take a torch ashore with you. There are a good few nice pubs and you will see the que at the famous chip shop which is on the right as you walk up the main street into town. The fish and chips are excellent. The pub next door did used to have very good, noisey, live music.

 

[fergie_mac66]

Thanks for the neap tip, I hadn't considered that one, still tempted as my outdrives lift so mud is no big problem, as long as we can get to a pub safely for the evening we'll be happy

It should be easy for you ! We had really enjoyed the trip Aldburge was great some nice pubs And the club was really nice ,went in the Moot Hall and was in the pub when the council turned out had us in fits when we compared them and the houses never seen so many different styles of houses , and people , even enjoyed the American gospel choir that swmbo got tickets for at the maltings. Theres a landing stage near the Iken Hall reach . We had an old copy of PBO that had an feature article about that area.

 

[leomagill]

Must admit I'd never considered rafting up on a swinging mooring, I've aways aimed for pontoon berths where possible due to being a wuss
Being a stiny doesn't always mean beating raggies as we only run at 6 knots, 10knots absolute max but then we're just going uphill and wasting diesel.
We're heading out of lowestoft for 2 weeks and planning a few hops around the area before heading back into lowestoft to our temporary summer mooring, being a slowcoach normally running out of the wash we're not used to short hops.
Thanks for all the info.

 

[Pye_End]

Orford is a lovely spot. You can anchor round the corner, so long as your dinghy has enough grunt to fight the tide. There is a smoke house in Orford which produces very tasty food. Also the castle is worth a look round, and the National Trust tour of the Ness looks well worth going on.

Some day you will want to break your anchoring duck - and this is a very pretty place to do it! Otherwise try to get a mooring which is nearer to the staging.

 

[leomagill]

Looks like snape may be a lunchtime beer visit either 10th or 11th and nip back down to aldeburgh, hopefully will be adding southwold\shotley\ipswitch\walton to our trip list too, can't wait!

 

[fergie_mac66]

Southwold

Looks like snape may be a lunchtime beer visit either 10th or 11th and nip back down to aldeburgh, hopefully will be adding southwold\shotley\ipswitch\walton to our trip list too, can't wait!

Careful in Southwold the tide goes in and out reet fast ! Big standing wave in entrance at times and when your in make sure engine doesn't stall near bridge!

 

[leomagill]

Well we made it to snape with time for a quick pint before beating a retreat, never navigated by withies before so quite an education, still not broken the duck on anchoring overnight but had a great night stargazing from the furthest downstream buoy at orford, what a fantastic sky at new moon!