Overnight at Fowey

S

Simoty

New Member
Joined
21 Sep 2010
Messages
2
Visit site
Hey,

I’ve enjoyed reading the forum for a few months now, but now need to draw on the mass of knowledge that appears to be here. In a couple of weekend’s time I’ll be chartering a boat from Cornish Cruising for a local sail. I have sailed in the Falmouth area several times before, but never with much intention of going anywhere. A friend has recommended a short hop to Fowey. Having looked at the charts and a few websites I can see several options for an overnight stop. Does anyone have some local knowledge to point me to the best spot? If possible something that doesn’t require a water taxi, and has onshore showers for SWMBO.

Thanks in advance,

Simon
 
Just come back from two weeks in the West country for the first time- what a great cruising area - and spent four nights in Fowey. It is only buoy pick up near the town and they are all very obvious and only a short dinghy or water taxi from the harbour masters pontoon where you can leave your tender. One thing to be aware of is that if you have SW's there is a SIGNIFICANT swell which can make life quite uncomfortable - as soon as the wind had any N in it , it was delightful! There IS a walk ashore pontoon further up the river but it is not on the town side - not sure where it leads to...sure someone else will be along to fill you in. It looked to be well protected and was obviously pretty popular as looked full when we went exploring in our dinghy. There were on shore showers in the Royal Fowey Yacht club and also saw some advertised in Fowey Gallants YC. Didn't visit either for showers so can't comment on standard! Wonderful place , cant wait to visit again next season.
 
Simoty said:
Hey,

Does anyone have some local knowledge to point me to the best spot? If possible something that doesn’t require a water taxi, and has onshore showers for SWMBO.

Thanks in advance,

Simon
Click to expand...

You'll have to inflate your dinghy, if you want to go ashore into Fowey without a taxi. For a VERY short stopt you can use the town pontoons: enough for a quick coffee and a dab of shopping.

The "Royal" showers are fabulous. Well worth the short trip up the hill.

For food, I recommend Sams's. The best buoillabaisse this side of ... anywhere. And their maxi burger is out of this world.

For peace and quiet (if there is any wind in the south) go and look for a mooring up -river. Past the china-clay loading bays.
 
There are also visitors pontoons on the starboard side of the river (still need dinghy or water taxi though).
Don't forget to take a long stick with you when collecting the boat (to check that it has a keel!). :D
 
Go up past the chain ferry to the Clay terminal... on the right is the Mixtow Pontoon...

Direct shore access and good clean showers ashore. Easy walk over the hill and across the field and then down to the ferry for a run into town...

Visitors berths are on the south side of the pontoon for about 2/3rds the length... easy to raft up as well... watch the depth if you go in past half the length...

Can take up to around 38 feet or so..
 
You'll need the water taxi or your own tender in Fowey. The only time I've ever been alongside overnight was when doing a course there; the instructor appeared to be mates with the harbourmaster and it was out of season, so he turned a blind eye to us staying overnight on the town pontoon. Certainly not the norm though, it's usually a quick stop there and then move on so others can get a chance.

Showers at the sailing club down the little alley with coloured lights above; make sure you have your pound coins. After a frosty reception in the past we make a point of ignoring the Lugger and go to the Ship instead (sometimes for mussels if not cooking aboard) who are always friendly.

Pete
 
All good advice above. One of our favourite moorings. Sams fish and chips are good - battered scallops! Go to Polruan (also a ferry ride) for good pubs and a walk along the cliffs.
.
 
Also if available and there is south in the wind try the fore and aft morings in Pont Pill directly opposite the town, you will find it more comfortable on a bouy than the underhill or Pont Pill pontoons whatever the weather. Another vote for the fish and chips in Sams other place. the chinese is OK to as are the mussles in Sams try to avoid the upstairs which imo has soured what used to be great atmosphere waiting by the bar for your table chatting to Scott, you can't book a table, it's pot luck but if you are prepared to wait or get thre early 6.15 you will get a table.
 
Royal Fowey Yacht club has excellent food, or it did last September when we were there. It may be worth checking with them first as I don't think they had the chef on every night.
 
All,

Thank you so much for your feedback! Just what I was looking for.

Don't forget to take a long stick with you when collecting the boat (to check that it has a keel!).

Now now :D

Thanks again,

Simon
 
If you can take the ground, go up the river.

Fowey916.jpg
Fowey915.jpg

Fowey919.jpg
Fowey918.jpg

Fowey917.jpg
Fowey920.jpg
 
Simoty said:
If possible something that doesn’t require a water taxi, and has onshore showers for SWMBO.
Click to expand...

The West Country is not well provided in that respect. If that is important to you, stick to Falmouth, Plymouth or Dartmouth. All the other West Country ports are too primitive.
 
The best harbour in the West Country.

Relatively unspoilt, with terrific scenery & walks + of course lots of history.

No particular horrors at the entrance, though you will naturally need to keep an eye on the chart.

The Ship Inn, as previously mentioned, is very good and in case of interest always used to offer good basic B&B, hope they still do.

When we came in after a lumpy sail from Dartmouth and a gas fire en route had knocked out any cooking ( we were lucky ) the harbourmaster could not have been more helpful when he found out, guided us personally to a good mooring and alerted the water taxi.
 
Seajet said:
The best harbour in the West Country.

.
Click to expand...


Hmmm not so sure about that...

Very little total shelter if a strong SW comes up.... no fuel... poor anchoring... expensive water taxi... very crowded, both in the water and ashore...

Very good harbour peeps... we had a problem with the bogs on one trip... and had our chandler taxi a replacement bit to the HM office in Fowey... when we came in the entrance they were waiting for it and delivered it to us before we had picked up a mooring!

But I cant help but think that if this is the best we have... then thats not much to sing about..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top