Overnight at Fowey

[jamesjermain]

'Easy walk over the hill and across the field and then down to the ferry for a run into town... '

I would say a hard walk - specially on the way home after dark. Mixtow is delightful, though and rather than walk the extra into town I'd stop at the Ferry Inn and have a good pub grub+ meal there.

Also, for a relaxed atmosphere and less yachty more saily ambiance I'd choose the Gallants club over the Royal Fowey, excellent though that is in its way.

Try to get there on a Wednesday evening (I think it is) in season when the elegant Troy dinghies are racing with the Fowey River one designs.

 

[lw395]

'Easy walk over the hill and across the field and then down to the ferry for a run into town... '

I would say a hard walk - specially on the way home after dark. Mixtow is delightful, though and rather than walk the extra into town I'd stop at the Ferry Inn and have a good pub grub+ meal there.

Also, for a relaxed atmosphere and less yachty more saily ambiance I'd choose the Gallants club over the Royal Fowey, excellent though that is in its way.

Try to get there on a Wednesday evening (I think it is) in season when the elegant Troy dinghies are racing with the Fowey River one designs.

I think they might get upset if you call Troys Dinghies? They are quite heavy little keelboats.
Agree about everything else though.
A few years ago I was watching the Fowey River Class racing, one was apparently crewed by a dog which barked a lot. Reminded me of someone in our local fleet.

Personally I think a dinghy is essential down west, water taxis are expensive and unreliable. They also sometimes pack up quite early in the evening. There are not many places you can depend on mooring alongside.
If you are going to rely on taxis, make sure you have all their mobile numbers in your phone and a list of calling channels.

 

[clyst]

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..

Steady Doggy there isn't a "chain" ferry in Fowey . Its free running . Come on how many times have you been there ??

 

[snowleopard]

Steady Doggy there isn't a "chain" ferry in Fowey . Its free running . Come on how many times have you been there ??

Now Dartmouth is another story. I'm used to cutting pretty close to the Torpoint and King Harry ferries that drop their chains fairly steeply but I was approaching the higher ferry at Dartmouth recently in poor visibility and only saw at the last minute the cable was above the surface for a good 50 yards behind the beast. Could have been embarrassing!

 

[Seajet]

The chap who complained about poor anchoring in Fowey might have read the odd chart and/or pilot to know this is not generally an option there.

As for any swell coming from a strong wind with South in it, it would have to be bad, boats with less than a deep fin could probably find shelter further up or to the East.

I was once stormbound on my then boat, a Carter 30, for a week in Salcombe on a visitor's mooring, we had the odd relief into town by an intrepid special ferry, but it wasn't much fun trying to sleep or in fact do anything on the mooring.

As mentioned previously, for both convenience and safety ( as long as not coming back from the pub completely smashed ) an inflatable tender is a must on any cruise, I'd have thought, ideally with a small outboard as well as oars.

If one thinks Fowey is crowded, try Salcombe or - basically stuck with marina monopolies - Dartmouth or Brixham !

Please disregard this mail if I win the lottery in a big way and end up running any of said marinas.

 

[longjohnsilver]

The best harbour in the West Country.

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

I don't think so even though we do love Fowey. Have you ever been there is a good SW blow? Not much fun

The second bit we would agree with, but just about every W country port has great walks and scenery.

 

[Seajet]

I was slow posting so please see above.

A fuel pontoon might be handy, but might also destroy the harbour's atmosphere ( I'm not talking about ozone layers ).

True there are good walks and scenery to peer at all over the West Country, but Fowey takes a bit of beating, not just by foot but also by boat & tender.

Those who know the harbour will know what I'm on about, for those who don't I'll leave it a pleasant surprise.

From experience I wouldn't venture to the West Country from the Solent in September / October again unless I had tons of time ( and money ) - Portland Bill and crossing Lyme Bay being a rather conspicuous snag.