Plymouth - any local knowledge ?

[henryf]

The plan is - there you go I've used the "P" word so it will no doubt all go to a brown turgid mess - to head West over the next few weeks and I've earmarked Plymouth as the point to aim for. No rush and we fully expect to get detoured along the way but ultimately Plymouth is at the end of the line.

Never been there before, came close when we visited the Yealm but from picking up snippets of info on here it looks like an interesting cruising ground. Given the wealth of knowledge on here I wonder if I could open up the floor to regular visitors or Plymothians.

Where should we be staying, any particularly good eating, any hidden gems? You know the score.

Ideally I'd like to avoid marinas where possible but the girls would no doubt have different views so I'm not averse to the idea for some of the time.

We won't be there for the fireworks this week, I've got a couple of places I want to stop off at if the weather allows en route.

Thanks in advance.

Henry

 

[hlb]

It is difficult to suggest anywhere to moor in Plymouth, without a marina. There are some places, but you would need a very good tender and a calm sea. But then parking the dinghy is difficult.

Sutton harbour would be my first choice, if they let you in. You then have the barbican to easily explore.
Next option is QAB, just a bit further walk, but find out when the foot bridge closes, used to be about 9PM.

YH has some nice pubs close by at Turnchaple, with surprisingly good food. Or, you can hop on the ferry to the Barbican where there are all sorts of places to eat. The Chinese, upstairs on the main street to the Plymouth gin place, used to be excellent.

Cawsands is a good anchorage and protected from winds from south to west. Good pub food there. But you are about three miles from Plymouth.

My info is a few years old.

 

[powerskipper]

theirs some info on the RYA web site

 

[longjohnsilver]

It is difficult to suggest anywhere to moor in Plymouth, without a marina. There are some places, but you would need a very good tender and a calm sea. But then parking the dinghy is difficult.

Sutton harbour would be my first choice, if they let you in. You then have the barbican to easily explore.
Next option is QAB, just a bit further walk, but find out when the foot bridge closes, used to be about 9PM.

YH has some nice pubs close by at Turnchaple, with surprisingly good food. Or, you can hop on the ferry to the Barbican where there are all sorts of places to eat. The Chinese, upstairs on the main street to the Plymouth gin place, used to be excellent.

Cawsands is a good anchorage and protected from winds from south to west. Good pub food there. But you are about three miles from Plymouth.

My info is a few years old.

I'd echo all Haydn says, Sutton is the place to be, right in the heart of all the action but as its all just around the corner you don't get the associated noise. And it's the best marina in Plymouth. And of you anchor I can't think of any landing pontoons you can use,
I'd be tempted to go slightly further afield to Falmouth, loads of choices and lots to do.

 

[adey]

You could possibly anchor at Dandy Hole but the anchorage is small and if there's already a few others there then you're screwed. Getting there and back means checking the tides carefully and there's absolutely nothing there, eerily quiet, if that's your thing.
Sutton Harbour is the best marina. Nice and calm inside the lock gates. Can be rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights but at 50' you'll be well away from the pubs. Footbridge to QAB now closes at 11:30pm

Best restaurant is Le Bistrot Pierre, over in the Royal Willam Yard. Have a glass of wine or two in the Vignoble next door first.
If staying on the Barbican then the Barbican Kitchen, Barbican Pasta Bar or Quay33 are all okay, but not mindblowing.

We won't be there for the fireworks this week...

That's a shame. The National Fireworks Championships is fantastic and there's a great atmosphere out on the water.

 

[Nick_H]

Agree with others, but also consider Tanners for food, the main restaurant rather than the Brasserie, shortish walk from Sutton Harbour.

 

[kcrane]

Another vote for Sutton Harbour. Unless August has turned visitor levels on their head I'd be surprised if you can't get in for a few days. The Marina manager is Mark Brimacombe and he is helpful. If you have any problem talk to Princess - they use Sutton as their base in the west (as they use Swanwick in the Solent) and they will help out with space if they can.

The new fish restaurant (Rockfish) is just at the lock entrance and is a good family place. Quay33 is good. A visit to Prince William Yard is well worth it, either by regular taxi (there is a taxi stand in the Barbican near the harbour, 5 mins from marina gate) or by water taxi (but I think the water taxi is a bit steep). There is an excellent bakery at the yard for breakfast, the deal is you get all the fresh bread and toast you like for a fixed price). There are also modern good quality chain restaurants at the Yard.

A visit to the gin distillery near the harbour is worth it, they have a bistro that gets reasonable reviews but I haven't tried it.

The main shopping area is a bit tired, but the Drake Centre is new and quite well done if you like modern shopping arcades, but you could be anywhere in the UK once you are inside.

You'll probably stop in Salcombe on the way west, but if you get the opportunity it is worth the push beyond Plymouth to get to Falmouth and St Mawes, but it is a fair way further west given you'll probably be at the point of needing to start east again.

All in all a great area for boating, we may well come back to the Solent for winter, but go back to Plymouth again for next summer.

 

[[2068]]

Edgcumbe House and the park is worth a visit, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Tintin]

Having moved from falmouth to plymouth i am now planning the move back. Few anchorages. Little waterside pubs or restaurants. Very limited imho.

 

[henryf]

Thanks for the replies. Clearly Sutton is the place to be then.

I don't have a problem with marinas / harbours I just didn't want to exclude anchorages or mid river options if they were worth doing. Clearly not seems to be the general consensus.

In Poole at the moment following a day amongst the Fastnet fleet westward bound. Ironic that we are all aiming for Plymouth, they just have to pop round the Fastnet rock first !

Henry

 

[hlb]

Henry, there are loads of places to anchor and rivers to visit. It's just that you cant get to Plymouth easily from them.

This is the Tamar.

http://s70.photobucket.com/user/haydn_2006/media/MuckyGoesDitchCrawlng_0001.mp4.html

 

[RUSSH]

Here's some useful links. (If my IT skills allow)

http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/cruising/RYA Guide to the River Tamar.pdf

http://www.qhm.mod.uk/plymouth/guide?cmsaction=download&page=1776&id=1779

4 hours further West is Fowey worthy of a visit.

Hope you have a good cruise.

 

[henryf]

Thanks for that.

I probably needed to refine the question to the Plymouth Estuary rather than Plymouth per-se.

Henry

 

[acbruce]

I would tend to agree with most replies. Personally I have been to Falmouth and back to Solent a few times and it is really easy. The slog, if the wind is against you, is around Portland Bill and then Lyme Bay. Once you get to Dartmouth and Salcombe the reast down to Falmouth is easy (and my boat is much slower than yours!)

I have tended to go straight from Dartmouth or Salcombe to Falmouth, spend some time there and then work back to Fowey, River Yealm, Salcombe and/or Dartmouth. Falmouth has Helford, St Mawes as well as the town itself. My favourite is to moor up the River Fal nearer to Truro. Beautiful surroundings, peaceful. Just Fab.

I once did Solent to Falmouth in two days with good weather. Solent to Weymouth, then Weymouth to Falmouth, via brief stop in Salcombe for lunch and a close pass by the Eddystone Lighthouse to watch the seals. It did not feel very stressful. I probably have a better range than you (400 miles at 18knts, no safety margin) so got to Falmouth with tanks at 50%.

But if you get favourable conditions I would strongly advise pushing on to Falmouth. It is only 35 miles more than Plymouth and only 50nm from Salcombe. A couple of hours in the right conditions in your beautiful craft! Go on, you won't regret it!

 

[RUSSH]

Oh and this link as well which has some good anchorages.

http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/cruising/RYA Guide to the River Lynher.pdf

 

[henryf]

Thanks for that.

The plan at the moment is to make for Dartmouth tomorrow and then Falmouth Wednesday. We can then start heading back East in a leisurely manner getting waylaid along the way. It's been a while since I've visited virgin ports of call so I've got all the paperwork out to read up before I arrive.

I did contemplate going into Plymouth on Wednesday to see the last day of the firework competition but I'd rather get as far West as possible.

Henry

 

[hlb]

Whilst down there take a look at Megavissy? Charles town and the river Helford . Mind if down there, you may as well carry on to Penzance or Newlyn and the Scillies.

This film goes that way, but unfortunately this time, not to the Scillies.

Other films of this area have not been published yet.


Charles town. You can just anchor outside.

Or. http://s70.photobucket.com/user/haydn_2006/media/THELONGNDWINDINGSEA.mp4.html

 

[longjohnsilver]

Thanks for that.

The plan at the moment is to make for Dartmouth tomorrow and then Falmouth Wednesday. We can then start heading back East in a leisurely manner getting waylaid along the way. It's been a while since I've visited virgin ports of call so I've got all the paperwork out to read up before I arrive.

I did contemplate going into Plymouth on Wednesday to see the last day of the firework competition but I'd rather get as far West as possible.

Henry

Henry, try to arrive in Falmouth reasonably early as the Red Arrows are here at 18-15 on Wednesday so it's sure to be busy!

 

[kcrane]

Thanks for that.

I did contemplate going into Plymouth on Wednesday to see the last day of the firework competition but I'd rather get as far West as possible.

Henry

If you are in Sutton on Wednesday we'll see you there, we are going down for the fireworks and there is a marina get-together as well.

 

[henryf]

All things being equal we will see you in Sutton Wednesday.

I've got a new best friend sorting me out with a berth

Henry