Plymouth Berths

[jimi]

Seriously thinking of keeping the boat in Plymouth next year, I've contacted Plymouth Yacht Haven and am wondering what other places would you recommend. I really need a marina berth to be as 'family friendly' as possible so could'nt consider swinging moorings.

 

[cgull]

Mayflower is excellent....but join the waiting list!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Queen Annes Battery (QAB) is good and only a 5 minute walk to the Barbican. Then there's Sutton Harbour which is on the Barbican so right in the centre of things but probably fairly noisy at weekends, lots of bars etc. Steer well clear of Yacht Haven, there's a mad northern stinkie based there!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Becky]

Sorry to disapoint, but this is Becky's other half not Becky. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I went to Plymouth twice last year and my conclusions are that as Plymouth is an old , very old, city it was not built with the car in mind. So parking the car is an important aspect. On the other hand the railway station is very close to nearly all the marinas.

Mayflower is tight to get into the berts, fairly expensive, some, but only some, parking, a bit of a walk to any food or papers etc. Good restaurent, clean facilities, very small chandlers. Tide flows through, but not strongly.

QAB. Tide flows in and out, not through. It's a year or two since I've been in here, and then only on the visitors pontoon. All pontoons have coded gates. Car parking is extensive, but appears to be permanently full. There are several businesses based in the marina (and the Royal Western YC). this could account for so many cars. Good chandlers near the (land) entrance. Wine bar, a bit of a walk to get into the centre of town .

Sutton Hbr. Access via lock which will open 24/7. (radio the lock to get a berth). Water a bit dirty, but they do try. Rubbish disposal a bit suspect. There were four containers with black bin liners in them. Two chandlers very close to marina entrance. Security gates. Lots of restaurents nearby, the old part of town is close, and city center is within short walking distance. If you need anything doing to your boat this is the place to be. Don't even think of going there by car.

Mount Batten, on the other side of the Plym. Tide flows through, but not strongly. A walk and a ferry to get to Plymouth town. Small chandlers. Very good restaurents in pubs (walkable distance) but long walk to shops. A bit cheaper than the others. Car parking. Security gates.

Not been into Mill Bay.


This is all based on my experience, but can not be guaranteed for subsequent visits. I hope it forms a starting point for your deliberations.

In summary Sutton harbour is the place for us. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Richard.

 

[jimi]

Thanks Richard, I was berthed in QAB for a couple of weeks a couple of years ago so know it quite well. Apparently the annual berting package there includes a parking permit for a single car.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Errr - why?

You won't be able to
- pop down just for a brief sail, midweek or a weekend afternoon, or even a whole day without a 4 hour round trip in the car
- visit the boat just to do a few small jobs, or even one big one without making a whole day of it
- go to France and back on a weekend without taking more than one day off work
- invite me on board for a cup of tea or beer, or be available when I need somebody to climb the mast

To be serious, if you decide to go ahead, you and SWMBO will be more than welcome on Moondance for the occasional day sail or evening in the Solent.

 

[pragmatist]

Personally I can't imagine quite why - the only one of Plymouth's marinas we've visited that we didn't think was dirty, overcrowded or seriously overcharging (or all 3) was the Yacht Haven. Haven't been there for a y or 2 but it has the benefit of open grassland and walks to wear out the brats (/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif sorry, children !) - disbenefit was if you wanted food or a takeaway it was about a 1.5 mile tarmac hike - or you could take the ferry to Plymouth centre (more fun). Had you considered Dartmouth ? More of a pain to drive to but a much nicer place (of course you could just visit us there from Plymouth ! ) /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[chrisb]

i think i am correct in saying that yacht havens give a 50% rebate if your berth is sublet whilst you are away in the summer plus free use of their other marinas up to the value of your berth. this may influence you-[see other recent posts]

 

[johna]

I too have been considering Plymouth and would have probably moved in 2004 had I not found a Harbour side berth in Poole. Being retired I was thinking of mid-week sailing rather than weekends so a marina berth was less of a priority. Weir Quay up the Tamar gave me a very reasonable offer.

Another approach I tried with MDL was to see if anyone in Brixham or QAB would like to swop berths for a season so each had different sailing grounds. Owners travelling from the midlands could make Poole or Hythe as easily as Brixham. Not much support from MDL and as this new berth came up I didn't press the case.

John

 

[john_morris_uk]

Let the others be as rude as they like about Plymouth - hopefully it will put other people off from coming and making crowded one of the best cruising bases in the country.

Don't know what they mean about not getting to France - its a little bit further I know, but its not impossibly far. Anyway, according to the Cornish, you're cruising in foreign waters as soon as you cross the Tamar.

Welcome to Plymouth for when you get here!

 

[pragmatist]

Go on then - what's wonderful about Plymouth ? I will grant you Cawsand and the amazing croissant at the bakery between Cawsand and Kingsand, the walk out to Penlee Point ...

But perhaps I've missed "the essential Plymouth" - what have I missed ? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[whisper]

Millbay "Marina" is only for the use of those with appartments there , I believe.
Think QAB is better than Sutton Harbour as now that you can walk across the lock you are close to the "nightlife" but not actually in it.
Assume that by "Mountbatten" you mean Plymouth Yacht Haven. Have to agree with warning made elsewhere that there are some very odd berth holders there /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[david]

The Problem with Plymouth it is

The Problem with Plymouth it is in England, and the wrong side of the Tamar, try Torpoint's old ballast pond (Torpoint Yacht Haven) opposite Devonport it's in Cornwall /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif it cheaper by far than any Plymouth marinas and much much friendlier, easy (free)parking too.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Millbay does have some berths for those who are not resident, but there was a waiting list last time I was talking to the manager. (We used to keep our boats there until a year ago).

 

[whisper]

Thanks for that. Think I read my understanding of the situation in a pilot recently - possibly West Country Cruising. I'd imagine Millbay would be quite a pleasant place to be and near to the City Centre.