Poole to Dartmouth

[TwinRudders]

Hi - we're off on a West Country cruise tomorrow (Thursday) - out of Poole and heading for Dartmouth/Brixham as a first stop.

Anyone have any suggestions for somewhere nice and quiet to anchor/buoy in Dartmouth as is our first visit. Boat is Bene 285 with lifting keel, lifted draught is 1m - but she will take the ground.

Also interested if anyone has done this route - we're planning to leave v early at around 2.30am this Friday to take the ebb past Portland and then punch the lesser tides in Lyme Bay.

Thanks

Jonny

 

[TiggerToo]

Once in Dartmouth go up as far as you can/feel like. The Dart is a real heaven (haven) of tranquility once you get past Dittisham...

 

[ccscott49]

If you want to anchor, you can in the middle of the river in Dartmouth town, it is allowed. Personally I would go further up the river, to the anchor stone and anchor just down river of it, or a bit further up at dittisham, (pronounced ditsum)! If you want the bright lights, then anchor in the river off dartmouth, to stb of the res-nova barge, or for real fun tie up to the town wall, with very long springs, below town pontoon.. If you arrive late in the evening and are leaving early morning, you could also tie up to the town pontoon. There are also pontoons on the stb and port sides of the river, that may be available. These are river authority pontoons and the stb ones are not connected to the shore.

 

[JackFrobisher]

Please excuse me if I sound a bit envious.

If you're doing it in one hop, go round the outside of the St Aldhem's & Portland Races, otherwise the trip is very straightforward.

In my view, there a few things/places better than hitching to a buoy at Dittisham or Stoke Gabriel. The Ferry Boat Inn has a decent range of beers and does good filling grub. It also has (my opinion) the best view on the south coast.

If you're staying for a few days, dinghy up to the Sharpham vinyard and do the tour. It has two quays for visiting boats. Good value wine & cheese tasting and you can get a very good lunch.

 

[Skyva_2]

If you want a marina after a longish trip then Brixham has all the facilities and is easy to enter.

It would then be a 3 hour trip up the Dart where everything said about Dittisham/Galmpton is spot on, lovely place to moor.

 

[rickp]

I agree with Colin. This was taken just up river from the Anchor Stone (the red mark in the picture). Anchor just where the yacht is and with any luck you'll see the seal playing around the stone, as we did just before this photo was taken.

Rick

 

[Bilgediver]

I second Jack's suggestions for a buoy at Dittsum as they say...and yes a visit to Stoke Gabriel if tides permit though you seem suitably equiped.

Up the creek opposite gets you to Floyds old place The Malsters for food though a while since I was there.

There is a channel of sorts for shallow draft and was marked after a fashion and yes when you see a red buoy close to the starbour shore you do go between it and the shore .
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Just checked the tides and seems you picked the wrong week for the Dart unless you want to go ditch crawling in the evening for a quiet drink /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[NealB]

Last week, I anchored just off the quay at Sharphams vineyard.

Absolutely sublime, if you want tranquility. We weren't even bothered by the HM.

 

[Genoa]

[ QUOTE ]


Up the creek opposite gets you to Floyds old place The Malsters for food though a while since I was there.



[/ QUOTE ]

Do check out the Malsters up Bow Creek - fantastic (and alot less touristy than Ditsum. We have been up there twice (once in the dinghy, once with 5' of fin keel to worry me!!)

 

[Carolwildbird]

I third, or fourth the ditsum recommendation.. it's lovely there and friendly people at the Ferryboat inn. On eof my favourite places in the UK! However, I was there (at the inn!) on thursday last, and saw several boats coming - and then leaving because all the visitors bouys were already taken (about 5.30pm). Don't know about anchoring, but I'm sure the pilots will tell you.

 

[Steve_R]

I agree with all, but the having completed a similar passage in a Sadler 26 last year, I expect you'll fancy a nice simple quiet berth. The HM pontoons don't connect, but they are quiet and you can save the exploring for later. They are cheaper than most places on the south coast too!

 

[BlueChip]

I haven't been there this year, but two years ago we spent the night tied up against the ResNova.
We were looking for a place to anchor near by and they called us over and said they were happy for us to tie up as long as we drank or ate on board. Tied up, stepped aboard and were made very welcome.

Would also second comments made about anchoring below the anchor stone, thats where my avatar pic was taken and the photo in RickP's post could well be Blue Chip at anchor there. Be careful to use plenty of chain when you anchor though as the mud is steep to and tides run hard

 

[TwinRudders]

Well thanks for all the tips.

Cheers
J

 

[jhr]

I've only visited Dittisham by ferry, but I liked it very much.

Greenway (Agatha Christie's holiday home, across the river) is well worth a visit as well. The house isn't open (yet) but the gardens are a delight.

 

[Plan_B]

From the posts above it sounds like Dittisham is the other end of the scale from Salcombe. I can also add that when I was there last July the mate didn't want to leave - and old friends from the Solent who we met there also decided to spend the last few days of their hols there because it had everything they needed - which was very little.

There is quite a nice Hotel up in the villiage jokinging called the Dead Lion (Red Lion), this could well be because of the very steep hill to get there. Food was good, reasonably priced, and a nice garden to sit out in. And not over crowded.

DD

 

[StugeronSteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Greenway (Agatha Christie's holiday home, across the river) is well worth a visit as well. The house isn't open (yet) but the gardens are a delight.

[/ QUOTE ] And it's a lovely walk, up from Darthaven and Kingswear, for lunch in the cafe.