poole - yarmouth, isle of wight - what to do

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gimmesunshine

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Planning our first trip away, Poole to Isle of Wight, probably yarmouth on monday, and stay for most of the week, maybe venture upto cowes. But looking for tips on the the passage, inside route..?
also what to do on the island to entertain kids, age 7 and 2 and any tips for yarmouth, where to eat etc
anything gratefully recieved thanks
 
From Poole there are two routes into the Solent, to avoid the gravel bank that sits between them. North Channel, and Needles channel to the south out by lighthouse. Mostly the North channel is the easier option unless in fair conditions, but even then the tide can cause rough water even in light winds in Needles channel.

For North channel, head for just north of North Head buoy, then simply aim for the southern edge of the Hurst Castle. As you come around the southern edge of Hurst Castle, head out south a bit, as a shallow trap is there for the unwary. Check your tidetables, as you don't want to be passing through this narrow bottleneck when the tide is running against you if if the wind is blowing from roughly West.

A while back we were all asked to contribute on things to do in Solent for a family, and this was a summary, though there are many more things to do on IoW itself

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=795476&page=0&vc=1
 
Doing that trip on Monday too. Good news is we might get some good weather and the wind is likely to be from the North. This will make coming back much more comfortable than the usual South Westerlies we normally get.
Agree with BrendanS that round Northead buoy is the way to go. you may have to slow down just after hurst point for a while depending on the tide.
As regards eating, there are three cheapish pubs,The Wheatsheaf, The Bugle and the Kings Head. All much of a muchness but cater for families. Very expensive George Hotel and a good seafood restauarant called (I think) the Blue Crab.
If your kids like walks you can walk up to the Causeway at Freshwater and stop for a Vimto and packet of crisps at the Red Lion.
Hope you have agood time

Richard
 
Avoid Salties in Yarmouth, we booked a club event for 16 and ended up on a table better suited for 6. Food wasn't much good, service was rubbish and 'music' was done by somebody who loved himself but nobody else was nearly so enthusiastic about him /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Yarmouth is a lovelly place, but get there early if you can, if you're going on a nice day it will be packed. A fun afternoon can be had watching other people mooring up and being caught out, obviously helpful where you can but mainly the tide/wind and concentration of boats catches many people out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Book a place in advance!
 
You can get some very strange seas as you go past Hurst Castle. Freaked me out a bit the first time I went through but I'm used to it now. Very short spikey waves and then flat calm. It's all down to the tides and the wind over it.

Yarmouth harbour master will tell you the good pubs.
 
Hi Carl - how goes it?
Glad to see your venturing down our way, if you get the time & weather come down to Chichester harbour. If you pick your moment (ie not at the weekend) then East Head is a great beach for the kids. Either anchor overnight or there are several marinas nearby, inc Chichester of course. Or you might by lucky and pick up a bouy at Itchenor - mid week more likely. Give me a shout if you're in the vicinity and we can meet up.
Further West why not give Lymington a try? Berthon has closer access to the town, interesting 'tat' shop for the kids, a couple of large chandlers for you and some 'other' nice shops in general, inc an old fashioned sweetshop.
Beware of getting stuck between the piles /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif in Yarmouth - we were there for 3 days last year and thank gawd for the genny. If venturing to Cowes, have a think about the Sealift. I like East Cowes marina but you will need to tender / water taxi into town.
Have a good week!
Tim
 
take the kids on a seafront walk from Yarmouth harbour heading needles direction. 25 mins nice walk gets you to a small complex of diversions built into an old fort with superb views. Theres an aquarium, cafe that kind of stuff.
 
I guess you re thinking of MDL marinas seeing you are at Cobbs.
Hythe is very nice.. well I like it. A bit of fun with the lock, but dont worry at all.. just something new to try. Just radio on 80 just outside, and tell them you are new and they ll hold your hand!!You can walk into the village-Hobbit about the only place to stomach though- and a waitrose. But you can take the famous train out along the pier, and take the ferry over to Shampton, with free bus into the shopping centre. Bit of fun for the kids. Also, opposite, there are usually some of the worlds biggest cruise ships.
Mercurey is a bit Cobbs like. Quiet for a peaceful evening. Northney in Chichester harbour doesnt have much to it, but ther hotel bar and restaurant next door give you a decent break from cooking on board. West witterings just east of the harbour mouth is lovely beach, but careful with the anchor and kids in the water.. the tide is strong when running fast. Also, pay good attention to the channels- or you WILL get stuck, especially when trying to cut inside the odd bouy or two!
Lymington.. you should be able to go right up to the town quay and berth/raft up, there. All very friendly indeed, so dont worry at all if its first time. Saturday has a little street market.
My favourite beach is just west of Bembride-Priory Bay? Best arrive on a low tide and drift into the sandbank 150m off shore, where you can paddle about. Just remember the tide when you want to get back to the boat! On a rising tide, you can drift onto the bank, knowing you will have several metres of water later floating you off-If you go on a falling tide, just beware.. the water drains quite a bit. So IF you anchor right next to the beach at high tide, dont think bcz you are floating there, its that easy to get out again!
Its all very easy, just as long as you watch the tide and your depth sounder.
Be very careful all along that stretch.. you can be 500m off, and there is still no water- so have a good look at the chart, and DONT rely on eyeballmk1 !
You will have heard of the famous solent chop... wind over tide -it doesnt so much get rough, but it can get surprisingly bumpy. It also often gets crappy outside Cowes, and southampton waters. Lastly, there are alot of ferries, and some of them maybe 30-40knt.. keep a good and frequent look behind you, especially in s'hamton waters. And watch out for the massive container ships.. can be quite a wake.
Much of the Solent is surprisingly shallow, so at lower waters keep a watch on the chart/plotter - and dont sink on the submarine barrier outside Portsmouth!
Sorry if this sounds a bit alarmist; its all very straight forward really, but may as well have those hazards in the back of your mind!
 
second bluegrass suggestion and also

Take an open top double decker on the needles tour (top front seat best)

it is the best white knuckle ride I have been on as the bus swings round the overhang of the cliffs .

The bus also stops at a mini theme/fun park (Alum bay).
 
Last week we spent 3 days at Yarmouth having come up from Eastbourne. For £9 adult, £4.50ish for child (14yrs) you can hop on/off all day by bus and do the Needles/Freshwater bay route.
We also spent three fantastic days at Bucklers Hard on the Beaulieu River which took as an hour to get to from Yarmouth. Lovelly walks along the river up to the town of Beaulieu.
Hope the weather holds for you. Good luck!
 
Drop the anchor in Alum bay and tender ashore then take the chair lift up to the Needles Fun Park. Alright so the food is dire, the shop tacky and to a grown up it all seems a bit on the small side, but when you`re 7 the crazy golf is fun, the horses exciting and as for the chair lift it`s self - well I`m 40 & it still feels fun.

Gunwharf quays in Portsmouth is another child friendly stop off. Again it isn`t cheap with kiddy rides at circa £1.50 a pop and a bungee trampoline at £5 a pop but they`ll enjoy it. There`s even a cinema & a 10 pin bowling complex, loads of eating places and of course shops.

Henry
 
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