River Stour - All time beaches?

[MagicalArmchair]

We have Triola currently on the Orwell, and we want to pop down and anchor a weekend in the Stour somewhere to mess around in the dinghy and dig in some sand/mud with the kiddies.

Is there anywhere down there with a relatively 'all tide' land-able beach that we won't sink waist deep in the East Coast Ooze? Triola draws 1.5 meters.

*edit, all tide, not all time - its been a long day!

 

[Old Harry]

I believe many on your coast, swear by Jack Coote`s East Coast Pilot

 

[Cantata]

I believe many on your coast, swear by Jack Coote`s East Coast Pilot

S'funny, I was sure I had a hand in writing East Coast Pilot.
I don't think either pilot book really mentions sandy beaches for sandcastles as such, but there's a beach on the south shore in the Stour at Wrabness but I'm not sure how much of it is private. Also on the north shore around Ewarton Pt, but only seen by me from a distance.
There's always the reasonably sandy beach at the Rocks on the Deben, also further up the Deben on the east shore past Waldringfield.
Hope this helps.

 

[Sniper]

There’s quite a nice stone beach at Stutton Ness on the Suffolk shore with good landing just upriver from Wrabness. The Anchorage is marked on charts in a small gut, just opposite the number 6 beacon

 

[Aquaboy]

I would check the weather before committing, it gets fairly rolly or should that be rollie
anywhere on the Stour with wind against tide. We seem stuck in these southwesterlies at the moment and with children on board a more sheltered location may be preferable.
Second Sands just below Pinmill would be calmer and there is sand and a couple of visitor moorings. Quite deep close in tho' much less of an adventure as you are already on the Orwell.

 

[Kukri]

Awfully dull answer but you can pretty much get to Stone Point in the same time.

 

[Leighb]

I haven't been there for some years, but the beach at Erwarton Ness is only sandy at the top, about an hour either side of HW you are OK, otherwise it is pretty muddy.

 

[photodog]

At wrabness there is a nice bit of beach under the cliffs.... at low tide it’s a bit muddy but hey ho... if you can, pick up one of the moorings as close in as possible, Near to the old wreck which uncovers from about half tide.

We have sat there in WAT up to force 5 or so and it’s fine. Can get a bit sloppy, but nothing untoward...

Here’s the spot...



Alternatively the actual best beach on the entire east coast (imho) is just downstream from SYH, on the shore near Loompit lake, about 10 minutes walk from the marina.



Sadly you can’t anchor off here...

 

[michael_w]

What about the east bank of the Ore? I've often seen people setting up barbecues etc south of Havergate Island.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

S'funny, I was sure I had a hand in writing East Coast Pilot.
I don't think either pilot book really mentions sandy beaches for sandcastles as such, but there's a beach on the south shore in the Stour at Wrabness but I'm not sure how much of it is private. Also on the north shore around Ewarton Pt, but only seen by me from a distance.
There's always the reasonably sandy beach at the Rocks on the Deben, also further up the Deben on the east shore past Waldringfield.
Hope this helps.

Have landed grandchildren at low water springs at Ewerton and manufactured mud covered, cut and miserable wriggly objects to clean. Not recommended!

 

[Cantata]

Have landed grandchildren at low water springs at Ewerton and manufactured mud covered, cut and miserable wriggly objects to clean. Not recommended!

Not an ideal place then! Looked like sand from where we anchored.

 

[Marmalade]

Stone point in the Backwaters - ideal anchorage and lovely beach close to for the kids to have fun on...

 

[shortjohnsilver]

As it happens we visited the Stour yesterday staying over night on a bouy at Wrabness. Lovely quiet place and deep water close in. And there were people - children and the odd dog up and down the beach, where the beach huts are. Sandcastles being dug too. We'll be revisiting when we're looking for a bit of quiet. Not far either. We're based at Woolverstone.

 

[Leighb]

It is a nice day out from Woolverstone, you have the tide against you in the Orwell both ways, but with you in the Stour where the stream is stronger anyway. We used to do this with our kids, originally in a Devon Yawl whose bow we could run onto the beach, later in our RHOD which meant picking up a mooring and dinghying ashore. Great fun on a summers day. The sand is only at the top though, muddy/gravel below. If you time it right you can have a couple of hours ashore and clean feet.��

 

[photodog]

Stone point in the Backwaters - ideal anchorage and lovely beach close to for the kids to have fun on...

Now, this maybe heresy ... but I really don’t like the Anchorage at stone point.

There is a shedload of tide.

At low water the channel narrows considerably and it’s very easy to end up in a dubious way, with limited room to swing.

The holding is not spectacular.


To be secure their you need to lay out a considerable scope, and with a few others about... it’s not relaxing.

Having been woken up at 2am by another yacht dragging across our chain... it’s a seriously overrated anchorage imho.

Hamford water around the corner is top, but I won’t anchor at stone point overnight anymore.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Now, this maybe hearsay... but I really don’t like the Anchorage at stone point.

There is a shedload of tide.

At low water the channel narrows considerably and it’s very easy to end up in a dubious way, with limited room to swing.

The holding is not spectacular.


To be secure their you need to lay out a considerable scope, and with a few others about... it’s not relaxing.

Having been woken up at 2am by another yacht dragging across our chain... it’s a seriously overrated anchorage imho.

Hamford water around the corner is top, but I won’t anchor at stone point overnight anymore.

I tend to agree. I too have dragged there. Also, the anchored yachts often shield the green buoy at night. I came in on a moonless night and it was crowded and very difficult to make progress to the marina due to many anchored yachts and unable to see the buoy.

I do enjoy Stone Point and it is great fun but I no longer spend a night there under anchor.

 

[pvb]

I haven't been there for some years, but the beach at Erwarton Ness is only sandy at the top, about an hour either side of HW you are OK, otherwise it is pretty muddy.

Many years ago (I'm talking late 1970s) we used to anchor off Erwarton Ness quite regularly, to go ashore for beach barbecues. Landing an hour or so before high water required wellies, or we provided guests with carrier bags to wear over their feet. If we left it too long after high water to return to the boat, the ebb current was too strong to row against, so we often had to carry the dinghy about half a mile up river and then launch it, rowing like a maniac so we got out to the boat before we drifted past it.

 

[Kukri]

I tend to agree. I too have dragged there. Also, the anchored yachts often shield the green buoy at night. I came in on a moonless night and it was crowded and very difficult to make progress to the marina due to many anchored yachts and unable to see the buoy.

I do enjoy Stone Point and it is great fun but I no longer spend a night there under anchor.

+1.

 

[johnalison]

+1.

I think the channel has changed so much that anchoring is less appealing than in the '70s when we frequented the spot. We came by yesterday and two boats anchored in the usual place close in were facing in opposite directions! A little further in, halfway to the first mooring is probably better now, and would be better than Hamford Water in an easterly (or Kirby creek).

 

[Kukri]

Kirby creek? ... oysters?