Single stop in the Solent

[kingfisher]

I'm doing some family cruising in Normandy/Channel Islands untill 8th of August. The SWMBO and crew n°1 head home by train for employment reasons, and a mate comes over to ferry the boat home. The plan is to cross over from Cherbourg to the solent and then follow the coast back, enjoying those renowned sites like Weymouth, Eastborne and Dover.

But we plan on one overnight stop in the solent, which will need to be "nice", since the rest of the trip will be ****. So, like Goes in the Oosterschelde, what is the single most interesting/must see overnight stop in the Solent? A pub with a private anchor bay would be nice.


By the way, be prepared, because once I start my trip back to Belgium, easterly winds *will* reappear.

 

[Evadne]

Lymington: Nice pub (King's Head) and nice town. also nice walks nearby.
Yarmouth: lots of nice pubs and eateries, lively on a weekend (first harbour in the UK to employ a "harbour full, bugger off" sign on a Saturday.)
Bucklers Hard: Quiet and green
Cowes: The self proclaimed centre of world yachting. Nuff said.
The Folly Inn, Medina (upstream from Cowes): Everyone should spend at least one Saturday night in there before they die.
Gosport: Port of last refuge when it blows a hooley.
Bembridge: My favourite, but you'll need more than a day to do it justice.

On Balance, it has to be the Folly.

 

[jhr]

For beautiful surroundings, either Newtown Creek and the New Inn at Shalfleet (but watch that you don't get caught out by the tide going ashore) or the Beaulieu River and the Master Builder pub, which unfortunately is a bit rubbish but the surroundings are ace.

Yarmouth is lively but great fun and has a good choice of pubs (try the Wheatsheaf or the King's Head) and the Folly, up the River Medina from Cowes, is a great pub with cheap (for the Solent) moorings available.

If you decide to go west to Weymouth, there is an attractive, though not always sheltered anchorage on the way at Studland, with a reasonable pub - the Bankes Arms - ashore. Dish of the day - freshly caught seahorse......

 

[l'escargot]

...On Balance, it has to be the Folly.

It is also the only pub I can think of where you can anchor safely in sight of it.

 

[Evadne]

I guess I should have read the OP's requirement more carefully.

Few places in the Solent alow you to anchor in a sensible spot, the density of boats is too great.

The Folly pontoon is £1/metre/night and as cheap as he'll get outside of Newtown. Other places are nice, but not as quintessentially Solentish (i.e crowded) as the Folly (or anywhere else popular) on a Saturday.

 

[bitman]

It is also the only pub I can think of where you can anchor safely in sight of it.

and where you can take a shower!

 

[l'escargot]

It's cheaper (free?) to anchor - south of the pontoons/piles, opposite Island Harbour.

 

[Blue5]

Gosport: Port of last refuge when it blows a hooley.

Oi, take that back, nothing wrong with Gosport.

 

[robp]

Yes it has to be the Folly. Interesting to, in & out of the Medina. Good beer, food pretty good and mooring cheap. Oh and interesting in the pub!

 

[AIDY]

Oi, take that back, nothing wrong with Gosport.

After visiting paignton some weeks ago.... gosport is quite upmarket

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

But we plan on one overnight stop in the solent, which will need to be "nice", since the rest of the trip will be ****. So, like Goes in the Oosterschelde, what is the single most interesting/must see overnight stop in the Solent? A pub with a private anchor bay would be nice.

Basically there isn't anywhere nice in the Solent, but if the tides work for you how about anchoring in Keyhaven and working up a thirst and hunger rowing to the Gun?

 

[mickywillis]

Don't forget that Cowes week is from the 1st til the 8th.
Possibly NO chance of getting into the Folly during that week?
How about Totland Bay?
Throw your anchor over the side (tie it off 1st!!) and take the squidgy to the pub/restaurant on the shore.
Details:

The Waterfront
The Promenade TOTLAND BAY, PO39 0JU

tel: 01983 756969

Great food and an exceptionally nice sunset!!

 

[l'escargot]

Don't forget that Cowes week is from the 1st til the 8th.
Possibly NO chance of getting into the Folly during that week?...

Historically, Cowes week is the quietest week of the season at the Folly - people tend to resist fighting through the Cowes bunfight to get there.

 

[alahol2]

Basically there isn't anywhere nice in the Solent...

Sorry, can't let that go . There are any number of places in the Solent that would really thrill me if, for example, I sailed into them during my summer cruise in unfamiliar waters. I think your statement is just a case of familiarity breeding contempt. Try looking with fresh eyes at the variety of Solent destinations, they're great

 

[barfly4657]

[QUOTE Few places in the Solent alow you to anchor in a sensible spot, the density of boats is too great.[/QUOTE]

Tut tut David. On your own doorstep one can anchor in Sweare Deep within sight of both the Ship Inn and the Royal Oak, while across the Harbour there's room at Dell Quay to enjoy the Crown & Anchor.

At Langstone entrance the Ferryboat beckons if you can cope with tide and jetskis, and further up off Salterns Quay The Forester is within sight; in Portsmouth Harbour there are two pubs at Hardway if you can find a space clear of the moorings to drop your hook, and on a (very) calm day I've anchored off Hillhead for a jar in the Solent View.

The Island offers a wide choice, from Seaview at one end to Yarmouth at the other, while round the back of the Wight Freshwater, Ventnor, Sandown and Shanklin all have hostelries near the beach.

But the essence of it all? I'll pass on the Folly with its tabletop dancing and settle for Bursledon; the Hamble is even more crowded than Cowes, but a cheap berth at Deacons facilitates a short stroll to The Jolly Sailor, with the added attraction of a dinghy expedition to the Horse & Jockey at Curbridge if the tide serves.

 

[l'escargot]

Few places in the Solent alow you to anchor in a sensible spot, the density of boats is too great.

Tut tut David. On your own doorstep one can anchor...

Not many of the places you refer to are actually in the Solent.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Jolly Sailor at Burseldon is now, officially, the pits.

 

[Iota]

Jolly Sailor at Burseldon is now, officially, the pits.

The former landlord / landlady now run the Dolphin in Newton Ferrers if I heard rumour control right.

 

[dk]

Places in the Solent

Hamble? Busy yes, but actually v pretty village and some good pubs and restaurants. + nice walks along the shore and up the river on the eastern bank.

 

[actionoptics]

Ashlett Creek in Southampton Water is a gem with The Jolly Sailor and The Mill overlooking the creek. You are welcome to tie up on Ashlett Sailing Club pontoon (£8 overnight) or if you can make it to the Quay it's free.
You'll have to work out the tides correctly but my boat draws 1.3 m and I can get to the pontoon on a 4m tide. Even fin keelers can sink their fins into the soft mud and stay upright.