Summer holidays...

[paulburton44]

After a not so good week in Torbay we left our boat on the south coast to return in better weather.
The boat is at Hythe on her trailer.
We are planning to return on the 18th Aug for 10 days.

Now...where to go.....I'm thinking...

Cowes (the wife is insisting)
Lymington
Poole
Studland

But where else ?

We have spent may years dinghy sailing from Studland beach and really do want to do it in my Parker.

There will be myself, wife (who must have a shower at least every other day), and 2 children under 9yo

We have limited cooking and cooling facilities onboard so like to eat out when possible.

We use an electric cool box and have mains hook up.....

We do have a sea toilet and a holding tank.

 

[flaming]

Could go to Portsmouth. Kids seem to like the victory!

 

[cindersailor]

I find that fur round the hood of my oilies doesn't really help, but each to their own.

 

[Topcat47]

If you must "do" Cowes I'd reccommend East Cowes, up the river. It's a 20min walk to the chain ferry, but quieter and cleaner than any in West Cowes and you don't have the rowdy crews or the ferryboat wash to contend with either.

Other venues are Newtown Creek (IoW) and Buckler's Hard , the kids'll like both, although the former's a bit ogf a guddle if you want to eat ashore (the Pub at Shalfleet does excellent grub but it'd very popular in the summer). If the weather's bad (again) it's a short walk from BH to Beaulieu for the Motor Museum. Don't eat in the Yachtsman's bar of the Master Builder tho', the food's as bad as ever as is the service, however the Hotel restaurant has a good rep. Marina Staff are very friendly and helpful.

Yarmouth is also a good run ashore for the kids (Alum Bay etc).

 

[arfa]

Given the Parker can take the ground/cope with shallow patches how about heading east to Bembridge where you could dry out in the harbour and then on to Chichester harbour ? East Head gets busy in the right weather conditions but you could dry out on the beach which the kids would enjoy. Northney, Sparkes and Chichester marinas could probably find space for you for an overnight stay and they all have restaurants nearby/onsight. Dell Quay could also be reached and is worth a visit if the tide is favourable.
If West is your chosen direction I would second the Beaulieu river and Yarmouth.

 

[[10753]]

Cowes Folly - my children love it - go crabbing off the jetty. also got showers up pub.

Lymington town Quay - good also. Have to crab from boat though. Good Showers also. Yacht Club has great view and beer good price. Watching the ferries seems to entertain my children.

Studland - you already know - top of the hit list for children and I won't mention the weather - i'm hopeful though.

Plenty of entertainment in Portsmouth Victory, Warrior, Mary Rose, lots of interactive stuff. Submarine museum.

If you can dry out then Ryde is OK. Childrens fair ground £5 each for unlimited goes. Can be noisy though and not the prettiest but plenty going on. Showers as well.

In fact there is a handy Solent Guide that appeared in my cockpit the other week. Think they are widely available at Marina Offices. Lots of info on anchorages, moorings etc.

Have Fun

 

[oldharry]

Chichester Harbour: sand for the kids at East Head. Picturesque Bosham (with ice Cream), or if the tides are right run up to Dell Quay for lunch at the Crown and Anchor - but dont fall asleep after or you will miss the tide and be stuck there for 6 hours. Marinas - the prettiest is Birdham Poole, otherwise CYB (both require locking in and out) Northney or Emsworth (both have tidal sills), and Sparkes at Hayling all with facilities to meet SWMBOs requirements.

Acres of sheltered water if the summer weather continues as it has.

Across the water on the Isle of Wight, Bembridge is well worth a visit (expensive though!) but good showers, while Ryde Marina puts you right in the busy town centre - tidal access only though and it dries at LW. Not a bad base for a visit to Portsmouth via the Wightlink fast ferries, or better still for the kids is the Hovercraft service which is within walking distance of the Marina and doesnt cost much more than the ferry.

Portsmouth itself is worth a visit (read the Pilot book to avoid being 'moved on' by armed rambo types in black RIBs by getting in the wrong place; they will tow you away -at speed - in a worst case scenario.) Gosport marina just inside the entrance being the best bet for visiting Victory, Warrior and Mary Rose - well worth it for an indifferent day. Port Solent marina has good shops etc but is quite a long way from the main Naval attractions.

Further west if you go across to Studland, go on round the corner in to Swanage: zero waterside facilties for yachts, but a very pretty seaside town with all the usual attractions and a reasonably comforatble and sheltered anchorage as long as there is no east in the wind.

 

[Ruffles]

If you're looking for entertainment for the kids in the Solent this is a summary of what the forum came up with. Mine are younger than yours though.

 

[seumask]

Dont forget Christchurch. A super little harbour for liftkeelers, good beaches and quite a few good places to eat, nice stop on the way to or from Poole and the solent.
In Chichester for drying out you cold also consider the beach on your way into Sparks just past the jetty. Good Icecream showers etc. Usually hospitable to those who arrive by sea.

 

[Frontier]

[ QUOTE ]
If the weather's bad (again) it's a short walk from BH to Beaulieu for the Motor Museum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? we walked for a couple of hours and couldnt find it, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

was Beaulieu the wrong way to go?

 

[BlueChip]

If you are going up the Medina, keep going past the Folly to Newport harbour pontoons. You will take the bottom at LW, but its soft mud and a world away from the Solent. There are showers and toilets. Take the kids to Carisbrooke Castle at Newport, it's a real picture book castle with lots of towers and passages to explore - the kids will love it (others may know if they still have the donkey in the giant Hamster wheel pulling water out of the well) I went as a youngetsr and took mine when they were younger, it made a big impression on all of us. There are also the benfits a large town such as supermarkets and cinema there if the weather is bad.

 

[jonjo]

You have loads of back to nature anchoring options with a trailer sailor's draft but when you fancy a marina day don't miss Haslar in Gosport as this provides an excellent jump off point for a day across in Portsmouth.

It is a pleasant short walk up the Gosport harbour front to the ferry and the ride across is part of the fun. There is a family oriented self service food hall in the historic dockyard which provides a mid visit crash stop for tired young legs. In general I dislike themed tourist venues but the RN has pulled out the stops for HMS Victory. I don't think guided tours of the ship run during August but the custodians dotted around the ship like to demonstrate their knowledge when prompted with a question.

Beware of Cowes, a mysterious magnetic force attracts women to every 4th shop on the high street. As they get sucked in the doorway many are heard to mutter, "I could not find any of this stuff back home".

 

[Ruffles]

Donkey was still there years ago. Might not be the same one though.

I think they hold a medieval event there every year with jousting and the like. Worth checking when it's on. Like to go myself!

 

[pelicanpete]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If the weather's bad (again) it's a short walk from BH to Beaulieu for the Motor Museum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? we walked for a couple of hours and couldnt find it, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

was Beaulieu the wrong way to go?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're quite right. His Lordship's house and museum is one heck of a long way from BH. I was knackered doing it on my fold up bike!

 

[RichardTaylor]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If the weather's bad (again) it's a short walk from BH to Beaulieu for the Motor Museum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? we walked for a couple of hours and couldnt find it, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

was Beaulieu the wrong way to go?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're quite right. His Lordship's house and museum is one heck of a long way from BH. I was knackered doing it on my fold up bike!

[/ QUOTE ]

It is approx a 40 min walk (2 to 2.5miles) to Beaulieu and the museums, We got the blisters to prove it when we walked from BH to the Museum last year to watch the Who at the "summer pops"

 

[Topcat47]

And I thought I was unfit......................