summer hols- where is the best place to go ?

mainshiptom · 13 May 2003

We are planning our summer hols with two kids 10 and 8,

where would be the best place to go with the boat ?

options:
* Salcombe ( My favorite)
* Holland, One of the meers , good for kids lots of non tidal waters but expensive diesel !
* Up the thames ? lots of pubs and nice places to stay the night , Lego land

Ps the boy is in to skate boarding !

Tom

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AJW · 13 May 2003

Why not East Coast - Blackwater Estuary (lots of nice sheltered water, Anchorages and beachs at Osea and Mersea Stone, Marinas at Bradwell and Tollesbury), Walton Backwaters (Secret Water, Stone point etc), Orwell and Stour, Deben and Ore if you are feeling ambitious. 'Pends what the kids are into really. Not much in the way of theme parks but lots of mucking around in dinghys and mucking around in mud to be had. Skateboarding opportunities virtually zero though!

AJ

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longjohnsilver · 13 May 2003

Definitely Salcombe, some of the best beaches in the country and a huge car park for skate boarding. Also handy for Burgh Island, Dartmouth, Plymouth etc etc. Great if the kids enjoy mucking about in the dinghy or doing a bit of fishing.

I want to be there right now!! (but only if it's not raining)

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paulineb · 13 May 2003

Channel Islands - you will love Guernsey and the smaller islands. Lots of fun for the kids swimming and playing in the dinghy in safe clear water. The children will probably enjoy Jersey more than you - they have sports centre and skate boarding in St Helier and then there's the wonderful zoo.

<hr width=100% size=1>Pxx

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.paulinebeddoes.co.uk/php-cgi/gallery>The Perils of Pauline in Pics</A>

mainshiptom · 13 May 2003

Channel islands - how far are they from me ??

I can do about 120 miles a day ! and do not really want to spend my holiday getting there ?

I can do Holland in one day from Fav..

Tom

Pauline, I am not as quick as Mr B

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tcm · 13 May 2003

CI highly recommended. Lots of nav tips in all the almanacs. Guernsey is the place, not Jersey. 60 miles from Nab tower to cherbourg and if all going well and calmish weather turn to Alderney instead, where a skateboarder can run down the middle of the roads, no cars allowed. Then Guernsey about erm 20 ish? miles south.

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longjohnsilver · 13 May 2003

They certainly had loads of cars in Alderney last time I was there! Maybe MST doesn't want to bring his kids home.

Skate down the middle of the road!!!

But agree Alderney is a great place to be, specially during Alderney week for the kids, lots to do. There is traffic but not much, hire bikes and look round the island.

The very best thing to do is take the round the island boat trip, best value trip I've ever been on, just ask in the HM office, he owns one of the boats. I go every time I go to Alderney! They take you places you'd never even dream of going in your own boat.
<hr width=100% size=1>Edited by longjohnsilver on 13/05/2003 16:39 (server time).

hlb · 13 May 2003

Channel Isles only about 60 miles from Weymouth, so easy in a few hours. Alderney is about 65 miles from Salcolmbe. For my two penath. The Channel Isles are excelent if.
1/ Your quite experienced.
2/ You get good weather and NO fog.

The weather can change very quickly or, as I've experienced fog can come and go and come back again in seconds. I find it disconcirting even though I have got radar and GPS going ten to the dozen.

Although the CI are the perfect place to be in good weather with plenty of sunshine, many of those perfect little coves need to be avoided at all costs if the weather is just a little iffy. Much will depend on your experience of course.

On the other hand and especialy if it's new to you anyway, a trip dow to Devon and Cornwall must rank against anything in Europe. Safe harbours within twenty miles, all the way down to Falmouth. Nearly no rocks to bump into and a million small quaint harbours and coves to visit in between overnight stops. Not forgetting five or six Beautifull big rivers to explore. If the weather starts to get iffy, your never far from an easy safe harbour with nearly no piloting skills nececary. So if I was not there all ready. I'd go to devon. I go to the CI and Britainy cos I do Devon and Cornwall to death every year!!

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Haydn

tcm · 13 May 2003

Re: Oops!

It's Sark where no cars allowed. Silly me! Mind you pretty quiet in alderney tho. We used the gopeds all around the island

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longjohnsilver · 13 May 2003

Re: Oops!

Now that's a good idea, let the kids loose on gopeds, you'll know from the screech exactly where on the island they are!

Here's a link to what's on in Alderney
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.alderney.net/index.php/pid/16>http://www.alderney.net/index.php/pid/16</A>

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mike_kolling · 13 May 2003

Definitely Holland from where you are.

If your tanks are big enough you can fill up in Belgium before entering and then refill when back in Belgium before the crossing back.

(However it is possible to obtain tax free diesel in Holland if you are canny!)

The boating round there is superb and ideal for families.

Mike

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kimhollamby · 13 May 2003

Given your starting location (and the fact no-one is voting for it) Zeeland (southern end Netherlands) would do it for me. Nearly every marina has a play area for kids, friendly and helpful locals, relatively easy to get to given one decent day of weather and once you are there the diesel is not such an issue because you can go slow and save fuel. You'll also offset a few quid on cheaper berthing.

There's usually a big fair in one of the towns if you take the trouble to call in at places like Goes and Willemstad.

As you say, lots of meers for messing about in.

Admittedly it works best if the weather is for you but then most of the places within reach of your home port fall into same category.

Only thing to watch out for are local rules, especially one that does not allow persons under 18 to drive boats capable of more than 20kph (10.8kt)...including the ship's tender. Reg numbers also required to be displayed at least 6in high on either side of any boat if capable of more than 10.8kt (so, for example, you would need to register a fast mini RIB under SSR to use over there. Dutch water police friendly but firm on this and on excess wash and speed.

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Jerbro · 13 May 2003

How about Salcombe, with a few days stop at Weymouth on the way for cheap fuel and a purpose built under-cover skate park.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jerbro
====
Click here for <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.btinternet.com/~jerbro> My ex-boat pics</A>

paulineb · 13 May 2003

What about Seawick Holiday Camp, Camber Sands. Its a bargain. A long weekend feels like 6 weeks !!!!!

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Blue_Blazes · 13 May 2003

Alderney," no cars allowed"

When was the last time you visited, 1901? Sark is the one with no cars! Alderney is not only alphabetically the number one Channel Island, it's also the first one you come to from England. It's also geographically the only Channel Island, as all the others are in the Bay of St Malo. OK, I'm biased,I live here, but Alderney is well worth a visit. Except if strong Northeasterlies are forecast.

OOps silly me. I just read your subsequent post. I must get into the habit of reading the whole thread before bashing off a post.

<hr width=100% size=1>Edited by Blue_Blazes on 13/05/2003 22:11 (server time).

whisper · 14 May 2003

There is a small skateboard area in the park at the head of the Salcombe "estuary" at Kingsbridge. Am not qualified to judge how good it is though as my kids never got into skateboarding. Hope this helps.

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mainshiptom · 14 May 2003

Mike

Tell me more ? how do you get red in holland ?

Tom

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mike_kolling · 14 May 2003

Have sent a PM

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syd · 14 May 2003

Tom

Let me know if you want to cruise in company. We're gonna be based at Burnham from the end of May and havent made any firm plans for this season.

Syd

mainshiptom · 14 May 2003

Syd

That is a great idea !

We are planning to to leave faversham and cut across to other side, ideally Zeeburge, with possible stops at Ramsgate or Dunkirk or newport or Ostende (Just in case) but if all well into Zeebburge, OVernight stay and refuel by truck !

Next day if the sea state is good ! up to Flushing and into the lock system and over night stay in Middleburg ! Love that place !

Once inside those canals the pace is slow and rain or wind does not bother me !

Over all we want to be away for a bout two weeks and not too bother about leaving the boat in places ?

You are welcome to join and maybe anyone else ??

We have not yet have fixed dates but July-August would be ideall..

I think i need to buy some more books. !

Tom

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