Walney Island

[gregandginas]

A friend is asking for local knowledge of the channel between Barrow in Furness and Walney Island: tidal currents, the scale, nature and timings of any overfalls, other local hazards, etc.

The West Coast Pilot apparently has little to say on that stretch of water...

Does anyone know of a Cumbrian-coast equivalent of the YBW East Coast Meeting forum or the East Coast Rivers forum (or any other local sources of advice)?

 

[old_salt]

A friend is asking for local knowledge of the channel between Barrow in Furness and Walney Island: tidal currents, the scale, nature and timings of any overfalls, other local hazards, etc.

The West Coast Pilot apparently has little to say on that stretch of water...

Does anyone know of a Cumbrian-coast equivalent of the YBW East Coast Meeting forum or the East Coast Rivers forum (or any other local sources of advice)?

There are no big problems with the main channel it is a deep water main shipping channel to the old ship yard. Barrow harb drys all you need is in Macmilans sec 10 under Barrow in Furness, in my older edition in the office.
Have a look on your google maps at street level take the little yellow man on to on the bridge over to Walney Island.
You will see there are plenty of moorings in the channel they maybe availably though the Hrb Master, I an not sure as I have never needed to use them.
We have just gone up to them and then back to Piel Island for the pub.
A good place to go is the pub on Piel Island at the south end of the channel it has reopened with a new king/landlord.
Just one thing don't sit in the kings Throne/Chair you will be expected to pay for all in there's drinks.
You can dry out on the sands or chuck the pick out in one of the deeper pools but that will entail sounding and some maths to establish Low Water Depth, or you can go further out into deeper water and dingy over.
You can get to the end of of Piel St at Dalton-in-furness and can see Piel isl in the distance at the end of the causeway.
I hope this helps.

 

[earlybird]

Much as above. There are a number of private moorings around Piel Is. mostly only used occasionally. The King keeps an eye on them and may well be able to allocate one for overnight use. Best if your boat is shallow draft. Call "Piel Bravo" on Ch 16. The tide can be quite brisk, esp. the ebb, so if you drop anchor outside the moorings, make sure it's well dug in. Also, a tripping line might be wise.
On up to Barrow, keep to the buoyed channel. There are training walls further up, so don't stray into the shallows, Trident subs are another hazard!!
"A Cruising Guide to NW England & Wales" by G. Griffiths, pub. by Imray gives some information but may well be out of print. My copy is 1993.
Add. Amazon has some copies for ~ a fiver.

 

[25931]

Mentioning the king of Piel Island brings back many happy memories of more than thirty years ago - sometimes four of us in a wooden 20ft. centreboarder, arriving at midnight and being told that there was just time for a pint. Good to hear that the pub has re-opened.
Jim

 

[cgull]

It so happens my days work yesterday took me in to the Control Cabin of the Bridge!