Weekend destinations from River Orwell?

DennisF

DennisF

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I‘ll be having another weekend trip with a couple of mates on my boat, which is based at Suffolk Yacht Harbour. I’m thinking of where to go and would be grateful for some suggestions, preferably finishing up on the Saturday night at a mooring or anchorage within rowing distance of a pub. We’ve already done the usual this year (River Deben, Rough’s Tower, River Stour, Hamford Water), and I’m wondering where to go next. Aldeburgh maybe? Any other suggestions? I wondered about Brightlingsea but it can be a bit of a slog just for one night.
 
Actually, Brightlingsea is only about 26 miles so would be fine (I remembered it as a bit of a slog as did it from Aldeburgh which took quite a bit longer). Bradwell is also fine but not a lot there apart from the Green Man as I remember. Southwold sounds good. where would you recommend to stay and eat there?
 
DennisF said:
Actually, Brightlingsea is only about 26 miles so would be fine (I remembered it as a bit of a slog as did it from Aldeburgh which took quite a bit longer). Bradwell is also fine but not a lot there apart from the Green Man as I remember. Southwold sounds good. where would you recommend to stay and eat there?
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At Bradwell there is a marina bar that does ordinary food and breakfasts, a breakfast 'van' for breakfast or lunch and the Green Man for better food.

You would need to ring the harbourmaster at Southwold because it is very popular (rightly so) and check if there is room. He will also advise entry times and you also need to call on approach. There are stagings outside the Harbour Inn or pontoons. Food at the Harbour Inn or several places in town.
 
DennisF said:
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Southwold sounds good. where would you recommend to stay and eat there?
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Useful video here from a few years showing generally how to approach Southwold. Important to check the specific details with the harbourmaster as the shallow bits move about a bit...

Food wise, also a fab fish and chip shack on the quayside, or walk over the bridge / take the ferry to Walberswick.
 
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Scala said:
Useful video here from a few years showing generally how to approach Southwold. Important to check the specific details with the harbourmaster as the shallow bits move about a bit...

Food wise, also a fab fish and chip shack on the quayside, or walk over the bridge / take the ferry to Walberswick.
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Thanks. I’m looking at 8/9 Aug, so HW at Southwold 1410. might be doable if we have an early start on the Saturday, but obviously would need to know how far after HW is safe to enter (I’m always nervous entering an unfamiliar harbour on a falling tide). Also, can you book a berth in advance? Otherwise it’s a long way to go to find there is no room....
 
Brightlingsea is the obvious one, and one that we often do from Titchmarsh, which is almost the same distance. You make the mistake in thinking of distances in miles, when you should be thinking in terms of tides. From Levington to B'sea is only a matter of slipping down to the harbour on the last of the ebb and taking the flood up to Brightlingsea. This is even easier than for me as I have to wait for enough water to leave with.
 
johnalison said:
Brightlingsea is the obvious one, and one that we often do from Titchmarsh, which is almost the same distance. You make the mistake in thinking of distances in miles, when you should be thinking in terms of tides. From Levington to B'sea is only a matter of slipping down to the harbour on the last of the ebb and taking the flood up to Brightlingsea. This is even easier than for me as I have to wait for enough water to leave with.
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That’s a very good point. Low water at Felixstowe on 8 Aug is 0850 so that could work very nicely. There are also other places to go such as Bradwell nearby if Brightlingsea is full. Also, trying to get to Southwold that day would be a slog against the tide, which in an old Westerly like mine is seldom a worthwhile exercise. Looks like Brightlingsea it is!
 
Also, by the time you get to Brightlingsea there will almost always be plenty of water over the Colne bar and you can save a mle or two by cutting the corner. Other places are available.
 
DennisF said:
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Thanks. I’m looking at 8/9 Aug, so HW at Southwold 1410. might be doable if we have an early start on the Saturday, but obviously would need to know how far after HW is safe to enter (I’m always nervous entering an unfamiliar harbour on a falling tide). Also, can you book a berth in advance? Otherwise it’s a long way to go to find there is no room....
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Give the harbourmaster a call ( 01502 724712 ) and have a chat/book a berth. We went last year and pre-booked. Depth-wise, you'll have no trouble drawing only 1.1m - the route in is a lot easier than the pilot books imply. Getting there you'll be against the tide for a lot of the way, so make sure your plan allows for an early enough start. Some people sail right past Southwold and head for Lowestoft, then the next day you can use the flood to take you south back to Southwold - it's only about an hour ...
There's a pub right on the quay, but it's worth a walk into town as well.
 
DennisF said:
That’s a very good point. Low water at Felixstowe on 8 Aug is 0850 so that could work very nicely. There are also other places to go such as Bradwell nearby if Brightlingsea is full. Also, trying to get to Southwold that day would be a slog against the tide, which in an old Westerly like mine is seldom a worthwhile exercise. Looks like Brightlingsea it is!
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If you like to anchor, don't forget Pyefleet or East Mersea. If you're happy on a buoy you can make use of West Mersea Yacht clubs buoys and water taxi. The seafood restaurants at West Mersea are very good. All much better than Bradwell IMHO.
 
If going to Southwold from Harwich you can take the ebb virtually all the way and arrive around or just after LW. We have been in a number of times at or near LW with a 1.4m draft, unless things have changed you should be fine. It is always better to arrive with a bit of flood running into the river as it makes turning round and coming alongside a bit easier you definitely need to book this year as they only have a limited number of berths available as rafting is not allowed.
 
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