West coast England

[Guest]

Having cruised the East coast for many years I am interested in maybe spending some time next year on the west coast I.E. from Wales to maybe Fleetwood. Whats it like wheres nice, wheres not, how much for moorings compared to East coast?

johnS

 

[hlb]

Dont Know much about the East coat but I would have thought pritty crappy.

Having done the West Coast for a few years and knowing Fleetwood, I would have thought equaly crap if not worse.

Pwhellli North Wales is not too bad crap but not much to go to else Ireland which is exelent and no crap but long way!!

Fleetwood is maybe half or one hour per tide at the marina and nowhere safe or interesting to moor in the river but plenty of mud and sand banks. If you like that sort of thing.

I live quite close to Fleetwood and keep the boat in Plymouth!!
Enough said.

Try West Coast Scotland or South Coast But Cornwall best and specially for Nick West coast Scotland.

One thing going for Fleetwood.

Its cheap and theres spare berths. Well thats if you mind going out at 2AM and sailing round the sand banks till next high water.
Hope some body gets that mad that there gona tell me different cos then I'm comming too.!!

Fleetwood would be ok if all journeys are to Ireland or Scotland and you dont mind getting up for the tide. Other than that theres Barrow I suppose but cant remember it being on the tourist map.

I.O.M Used to be nice, well when I was a kid, but last times there B and B £8 a night on the prom mid summer which tells it all.

Well of course theres Liverpool or the Manchester Ship Cannal!!

I rest my case.

And I live here!!

Haydn

 

[Juggler7823]

What a biassed reply, I suspect from someone who does not really know the area.

A quick list of marinas and moorings from Morecombe Bay up to the Bristol channel :
Marinas, Glasson dock, Preston, Liverpool, Conway, Caernarvon, Holyhead, Pwllheli, Aberystwyth, Milford, Neyland.

Moorings are available also at Deganwy, The Menai Straits,
Abersoch, Portmadoc, Shell Island, Barmouth, Aberdovey and many other smaller places. Email for more details.

Roy

 

[Guest]

Can I just correct you. You go down from Morecombe bay to the Bristol Channel, not up!
I lived in Manchester for a bit (7 years) and looked at bringing my boat down from the Clyde and was considering Conway but the problem is that the marinas around the area are all just so tidal - usually access is HT +/- 2hrs. Also when you go out, where do you go - you can only do the Menai straights so many times. I did consider Liverpool but I could not be bothered unbolting everything and taking it home with me each trip!

For someone on the East coast, why not consider bringing your boat up the East Coast and through the newly reopened Forth and Clyde canal. Alternatively, if you are too big or a bit more adventurous head further up and come through the Caledonian canal and base yourself ultimately somewhere on the Clyde. Take your time getting there and do the journey in hops, leaving the boat at various marinas enroute.

Its relatively easy access from anywhere in the UK - GO (the airline), for example, flies from Stanstead to Glasgow for about £30.

Having seen both, the scenery is just not comparable + there are no tidal marinas on the west coast - access any time. Also it is much more sheltered than the Irish sea, generally you have a large island between you and the really rough stuff. The shallow water in the likes of Morecombe bay tends to give a ground effect to waves making them even larger.

Nick

 

[duncan]

NIck you are going to end up hosting a large cruise if you go on waxing about the West Coast like this!

I wonder if it is possible to organise an 'overland transport and cruise' for next summer so that we can all enjoy this stunning cruising ground.

and er you guarantee the weather?

 

[hlb]

Re: Biassed Of Lancashire

Well of course every body is entitled to there opinion.
Found it hard following your directions up or was it down the Irish sea.
To save confusion I'll start at the bottom and work up.
Course it all depends on the type of boat but being as were on the motor boat site, I'll presume thats what we've got!!

Padstow, Lovely place but a bit limited on entery and you need to go on a route march in fairly hostile seas to get anywhere.
Anyway it dont really count cos its in Cornwal and not quite in the Irish sea.
However they do send me a Christmas Card every year so I thought I'd include it.

Milford Haven. Again not quite in the Irish Sea but its one of the best Harbours, Personally I find it a bit remote with not much to do there. Mind you its usually been raining.
Fishguard. Not been but dosent seem to offer much but ok for passages. Barmouth, Tidal over bad bar so if you go out you might not return!

Pwllheli. (I'm using your spelling) I never could spell the thing and I'm not about to start worrying now.

Spent about six years there with two boats. One 21f on trailer tother 33f twin engined.

Superb newish marina, all tides. You can go to Portmadock which is ok but tidal.
ERR!! Shell Island which ait an Island for the past hundred years or so. Grave yard for old boats and if you could find three or four days a year when you dare go in the place you'd be lucky. Camp site and greasy spoon cafe. Anchor in the bay if you dare!!
Yes Abersoch is lovely on a calm day and alot of boats are moored in the bay in the summer. Mind you on a bad day you'll find yours up the beach among the sand dunes.
Bardsey Island is one of the nicest places I've ever been and the history is unbelievable but so to are the overfalls and currants around it. Dont think about staying the night unless you've got plenty of life cover.
Hollyhead. Well Ok its a harbour.
Manai Straits. Well its nice but the tides and currents are legendary and anyway when Ive asked its full, so's Pwllhelli by the way.
Liverpool, Preston Well!! Glasson Dock.
Cant say I've been by boat always taken a detoure via Ireland or IOM just to miss them.
Glasson is good for winter storage and repairs. Thats ok if you dont mind sailing about in the mud banks waiting for the half hour lock openings.
Some must love it. I drive 300 miles to Cornwall to miss it.
Oh!! and Southport. Thats where they sail land yachts y'daft bugger.

On the positive side there all great for visiting Ireland and if thats the intention go do it.



Haydn

 

[Guest]

Ok so Fleetwood is'nt the ideal spot, So I would recommend further North. Whitehaven or Maryport up on West Cumbrian Coast.Whitehaven has a sealock allowing access virtually 24hrs per day, usual marina facilities and about half the price of anywhere South of Liverpool.
South West coast of Scotland within easy reach as is IOM which is'nt a bad place to be.
Sailing back South down the coastline, views of Cumbrian mountains stunning (weather permitting).
I won't mention the only slight blot on the landsape BNFL Sellafield. Still we cant have everything perfect up here.

Ps How far is Fleetwood to Cornwall then.
But I do suppose you get to see lots of the M6 and Birmingham etc on that trip!!!That must be fun!!

 

[Guest]

Nick I am a lancashire lad of 57 years the people here are the salt of the earth, but I keep my boat on the clyde and have done so for the last ten years I have my own private mooring on one of the lochs the costs are very cheap I then take her into Sand point marina at Dunbarton for the winter they have facilities for beathing lifting out on to hard standing or lifting out and under cover they can handle up to 40 tons the cost are about half that of the south coast but the sailing is fantastic there is lots of places to go plenty of shelter on the poor days you can nearly always get out some were you can always work your way down the coast after coming through the calledonian cannal which I can well recomend try coming though the crinnon cannal or pick the weather and come around the mull and into Cambell town for the night.
the North west of England is very limited You would soon be wanting to move on so dont waste your time go to the west coat of Scotland you will never regret it.
Best regards Ken,

 

[hlb]

Re: I Rest My Case.

But of course there is Blackpool.
With good access via the airport, and plenty to do on wet days!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Dont go anywhere near the west coast, England or Scotland, stay on the lovely tidal, muddy and sandy east coast. Then I can have some of the most beautiful cruising and anchorages in the world to myself, plus the seafood, beer, whisky and the best craque this side of Ireland, just stay away! Theres nothing to see.