West country cruise , tips please

[chubby]

We are heading west from the Solent for the last week of july, first of august rather than our usual cross channel trips, family crew in a heavy displacement long keel motorsailor, aiming to Falmouth or the Helford river. What tips would the locals give? Not the stuff we can get from the almanac but things like which marina/mooring is most welcoming or suitable for visitors especially in places like Plymouth and Falmouth where there is a choice of marinas and anchorages. Some places are good to sail from but not quite the place you might visit as a holiday if say far from attractions. Anywhere to avoid? we are happy to mix and match marinas, moorings and anchorages although the family like to be able to run ashore and too many nights drying out in fishing harbours might loose their novelty with early morning movements from the fishermen! I am not too worried about mooring fees in say Salcombe if the place is worth visiting, Hints and tips from the locals welcome: I have never been west of Plymouth but think the Scillies might be a bit much unless the weather really settles down. Anywhere so crowded as to avoid?

 

[StephenSails]

Go up the river dart to Ditisham and moor up there for a night, there is a great pub called the ferryboat inn I think. Avoid Salcombe unless you like little spoilt brats flashing around in ribs after dark with no nav lights boozed up to the max!

 

[MoodySabre]

My only negative experience was in Mayflower marina, Plymouth. Lots of swell, particularly on the outside pontoons. Plenty of others to choose from.

 

[photodog]

Ditto on the give Salcombe a miss, Dittisham is great, Newton Ferrars is very nice, all three of the pubs are v good, but the water taxi is a bit unreliable.(Though a decent bloke) Excellent showers.
Nothing to eat in plymouth, but worth going up the Tamar to see the Navy, and Cawsand is a nice, but busyish anchorage, Best Cafe is at Queen annes battery, the one at Pyh is okay, Mayflower is poor, if in the marina I think that PYH is best, good ferry from Mount Batten to town. Pizza express only reliable food.
Fowey is a must, eat at Sams Place, Dont sit on the Hillside pontoon as the swell effects it the most, V good water taxi. Only pontoons with shore access are upstream across from the Clay terminal. Best access to Eden project from Fowey.
Good showers(£1) in Royal Fowey Yacht club, and a very good patio/bar.
Falmouth has a few decent restaurants just up the hill from the Visitors Haven, (Which is probably the best of the marinas, but can be difficult when the wind is blowing).Okay showers and laundry at Visitors haven.
Helford is nice, the yacht club has good quite showers (Used to need 50p pieces.) Once again good W Taxi, anchor upstream of the main moorings, which have a almighty big chain as a pick up, but downstream of the oyster beds. Paddle the dingy up Frenchmans Creek, which is just a bit upstream.
Up the Fal is excellent and v quite, very good pontoons, v good access to Trellesick house. Further upstream towards Malpas their are some good anchorages, and once again a couple of excellent and quite pontoons.

Get a Cornish Courtesy flag.

If you see a couple with a little ginger dog on a Bavaria 31, Talisman, say hello, we will be out in the same area at the same time!

 

[cgull]

I like Mayflower Marina, restaurant is good and Mayflower staff excellent. Give Salcombe a miss definately, last year I had my new dinghy nicked from the boat overnight!
Recommend the Heron pub at Malpas, moorings nearby and dinghy ashore.

 

[freeman]

In Plymouth you could Go up the tamar to cargreen, Nice pub and 3 free moorings off it
or go on up to weir quay.
keep an eye on depth.

 

[FWB]

Plymouth Classics 27-31 July, followed by Fowey Classics 31-03Aug.

 

[CliveG]

If you stop at Plymouth Yacht haven there is a reasonable pub for an evening meal without using the ferry.
If you turn left at the gate to the pontoons are walk along below the houses facing the marina and follow that footpath.
once at the top carry on heading east following the line of the harbour you will find the pub up on your left on a raised pavement.
Had a nice steak there last year.

 

[Skyva_2]

Sounds like the Boringdon Arms - certainly does good food and beer.

Would also recommend the top of the Dart, and Brixham is a good landfall after Lyme Bay.

 

[mainmarine]

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If you stop at Plymouth Yacht haven there is a reasonable pub for an evening meal without using the ferry.
If you turn left at the gate to the pontoons are walk along below the houses facing the marina and follow that footpath.
once at the top carry on heading east following the line of the harbour you will find the pub up on your left on a raised pavement.
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Its called the "Borringdon" they also do B&B
The chineese in the Barbican [ up a spiral staircase] is good often frequented by local oriental community.]

 

[ChrisE]

I'll buck the trend and say try Salcombe, if you don't mind the fees. If you go up to The Bag (upstream of the main mooring area) this is usually quieter and if you want a dinghy run you can nip up to Kingsbridge. You'll need to get the tides right as it dries but it is as truly beautiful run surrounded by rolling countryside.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Hi John

We are also off to Cornwall or somewhere in that direction, from Wicor starting on Sat 21st July - weather permitting.

I think I reluctantly now agree with everyones view of Salcombe - which is a shame as it is a very pcituresque harbour. If you do go and want to eat ashore - book really early. No foord store there any more - priced out by expensive boutiques.

We will probably try some where entirely new this year - Teingmouth - which is a loveley spot but tidal entrance. Very much off the beaten track. (My daughters inlaws live there)

Scillies - Been on my hit list for years! But unless unbridled sunshine and very settled weather, I think its a no go.

Fowey, Plymouth, River Yelm, Falmouth and Fal river, Dartmouth - we will try well upstream this year, And possible Brixham after Limebay.

Will the 18 week old puppy survive bladder and bowells intact across Limebay?!!!

Perhaps see you at the w/e

Chris

 

[DJE]

If you are feeling adventurous then The Maltsters Arms is my recomendation. Carry on up the Dart past Dittisham and Stoke Gabriel and sniff your way up Bow Creek. Map here. If you can take the ground then ring in advance and book a berth for the night.
We went to Brixham from Weymouth last year and found it a very easy harbour to enter in the dark. The town is nothing special but the little restaurant just over the breakwater from the marina is very pleasant and right by the beach.

 

[jamesjermain]

Loads of anchorages in Plymouth and Tamar River. For real seclusion try Dandy hole up the Lynher River (but go mid-week as it's crowded at weekends). Jennycliffe is a quieter alternative to Cawsand if the wind's in the east. Cargreen is an hour from the Sound but worth the trip past the docks, under the Saltash Bridge and into empty countryside. The Spaniards is good but we'll have a new manager and chef by then.

There are loads of little drying harbours along the coast to Falmouth if you are feeling brave and the conditions are settled. Most have anchorages just outside the: eg Polperro, Mevagissey, Gorran Haven.

In Falmouth Tyr the visitor's buoys off the Smugglers Cottage Inn. This is a very popular tripper destination but if you time your visit for the end of the afternoon you will miss the cream tea crowd and enjoy a good pint in charming surrpoundings. The bar closses quite early - 2000hrs if I remember correctly.

 

[Thistle]

I'll agree with many others: Salcombe is not worth the money (though the Yacht Club bucks this trend: it's welcoming, has good showers and bar and does good bar meals.) The chip shop is the opposite: grumpy, s...l...o...w, and expensive for, at best, a mediocre product.

Fowey is good and the Eden Project - a short taxi ride from the town - a must. The local fleet of Troys are a grand sight on Wednesday evenings.

The National Maritime Museum at Falmouth is worth a visit but the adjacent marina lacked facilities when I was last there.

 

[jimi]

Newton Ferrers
Fowey
St Mawes in Falmouth worth a stop with the yacht club there being very hosptitable!
The visitors temporary pontoons in Falmouth handiest for town.
Helford a must, take the 20 minute walk to the new Inn at Manaccan well worth it.

 

[Cornishman]

Don't just stop at Cargreen but if the tide serves go on up the Tamar (Admiralty Chart No 871) as far as Cotehele Quay where you have the choice of anchoring, drying out alongside against the piles on The Quay or if you are lucky "borrowing" Shamrock's deep water mooring - all free although a small contribution payable in either the Edgecumbe Arms tea rooms or the little Maritime Museum is welcome. If you are National Trust members you will want to explore Cotehele House and the working watermill as well. If there on Saturday or Sunday afternoon (weather permitting) come and see me at the Information point on The Quay.

 

[SimbaDog]

Seems you have had most of the good suggestions already.
As mentioned before, Newton Ferrers (River Yealm) is a lovely quiet spot away from the ratrace. There is a water taxi run by Billy & some lovely scenery & pubs!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Don't miss Burgh Island, great lunch time stop, never many boats about. Close by there's also Hope Cove. And the rivers Erme and Avon, probably best to look by dinghy, but well worth the effort.

And Teignmouth is another seldom visited place, 2 good pontoons for an overnight stay just yards away from the beach and good pubs. The sun setting down the river is as good as it gets.

 

[flaming]

Awful lot of anti Salcombe feeling on here! I haven't been for a good few years, and have always enjoyed it in the past. What has changed so massively recently?

I think if I was planning a west country cruise now I'd probably go, just to see what all the fuss is about!