PaulR
Active member
Just back from our first west country cruise-Gosport to Falmouth in our 34' Dehler with the family.
Feedback:
Studland Bay-great (free) anchorage, surprising how many boats dragged particularly larger power boats
Poole-free short stop on town quay to stock up and lovely quiet anchorage at Pottery Quay off Brownsea Island with no charge.
Lulworth Cove-magical spot for a night and stunning views from overlooking hills of cove- bit rolly and rattly overnight but would stop again- no charge.
Weymouth-very welcoming- rafted outside harbour office- very good facilities including shore power, £19.80.
Torquay Marina (MDL)- very welcoming, berthing master waiting on pontoon to take our lines and all staff and facilites excellent, shore power included, £28.08, enjoyed stroll round Torquay but one day enough for us. Dolphins played round boat immediately outside the marina the next day, first time we had ever seen them in the wild-fantastic.
Dartmouth-night rafted on visitor bouy at Dittisham-lovely spot (£10.30) harbour staff very helpful and free short stay at harbour pontoon for shopping trip into Dartmouth the next morning.
Salcombe-beautiful setting, helpful harbour staff but mooring relatively expensive (£15.40) rafted 4 boats on the bouy, shoreside toilet facilities not special and showers at YC bit of a stroll and £1 each - showered (cold) in cockpit instead as did our neighbours, didn't use water taxi - told it cost £1 per head each way (for us would have meant £15 to go ashore and back by taxi and shower-!!!) Great beach short row or chug from mooring and younger of our children loved it- stayed 2 nights at their insistence- ice creams almost 3 times the price of Lymington and only local "supermarket" expensive and only accepted payment by cash or cheque. Town dominated by "designer type sailing clothes shops", seemed to have no real heart. Told that there are lovely walks surrounding (our neighbours were staying for several days and going walking each day) but our crew not keen on walking!
River Yealm-beautiful river, moored on visitor pontoon rafted and some dramas for some arrivals/departures with strength of tidal flow meaning manouvering tricky, very welcoming harbour master and useful harbour guide given out with details including local walks (our crew still not tempted by walking), mooring fee £12.50, water top up on Harbourmasters pontoon (short stay free), didn't find wc's or showers but new building in build which we understand will provide both- outboard essential for dingy unless going with tide.
Plymouth-Queen Annes Battery Marina (MDL) no space (never been turned away by MDL before), so went to Sutton Harbour instead through the lock- super reception, welcomed by harbour master who took lines etc and briefed us what was where- excellent facilities and such a handy spot being yards from the Barbican with the delights of Captain Jaspers (food!) and Pretes- superb ice creams completed with clotted cream on top (and even then cheaper than the salcombe rip-offs) - handy friendly chandlery well stocked right by marina. Marina charge including shore power £23.83.
Plymouth town centre and large supermarket within reasonable walk (children came and didn't get to grumbling stage). Walked to QAB to have a look and glad we were in Sutton Harbour after all.
Fowey- fabulous-beautiful setting, lovely town and people and real heart to the town with local shops rather than plaqued by designer shops like salcombe, moored on visitors bouy opposite lifeboat (£13.00) rafted 2 on a bouy, short row to dinghy pontoon and free short stay (upto 2 hours) on same pontoon next morning for stroll ashore. Stocked up for lunch at rather nice bakery cum greengrocers cum deli in high st- lovely.
Helford River- perhaps it was because we were so struck on the beauty of yealm/dart/salcombe/fowey but found Helford river did not seem very special at first- moorings densely packed in and as with other places rafted on visitors bouy (£12.50 ), bit of a surprise (although subsequently read it in almanac) that landing charge to take dinghy ashore but once a bit of tide could land FOC at local sailing club which seemed friendly and with bar/showers. Next morning anchored off cove at entrance to river (Ponsence Cove) and beach (sandy) and rock pools popular with younger crew.
Falmouth-stopped in Premier Marina (Falmouth Marina) - super- exceptionally welcoming and whilst busy (rafted 3 out) very relaxed and welcoming attitude and excellent facilities (cost £20.80) , 20 minute walk to falmouth town centre which we liked and 5 minutes to large Co - Op handy but not special.
POSTSCRIPT- we swapped crew at Falmouth with brother in law, neice and friend driving our car from Gosport to Falmouth and we then drove home whilst they had holiday sailing our boat back to Gosport- worked really well for us as made our 2 week break much more relaxed as no pressure about getting back to base by end of holiday - hope to do same again.
Younger children keenish on west country, eldest (14) didn't think it had a patch on channel islands/france, oldies can see attractions of both!
Returning crew made mistake of stopping for one night in Dart Marina and were charged £40 for night stop!! outrageous.
Kim,
how about an extra forum for "places, prices and visitors' feedback" - would be really useful?
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Feedback:
Studland Bay-great (free) anchorage, surprising how many boats dragged particularly larger power boats
Poole-free short stop on town quay to stock up and lovely quiet anchorage at Pottery Quay off Brownsea Island with no charge.
Lulworth Cove-magical spot for a night and stunning views from overlooking hills of cove- bit rolly and rattly overnight but would stop again- no charge.
Weymouth-very welcoming- rafted outside harbour office- very good facilities including shore power, £19.80.
Torquay Marina (MDL)- very welcoming, berthing master waiting on pontoon to take our lines and all staff and facilites excellent, shore power included, £28.08, enjoyed stroll round Torquay but one day enough for us. Dolphins played round boat immediately outside the marina the next day, first time we had ever seen them in the wild-fantastic.
Dartmouth-night rafted on visitor bouy at Dittisham-lovely spot (£10.30) harbour staff very helpful and free short stay at harbour pontoon for shopping trip into Dartmouth the next morning.
Salcombe-beautiful setting, helpful harbour staff but mooring relatively expensive (£15.40) rafted 4 boats on the bouy, shoreside toilet facilities not special and showers at YC bit of a stroll and £1 each - showered (cold) in cockpit instead as did our neighbours, didn't use water taxi - told it cost £1 per head each way (for us would have meant £15 to go ashore and back by taxi and shower-!!!) Great beach short row or chug from mooring and younger of our children loved it- stayed 2 nights at their insistence- ice creams almost 3 times the price of Lymington and only local "supermarket" expensive and only accepted payment by cash or cheque. Town dominated by "designer type sailing clothes shops", seemed to have no real heart. Told that there are lovely walks surrounding (our neighbours were staying for several days and going walking each day) but our crew not keen on walking!
River Yealm-beautiful river, moored on visitor pontoon rafted and some dramas for some arrivals/departures with strength of tidal flow meaning manouvering tricky, very welcoming harbour master and useful harbour guide given out with details including local walks (our crew still not tempted by walking), mooring fee £12.50, water top up on Harbourmasters pontoon (short stay free), didn't find wc's or showers but new building in build which we understand will provide both- outboard essential for dingy unless going with tide.
Plymouth-Queen Annes Battery Marina (MDL) no space (never been turned away by MDL before), so went to Sutton Harbour instead through the lock- super reception, welcomed by harbour master who took lines etc and briefed us what was where- excellent facilities and such a handy spot being yards from the Barbican with the delights of Captain Jaspers (food!) and Pretes- superb ice creams completed with clotted cream on top (and even then cheaper than the salcombe rip-offs) - handy friendly chandlery well stocked right by marina. Marina charge including shore power £23.83.
Plymouth town centre and large supermarket within reasonable walk (children came and didn't get to grumbling stage). Walked to QAB to have a look and glad we were in Sutton Harbour after all.
Fowey- fabulous-beautiful setting, lovely town and people and real heart to the town with local shops rather than plaqued by designer shops like salcombe, moored on visitors bouy opposite lifeboat (£13.00) rafted 2 on a bouy, short row to dinghy pontoon and free short stay (upto 2 hours) on same pontoon next morning for stroll ashore. Stocked up for lunch at rather nice bakery cum greengrocers cum deli in high st- lovely.
Helford River- perhaps it was because we were so struck on the beauty of yealm/dart/salcombe/fowey but found Helford river did not seem very special at first- moorings densely packed in and as with other places rafted on visitors bouy (£12.50 ), bit of a surprise (although subsequently read it in almanac) that landing charge to take dinghy ashore but once a bit of tide could land FOC at local sailing club which seemed friendly and with bar/showers. Next morning anchored off cove at entrance to river (Ponsence Cove) and beach (sandy) and rock pools popular with younger crew.
Falmouth-stopped in Premier Marina (Falmouth Marina) - super- exceptionally welcoming and whilst busy (rafted 3 out) very relaxed and welcoming attitude and excellent facilities (cost £20.80) , 20 minute walk to falmouth town centre which we liked and 5 minutes to large Co - Op handy but not special.
POSTSCRIPT- we swapped crew at Falmouth with brother in law, neice and friend driving our car from Gosport to Falmouth and we then drove home whilst they had holiday sailing our boat back to Gosport- worked really well for us as made our 2 week break much more relaxed as no pressure about getting back to base by end of holiday - hope to do same again.
Younger children keenish on west country, eldest (14) didn't think it had a patch on channel islands/france, oldies can see attractions of both!
Returning crew made mistake of stopping for one night in Dart Marina and were charged £40 for night stop!! outrageous.
Kim,
how about an extra forum for "places, prices and visitors' feedback" - would be really useful?
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