west country rambling

[boatmike]

Was intending to go to France in July but with all the Schengen Rubbish about ports of entry and passport stamping etc etc I think we will probably potter off to Devon/Cornwall. Just a bit concerned that everyone else will have similar thoughts and some of the more popular haunts like Salcombe and Fowey will be overcrowded ( or overpriced?) Anyone got any local experience of what it's like down there post Covid?

 

[ashtead]

We were there last year but found berths in Brixham MDL and Dartmouth in July. Clearly you can do as Tom cruise did in his boat and anchor off . I think Salcombe is always overrated but maybe someone knows what I’m missing by sailing by.

 

[Sandy]

Most people head into marinas at night, lots of lovely anchorages to choose from. Perhaps not Cawsands in Plymouth Sound I counted over 100 vessels at anchor one night last summer.

 

[Hedgehog2]

We were there last year but found berths in Brixham MDL and Dartmouth in July. Clearly you can do as Tom cruise did in his boat and anchor off . I think Salcombe is always overrated but maybe someone knows what I’m missing by sailing by.

Salcombe's my fav - incredibly beautiful ! I was there last week and got a fantastic mooring in the Bag. But I think from this weekend until Sept, it's going to be rafting up which is a bit grim. The water taxi's cheap and apparently they're considering making it a free service to reduce the tender traffic.
Ps the crab linguine at the Crab Shed is amazing (if you can get a table !)

 

[doug748]

Always best to time marina visits for the weekend when local boats are away and, by the same token, visit places like the Yealm, Fowey etc during weekdays. You also dodge some of the big rallies and races with this tactic.

Visitors to Plymouth might note that the Cattewater Commissioners have installed a long pontoon at the mouth of the river Plym:

Cattewater Harbour Commissioners - New visitor pontoons installed in the Cattewater

More suited for larger boats it could be handy for a cat wanting to avoid full marina charges. It is a good spot for visiting Plymouth and the Barbican which is well worth doing, esp now there is a proper floating pontoon for tenders. More economical; there are also mooring buoys in the same area some belonging to the Commissioners, some the RWYC. They are marked and the private moorings to the East of the mouth of the river should be avoided.

.