A_7
Well-Known Member
We are heading west from Cowes this year for two weeks. Any tips for the best places to visit. We are thinking of going straight to Penzance and the working our way back. Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
West Country tips
- Thread starter A_7
- Start date
sailorgirl
Well-Known Member
That's easy - three very different places but all firm favourites: Penzance Wet Dock, the Dandy Hole up the Lynher River and the Anchor Stone just below Dittisham on the Dart.
Tisme
Well-Known Member
Essential:
Helford River/Falmouth
Fowey
River Tamar (but avoid Plymouth!)
Newton Ferrers
Salcombe (even if it's just to see why everyone complains about the charges!)
Dartmouth/Dittisham
Weymouth
Nice to visit but depends on tides, boat and time
Mevagissey
Looe
Polperro
Truro
Totnes
Teignmouth
Lyme Regis
Places to avoid
Torquay
Plymouth
Torquay
I assume you're already familiar with Cowes to Weymouth.
I would recommend Fishwicks book "West Country Cruising".
To be honest you could easily spend a month doing this trip. It's as much about what you decide to miss as what you feel you must do. Have a good trip!
PS. Avoid Torquay like the plague!
Helford River/Falmouth
Fowey
River Tamar (but avoid Plymouth!)
Newton Ferrers
Salcombe (even if it's just to see why everyone complains about the charges!)
Dartmouth/Dittisham
Weymouth
Nice to visit but depends on tides, boat and time
Mevagissey
Looe
Polperro
Truro
Totnes
Teignmouth
Lyme Regis
Places to avoid
Torquay
Plymouth
Torquay
I assume you're already familiar with Cowes to Weymouth.
I would recommend Fishwicks book "West Country Cruising".
To be honest you could easily spend a month doing this trip. It's as much about what you decide to miss as what you feel you must do. Have a good trip!
PS. Avoid Torquay like the plague!
bilbobaggins
N/A
Wholly endorse Mark Fishwick's 'West Country Cruising' as the best cruising guide to these water, by far.
I'd add the following suggestions, if wind and tide serve......
Mousehole - inside, drying or anchored behind the little island
St Michael's Mount - the rarely-visited harbour on the north side
Porth Mellin/Mullion Cove - in settled easterlies
Gillan Creek - in settled westerlies
Channels Creek - with Trelissick House behind for cream teas
Polperro - alongside West Pier
Cargreen - pub's moorings; wave hello to James Jermain
Barn Pool - buoy your anchor
Cawsand - secure in westerly gales
Yealm Pool - north of The Pool, on the trots
Salcombe - Smalls' Cove or just south or west of Salt Stone
Brixham - BYC visitors' pontoon
The Exe - inside the Bight
Some of these will be accessible and give memorable stays.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'd add the following suggestions, if wind and tide serve......
Mousehole - inside, drying or anchored behind the little island
St Michael's Mount - the rarely-visited harbour on the north side
Porth Mellin/Mullion Cove - in settled easterlies
Gillan Creek - in settled westerlies
Channels Creek - with Trelissick House behind for cream teas
Polperro - alongside West Pier
Cargreen - pub's moorings; wave hello to James Jermain
Barn Pool - buoy your anchor
Cawsand - secure in westerly gales
Yealm Pool - north of The Pool, on the trots
Salcombe - Smalls' Cove or just south or west of Salt Stone
Brixham - BYC visitors' pontoon
The Exe - inside the Bight
Some of these will be accessible and give memorable stays.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
TigaWave
Well-Known Member
If the weathers right off charlestown, or check ahead and go into the dock.
If it gets blowey and there's swell on the way back you might want to go to Kingsand/Cawsand rather than the Yealm as an alternative.
And all the other suggestions....
If it gets blowey and there's swell on the way back you might want to go to Kingsand/Cawsand rather than the Yealm as an alternative.
And all the other suggestions....
tcm
...
in the whole of western europe, a mid-river anchorage in the River Dart is hard to beat, imho.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Dreadful place. Stay away. Lousy weather, miserable natives, lousy food & drink. We have to put up with it, you don't /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
oldharry
Well-Known Member
Sound like most of UK to me.....
bilbobaggins
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
Dreadful place. Stay away. Lousy weather, miserable natives, lousy food & drink.
[/ QUOTE ]
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Dreadful place. Stay away. Lousy weather, miserable natives, lousy food & drink.
[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
"Dreadful place. Stay away. Lousy weather, miserable natives, lousy food & drink. "
S'funny, that's always been my experience too.
'Cept quite liked Brixham, though. Does that make me some sort of pervert?
S'funny, that's always been my experience too.
'Cept quite liked Brixham, though. Does that make me some sort of pervert?
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Sailing's all very well and jolly but..
Have you thought about taking a Good Pub Guide with you as well ?
Have you thought about taking a Good Pub Guide with you as well ?
pessimist
Well-Known Member
Right! Thats the last time you get supper on board. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when SWMO sees this!
hlb
RIP
Well. I only go to Penzance if heading for Scilly Isles or round lands end. The only good point about it is cheap fuel at Newlyn next door.
Other than that. Falmouth and the Helford is about as far as it's worth going. Mind theres plenty of excelent places to visit, many of them already mentioned, so I'll just throw in Bure Island or Hope Cove for lunch breaks.
Other than that. Falmouth and the Helford is about as far as it's worth going. Mind theres plenty of excelent places to visit, many of them already mentioned, so I'll just throw in Bure Island or Hope Cove for lunch breaks.
peterb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
We are thinking of going straight to Penzance and then working our way back.
[/ QUOTE ]
Given a prevailing south-westerly, you might find it easier to break up the west-going trip into short hops then do the return leg in one go.
We are thinking of going straight to Penzance and then working our way back.
[/ QUOTE ]
Given a prevailing south-westerly, you might find it easier to break up the west-going trip into short hops then do the return leg in one go.
sally
Active Member
We are doing a similar trip in the summer also, so good tips. We are going to be staying in Cawsand/Kingsand on both legs to visit rellies who are on holiday there, haven't been there ourselves, is it mooring buoys or anchors, any good pubs for food?
jamesjermain
Well-Known Member
Beware Cawsand if the wind goes east of south. You anchor where ever you can find a free spot - it gets very crowded at weekends around mid day but thins in the evenings and mid-week.
If you are driven out by strong easterlies, move to Jennycliff Bay across the Sound or make for The Yealm
If you are driven out by strong easterlies, move to Jennycliff Bay across the Sound or make for The Yealm
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Never thought of you as the type to welcome an influx of grockles. I stand corrected.
pessimist
Well-Known Member
Tis not the grockle me 'andsome. Tis they vurriners from Kernow that worries I.
hlb
RIP
Theres at least three pubs, all do food. First one is right on the beach. Seemed quite good food last time I ate there a while ago. Anchor only. As said, no good in Easterlies. Yelm is a safer bet if unsure of wind.
jonathankent
Well-Known Member
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Yelm is a safer bet if unsure of wind.
[/ QUOTE ]
You would obviously have to check wind direction before entering the Yealm.... not reccomended from S SW from memory.... there is a bar not far from the entrance. If, however, you are confident it is very nice once in and around the corner, even with SW gale, and once in there is a floating pontoon to ease things along.... theres rather a nice pub too.
Yelm is a safer bet if unsure of wind.
[/ QUOTE ]
You would obviously have to check wind direction before entering the Yealm.... not reccomended from S SW from memory.... there is a bar not far from the entrance. If, however, you are confident it is very nice once in and around the corner, even with SW gale, and once in there is a floating pontoon to ease things along.... theres rather a nice pub too.
