Your favourite UK sailing destination?

[Frogmogman]

Is Scotland still in the UK?

More than the Channel Islands are..... for now at least.

 

[DownWest]

UK places are a slightly distant memory for me, but, Falmouth figures big and the Blackwater and Crouch do too. Mainly because we spent the 'Weeks' racing there when I was young. Alderney also figures, but can't compare, as we didn't make to the other islands on that cruise. Weather played a part!! Two gales in the channel getting there.
I remember the discription from the other islands of Alderey. 'Bunch of drunkards, clinging to a rock'

 

[TernVI]

Fowey is a favourite, although it has been better in the past.
All the Solent places which are full of idiots at peak times are often pleasant off peak.
When I was Solant based, I felt it was good to have such choice in range of an afternoon's sail.

Dartmouth is a favourite place.
The Yealm, it's lovely but it's not what it was when that parrot ruled the bar in the Yealm Hotel is it? Yealm Hotel is flats now I think?

Weymouth. I can't justify it but somehow it always exceeds expectations. Two good clubs and being a 'good day's sail' from the Solent might have something to do with it.

Lyme Regis is a favourite place, often go there by car or motorbike, going by boat is 'variable' in my experience.

Favourite kind of implies going often. 'Best' might highlight some nights spent anchored off 'one pub' places along the coast?

 

[oilybilge]

The River Ore is a craphole. Especially Butley Creek. Total waste of time. Not worth visiting. Worst ... place ... ever.

 

[capnsensible]

Fowey is a favourite, although it has been better in the past.
All the Solent places which are full of idiots at peak times are often pleasant off peak.
When I was Solant based, I felt it was good to have such choice in range of an afternoon's sail.

Dartmouth is a favourite place.
The Yealm, it's lovely but it's not what it was when that parrot ruled the bar in the Yealm Hotel is it? Yealm Hotel is flats now I think?

Weymouth. I can't justify it but somehow it always exceeds expectations. Two good clubs and being a 'good day's sail' from the Solent might have something to do with it.

Lyme Regis is a favourite place, often go there by car or motorbike, going by boat is 'variable' in my experience.

Favourite kind of implies going often. 'Best' might highlight some nights spent anchored off 'one pub' places along the coast?

It's whatever you want it to be personally. Up to you. You don't have to justify it or sell it!

Thanks all for the contributions. ?

 

[GHA]

How about you?

Impossible question,, different every time. Last weeks perfect anchorage isn't the same next week.. Though generalizing ... east coast left many fond memories.. get west across lyme bay everyone seems a bit more chilled out and happy in their own skins ? Get south of biscay and it's all just better ...?

 

[Frogmogman]

The Yealm, it's lovely but it's not what it was when that parrot ruled the bar in the Yealm Hotel is it? Yealm Hotel is flats now I think?

Was it a parrot ? I seem to remember it being a cockatoo. I certainly remember it making quite aggressive overtures to my Uncle's peanuts when we were at the bar.

There was such a brilliant whiff of Fawlty Towers about the Yealm hotel.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Grimsby, next to the fish docks.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Fowey is a favourite, although it has been better in the past.
All the Solent places which are full of idiots at peak times are often pleasant off peak.
When I was Solant based, I felt it was good to have such choice in range of an afternoon's sail.

Dartmouth is a favourite place.
The Yealm, it's lovely but it's not what it was when that parrot ruled the bar in the Yealm Hotel is it? Yealm Hotel is flats now I think?

Weymouth. I can't justify it but somehow it always exceeds expectations. Two good clubs and being a 'good day's sail' from the Solent might have something to do with it.

Lyme Regis is a favourite place, often go there by car or motorbike, going by boat is 'variable' in my experience.

Favourite kind of implies going often. 'Best' might highlight some nights spent anchored off 'one pub' places along the coast?

The Yealm has retained its former character with some interesting additions. Pics taken last month. Yes, it is now apartments having been empty for years.

 

[Mudisox]

Shell beach Herm.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

This might sound strange but I'd rather go somewhere I haven't been before, even if I don't find it to my liking, than revisit somewhere I have been. I find that visiting a place too frequently can make me become blasé about it, which is bad. Also the journey to get there hugely influences how I feel about the place. If I got every ready the night before, everyone I'm sailing with is in a good mood and good company, the weather is good, a few random nice things happen on the way (even if it's on the way to the boat) then somehow the place we get to is much nicer than it would have been if it was a miserable trip, etc.

 

[westhinder]

But there is so much to do. The paulusfesten is one attraction lasting a week,which I try to go to. The beach is excellent. Harbour walk is fun in the sun. The sands sculptures. TheAtlantikwall Raversyde is well worth an afternoon. the coastal trail to Blankenburg ( I go by bike), cycle round the parks, the town itself. Tour the Mercator,The RNSYC for a chat to the members every lunch time over a beer. Watching the activities in the marina. My wife did the committee boat work for the Belgian national Dragon champs one year. Then there was the Belgian barBQ championships. Really big music events, Beer festival, shopping experience, Crystal Maze walk. markets in the town & sea front. Sit & have a coffe in the square watching the street artists or the brass band playing in the bandstand. Great place for the bikes. Train to Brugge for a day. Tram to Nieuport. Like you said one can find endless places to dine with an endless range of foods & prices. My young grandson enjoys it so it can be considered good for kids . I normally spend most of the time on my own, with my family visiting for a couple of weeks or more . My son sometimes rents a flat so we can all be there as a group. Casual visitors do not actually explore the place & things to do properly

Just a suggestion : instead of getting off the train in Brugge, continue to Gent. So much nicer, I am certain Koeketiene will agree. ?

 

[westhinder]

Is Scotland still in the UK?

Last time I looked, it was.
If it were to return to the EU that would solve that nonsense of being allowed in for 90 days out of 180 and it might even help my supply of malt whisky.

 

[capnsensible]

Impossible question,, different every time. Last weeks perfect anchorage isn't the same next week.. Though generalizing ... east coast left many fond memories.. get west across lyme bay everyone seems a bit more chilled out and happy in their own skins ? Get south of biscay and it's all just better ...?

Not much uk south of biscay though. Except Gib........or Mebbe Ascension Island. Or the Falklands. ?

 

[johnalison]

This might sound strange but I'd rather go somewhere I haven't been before, even if I don't find it to my liking, than revisit somewhere I have been. I find that visiting a place too frequently can make me become blasé about it, which is bad. Also the journey to get there hugely influences how I feel about the place. If I got every ready the night before, everyone I'm sailing with is in a good mood and good company, the weather is good, a few random nice things happen on the way (even if it's on the way to the boat) then somehow the place we get to is much nicer than it would have been if it was a miserable trip, etc.

I am half in agreement with you. There is a pleasure in coming across ‘undiscovered’ places, especially if the approach has been interesting and there is a sense of achievement involved. On the other hand, revisiting a place for the first time has an interesting effect on me in that I feel that the place has become ‘mine’ rather than somewhere that I once called in on, and subsequent visits reinforce this sense of possession.

 

[GHA]

Not much uk south of biscay though. . ?

Exactly, loads better

 

[doris]

Falmouth Town quay, pop into the High St for some fresh crab, baker next door for a fresh loaf, Tescos for the cucumber then grab the sancerre from the fridge, sandwich made in heaven.
Alderney, just be sure no easterlies due.
Treguiere, preferable arriving at the river mouth at dawn for a perfect run up the river on the last of incoming tide, magical.

 

[ip485]

Round the back of Sark by the steps.

Salcombe opposite the Ferry Inn

Newtown Creek

Scilly Isles (pretty much anywhere)

If just the solent (and hard to better)

Newtown Creek (again!)
Yarmouth
Up the Beaulieu
Bembridge Harbour
Freshwater Bay (in the right weather)
East Head

 

[Skylark]

No one has yet mentioned Caladh Harbour, Bute. Lovely anchorage.

 

[eddystone]

Just wanted to say Dartmouth, Salcombe, R Yealm, Fowey, Polperro, Falmouth and Helford River are all awful and in fact the whole coastline from Berry Head westwards is dismal and not worth visiting.