South

Top 25 Anchorages > South

The south coast of England is the busiest cruising ground in the British Isles, and with good reason.

There are countless nooks and crannies to explore, many of which provide shelter from the prevailing southwesterly winds.

Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

River Fal, Cornwall Top 25 Anchorages > South > River Fal

Falmouth is the third largest natural harbour in the world and offers an excellent choice of places to drop the hook. If you want to anchor overnight on the River Fal , a good holding, plus shelter from strong winds are a must and here there are anchorages for every occasion.

Watch out for Beware of strong tides and rips at the north end of Carrick Road.

Great for Peace and quiet.

Local tip Tie up at one of the visitor buoys for a drink and a meal at the historical Smugglers' Cottage, parts of which date back to the 15th century.

Stuart Crump, MBM cruising contributor

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Cadgwith Cove, Cornwall Top 25 Anchorages > South > Cadgwith Cove

Cadgwith Cove is an idyllic little inlet next to a pretty fishing village, which was the setting for the 2004 film Ladies in Lavender starring Dames Judy Dench and Maggie Smith . Cadgwith is picture-postcard perfect with white-washed, thatched cottages that overlook the sea.

This region also has a murky past - the countless inlets along the coastline proved to be handy hideaways for smugglers in the past and the scene of many a shipwreck.

Watch out for The Todden can be a risky outcrop so beware of its extension

Great for Stepping back in time

Local tip The Devil's Frying Pan - a 200ft-deep hole in the cliffs formed many years ago when a cave collapsed - is a short walk from the village and is a sight to behold.

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Dandy Hole, River Lynher, Cornwall Top 25 Anchorages > South > Dandy Hole

The River Lynher (also known as St Germans River) is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area . It is beautiful and often deserted, allowing its many species of wildlife to thrive, including the kingfisher, otter, dipper, avocet and black-tailed godwit.

At 34km-long it peaks at a height of 280m on Bodmin Moor and flows into the Tamar Estuary at Plymouth, but as much of the river dries out completely, finding a great anchorage can be like finding a needle in a haystack. With this in mind the deep anchorage at Dandy Hole is one worth remembering. Watch out for Keep clear of the bend at the western end of the reach, as this is often used by salmon fishermen with nets

Great for Wildlife lovers

Local tip Larger boats cruising on the nearby River Tamar will need to trace the deeper water on the outside of the bends

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Salcombe, Devon Top 25 Anchorages > South > Salcombe

Salcombe provides a good variety of anchorages.

Choose a spot off Small's Cove , or for something quieter and away from it all - or if the swell becomes uncomfortable - make upstream to Halwell Point for a quieter all-weather anchorage.

There are lovely beaches on the East Portlemouth side above and below Mill Bay and quieter anchorages upstream towards Kingsbridge , although anchoring is prohibited just off Mill Bay because of cables.

Watch out for Salcombe Bar must be avoided in strong onshore winds, especially when the tide is ebbing

Great for Sampling the local delicacies

Local tip The Millbrook Inn in South Pool does the best crab sandwiches ever, but it's a bit of a hike on foot. There are a number of pubs in Salcombe , including the Ferry Inn where you can sit outside if it's sunny. Everywhere gets busy with holidaymakers in the height of the season, so if crowds are not your thing anchor well up past The Bag towards Halwell Point

Stuart Carruthers, RYA cruising manager

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Teignmouth Estuary, Devon Top 25 Anchorages > South > Teignmouth Estuary

Motorboaters braving the bar at the entrance to the Teignmouth Estuary will be handsomely rewarded with some lovely anchorage spots that they can revel in, as Shaldon Bridge prevents most yachts from accessing the upper reaches of the estuary.

Teignmouth is an historical harbour , which has been a trading port for over three centuries, and which was a major centre for crews and ships for the Newfoundland fisheries. It's still a busy commercial port so give way to ships at all times. Watch out for Underwater obstructions such as oyster racks that usually lie outside the channel, these are marked by black diamond marks on red buoys.

Great for Escaping yachties

Local tip Coombe Cellars and the Passage House Inn are both good pubs that are accessible by boat

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Studland Bay, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset Top 25 Anchorages > South > Studland Bay

Studland Bay is a popular place, with three miles of sandy beach and it is a haven for rare birds. But these attractive features come at a price and on a sunny day up to 300 boats can be seen mooring in the bay so it's not for those that are looking for a little privacy.

Unfortunately local authorities are threatening to introduce a no-anchoring zone in the bay due to damage done to the local seahorse population, so get there while you can.

Watch out for Unmarked Redend Rocks ESE of Redend Point and rogue swimmers

Great for Beach lovers

Local tip From the beach you can walk to Knoll House Hotel for a slap-up meal or for something more modest, the Bankes Arms Hotel is good

'Summer Loving' appeared in our August 2009 issue. Buy the full article here .

Shipstal Point, Upper Wych Channel, Poole Top 25 Anchorages > South > Shipstal Point

Nestled within the upper reaches of Poole Harbour , Shipstal Point boasts good holding and shelter in almost all wind directions.

In an unspoiled part of one of the busiest harbours on the south coast, the Upper Wych Channel is off the beaten track and pretty shallow, so deep keel boats should ensure there is a sufficient rise of tide.

Nature lovers should note that landing on the sandy beach on the Point around high water gives access to a wonderful woodland walk on the Arne peninsular where there is an RSPB reserve.