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06/04/2021
Cruising | Aboard
Cruising areas to explore around the UK
With miles of coastline ranging from sandy estuaries to deep and rugged lochs, the UK has some of the best coastal scenery in the world – and this summer is the ideal time to explore it.
Here is our pick of cruising areas around the UK coastline.
Hampshire and Dorset
Between the Solent and Weymouth lies a brilliant mini cruising ground. It is near perfect for an easy week or two of day sails and lunchtime stops. From the sheltered estuaries of the Beaulieu River and, opposite, Newtown Creek on the Isle of Wight, to the picturesque town of Yarmouth, there are plenty of places to explore while waiting to take the wind and tide east to Poole.
Poole Harbour has a surprise. If you haven’t anchored at the back of Brownsea Island or gone up the River Frome on the tide to Wareham, put these on your list: with the backdrop of the Purbeck hills and only creeks and fields to be seen, you are as far from the crowds as you could be.
Go west again and the fishing port and restaurants of Weymouth make a great stop with its lively town centre alongside a traditional seaside vibe. Wait for a following wind to return or an offshore breeze to call in at Lulworth Cove and check out the sea stacks and cliff caves along the steep coast.
The West Country
The coast of Devon and Cornwall between Brixham and Falmouth has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Then west of Lyme Bay, passages can be broken down into roughly 20-mile day hops.
Don’t miss Dartmouth and the River Dart, and take the tide as far as you can towards Totnes. Overhung by old oaks and opening out into wide and shallow reaches flanked by villages, the Dart has enough charm for a long weekend before you leave to sail round Start Point to the River Yealm or to Plymouth.
From here, follow the River Tamar up to Cargreen or into the tidal St German’s River. Either is an expedition in itself, with lots of twisting turns taking you into the deepest countryside.
Fowey comes next as you work west, then to Falmouth and the beautiful, tranquil, totally sheltered upper reaches of the deep River Fal.
The Channel Islands
The islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and Jethou each have their own distinct attraction and offer a great week of exploring on water and ashore with the added challenge of virtually completing an entire Channel crossing.
Setting the mood, St Peter Port’s white colonial villas mingle with Normandy style houses. There are superb beaches and anchorages, and the challenge of some big tides.
West Wales
On its long and rugged coastline, one of the best pocket cruising grounds in Wales is Milford Haven. A naturally formed ria carved into the heart of Pembrokeshire it leads from a busy harbour bustling with ferries, ships and tankers to the beautiful and quiet Daugleddau estuary.
There is plenty here to explore. Past Neyland you can probe as far as Lawrenny and Black Tar. For a real Swallows and Amazons adventure take a dinghy all the way to Haverfordwest or Picton Castle. Outside the harbour, don’t miss the islands of Skomer and Skokholm, world famous for their colonies of puffins and Manx Shearwaters.
Scotland
How long have you got? You could cruise the west coast of mainland Scotland and the Inner and Outer Hebrides for years and never see it all. Be prepared with good anchors and ground tackle to be independent off shore and you’ll get the best of some of the UK’s most stunning and remote anchorages.
Highlights…you are spoilt for choice. Visit Iona. Eat local mussels on Mull. Visit the best distilleries of Islay. Have a night on the town in Tobermory. Sail close the Small Isles of Canna, Rum, Eigg and Muck to see the exceptional sea bird colonies. Anchor at Sanna Bay, with its white beach and sea so turquoise you would swear you were in the Caribbean.
