Wanting info on good launch/camping locations

[ChrisB123]

Hi Ribbers,

I'm looking to travel to some good cruising locations. Especially those that have or are part of a good camp site. Any suggestions?

Chris B

[bedajim]

Hi

try

www.boatlaunch.co.uk for slips etc

Would be a great idea to get a thread up with a list to include the following from people who actually use the slips regularly, or has it been done?

camping
slips
boat storage
car/trailer parking
availability of fuel/price
state of tide for launching


James

[Alan]

Originally Posted by ChrisB123

Hi Ribbers,

I'm looking to travel to some good cruising locations. Especially those that have or are part of a good camp site. Any suggestions?

Chris B

I think you need to narrow things down a bit. How far are you willing to travel?

'Fr example....

Devon - Dartmouth/Salcombe/Plymouth area all good.
Cornwall - Falmouth Harbour area great. Lots of sheltered water & longer day trip opportunities (e.g. Scillies if you are adventurous) plus camping to be had in many places.
Suffolk - Orwell / Walton Backwaters
Essex - Blackwater / Colne
West Coast Scotland - Largs, Oban etc etc.

With a RIB and a trailer together with a spirit of adventure the world is your oyster!

[ChrisB123]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I am looking to travel anywhere, especially if its good and meets all the necessaries.

Ideally i'm looking for locations that i can camp and launch from, one that does not need 4x4 or if it does there is help available (locals or other ribbers).

There will be four of us (two adults + 2 kids) so launching from the site were your staying would be a benefit, especially if one or two want to stay behind.

Chris

[Bern Hanreck]

Chris , by so tightly defining your pre-requisites , you might be limiting the opportunities . eg What about using a Marina for a week and save the aggro of launch & recovery every day . You just need a friendly local with a 4X4 to start and end the week . Let me suggest Dunstaffinage Marina ( Oban ) with restaurant & hotel for some wonderful West Coast of Scotand Cruising . Also Neyland Marina in Pembrokeshire ( W.Wales ) for Welsh Coast , Skomer , Stokholm , Ramsey etc . Look at the Camping & Caravanning and the Caravan Club ( yes , some sites do take tents ) websites for starters . Then try the local tourist websites . Get some specific ideas then ask again on here for further details .

Both lovely locations , fuelling is possible ( not necessarily easy ) . Both need decent weather windows and appropriate care with passage planning . Good Luck . Bern

[Rich L]

Since Alan mentions it, you can certainly camp at St Lawrence, near Bradwell (River Blackwater, Essex) in a 'family' style camp/caravan site with pool, bar, shop, 'entertainment'. They even advertise a slipway (not useable most of the day) but you're very close to excellent launching anyway. Leave your boat on a tempory mooring and it's not much more (may even be less) than launching. Quite good - but full of 'stereotypical' Essex people...! (apologies to those from Essex...)

Personally, IMHO Essex has a LONG way to go to match south/west coasts.

Edit: Oh sorry Bern, forgot that you're an Essex local!

[Sav]

I'm with Chris on this one. Not the best replies so far, unless one wants to go to Essex I am surprised there is so little info / intererest in Camping /boating combo. I also am 2 Adult / 2 Kids family who fancies the boating / camping holiday and have been seaching boatlaunch with limited success.

More detailed helpful replies appeciated from those in the know (if anyone is in the know).

i.e looking for Good cruising area with decent campsite with Marina / Slipway.

Specific areas please, NOT "yeah, in the South coast me old governor"

DO THEY EXIST????????????????

Sav

p.s. I've been on the pop a bit today

p.p.s it's my birthday

p.p.p.p.s it really it is my Birthday, but I still agree with old Chris dude and the Camp / boating thinghy.

p.p.pp.p.p.pp.ps I haven't actually bought my RIB yet (windsurfer till now), but off to boat show to buy one, getting ready for fun time.

p.p.p.p.p.p.p.p.p.p.p.p.s Anyone know a good name for a RIB, still haven't thought of one yet.

p. (infinity) s. Nothing against Essex dudes

[Rich L]

IMHO one of the best, and the area I go to frequently, is the Lleyn peninsula in N Wales, particularly around Abersoch / Pwllheli. There are loads of capsites with excellent facilities. This place should be top of your list.

In the summer you can moor your boat and use the yacht club launch service or launch at Pwllheli where there is an excellent slip (or in fact on the beach in Abersoch where it is invariably calm). There is an overnight park & slip access you can use in Pwllheli Marina £5/night last time I enquired. Excellent.

The scenary is stunning, there's lots to see and Abersoch in particular is a very trendy spot (but not at all commercialised) where Kids love the sandy beach, teenagers and Mums the shops.

Ask me if you want more details of campsites / overnight boat storage.

Phil Davies will tell you that Abersoch is far toooo busy, and that Anglesey offers the same advantages - without the crowds. But then he was a Hermit in a former life.

[Phil Davies]

Originally Posted by Rich L

Phil Davies will tell you that Abersoch is far toooo busy, and that Anglesey offers the same advantages - without the crowds. But then he was a Hermit in a former life.

Phil Davies will also tell you that Abersoch, nay the entire Lleyn Peninsular, is inhabited by stereotypical nouveau riche northerners, although interestingly RichL is a poor southerner And don't forget that Rich lives in London so anywhere slightly less crowded than a Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca appears sparsely populated Anyway, he's right, you'd hate Anglesey, best stay away.

[Milan]

Originally Posted by ChrisB123

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I am looking to travel anywhere, especially if its good and meets all the necessaries.

Ideally i'm looking for locations that i can camp and launch from, one that does not need 4x4 or if it does there is help available (locals or other ribbers).

There will be four of us (two adults + 2 kids) so launching from the site were your staying would be a benefit, especially if one or two want to stay behind.

Chris

Hi Chris I know its a bit far to travel but if you make the effort to go to Oban on Scotland’s West coast you will not be disappointed there is a camp site about one mile from Puffin Divers were you can launch your boat and they over an assisted launch very very helpful people you can also get fuel from there and a great bacon sandwich but the pest thing about Oban is there is always somewhere to go crusing no matter what the winds doing because of the geography of the islands you can always find a sheltered run and the sheer beauty of the landscape is stunning not to mention Oban town lots of restaurants, shops, bars, and a distillery I never get tired of going there and it takes me about seven or eight hours towing well worth it

PS. ther are lots of other campsites there apart from the one thats close to Puffin.