Poole Harbour question

[bestman]

Had a great day out with the family yesterday.

Launched at Rockley Boat Park, up the River Frome to Wareham for lunch, and then a bit of nosing around at Sandbanks.

Question is where can you go ashore for a bit of sand and a paddle?

Is it that most places are off limits and people respect the rules. Or is just too shallow around the Arne peninsular etc?

[allroad4]

In the main, it is too shallow around Arne plus there can be the mud to factor in. You can get close enough to Hamworthy beach down from Rockley to anchor up and go ashore though it is more pebbly than sandy. Best option is to get out of the harbour and head west towards Studland but watch out for the training bank (clearly marked on charts to the south west of the boat channel and Swash Channel. It takes no prisoners!

[paulbrown22]

What boat have you got?


There are some private islands and stretches of harbour front, but overall few places are "off limits". As above though, you do need to be conscious of depths and state of tide - Poole Harbour is very shallow in many places!


We often anchor, swim or beach the boats just off Brownsea Island at the western end (Pottery Pier) or the southern side just south east of the scout camp, both very sandy. A nice spot between Long Island and the Arne RSPB reserve, although not on LW springs. Years ago we used to anchor the old RIB just off Arne inland of the waterski zone. A nice anchorage around Goathorn Point. On a calm day you'll see boats pull in to the bays on Sandbanks just outside the harbour to the east. Or just to the west on the first stretch of beach between the chain ferry and training bank. Or, as above, go slightly further out, round the training bank and into Studland Bay itself, nice spots at South Beach and Middle Beach. Or further round Old Harry to Swanage Bay.

[bestman]

Thanks for all the advice.

RIB is a 4.8m Ribcraft.

[paulbrown22]

The perfect size for exploring Poole Harbour and nearby! Grab a chart and explore, loads of places to visit where you can either beach it, or anchor just off if you prefer. Take some oars/paddles, and then you have both an emergency depth sounder, and a means of propulsion if it does get a bit shallow. We have a 15' aluminium run around that we explore all over the harbour with, just be aware of the depth and your prop, but the bottom is mainly sand/mud should you touch it.

[cgf10]

My favorite place inside the Harbour is between Shell Bay restaurant and the house boats. The restaurant also has a buffet/take away bar with a smaller hot menu so if you haven’t booked this would be a lunch option on a whim when the weather looks ok. There’s no mud here, only sand and it’s a very nice beach. Otherwise as others have said I would go round the training bank and in to Studland beach. The other destination is Swanage beach which is just around the corner from Old Harry. There’s a water taxi by the pier there and moorings to rent.