Let’s Visit England’s Beautiful Boat Harbours
England is home to many harbours and marinas. So what’s the difference?
- A harbour is a sheltered place to safely moor boats.
- A marina provides direct walkways to pleasure boats.
- Docks are enclosed ports, for berthing ships and loading/unloading goods.
If you sail alongside canine sailors, read on how to keep dogs safe near water (note many harbours are not dog-friendly).
A few of England’s main boat harbours are:
Mousehole Harbour (near Penzance) is just 7 miles from Land’s End, and is so tiny, it can only take tiny boats! It’s also tricky to get into, due to weather and rocky islands. This little village is full of ancient alleys, and was home to Dolly Pentreath, the last native Cornish speaker who died in 1777.
These seas can be treacherous. In 1981, all eight volunteer lifeboat crew died (along with 8 others) while trying to save crew on a coaster vessel that had run aground, after seawater got into the fuel tank. Within a day, volunteers had formed a new crew, and a local train is named after the men who died.
Lynmouth (Devon) has a nice harbour (and funicular railway) that faces the Channel Islands. The overflow area has been rebuilt to take more water, following a severe flood in 1952 when 34 people died (and 100 buildings were destroyed) when so much rain fell in Exmoor, that the river burst its banks.
Southampton is a port city with a strong sailing history, and ship-building trade. Alas it was where the doomed Titanic set off in 1912, when it hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage to New York. Today many yachts sail on the Solent.
Lymington (Hampshire) is an affluent town facing Yarmouth (Isle of Wight). It’s also on the Solent.
A recent vote plumped for Blakeney (Norfolk) as England’s prettiest harbour. Previously used to transport spices, the local saltmarshes are stunning, and the area is also popular with native grey seals.
Whitby has a sad history of whaling, with sailors even bringing back polar bears from hunting trips. For some reason, a whaling bone still dominates the harbour entrance? Walk the 199 steps to visit the famous ruined abbey.
