As an island nation, England is home to many harbours and marinas. So what’s the difference? Simply put:
- A harbour is a sheltered place to safely moor boats.
- A marina provides direct walkways to pleasure boats.
- Docks are enclosed areas in ports, for berthing ships and loading/unloading goods.
Ships would often moor at piers, and artificial harbours were first built during the 1944 D-day operations. Read our post on how to be a sustainable sailor!
Mousehole: Cornwall’s Picturesque Gem
This is a tiny harbour on the west side of Penzance Bay, 7 miles from Land’s End. It’s so tiny it can only take tiny boats! It’s tricky to get in, due to weather and rocky islands.
It’s popular with wild swimmers who often brave the freezing cold waters, drying off on the small sandy beach, before using the stairs to head back to the village (full of ancient alleys and higgeldy-piggeldy houses of different shapes and sizes).
This is real ‘deep Cornwall’, where many people still use the (similar to Welsh) Cornish language (the last person to speak it as a first language was local resident Dolly Pentreath – she died in 1777).
The seas near Mousehole can be treacherous. In 1981, all 8 volunteer lifeboat men were killed along with the crew of the coaster vessel they were trying to save (which ran aground after seawater got into the fuel tank).
Today the village has a local train named after the boat’s crew. Within one day, local volunteers had formed a new lifeboat crew.
Lynmouth: Where Rivers Meet the Sea
This has a funicular powered railway (cliff-lift) nearby and is stunning beautiful. It also has a tragic history. In 1952, it suffered England’s worst flood, when 34 people died (and 100 buildings were destroyed).
So much rain fell in nearby Exmoor that the river could not cope and burst its banks. Today the flood overflow area is built to take more water, so hopefully this can never happen again.
This is a well-known seaside resort with a nice harbour. The coast faces the Channel Islands, with ferries running to the Channel islands (at time of writing).
The Deep-Sea Harbour of Southampton
The port city of Southampton has a strong sailing history, that stretches back over 1000 years. Ships would often dock it, due to the location being able to protect from the fierce waves of the English channel.
As trade routes grew, so did the city’s ship-building trade. Alas the harbour is now associated with tragedy, as it was the departing point of the doomed ship Titanic, in 1912.
Thousands of people gathered to say farewell to the largest and luxurious liner of its time, which ended in disaster when it struck an iceberg before it reached New York, on its maiden voyage.
Today Southampton is known as a real ‘sailing city’ with plenty of locals belonging to yacht clubs and owning boats. Although set in a fictional town, the sailing drama ‘Howard’s Way’ was mostly filmed around here, on the Solent.
Lymington: Sailing Hub of the Solent
This is an affluent town with a ferry to Isle of Wight. Boats shelter in two marinas in the Solent.
Holidaymakers can stroll the cobbled quay, and watch masts sway on the tide. Or inland, there is quick access to the New Forest.
Whitby: A Sad Heritage and Dramatic Coast
This is a unique harbour. You can walk 199 steps up the hill to visit the ruined abbey, while you wait to sail out again. With a strong Dracula connection, this town also has a sad history, as it used to be a whaling port, where sailors would even bring back polar bears, from hunting trips.
Whitby Abbey sits on the North Yorkshire coast, and is one of England’s most popular northern holiday destinations. With a sad history of whaling and links to Dracula, today it’s known for its sandy beaches on the Jurassic coast, and the 199 steps that lead up to St Mary’s Church and the abbey.
Perched on the East Cliff, the ruins of Whitby Abbey give unbeatable views over the town and coastline. Cross the swing bridge to the Old Town. Here, narrow cobbled lanes hide quirky shops, cosy pubs, antique sellers, and old bookshops.
Where is England’s Prettiest Harbour?
A recent vote plumped for Blakeney (Norfolk). Previously used to transport spices, the local saltmarshes are stunning, and the area is also popular with native grey seals.
Anchors and the Marine Environment
Anchors have long been a symbol of harbour life. But dragged alongside the seabed, they can damage delicate habitats like seagrass beds and oyster reefs.
Many harbours are now taking action, introducing mooring buoys that float above the seabed or designating anchoring zones to protect sensitive areas.
Advanced Mooring Systems makes boat anchor alternatives to protect seagrass beds and turtles. Anglers can invest in monomaster (a small device to store fishing line that unlike conventional bins, does not encourage birds to nest and also get tangled).
This helps to protect:
- Crabs and lobsters hiding under stones and pontoons.
- Seahorses drifting in sheltered seagrass meadows.
- Grey seals and rare terns at quieter estuaries like Blakeney.
- Flatfish, eels, and small sharks using harbours as nurseries.
Local volunteers and conservation groups clear plastics, restore saltmarsh and monitor wildlife. Their hands-on work keeps harbours healthy for people and nature.
Tips for Greener Boat Harbours
Boat harbours do more than just offer spots for boats to dock. They play a big role in local wildlife, water quality, and even help people enjoy cleaner coasts. The way we design, run, and care for these harbours leaves a mark on the places and creatures around them.
Habitat for Marine Life. Harbours can give fish, shellfish, and seabirds places to live and feed. Long piers, seawalls, and floating docks often become homes for barnacles, mussels, crabs, and young fish looking for shelter.
If the harbour uses natural building materials like stone or wood, it attracts even more wildlife. Some harbours plant eelgrass or restore oyster reefs to bring back lost habitats.
Pollution Control and Clean Water. Boat harbours face problems with oil spills, fuel leaks, and waste from boats. Smart harbours use special collection points for oil, old batteries, and trash. They have pump-out stations for boat toilets, which keeps sewage out of the water.
Regular cleaning and rules about fuelling reduce chemical spills. Cleaner water means better fishing, swimming, and less algae bloom that can choke life from the area.
Protecting Sensitive Shorelines. Natural shorelines help stop erosion and filter runoff from land. Harbours that build with native plants or use living shorelines protect against storms and keep sand in place.
Some harbours even remove hard concrete edges and replace them with gentle slopes or salt marshes. This gives birds and fish a safe place to nest and feed.
Invasive Species Management. Boats moving from place to place can spread non-native plants and animals, which often hurt local species. The best harbours have strict cleaning rules for boats and fishing gear. They post signs and provide wash stations.
Sustainable Harbour Design. Green harbours think about the long haul. They use solar lights, rain gardens, and permeable paving that lets rain soak into the ground. Some use recycled materials or reclaimed wood for docks and walkways.
They limit the amount of concrete and metal, which can heat up the water. Many plan for sea level rise and storms by building higher or adding buffer zones.
Noise and Light Reduction. Too much noise and bright lights from harbours can scare off fish, turtles, and nesting birds. Eco-friendly harbours use low-glare lights, set to cut off after certain hours.
They set quiet times and use sound barriers near wildlife areas. This helps creatures follow their natural patterns and keeps the area calm for people as well.
Education and Community Engagement. Great harbours teach visitors and locals how to keep the water clean and protect wildlife. They post simple signs about waste disposal, host clean-up events, and work with schools.
Climate Change Readiness. Rising sea levels and stronger storms threaten boat harbours and the life around them. Thoughtful harbours plan for higher tides, flood protection, and better drainage.
They restore wetlands around the harbour to soak up extra water. This planning keeps boats safe and helps protect nearby homes and habitats.
