There were 120 harbours and anchorages visited during Kippa's circumnavigation of Britain.

Sailing around Britain

Are you planning to sail around Britain? Whether your home port is in Scotland, Wales or England, I would be happy to let you know what the coast is like beyond your usual sailing waters.

I would always be interested to hear from other people who have sailed round Britain and link up with you.

I am very happy to assist sailors from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Ireland (especially Ireland - the Irish were so kind to me) who may be planning a circumnavigation and would appreciate some help.

Here is where I visited. Tell me about your adventures.

Starcross (River Exe) - beautiful Teignmouth Teignmouth harbour 

charming Brixham

disappointing Dartmouth

fine Dittesham

Salcombe - a mixed bag

Kingsbridge - fun

Newton Ferrers on the River Yealm is lovely River Yealm

Saltash has a pontoon to be avoided.  The wind howls under the bridge. 

The River Tamar can be explored many a mile. 

interesting Plymouth but soulless marinas

Dandy Hole (St Germans) - stunning River Lynher - Dandy Hole

Torpoint - avoid

Cremyll - great little anchorage.

Fowey - touristy but very nice

secret River Lerryn - for shoal draft bilge keelers.

Falmouth - lots to do and see.  Visit the maritime museum.

Mylor - nice church

Pandora Inn - super food.  Be aware that the pontoon dries out.

Truro - a revelation.  Moor by the harbour master and explore the town.

lovely Malpas with walks ashore.

Penryn is workmanlike

artistic Penzance - shopping becomes more interesting up the hill.

St Ives - overrun - but visit Barbara Hepworth's place. St Ives

Padstow - rather spoilt

Clovelly - a time machine and wonderful if you miss the crowds 

Bideford - grows on you

Croyde Bay - happy memories  and great beaches 

Swansea - no thanks

Port Eynon Bay - pleasant

Tenby - a gem.  Great beaches and interesting town Tenby harbour

Milford Haven - convenient shopping by the marina

Cleddau Estuary (Llanion) - go up river if you can.

Solva - charming but watch the rocks as you enter

Cardigan - a bygone age.  Quick shop at high tide.

New Quay - very friendly harbour

magical Aberdovey.  Walk down to the Penhelig Arms for fine dining. 

Pwllheli - a missed opportunity?

Menai Strait (Port Dinorwic)- the Swellies are challenging bit fun  

Port St Mary (Isle of Man)- supportive people.  Lots to do.

Strangford Lough (Northern Ireland) - fantastic

Portaferry - run down but there is a useful laundry. 

Quoile - a hidden corner with a friendly club.

idyllic Ringhaddy 

Strangford - uplifting

Donaghadee - tough but kind

Portpatrick - so Scottish.  Great putting green. 

Girvan - great people, lots of stories of smuggling.

Troon - not so great people

Millport (Cumbrae)- pretty

Rothesay (Bute)- impressive

West Kyle - serene

Portavadie (Loch Fyne) - useful

Ardrishaig basin Crinan Canal

quirky Lochgilphead

Crinan - finest spot on the west coast? 

Ardinamir Bay by the islands of Torsa and Luing - read all the pilot books

Puilladobhran - hard to leave

Kerrera, Oban - good location

Loch Aline - sheltered

Sanna Bay - very challenging entrance 

Arisaig - treasure island

The Small Isles of Eigg and Muck - you might not get away

Oronsay in Loch Sunart - go camping

The Sound of Mull - clan country

Loch Creran - rare coral

Ballachulish (Glencoe)- not quite

Loch Linnhe - ordinary

Onich is passable 

Corpach (Fort William) - well connected

Laggan (Caledonian Canal) 

Fort Augustus - coach parties

Inverness - explore the bookshop/cafe culture

discover Cromarty.  Ask about A. N. Hardie, the artist.

Findhorn paradise

Lossiemouth - steady

Portknockie - salt of the earth

Whitehills - friendliest marina

MacDuff - industrial

Gardenstown - red rocks.  Walk along to Crovie 

Rosehearty - mackeral for supper 

efficient Peterhead

Stonehaven - walk the cliff to the castle

Johnshaven - take the bus to Montrose.  Or better still, sail into Montrose and investigate William Adam, the sculptor 

Arbroath - not where the smokies originated but worth a stop

Anstruther - watch out for fun fair.  Walk along the coast path.

Elie - dinghy port

Edinburgh (Granton) - nice club, horrid spot

Inchcolm - missable - but fine views of the Forth Rail bridge 

Isle of May - leave the birds in peace

Dunbar via Bass Rock - exciting

Eyemouth - well organised showers

Lindisfarne - lives up to billing.  Oyster catchers. 

Amble - genuine people

Blyth - super yachtclub

Sunderland - desolate but safe

Hartlepool - massive marina

weird Whitby 

Scarborough - useful stop but avoid the seafront

Grimsby - only if you have to 

Spurn Head - amazing

I left my heart in Wells Next The Sea

Great Yarmouth - crazy tides

Lowestoft - easy stop

Aldeburgh - beauty spoilt by attitude of some people

Snape - beauty enhanced by local people

Orford - Miss Marple country

Butley River - easily missed - quiet anchorage

Shotley - jump off point

Mistley - seek out architecture

Ramsgate - mishmash

Dover - historic

Rye - a nightmare and a dream

Eastbourne - excellent facilities

Brighton - lots of food choice.  Marina is rather appealing in a way. 

Littlehampton - little space

Gosport - slip over the ferry to Portsmouth

Poole - expensive ashore

Weymouth - reasonable

Bridport - dire swell

Exemouth - not welcome

Topsham - home again

For more photos, read Skippering Kippa or contact the author, Rupert Hugh Emerson.  rupertemerson @ hotmail.com