| Further afield on both sides of the Channel
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The UK South coast
The UK South coast abounds with picturesque safe harbours. West of Dartmouth you can visit the Yealm River, Fowey, Falmouth and the Helford River. From the Helford River you can round the Lizard and continue West to the spectacular Scilly Isles. To the East is Lyme Bay – a 40 mile crossing. At the far end you round Portland Bill, either well South of the Portland Race or, if you can time it correctly, take the inner passage close to slack water into Weymouth. Beyond Weymouth, on the way to the Solent, you pass tiny Lulworth Cove and the large Poole Harbour. There is much to enjoy on our side of the Channel, however . . . |
Across the Channel
Alderney is the nearest land on the other side of the Channel, just 69 miles away – a pleasant quiet island which can be explored on rented bicycles. Guernsey is not much further away with busy St Peter Port; Sark is smaller and quieter even than Alderney – and again you can rent bicycles to explore the island. Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands lies further south.The nearest French harbour is at Tréguier, an attractive Breton village. Indeed, all along the North Brittany coast |
 Safe behind the Braye breakwater, Alderney |
| there are beautiful harbours such as Lézardrieux, Perros-Guirec, Ploumanac’h or L’Aberwrac’h; fascinating | |||
 Sheltered Port de plaisance in Tréguier |
islands such as Ile de Brehat, Ile de Batz; and interesting larger ports at St Malo, Roscoff or Morlaix. The tides flow strongly and have an enormous range (up to 12 metres in St Malo) so you need to be constantly aware of the tidal situation and time your passages accordingly. It can be argued that this just adds to the interest of this wonderful cruising area! Certainly the difference in the views of harbour entrances at high and low water is dramatic – and then all manner of edible and liquid delights await you when you reach the shore.
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