Falmouth and The Lizard

Introduction

Times of high water

Gorran Haven: High water is 6 hours before high water at Dover

Falmouth: High water is 6 hours after high water at Dover

Helford River: High water is 6 hours and 13 minutes before high water at Dover

Coverack: High water is 6 hours and 7 minutes after high water at Dover

Mullion Cove: High water is 5 hours and 52 minutes after high water at Dover

Tidal streams

Mevagissey Bay and St. Austell Bay: Tides irregular and weak

Black Head: The north-east going stream begins at 6 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south-west going stream begins at 3 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The flow reaches a speed of 0.2 knots at springs.. Flow is slight, especially from high water Plymouth until the flow turns south west.

Dodman Point: Inshore streams: The north-east going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. Heavy tide races can extend a mile offshore.

Eddy to the east of Dodman point: An eddy here flows south-west starting 1 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport).. The eddy flows around Vault Beach and reduces the flow at Caddyhew Rock, as the streams divide here. By 1 hour after high water at Plymouth, the flow is westerly from Chapel Point to Dodman Point.

Eddy to west of Dodman Point: An eddy here flows south-east starting 5 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport).

Veryan Bay: Flows are mostly weak in the bay, although some flow may be experienced near Dodman Point,

Around Gull rock and Nare Head.: The north-east going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). Flows are probably less than 0.5 knots. Tide races form here.

East of Zone Point: The north-east going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south-west going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport). . A tide race forms at Zone Point.

Entrance to Carrick Roads: Between Pendennis Point and Zone Point: The north north-east going stream begins at 6 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south south-west going stream begins at at high water at Plymouth (devonport). The north north-east going stream reaches a speed of 0.9 knots at springs. The south south-west going stream reaches a speed of 0.8 knots at springs.. The ebb flow can be greater than this - reportedly 1.5 knots, or 2 knots after heavy rain. Conditions can be rough when the wind opposes the ebb tide.

In Carrick Roads: The north north-east going stream begins at 5 hours and 45 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south south-west going stream begins at at high water at Plymouth (devonport). The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs. In narrows, streams attain a rate of 1.5 knots, up to 2 knots when the ebb is supplemented by river flow.

Helford River Mouth: The east going stream begins at 30 minutes before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The west going stream begins at 6 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport). Flows can reach 2 knots in the river.

North of Manacle Point: Between Manacle Point and the Helford River Entrance: The south south-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The north north-west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport).

The Manacles: The north north-east going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south south-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The north north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs. The south south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.7 knots at springs.

Black Head: The east north-east going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The west south-west going stream begins at 30 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs.. A tide race forms here. An east-going eddy forms to the west of the head around an hour before the flow turns east.

Between Black Head and Lizard Point: The flow comes close inshore around the bay.The north north-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The south south-west going stream begins at 1 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). . The flow near Black Head turns east earlier due to the eddy formed behind the headland.

Inshore Lizard Point: The east going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Plymouth (devonport). The west going stream begins at 1 hours and 55 minutes after high water at Plymouth (devonport). The east going stream reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. The west going stream reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs.

Eddy west of Lizard Point: An eddy here flows south-east starting 5 hours after high water at Plymouth (devonport).. The eddy begins close to the point, but extends to Predannack Head by 6 hours after high water Plymouth and encompasses much of the western side of the peninsula by 6 hours before high water Plymouth.

Notes

Access/Egress

Charlestown: (SX 039 515) g Slipway on west side of harbour mouth and small beach at road end. Large car park 50 m to the north. Arrive early as paid car park fills by mid-morning in the tourist season. The small launch/landing beach can also get crowded at high tide during peak season.

Portmellon: (SX 016 440) g Slipway onto the beach, near the car park of the Rising Sun Inn, where you may be able to pay to use the car park for the day. Caution needed 2 hours either side of high water as it is difficult to land/launch in surf which can push you broadside into the sea wall.

Gorran Haven: (SX 013 416) g Narrow roads lead to a slipway onto the beach with very limited space. Large car park 200 m west of the beach.

St Mawes: (SW 844 329) g A ramp from the road allows access from the beach. Alternatively, it may be possible to launch from the slip near the quay in the busy town centre,

Truro Boscawen Park: (SW 833 436) g Free parking by slipway. Usable for an hour either side of high water.

Falmouth watersports centre: (SW 813 325) g Slipway just north west of the National Maritime Museum with a nearby car park.

Falmouth Swanpool Beach: (SW 803 312) g Easy launch with nearby parking.

Maenporth: (SW 791 297) g Beachfront car park.

Helford Passage: (SW 762 269) g Easy enough access to the beach, but the only car parking is a fair distance uphill.

Gweek: (SW 707 267) g Access is possible here two hours either side of high water at spring tides (dries to at least 4.3 m). MHWS here is 5.3 m (MLWS 0.6m) and there is at least 2 m water at Gweek Quay on a spring tide. Mean spring range is 4.7m.

Porthallow: (SW 798 232) g Large car park by the beach. May be a long walk across the beach at low water.

Porthoustock: (SW 808 218) g Possible to drive right onto the beach and park nearby. Donations for upkeep of the beach requested.

Coverack: (SW 785 182) g Put in down the harbour slip. Parking nearby along the seafront.

Cadgwith: (SW 722 144) g Possible to offload boats quickly by the beach slipway before leaving cars in the village car park up the hill.

Mullion Cove: (SW 667 179) g Launch in the large drying harbour. Cars can be left in one of two car parks well up the hill.

Gunwalloe Church Cove: (SW 662 204) g National Trust car park just north of Winnianton Farm. Access either at Dollar Cove (closer to the car park) or Church Cove (a longer walk, but a safer launch and landing in surf, especially nearer high water)

Hemmick Beach*: (SW 994 404) g No parking at beach. Arrive early in tourist season, navigate steep access lane, drop kayaks and return to small National Trust Penare car park.

Portluney Cove*: (SW 974 413) g Large paid car park belonging to Caerhays Estate adjacent to sandy beach. Carry/trolley to sea

Portloe*: (SW 938 394) g Drop kayaks at sheltered slipway, park in car park 300m up the hill to the north.

Carne Beach*: (SW 905 383) g Carne Beach is accessed down narrow lanes. Owned by the National Trust with large paid car parks. Carry/trolley to slipway access to sandy beach.

Pendower Beach*: (SW 898 382) g Accessed down narrow lanes. Owned by National Trust with large paid car park. The carry across the beach is likely shorter at Carne beach, just east of here.

Portcurnick Beach (near Portscatho)*: (SW 879 360) g Limited roadside parking on beach access road if you are early during tourist season or weekends. Trolley/carry to slipway access to sandy beach.

Suggested trips

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