The Solent Cruising Guide
The Best Places to Sail in the Solent
Places To Go Sailing - The Solent
Cowes, Isle of Wight
No cruise in the Solent is complete without a visit to Cowes in the centre of the north coast of the Isle of Wight. Home to the world-renowned Cowes Week regatta, Cowes is a yachting haven with multiple marinas, modern facilities and plenty to see and do ashore.
Cowes Yacht Haven is at the heart of the town, or for easy access to East Cowes, head to Shepards Wharf. Both marinas offer fantastic facilities but can get busy at peak times so pre-booking is recommended.
Enjoy an interesting mix of independent boutique shops in Cowes High Street, or indulge in the town’s friendly pubs, bars and restaurants offering everything from gastro cuisine to classic fish and chips.
Hamble
Sometimes referred to as the sailing mecca of the UK, the River Hamble is home to no less than seven marinas and numerous sailing clubs, all offering visitor berths and modern facilities.
Located near to the entrance of Southampton Water, the River Hamble is sheltered with excellent access to the Solent, making it a brilliant base for any sailing or boating adventure.
Onshore there are a variety of quaint villages to explore including Hamble itself, Warsash and Swanwick, each with good variety of eateries.
To stretch your legs, take the pink ferry from Hamble and wander along the riverside from Warsash to Swanwick.
Beaulieu River
Set in the stunning New Forest National Park, Beaulieu River is located on the mainland towards the centre of the Solent.
For short stays, head to Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour with its 300 visitor moorings and 5-star onshore facilities. The village of Buckler’s Hard is known for its ship building heritage, including being the place where Nelson once built his warships – the Maritime Museum is well worth a visit.
Away from the tourist hot spots, Beaulieu River is a beautiful place to escape the hustle and bustle. Keep a look out for Gull Island and its variety of rare birds, the floating Mulberry Dock used in the D-D Landings, and Gins Farm where the monks of Beaulieu Abbey kept their fishing boats, and which is now home to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club’s clubhouse.
Wootton Creek
Positioned between Cowes and Ryde on the northeast coast of the Isle of Wight, Wootton Creek used to be the main route for trading vessels heading to the brickworks at Ash Lake and the tide mill. Venture down, and you’ll now find a pretty and unspoilt tidal estuary with wooded valleys either side.
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club welcomes visitors to use its pontoon and clubhouse. The nearby Fishbourne Inn offers gastro pub dining, or you can take a tender further up the creek to the Sloop Inn at Wootton Bridge.
For a bit of culture, take a tour of the nearby Quarr Abbey, a monastery home to a community of Benedictine monks, or pop on a steam train from Wootton Station and take a scenic trip along the iconic Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Steeped in maritime history, Yarmouth is an old fishing village on the mouth of the River Yar on the north west coast of the island.
The Royal Solent Yacht Club offers modern facilities to yachtsmen of affiliated clubs or there are plenty of berths in the Yarmouth Harbour marina. It’s a popular place so it’s best to beat the crowds and arrive early.
From here you can explore the ‘West Wight’ which boasts vast stretches of Heritage Coast accessed by the coastal road and footpath or take advantage of ‘The Needles Breezer’ open top bus tour to see the sights, including the white chalk cliffs of the Needles and multicolour sands of Alum Bay.
Bembridge Harbour
Bembridge Harbour is located on the east coast close to Seaview and St Helens. A drying lagoon, Bembridge can only be accessed via a twisting dredged channel at high tide so it’s wise to plan your arrival time carefully.
The Duver Marina offers 140 visitor berths including premier finger berths from which you can enjoy breakfast and newspaper delivery if requested, or there are tidal moorings in the harbour with a complimentary water taxi service.
Onshore, the Ralvins Street Food Cafe is a popular place to grab a snack or treat yourself to an ice cream and gentle walk along the harbourside pathway or head to the villages of Bembridge and St Helens.
Newtown, Isle Of Wight
Get away from it all with a trip to the tranquil and secluded Newtown Creek on the northwest coast. Owned by the National Trust, the estuary is teeming with extraordinary wildlife and is one of the most undeveloped spots in the Solent.
If you want to stretch the legs, take the four-mile Newtown estuary walk around the nature reserve. Or just take some time to relax onboard, recharge your batteries and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of this special little anchorage.
Part of the charm of Newtown is that onshore facilities are non-existent and the tiny village has only a church and a few houses - no shops or pubs - so make sure you’re well provisioned for your visit.
