10 BEST CRUISING DESTINATIONS FOR RIVERS & ESTUARIES

THE BRITISH ISLES

‘When the weather is fine you know it’s the time for messin’ about on the river.’ Who are we to argue with folk singer Josh MacRae? Luckily, there are a plethora of rivers and estuaries to choose from in the British Isles, with options to suit all boats, even those that can’t take the ground. Rivers and estuaries are magical and varied places. There are wildlife havens, like Newtown Creek on the Isle of Wight; historic waterways, like the Medway, and charming rias like Cornwall’s Fal Estuary. Discover the delights of cruising up river with our suggestions…

1 Tay Estuary for Perth

RECOMMENDED BY Sarah Brown

The Tay is the largest volume river in the UK with some 5000 sq km of catchment draining much of the southern highlands and Perthshire, and so the estuary and river are impressive for their scenery, wildlife, tides and shifting sands. Navigable with care all the way up to Perth (shipping goes this far too so keep an eye out behind you), there are plenty of warnings about fluctuating river levels and floating debris to watch out for, but the challenge of the sail is rewarding and Perth itself is filled with history, good food and cultural opportunities aplenty at the outstanding Perth Theatre. The Tay and Earn Trust (www.tayandearntrust.org) have pontoons at Perth but if you decide to stay in the outer estuary then Tayport provides good shelter in the drying harbour in soft mud, although the top of the harbour dries early on an ebb.

There is a strong tidal entrance where you should expect stronger ebb flows after heavy rain inland. From the south, route well offshore to avoid the Abertay Sands before following the buoyed channel. There is less obstruction when approaching from the north. The Forth and Tay Navigation Service () covers the river up to just past the railway bridge (VHF Channel 71). Also listen out, free, available at