Penarth Marina: The Perfect Welsh Cruising Base
Boatfolk’s Penarth Marina at the mouth of the River Severn with its convenient transport connections and plenty of places to explore, makes it a good option as a cruising base writes Sue Pelling.
Boatfolk’s Penarth Marina is located in the historic basins of Penarth Docks, in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales and offers sheltered berthing at the mouth of the River Severn. This 5 Gold Anchors award marina, with its convenient transport connections from major cities is the ideal place for full time berthing, or if you are considering a season exploring the local area. It is also a marina to consider if you are looking for a secure stop-off while transiting the Bristol Channel/River Severn. Also, with Cardiff just four miles away, you can enjoy the delights of Wales’ capital city with places like William the Burges-designed Cardiff Castle one of the top attractions, and the Utilita Arena Cardiff a popular international venue for music and sporting events.
Penarth itself is a quaint Victorian seaside town and therefore a delightful place to explore. One of the highlights off the pebbled beach is the fully restored Art Deco pier pavilion with features such as a gallery, cinema, cafe and restaurant. There are also plenty of shops and places of cultural interest to visit close by, but if you want to take things easy, there is a wide range of facilities on site at the marina including a selection of restaurants and cafes, and a chandlery. The boatyard at the marina includes boat lifting facilities, and secure hard standing for boats up to 20 tonnes for berth holders and visitors alike. The hoist dock can accommodate vessels up to 5m beam. There is also an integral jib crane that can lift up to 1 tonne.
If you decide to sign up for an annual berth you’ll find you’ll have a selection of privileges that makes berthing at a boatfolk marina even more desirable. The National Cruising Pass for example means you get 300 free nights of berthing at any of its 10 sister marinas. Plus, because Penarth is part of Trans Europe Marinas half price visitor berthing scheme, you can benefit from that too.
Finally, if you need a bit of a break/luxury after a long passage, Penarth Marina has a selection of luxury floating rooms available (super kings or twins) within the marina.
Passage planning
The busy commercial Port of Cardiff lies approximately half a mile to the north of the Outer Harbour so you must use the narrow-dredged channel, known locally as the Wrach Channel, the entrance to which is marked by the Outer Wrach cardinal buoy.
The passage into Cardiff bay from the Bristol Channel requires you to lock in through one of three locks which are located in the Outer Harbour. The Outer Harbour is dredged twice a year to Chart Datum which facilitates 24-hour access into the bay dependant on draft on all but the lowest of spring tides. The Barrage Channel is marked by a series of lateral buoys which lead off to port from the main channel.
The marina is located inside Cardiff Bay Barrage, so you’ll need to call up Penarth Marina on VHF Ch80 beforehand and pass through the Barrage locks. The level of water within Penarth Marina is normally held at the same level as the water within Cardiff Bay, which means you should be able to pass between the marina and Cardiff Bay on free flow and avoid locking. Normally vessels will be able to proceed straight through the lock on the green light into the marina basin but if you are a visitor you may be asked to wait on a reception pontoon in the lock to be allocated a berth. When you are clear of the Barrage locks, turn immediately to port where and you’ll see the marina entrance.
Once you have entered the marina into the outer basin you will find pontoons A on your port side and pontoons B on your starboard side. When you proceed through the outer basin and through town quay where the commercial vessels are moored you will reach the inner basin and the first moorings on your port side will be C pontoons. These then proceed up in alphabetical order to the far end of the inner basin to J pontoons.
Cruising grounds
There is so much to see, and places to cruise to from Penarth you’ll be spoilt for choice. Also, if you are planning a longer trip to destinations such as Ireland or the Isles of Scilly, this is a good option as a starting point. As you head out the River Severn heading west you’ll see Lavernock Point on your starboard side, and Flat Holm, an island halfway across the channel. This island is a notable place of interest in the history of communication because this is where, in 1897, Guglielmo Marconi sent the first Radio transmission to. Continue west along the Gower Peninsula to Swansea (46nm), which also has a marina with the usual facilities and, like Penarth, the city centre with its shops, restaurants and nightlife, is just a short walk away.
The Milford Haven estuary (84nm), is one of the world’s best natural deep-water harbours and there are plenty of anchorages and places to explore, including Dale at the western end, which offers some good anchorages, and Lawrenny further up-channel to the east.
Heading east from Penarth takes you further up the River Severn to places like Newport, Bristol (25nm) and under the Severn Bridge to Sharpness (33nm). You also have the option to head across the channel to North Devon/Somerset and visit some of the beauty spots there such as Watchet (17nm). This is a popular short hop and has a marina that can be accessed 2.5 hours either side of high water.
Penarth Marina Factfile
Visit the Penarth Marina website
Berthing for 320 vessels up to 3.3m Draft and 22m LOA
Coordinates: 51 26.75N 003 10.20W
Postcode: CF64 1TQ
VHF: Ch80
Email: penarth@boatfolk.co.uk
Tel: +44(0)2920 705021
Berthing fees:
- 6m and under from – £323 per metre p/a
- Over 6m loa from – £430 per metre p/a
- Flexible berthing (1 April-31 October)
- From – £60 per metre, per month
- Flexible berthing (1 November-31 March)
- – £45 per metre, per month
Visitors
From – £4 per metre, per night
Electricity: Pre-pay card
Water: Free of charge
Wifi: Free of charge
Chandlery: On site
Opening times: 0900-1700 Monday-Friday
Fuel: Unleaded and Diesel – 0900-1700
Gas: Available from the marina office
Local services:
- Shipwrights: On site
- Marine engineers: Onsite
Tuition:
Cardiff Yachting +44 (0)7383 666112
Tel +44 (0)7500 899235
Brokerage: BJ Marine Tel +44 (0)1758-612686
Places to eat and drink:
- The Deck: On site cafe Tel +44(0)2920 099737
- The Galley cafe: On site Tel +44(0)2920 710 172
- The Custom House: El Puerto Restaurant Tel +44(0)2920 705551, or La Marina Tel +44(0)2920 705544
- The Oystercatcher public house Tel +44 (0)29 2070 9836
- The Pilot Gastro Pub Tel +44 (0)2920 710 615
Nearest supermarket: Tesco (15-minute walk from the marina)
Nearest railway station: Cogan – for Cardiff Central (15-min walk from the marina)
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