This month we make our way to Watchet Marina on the beautiful Somerset coast.
Watchet Marina offers a safe sanctuary in the Bristol Channel and easy access to the southwest and Welsh coastlines. It was built in 2001 within the wider harbour, which has a rich maritime history dating back to Saxon times, when it served as an important port and trading centre. Prior to being taken over by Western Marinas in 2024, Watchet Marina struggled with silt build up and a lack of investment. A full rehabilitation has taken place under the new owners, including a full dredge and refurbishment of the marina gate. Watchet town surrounds the marina, making it an integral part of this vibrant coastal community with quaint houses, shops and pubs.
FACILITIES & BERTHING
With the marina gate fixed and the main dredging having been completed with a regular maintenance dredge in progress, Watchet Marina can now accommodate motorboats and yachts up to 15m in length and 6m beam. There is an overall capacity of 150 floating berths. Lifting facilities are currently available by scheduled hire. Permanent and visiting berth holder facilities include:
– Free parking
– WiFi
– Toilet, shower and laundry facilities
– Serviced berths with water and electricity
– Gated pontoons with CCTV
– A warm welcome from the fabulous marina team
A small hardware store nearby carries rope and a few chandlery items. There are not currently any marine businesses found at the marina but Western Marinas hopes to facilitate growth of related marine businesses in the future.
ACCESS
To access the marina by land, you can either drive or take the train to Taunton and then get the No.28 bus which travels on a regular daily schedule or take a taxi (around a 40 minute journey from Taunton).
Via sea, you can appreciate the Somerset cliffs and historic lighthouse as you approach. Watchet is fronted by a rocky foreshore which dries out for half a mile at low water. The harbour is tidal and the outer harbour dries completely. Please see chart details for approach information. The marina is accessible approximately 2.5 hours either side of high water. During the marina access period, the flow across the harbour entrance is predominantly westbound and attention must be given to this flow when approaching the harbour entrance.
Admiralty chart no.1165
Harbour entrance – 51o11’.00 N. 03o19.64 W
Visiting boats should contact the marina team via VHF Channel 80 or phone 01984 322 230.
CRUISING
Watchet’s location between the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Exmoor National Park coastlines gives access to cruising grounds with unique and spectacular backdrops.
To the east, the waters of St Audries Bay where the Quantock Hills meet the Bristol Channel and the fossil rich cliffs beyond extending to Kilve are ideal for a short over high-water cruise. An evening cruise along this coastline can be particularly exhilarating when the cliffs and hills beyond are illuminated by the setting sun to the west.
To the west, an over high-water trip to Blue Anchor Bay (named due to the blue clay which provides good anchorage) with its views of the spectacular Dunster Castle and Somerset’s highest point, Dunkery Beacon, is well worth an excursion. Beyond Blue Anchor you can also visit Minehead’s sheltered harbour beneath the town’s tree covered north hill over a single tide and return to Watchet before the marina gate closes.
For day cruises over low water, the beautiful Porlock Bay with cliffs rising almost 300m towering over its eastern boundary has long been a popular destination with those boating out of Watchet for the views and summer fishing.
Further to the west is Lynmouth, with the spectacular cliffs of the Valley of the Rocks with wild goats grazing on ledges high above the sea. Lee Bay and Woody Bay are also within easy reach of the day sailer from Watchet.
For longer trips to the west, popular destinations include Watermouth Cove, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe and Lundy Island.
Alternatively, you could head across the Bristol Channel to Cardiff Marina, also part of the Western Marinas group, where you can see the sights of the Welsh capital city. Or carry on round the Welsh coast to Swansea, The Gower Peninsula, Milford Haven and beyond. To follow a traditional trading route from Watchet, you could cross to Cork and Kinsale in Southern Ireland.
OUT AND ABOUT
There is so much to see and do in Watchet and the surrounding area. Here we share just a few highlights:
– Explore the historic harbour with a 1000-year history
– Visit Watchet Boat Museum
– Explore the coastal path
– Visit East Quay art centre and kitchen right next to the marina
– Go fossil hunting at Helwell Bay
– Visit Dunster Castle
– Watch the Flying Scotsman steam past on the railway right behind the marina office
– Visit Watchet to enjoy one of the town’s numerous events throughout the season, including weekly markets on the esplanade overlooking the marina and a wide variety of other events.
Where to eat and drink:
– Spice Merchant Indian
– Crispies Chippie
– Esplanade Club
– Pebbles Tavern
– The Star Inn
– The Bell Inn
– The West Somerset Hotel
– East Quay Kitchen
The nearest supermarket is just a two-minute walk from the marina on the town’s high street.
There is a regular No.28 bus that travels in Watchet and the local area, or there are several taxi companies including Alcome Taxi, Williton Cabs and Cliffs Cabs. Or why not explore the area on the West Somerset Railway with Watchet’s train station right next to the marina.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION
“The berth holders at Watchet are delighted with the progress being made in the rehabilitation of Watchet Marina by Western Marinas, whose refreshingly honest and realistic approach has been welcomed by all. It is true to say the company has delivered a staggeringly successful dredging campaign in a very short time without making undeliverable promises to a very sceptical audience. It is no exaggeration to say that confidence in Western Marinas grows daily as realistic deliverables are achieved and there is an optimism being felt by harbour users and townsfolk alike regarding the future of boating in Watchet not witnessed since the early days of marina operation some 24 years ago. In addition to the remarkable progress being made improving the material condition of the marina, in the months since Western Marinas took on the operation at Watchet, staff at all levels have worked diligently to interact positively with existing and potential berth holders, the wider national and Bristol Channel boating community and, very importantly, the general public both in person and via social media platforms. It is also particularly pleasing to witness the very positive engagement of Western Marinas with the local authority Harbour Master, officers and portfolio holders together with the members of the Watchet Harbour Advisory Committee and the committee of Watchet Boat Owners Association to a level not previously witnessed in the history of Watchet Marina. Berth holders are also heartened to witness the continued improvement of shoreside facilities and look forward to the time when Watchet can offer on demand services in terms of lifting, maintenance, engineering and basic consumables supply which they feel will greatly enhance the appeal of Watchet Marina as a home or service port. It is now down to all of us to share our growing confidence in Western Marinas to deliver a successful marina operation in Watchet with the wider boating world and to encourage boat owners to come and sample what the town and its marina has to offer.”
Martin Stevens – berth holder and representative of Watchet Boat Owners Association
Watchet Marina Manager – Matt Driscoll CMM
Watchet Marina, Harbour Office
Harbour Road, Watchet TA23 0AQ
01984 322230
watchetmarina@westernmarinas.co.uk
westernmarinas.co.uk
