Solent / Swanage Camping Slipway

Jon H · 17 July 2008, 22:44

Does anyone out there have any knowledge of a decent campsite with a good slipway that I can use in a couple of weekends time

I am really new to launching off a trailer so the wider the slipway the better

Into The Blue · 17 July 2008, 23:01

You are really going to struggle with that request in the Swanage Area. The main slip in Swanage is ok but not a campsite for several miles. Are you looking for a site with a slip in the site?
Near Swanage you could try the Studland boat yard, it's got an easiler slip but it's no use at low tide. Still no camp site either.
The nearest I can think of is Rockley Park, that's at the opposite end of Poole Harbour. Good Slip, if you watch the cross current, and a huge campsite. But it'll take 40 minutes to get to Swanage by boat, speed restrictions in the harbour.
Hope someone can think of something I can't of or offer alternatives on the Solent.

Tim M · 18 July 2008, 09:08

In terms of the Solent, Calshot is probably your best bet. Campsite, and massive slip. It does get windy out there though, so I'm not sure I'd want to be in a tent on a grotty day!

Pete7 · 18 July 2008, 09:19

Jon, I would choose one the many New Forest camp sites and then launch at Lymington slip next to the Harbour Masters office. Huge wide slip with trailer and car parking. There is a charge but it's a safe big easy slip to launch on.

The Lymington Harbour Master has recently installed a new very long jetty so you could talk to him about keeping it in the water overnight. He charged us £12.50 for 9 metres overnight a couple of weeks ago.

Pete

tinker · 18 July 2008, 09:30

Redcliffe Farm, Wareham, a slipway and a campsite or closer to swanage, Kimmeridge Bay, slipway and noticed some campers/camper vans in June, Rockley Park did not used to allow tents?

PeterM · 18 July 2008, 10:25

Echo Petes commments about new forest & then Lymington , or there is a free wide slipway at Christchurch which is the 'right' side of Hurst of you want to go to swanage in the boat for the day , but it does get pretty exposed in a south westerly outsude the solent - especially given the decent winds we have had for the last few weeks !

Simon B · 18 July 2008, 12:25

We've launched from the slip near the lifeboat stn. many times it's not cheap they also charge for trailer parking and your motor is £5 or £7 a day forgot exactly.

We normally camp or go in a statics at what was Priestway now Shorefield possibly called Swanage Coastal Park. The site next to this did appear cheaper, cant help with the name though.

We did launch from the free public slip by the Swanage light railway museum (near the chippies and New Look) it gets you onto the beach so you'd need to be sure you could get off or have a waterproof car like Codders magic land rover.

geoff · 19 July 2008, 06:48

Redcliffe Farms sounds like it's worth investigating.

Follow the link for details.
http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/default....redfilterid=10

MikeCC · 20 July 2008, 14:12

I've launched at Redcliffe - the slip is OK but there were lots of youngsters to be cleared out the way first! There's a slow run down the river to the harbour, but it's quite pleasant.

I recall that there was a reduced slip charge if you camped there as well but I don't know what the full price is now.

Apart from Redcliffe itself, there's plenty of decent campsites in the Wareham area. Some are fairly basic and others don't allow groups of various types so it depends what you want.

tinker · 20 July 2008, 14:49

£16, if you camp £15.

Jon H · 21 July 2008, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinker

£16, if you camp £15.

I am going to give Reddicliffe a try

It seems to be dead cheap £15 per night and the slipway is £15

So if I stay their and it is hopeless I will just have to use somewhere like Rockley Park ............£40 for the weekend to leave the boat and use the slipway

tinker · 21 July 2008, 19:33

Hold on a moment.
£15 + camping charge or £16 if you do not camp.

Not that cheap. In fact I camped for one week, when I checked the payment they had charged for launching every day (with our weather not a good idea) they seemed upset when I pointed out that I was not launching every day, could not understand why......

Nos4r2 · 21 July 2008, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinker

Hold on a moment.
£15 + camping charge or £16 if you do not camp.

Not that cheap. In fact I camped for one week, when I checked the payment they had charged for launching every day (with our weather not a good idea) they seemed upset when I pointed out that I was not launching every day, could not understand why......

I think Matt H had a similar experience with them.

tinker · 22 July 2008, 09:03

Its a shame, they have the makings of a great business.
The slip is useful for most tides and they have a campsite right next to it, you also have access to Poole harbour, near to the water ski area.
The one down side (apart from attitude) is the lack of a pontoon to leave your boat in overnight.
Now lets check them lottery numbers

This lack of pontoons seems to be the general case in this area, when compared to Cornwall/ South Devon/ Pembrokeshire.

Robox · 22 July 2008, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinker

Its a shame, they have the makings of a great business.
The slip is useful for most tides and they have a campsite right next to it, you also have access to Poole harbour, near to the water ski area.
The one down side (apart from attitude) is the lack of a pontoon to leave your boat in overnight.

I can't help but liken the owner to the guy off carry on camping .
It did used to have a small pontoon, for use when launching and recovering, but this disintergrated and has never been replaced (You can see what's left of it in last years photo i have attached)This is indicitive of his general attitude towards the site which seems to be ' why reinvest in better facilities when people are still using the site and the money is still coming in'. I would say try it out and i will use the site again myself ,despite its shortcomings, mainly because of the slipway and parking though.
Don't forget that there is a pass for waterskiing and passage through Poole harbour that you may have to purchase if pulled by the harbour patrols ,having said that we never have 'yet'

.One last thing the long 'slow' trip back from the open sea can be a pain,you could paint your boat black and tag on to the back of the marines of course

Regards
Rob C

Jon H · 22 July 2008, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robox

I can't help but liken the owner to the guy off carry on camping .
It did used to have a small pontoon, for use when launching and recovering, but this disintergrated and has never been replaced (You can see what's left of it in last years photo i have attached)This is indicitive of his general attitude towards the site which seems to be ' why reinvest in better facilities when people are still using the site and the money is still coming in'. I would say try it out and i will use the site again myself ,despite its shortcomings, mainly because of the slipway and parking though.
Don't forget that there is a pass for waterskiing and passage through Poole harbour that you may have to purchase if pulled by the harbour patrols ,having said that we never have 'yet'

.One last thing the long 'slow' trip back from the open sea can be a pain,you could paint your boat black and tag on to the back of the marines of course

Regards
Rob C

Thanks for the replies, (and the picture)

Does anyone know if their is a filling pontoon around the site ?

Robox · 22 July 2008, 17:08

Ridge Wharf, just down the river towards Poole,does Diesel but i.m not sure about petrol.After that there is Cobbs or the fuel barge in Poole harbour.I have always used the trusted jerry can when on the site.

Rob C

nikolas313 · 23 May 2011, 17:28

Recdcliffe 2011 Slipway Charges £16 (still not changed for years) compared to other awful charges in local area

If you are staying on campsite £3 to leave boat on site overnight, and then £10 per launch, and only when you launch! Not charged daily as previously put.

I've been going with my family for years and the facilitys are always clean and tidy. theres never been a pontoon, so for someone to write that its in a state of disrepair is WRONG

The owner is one of the nicest chaps you are likely to meet with a friendly family atmosphere

would definitely recommend......

ashbypower · 23 May 2011, 18:21

I'm sure the OP is gratful for the info although is nearly 3 years late!!!!

zookeeper · 24 May 2011, 00:55

woodyhyde camp site between corfe castle and swanage five minute drive to ocean bay water sports in swanage bay. been going there for years. water all day lovely beach, charles will launch you and tow you out if needed, trailer on beach and plenty of parking nearby. good rates too. trips to poole and the other way towards lulworth or play in the bay. off there in a weeks time and cant wait.