Fowey

Fowey and Polruan face each other across a deep natural harbour that still works commercial ships as well as yachts. The lower harbour holds the blue visitor moorings; further up, Pont Pill, Underhills, Grid Irons and Penmarlam offer pontoon options, with Wiseman’s Reach as a quieter overnight before the estuary starts to dry.

The Authority describes entry day and night at all tides — still use Admiralty Chart 31 and the Harbour Guide. The entrance and lower harbour can be rough on an ebb with a strong southwesterly; berths upriver (Grid Irons, Penmarlam, Wiseman’s) are more sheltered. Keep clear of commercial ships and obey Patrol (blue flashing light).

Call Harbour Patrol on VHF Ch 12 on entry for advice. Vessels over 20 m should prenotify; vessels over 37.5 m LOA require a Pilot; vessels over 20 m north of Prime Cellars may need assistance — call the office. Speed limit 6 knots with minimal wash from the harbour limit up to Lostwithiel.

Blue visitor swinging moorings lie mainly on the east side of the lower harbour. Visitor pontoons include two at the mouth of Pont Pill, three at Underhills, and Grid Irons upstream of the car ferry (outside of pontoon only). Penmarlam (Mixtow) has shore-linked visitor berths on the south side with toilets, showers and a café. Three blue visitor moorings sit at Wiseman’s Reach.

Overnight on the shore-linked Berrill’s Yard pontoon near the lifeboat is published 16:00–08:00 at the nightly rate. Short stays (about one hour) use Albert Quay, Berrill’s Yard and Polruan pontoons outside those hours. Confirm current fees on the harbour’s published rates — this guide does not invent tariff bands.

Above Wiseman’s Reach the estuary dries — treat upriver trips as tide-planned with local knowledge.

The fuel pontoon just upstream of the Bodinnick car ferry sells diesel and petrol, pay-at-pump, 24/7, all tides (Authority). Freshwater is at Albert Quay, Berrill’s Yard and Penmarlam (no washdown). Shore power is at Berrill’s Yard and Penmarlam. Showers are at RFYC, Fowey Gallants SC and Penmarlam Boat Park (coins). Pump-out is at Berrill’s Yard via office code/payment. Refuse and recycling sit on visitor pontoons.

An independent water taxi works summer on VHF Ch 6 (07774 906730). Local yards and chandlery serve the harbour; confirm insurance and harbour requirements with Fowey Harbour Commissioners before arrival.

Fowey town climbs the west bank with shops, pubs and the ferry links to Polruan. Polruan has its own quay character and short-stay pontoon. The harbour’s commercial traffic is part of the scenery — give ships room.

A first Cornish river night after Plymouth Sound.

Commercial traffic and a lively entrance in SW ebb conditions shape the caveats.

Fowey’s deep harbour made it a medieval and later commercial port; china-clay and other trades still move on the river. Polruan opposite keeps the twin-town feel that visiting yachts remember.

Plymouth Sound lies east; Falmouth and the Helford are the next major hops west along the Cornish coast.

Fowey Harbour publishes BST-adjusted tide tables on its weather and tides page; printed tables are sold at the Harbour Office. Springs are about 5.5 m range (up to about 6 m at equinoxes); streams often exceed 1 knot and about 1.75–2 knots at springs, higher after heavy rain. Pair the harbour page with BBC Fowey and ADMIRALTY EasyTide.

The practical information in this Guide was checked against the source records below on 27 October 2026. Operational details can change — confirm with the harbour office before arrival. Admiralty Chart 31 is the chart the Harbour Guide refers skippers to.