Falmouth Marina

Falmouth Harbour is one of the largest natural deep-water harbours in the world and just up the Penryn river beyond the harbour sits Falmouth Marina, nestled in a wonderfully sheltered part of the river.

Falmouth Marina offers a safe and sheltered haven, enjoying 24 hour easy access to the popular cruising grounds of The Fal Estuary, Cornish Coastline and further afield.

Set in a designated area of natural beauty, the estuary offers up 12 miles of glorious boating water that stretches as far as the cathedral city of Truro with numerous creeks, wooded shorelines, quays and churches to explorer along the way.

Once onshore, Falmouth Marina offers berth holders first-class facilities, including a dedicated onsite restaurant, UpperDeck, renowned for offering a dining experience ‘with spectacular views’ alongside a chandlery, a brokerage, marine electronics engineers, on site riggers and even a hairdressers.

The marina is also conveniently placed for road access and is within walking distance of Falmouth town where you will find shops, restaurants and plenty to see and do.

Ideal for boaters of all abilities and with secure wet and dry stack berthing options, this marina makes a worthy recipient of the Yacht Harbour Association’s Five Gold Anchors Award.

FACILITIES

The construction of Falmouth Marina began in the 1970s. Since then the marina has expanded and evolved both in facilities and with the recent introduction of a dry stack.

In 2011 a major dredging project on the western side of the marina enabled the creation of 30 new larger berths in the 12 – 16m size range.

In July 2017 Falmouth Marina’s facilities were upgraded to include 10 luxury and modern unisex cubicles, one being a large family room and another large cubicle fitted with facilities for the disabled.

In November 2017 the marina was awarded the prestigious TYHA 5 Gold Anchor award for the first time, an uplift from the 4 Gold Anchors they had previously been accredited.

Over the last few years Falmouth Marina has improved parking, installed a dry stack facility for boats up to eight metres, overseen the refurbishment of the onsite bar and restaurant and the berth holders’ facilities have been completely re-built to the same luxury standard across other Premier marinas.

Falmouth Marina has its own onsite facility, Fal Chandlers, open seven days a week (10am – 6pm). It is a traditional chandlery providing most of your daily boat maintenance products from fittings, fastenings, ropes, paints and tools to more specialist items. Drop in for a great service backed by years of experience and if you cannot see what you are looking for, the owner will happily order it in for you.

Falmouth Marina is home to 13 businesses, which include a fantastic mix of marine tenants. These companies offer everything from rigging services to marine electronics, RYA training and yacht chartering. There is also an onsite brokerage for new and used boat sales, a sailing charity and a naval architecture and engineering consultancy.

Falmouth’s award-winning facilities also include luxury toilets and showers, UpperDeck restaurant, a hairdressers, chiropractor and a team of financial advisors.

BERTHING & STORAGE

The perfect location for both yachts and powerboats, Falmouth Marina offers in-water berthing for 320 boats up to 18 metres in length. Berthing for boats up to 18m (2m draft) is outside the cill, while berthing for boats up to 15m (1.5 draft) is inside the cill.

The marina offers competitively priced annual berthing contracts and gives berth holders the option to pay as a lump sum or spread the cost of berthing fees by paying on a monthly basis.

Falmouth’s experienced boatyard team provide year-round lift, high-pressure wash and block-off and re-launch services that includes the use of a 40 tonne Wise travel lift and a 1.5 tonne jib crane positioned on top of the Wise for mast work.

Falmouth also benefits from extensive storage ashore, coupled with the marina’s dedicated onsite marine services. As a Premier annual berth holder you are entitled to a minimum of eight weeks free storage ashore with no restriction between 1 April and 30 September.

ACCESS

The approach to the marina is straightforward, but you should take extra care at low water spring tides. Travel upstream, leaving Greenbank Quay to port – you will see the marina as you pass Boyers Cellar, a deep water commercial jetty.

Steer close to the marina’s outer pontoons, keeping between them and the East cardinal beacon. Moor at the visitors’ hammerhead on pontoon J.

If approaching the marina at low tide, disregard the green and red channel buoys on the north side of the cardinal mark. These indicate the high water channel to Penryn, when the tide is in. Ensure you leave the east cardinal on your starboard side.

On arrival call the marina using VHF Ch.80, or by using the telephone on the pontoon. The team at the marina will then allocate a berth for you.

When travelling by road, take the A30 to Truro and from Truro, take the A39 to Falmouth.

If travelling by rail, Intercity trains run directly into Falmouth Town from Birmingham, Bristol, the North and Scotland. Great Western trains run from London, Reading, Swindon and Bath. The nearest train stations are Falmouth, Truro and Plymouth.

CRUISING

The Fal Estuary provides wonderful, protected cruising for boaters. On a spring tide or with a bilge-keeler, the river is navigable as far up as Malpas near the old port of Truro.

South west of Falmouth is the Helford River, considered one of Britain’s most beautiful cruising grounds with plenty of anchorages and visitor moorings and just a day’s sail away from the marina are Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe and Dartmouth.

If you are looking for a great weekend out on the water with spectacular scenery then take a cruise to the beautiful, rugged landscape and peaceful waters of the Helford River and visit Helford Village; one of the unspoilt corners of Cornwall, history rich with tales of smuggling and fishing.

Or if you fancy going further afield, continue to Mevagissey, with its winding streets, pretty harbour and numerous shops and galleries or to the historical harbour town of Fowey.

The South West coastline is the perfect place to cruise England’s panoramic peninsula and visit a wealth of cultural and heritage destinations, including Premier’s newly acquired marina Noss on Dart.

For the adventurous sailor, Falmouth Marina makes a great starting point for The Channel Islands, 100 miles east, Brittany 140 miles south-east and, if you are heading around Land’s End for Ireland or Wales, Falmouth Marina also makes a great stopover point.

LOCAL EATERIES

The onsite restaurant, UpperDeck, which is dog friendly, specialises in steaks, seafood and pizza. They pride themselves on cooking high-quality, fresh food, sourced from only the very best local suppliers, including West Country butchers, Baker Tom’s and Matthew Stevens.

For wholesome pub classics, local gems include the Working Boat Pub at the Greenbank Hotel and the Boathouse Pub perched up on the hill side, overlooking the Falmouth Estuary. Situated on Falmouth’s main beach, the award-winning Gyllyngvase Cafe offers an exciting lunchtime and evening menu.

A five to 10 minute walk will bring you to a Sainsbury’s and Lidl.

THINGS TO DO

A short walk 15 minute walk along the river bank passing the Victorian Harbour brings you to Falmouth town centre. Here you will find an excellent mix of unique boutiques and high street shops.

If you are looking for something different, Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical paradise with more than four miles of footpaths to explore with the family and four-legged friends; it is open every day of the year from 10am.

Or enjoy the valley garden at the National Trust’s Glendurgan, leading down to a sheltered cove and beach, and Trelissick Gardens – a grand country house and garden in an estate with stunning maritime views and lovely woodland walks.

Feel like walking? Take a gentle stroll along the South West Coast Path National Trail; a remarkable footpath that follows largely unspoilt coast for 630 miles (from Somerset’s Minehead around to the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset). It is one of the best ways to explore Falmouth’s four golden beaches (scattered along the coast from Pendennis point along to Maenporth) and take in the breath-taking views.

Or for a healthy dose of maritime heritage, make your way in to the town, where you will find the multi award winning National Maritime Museum, overlooking Falmouth harbour. Further afield, the famous Eden Project is within 40 minutes’ drive and Henry III’s finest coastal fortress, Pendennis Castle is also well worth seeing. But if you still need a reason to visit the marina, why not coincide your trip with the start of the Falmouth Regatta, the Falmouth Classics or the Oyster Festival.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Ian and Heather Barnes
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 41 DS

I am an Engineering Officer and Heather is a Marine Geologist running the laboratories on board the JOIDES Resolution. We both work on the Scientific Research Vessel the JOIDES Resolution. Premier Falmouth is ideal for us due to its convenient location close to our home and within easy walking distance of the town of Falmouth. We leave our boat for long spells due to work commitments and are confident that it will be cared for. The crew at Premier Falmouth are a great team where nothing is too much trouble. The bar and restaurant above the office is very convenient… sometimes too convenient, we love it! Brand new shower and toilet facilities, easy access to its refuelling station, sheltered location, beautiful stroll to Falmouth’s or Penryn’s bars and restaurants and dependable team make it one of the top marinas we have used. We are very happy and are not moving anytime now or in the near future.

Anne Hales
Seaward 29

I have been associated with Falmouth Marina in one way or another for 30 years. For some time I owned the Ancasta brokerage franchise at the marina and then since my retirement have kept my boat there. I have seen many changes over the years, which have steadily improved the facilities and services. Since Premier has owned the marina significant improvements have been made. I am particularly pleased at the acquisition of the adjoining boatyard and the extra land for car parking, both of which enhance the functioning of the marina. The standard of the facilities, shops and businesses and the overall maintenance is now of a high standard to be enjoyed by us all. Due to age my sailing days are now over, so we have a motorboat – a Seaward 29 – which suits us well and is great for the numerous grandchildren.

David Pascoe and John Warren
Joint owners of Waterwitch, Jeanneau Merryfisher

We had always considered marinas to be prohibitively expensive – then we bought a new boat which was berthed at Falmouth Marina. We chatted to the friendly staff, had a good look around and were hooked! Amazing facilities ashore and afloat, good security, safe mooring even in the depths of winter and we use the boat so very much more than either of us ever have in our combined 100 years of boating!

INFORMATION

www.falriver.co.uk/getting-about/park-and-float

www.falmouth.co.uk/travel-resources/falmouth-town-map

www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk

nmmc.co.uk

www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle

www.edenproject.com

www.upperdeckfalmouth.com

theworkingboat.co.uk/

www.theboathousefalmouth.co.uk

www.gyllybeach.com