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The Cleddau Waterway is the largest estuary in Wales, its sheltered, tidal waters surrounded by over 200 miles of coastline. The sheltered waterway provides a valuable source for a vast range of water-based activities, but it also requires great care in ensuring the many and varied waterway interests can co-exist in a safe and effective manner.
The Milford Haven Waterway is experiencing an ever increasing demand for moorings, with over 1200 registered in 2007.
Neyland and Milford Marinas are both operating at full capacity, with a waiting list for both Marinas.
It is important that recreational users are aware of their responsibilities in order to help protect the wildlife whilst still enjoying the facilities.
The Pembrokeshire Marine Code has now been in existence for three years and looks specifically at waterbased recreation and the interaction with wildlife – further information can be found on www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk
The MHPA leisure users guide provides information on the various activity zones and can best be found on http://recreation.mhpa.co.uk/leisureguide.htm
Sailing
Yachts are the greatest number of craft on the Waterway, with activity primarily taking place below the Cleddau Bridge as far as the Islands offshore.
There are four yacht clubs, each providing their own unique training programmes: Pembrokeshire Yacht Club (PYC) – located at Gelliswick www.pembsyachtclub.org.uk
Neyland Yacht Club (NYC) – located at Neyland. www.neylandyachtclub.co.uk
Pembroke Haven Yacht Club (PHYC) – located at Hobbs Point
Dale Yacht Club – located at Dale.
Powered Craft
Motor Cruisers tend to use the lower reaches of the Waterway out to the islands, although the occasional do travel upstream to Lawrenny and Llangwm. Small high powered craft tend to be used for water-skiing.
Water Skiing
This occurs in five designated areas around the Haven, the most popular being downstream of Lawrenny to the Cleddau Bridge.
The area at Dale Roads is also popular. Water skiing is not permitted in Dale Bay itself.
Personal Watercraft
There is an increasing use of jet-skis and wet bikes throughout the Haven, but these are generally confined to designated parts of the waterway. Aquabatics are confined to the designated area at Pwllchrochan Flats.
Pembrokeshire Long-Boats
Coastal rowing is growing in popularity with a number of riverside communities supporting a number of crews. Regular racing occurs throughout the summer.
Diving
Many recreational divers visit the Waterway and offshore islands, with easily accessible dive sites, spectacular marine life and abundant wrecks.
There are a number of commercial dive trip businesses operating on the Waterway,
at Neyland, and Milford Haven. Contact details for these can be found at
www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk/members.htm
Hovercraft
Small craft are now starting to appear on the Waterway, which are expected in ever increasing numbers in the future. These have to compatible with the wildlife which need to co-exist on the Waterway, and as such are not encouraged in the sensitive upper reaches.
Windsurfing/Kitesurfing.
The main centre for both activities centre around the sheltered waters of Dale Bay,but windsurfing also takes place at Angle and occasionally between Hazelbeach and Neyland.
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rowing.
Most canoeing takes place in the upper reaches, apart from the Pembroke Dock Water sports Centre and in the moat at Pembroke Castle.
Princes Trust instructors, based at Pembroke Watersports Inlet are often seen on the river at Lawrenny. Longboat rowing has been increasingly popular in recent years including clubs at Neyland and Hazelbeach. The ‘Return of the Cleddau’ race between Haverfordwest and Neyland is being increasingly popular each year, and with its sheltered water attracts visitors throughout the year.
Swimming
Due to strong currents and extensive mudflats, the Waterway is not ideal for swimmers. The exception are areas around Dale, Watwick Bay and West Angle Bay
Angling
Angling in groups with charter boats regularly use the Waterway. Many charter boats operate out of both Neyland and Milford Haven Marina, and those available can be contacted as follows:- www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk/members.htm
Watersports Training Providers and Trip Operators
There are a number of providers offering sailing and powerboating tuition throughout the Haven.
These centers accommodate the beginners through to the experts. Details of RYA accredited providers can be found at http://www.rya.orguk/RYACMSInternet/RYADirectoryTemplates/FacilitiesSea
A number of commercial power boat operators offer dive trips and wildlife cruises, both inside and outside the Waterway, as far as Skomer, Skokholm ,Grassholm and Ramsey Island. Puffins, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets apart from Harbour Porpoise and Grey seals can all be seen on these trips.
Companies operating on the Waterway include:- www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk/members.htm
Moorings
Most moorings are privately owned, and licences need to be renewed annually, managed by Voluntary Control Bodies (VCB), through the Port Authority. During the 2004 season there were almost 1000 moorings.
There are two commercial mooring areas on the Waterway at Rudders Boatyard (40) and Lawrenny Yacht Station (100)
Marinas
Two marinas currently operate on the Waterway, Milford Haven which has 250 berths, and Neyland with 400 berths. Full information on Milford Marina can be found on :- www.milford-docks.co.uk
Slipways:-
Angle (Point House) Access in Angle Bay on gently sloping foreshore of shingle and mud. The only facilities are at the Point House pub and restaurant nearby.
West Angle
Steep shelving cobble slipway there is a large car park, café and toilet facilities at top of the slip.
Gelliswick
A gentle shelving concrete slipway with a PCC toilet block across the road. Pembrokeshire Yacht Club (PYC) is situated at top of the slip. Further information can be found on :-www.pembsyachtclub.org.uk
Milford Marina
The marina has two slipways, the first owned by Milford marina, the second to the east of Milford marina and allows direct access to the Waterway. Further information
can be found on the web-site:- www.milford-docks.co.uk Parking is available at the top of the slip.
Neyland Yacht Club
This wide slipway is publicly owned and can accommodate almost any craft that can
be placed on a trailer. A PCC toilet is situated close by. In the season, a small pontoon is deployed a small distance to the west of the slip. Car parking facilities available. Further information can be found on Neyland Yacht Club’s web-site:-www.neylandyachtclub.co.uk
Hobbs Point
This is a steep concrete slip, adjacent to Pembroke Haven Yacht Club (PHYC). Available for use of small boats and small yachts, with a PCC toilet block close by. Also used by anglers.
Front Street
There are three concrete slipways, one near the Martello Tower, the second by a small boat storage yard in the middle of Font Street and the third accessed from Western Way car park. There are no facilities onshore.
East Llanion (Pembrokeshire Watersports)
The East Llanion slipway has three concrete ramps, providing access through the
tidal cycle, and frequently used by Pembrokeshire Watersports for launching and
recovering their fleet of sailing boats and rescue craft.
It has a large car park, with the whole site owned by Pembrokeshire C C. Further
information can be found on its web-site:-
www.pembrokeshire-watersports.co.uk
Rudders
The slipway at Rudders Boatyard is only available to clients, with lifting, storage and maintenance facilities available on site.
Lawrenny
The Yacht Station has a concrete slipway, with a small levy charged to users. Car parking, toilet facilities, with café and pub close by. There are also two floating pontoons.
Landshipping
Limited facilities, with compacted gravel leading onto mud – launch and recovery only recommended at three hours either side of high water. No car park.
Pontoons
These are deployed by Pembrokeshire C. C. close to slipways at Dale, Neyland, Hazelbeach, Hobbs Point and Burton, between 1st April and 1st October Commonly used by locals and visitors, where they are also used to visit waterside pubs and restaurants at the Griffin Dale, Ferry Inn at Hazelbeach, Jolly Sailor at Burton and the Lawrenny Arms.
Dale Bay also has a floating pontoon moored all the year around, which many craft traveling down river use, before a rest and returning up river. Gelliswick has a floating pontoon of two sections.
Rudders Boatyard has a pontoon for clients only, and the Lawrenny Yacht Station has three pontoons for clients only. Pembrokeshire Watersports has a small floating pontoon by the slipway at Llanion for use by trainees and instructors.
Byelaws, Policing and Enforcement.
The Habours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act, 1847 empowers harbour authorities to create bye-laws as a management tool.
The MHPA has a wide range of bye-laws to deal with management of both commercial shipping and recreational craft, and more detailed information can be found on www.mhpa.co.uk
Bye-law 55 states that the organizer of any boat race, regatta or any other occasion when a number of vessels is expected to assemble on the waters of the Haven shall give not less than seven days notice thereof to the Harbourmaster.
All races and similar events shall be conducted on courses and at times previously approved by the Harbourmaster.
Recreational Web-site
A web-site set up by the Port Authority in 2003 provides a considerable amount of information including Launch Sites, Weather, Tide Tables, Events Diary, News, Activities, Courses and Gallery. – simply log on to www.recreation.mhpa.co.uk for further information.
Contacts:-
Countryside Council for Wales
Tel No: 01646 624000
E Mail: enquiries@ccw.gov.uk
Web-Site:www.ccw.gov.uk
Environment Agency
Tel No: 01437 760081
Web-Site:www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/wales
MCA Milford Haven
HM Coastguard
Tel No: 01646 692174
Web-Site:www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-home
Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS)
Tel No: 01646 601178
Web-Site:www.mvs.org.uk
Milford Haven Port Authority
Tel No: 01646 696100
E Mail: enquiries@mhpa.co.uk
Web-Site:www.mhpa.co.uk
Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum
Tel No 01646 696173 or 696174
E Mail: pcf@mhpa.co.uk
Web-Site:www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Tel No: 0845 345 7275
E Mail: info@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk
Web-Site:www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk
Pembrokeshire County Council
Tel No: 01646 764551
E Mail: Enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Web-Site:www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Pembrokeshire Marine SAC
E Mail: SACofficer@PembrokeshireMarineSAC.org.uk
Web-Site:www.pembrokeshiremarinesac.org.uk
Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
Tel No: 0845 345 0400
E Mail: info@rya.org.uk
Web-Site:www.rya.org.uk
(Information kindly provided courtesy of the Milford Haven
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