Falmouth has 4 marinas.
Your first marina option is Pendennis, right in the town. They always seem to tell you that they are full, but turn up outside the pontoons and radio in and you may well have more luck, especially if you are staying for some days. You will have passed the renowned shipyard on your way in, so do not be surprised to see classic yachts with smartly dressed crew as your berthing neighbours. Upstream is Falmouth Marina…just watch that sandbank on the marina entrance, though from here the town really is a bit of a hike. Across the bay is Mylor Harbour…full of charm in a relaxed way, but come fully provisioned.
Up past Mylor is the Pandorra Inn with its own small jetty to handle those in need of a drink and a meal. Check your tides and get here early if you hope to get alongside, but with a little rafting and good humour, you should be able to get a beer or two.
St Mawes is one of those Cornish villages that is almost too pretty in the sunshine. The tiny harbour dries but when the tide is in you might be able to disembark a few crew, or if your boat is not too big to stay alongside for a while longer. Note the ferries running back and fro from Falmouth use the harbour wall as their landing stage and you will not please anyone if you try to use their landing space. The aged HM hut has now been replaced by a rather more fanciful affair and charges for picking up a bouy 500 metres opposite the harbour now seem a ridiculous cost when you could just drop anchor for free. Still, this is a must-visit if you own a boat. Limited provisioning, but enough pubs and hotels of every standard to feed all. Note there was a boating tragedy here a few years back, and the yellow buoys on your approach now mark a strict speed limit. Alcohol, speed and boats are doubtless still in local memory.
Surrounding beaches: sea state dependent but tuck in just inside the St Anthony lighthouse, or head back east round the outside of the lighthouse to another small beach. Further east, and past the small village of Portscatho is Porthcurnic beach- the tide drops out some way, so allow plenty of anchor chain. Another few miles east is another fine beach tucked inside Nare Head. Going west from Falmouth there are a few local beaches but go a few miles further to Maenporth.
The River Fal is a magnificent river, and no cruise reaching this far should fail to meander its route. There are some visitor pontoons, but there is little wrong with simply taking a trip on a quiet sunny afternoon and enjoying the tranquillity and the age old trees overhanging the banks.
Many thanks for the article from Gavin May – 2021
Falmouth Marina
There is also the Falmouth Harbour which is a Permiere marina
Email: info@falmouthharbour.co.uk
www.premiermarinas.com/UK-Marina-locatio…
Marina map www.premiermarinas.com/-/media/Marinas/M…
Falmouth Haven
Marina office: 01326 310991
VHF Channel: 12
Mylor Yacht Harbour
T: +44 (0)1326 372121
Web site : www.mylor.com
Email: enquiries@mylor.com
Port Pendennis Marina
telephone: +44 (0)1326 211211
email: marina@portpendennis.com
VHF channel 80