Poole Harbour

Take the A350 towards Poole, turning east on the A35 as you approach. Drive straight through Poole following the signs for "beaches" and Sandbanks and keep going along the edge of the harbour until you see the harbour itself immediately on your right hand side. For Whitley Lake, park on the right and rig up.

Conditions

A little difficult to describe since the whole area is a "bay" with the road/lauch area going round 90 degrees.

N & NE are about the only wind directions we can't fully recommend, but only because it's gusty.

Hazards

This is one of the UK's safest marine windsurfing spots. However, if you do venture further afield, the deep water channel is very busy with traffic - most of it of the gin palace variety, with the occasional Sea Cat or car ferry thrown in for good measure. If you get in their way, they won't see you or feel a thing when they run over you. Don't try to assert your right of sail having priority over power!

The deep water channel gets very choppy, & the currents are stronger here.

Keep well away from the harbour entrance & the chain ferry.

Pubs and eateries

Untested cafes on promenade near Sandbanks car park.

Mr Chips (Ian) says:

Poole is blessed with some amazing fish and chip shops, my favourite three shops in the country are all in the Poole Harbour area and I really wish the rest of our seaside towns would take note.

One of the very best fish and chip shops in the country (it was actually runner up in a country wide competition - I haven't found the winner yet) is on the roundabout in Poole that has the civic centre in the middle of it. This fish and chip shop (and its sister shop a couple of miles down the road towards Bournmouth) are almost worth a trip on their own right. Not stopping to get your supper here on the way home should be considered a crime because these two shops are truly excellent and provide a fantastic range of fish together with a variety of cooking methods.

 

 

 

 Tidal conditions

HW springs tend to be 09:30 - 10:00 and again 14:00. HW neaps are 14:30 - 18:30.

It's easier to go by LW times here, though: LW springs are around 17:00; LW neaps around 09:00 - 13:00 (yes - the neap tides really rush by!). All times are GMT.

Like the rest of Poole Harbour, there is a double high tide around springs. ie: The tide comes in, goes out a little, then comes back in a little before disappearing as if down a drain.

Facilities

Parking along the harbour wall - at a price (£1.80 for 3 hrs in April 2003). The parking meters don't give change.

French Connection Water sports opposite the Sandbank car park and Poole Harbour Board Sailing are both close to Whitley Lake with equipment for sale, hire and demo.

There is an ice-cream shop on the short road between Whitley Lake and Sandbanks.

Other than that, surprisingly little. I think the nearest toilets are in the Sandbanks car park.

Cafes and beach shops along the promenade, near the Sandbanks car park.

 

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