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Burry Port

Your Comments: 7 Read or add your comments

Courtesy Flag

Flag, Red Ensign

Waypoint

Offing from Bury Inlet: 51º38.15'N 004º21.86'W Barrel Post: 51º40.46'N 004º15.01'W

Charts

AC 1076

Rules & Regulations

Hazards

Dries out, dangerous in strong onshore winds, shifting sandbanks, strong tidal streams

Tidal Data Times & Range

HW Dover -0455 MHWS 8.6m MHWN 6.6m MLWS 1.1m MLWN 3.0m   (links)

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General Description

Burry Port HM tel 01554 835691 mob 07817395710

Burry Port lies about 5 miles into the shifting sands and the twisting channels of Burry Inlet.  For those with shoal draft craft that can take the ground the large Marina could offer a useful stopping place. The Marina itself holds over 1.5 m of water, (though it can be less that in areas still to be dredged) held in by a raising cill, and the nearby town offers provisioning and railway station connected to Milford Haven and Swansea.  The Inlet lies around 13 miles from Tenby and 22+ miles from Swansea.

 

NEW 2018   The marina has been bought by The Marine Group based in Cardiff.  They now own five marinas in Wales and are planning a massive investment here at Burry Port.  At this moment (Spring 2018) they are having the marina flap gate hydraulics refurbished and expect to have that fully functioning by the end of May. The objects noted in our members comments at the end of this article are, in fact, the components for the Marina storm gate which needs those blocks craning into position if really bad weather is forecast.
They are also planning a major dredge both of the marina and the entry channel in from the Barrel Buoy which marks the beginning of the channel at the end of the pier.

I visited here at the end of September 2022.  At the moment they are still battling the silting with their dredger as you can see from our images gallery. The problem is that the sludge that accumulated with previous years' of neglect has become very sticky sludge and the dredger finds it heavy work. Once they have broken the back of that things should improve a lot, though they will still have the problem that each flood tide brings in a little sand and silt, and the half gate keeps it there during the ebb.  The computer controlling the cill is unserviceable at the moment which means that the occupants of the marina are sitting on the mud every tide. It looks forelorn but is a temporary situation and should be solved over the coming (2022/23) winter.  The new RNLI accommodation has been built and is very handsome but. unfortunately, the company modifying their previous building went into administration so that work has come to a halt. It means that the HM is in a portakabin as are the toilets/showers (though they are spotless and comfortable).  They hope to have this remedied by the 2023 season and will have new offices, toilets, showers and laundrette by then.

At the moment the Marina is home to a small fleet of charter fishing boats, local pleasure craft and shallow draught yachts.  The Inlet is not a place for a large deep draft yachts to be searching for unbuoyed channels and shelter.  Any visiting skipper would be well advised to contact the HM (Bob) before starting his run in to the harbour for advice and most certainly do not try the South Channel in.  
Their wish list here is unlimited and they are hoping to be able to provide all the frills that you would get at a mainline marina, including watersports courses etc.

 


Entry to west facing Burry Inlet should not be considered by strangers in any kind of onshore wind, and for a first visit, light offshore winds are ideal.  The tidal stream runs hard (up to 4 kn) across the sand banks within the inlet, but a study of the chart will show that at around high water there will be plenty of depth everywhere for shallow draft craft in the approach.

Approach

Camarthen Bay shelves steadily towards the mouth of Burry Inlet.  You should note that the old Burry Port Inlet chart has been discontinued

Although locals may come and go up to 2 1/2 hours either side of high water, strangers are recommended to make the 5 mile approach on a rising tide, aiming to arrive at the Marina entrance just before high water.  You should consult local Notices to Mariners for any changes to the Middle Channel and not attempt an entry into through the Southern Channel. Remember that this is the Bristol Channel - the Spring range is 8.5 m and the Neaps range is 3.6 with plenty of water at HW

 

There are no plans to buoy the channel in from the Carmarthen Bay but the channel in from the Barrel buoy will be buoyed in the future.

Marina approach is now directly into towards the cill gate, following buoyage that commences in the reigon of a post (Barrel Post) in position 51:40’46N  004:15’01W (Close North of the "H" tidal diamond on the chart)  Once there, traffic lights control entry and exit, with access times depending on the tidal height.

On the South bank of the inlet is the ruin of the old Whiteford Lighthouse which bears due South (T) of the peir head; it's unlit but very obvious in daylight and an ideal back bearing as you cross the tide towards the harbour.

Strangers are advised not to explore the channels above Burry Port Marina.

One important point is that the whole of Burry Inlet is not a place to be in onshore winds.  With stronger onshore winds seas break strongly across the entrance.  Night time entry is not advised for strangers.

Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring

There is a speed limit of 3 knts within the marina,

..... which can accomodate boats up to 12m/1.5m draft.  The Harbour Master is in a cabin by the RNLI slip on the East Quay. (VHF Ch 16,  Phone 01554 835691 and 07817 395710.) 

The RNLI Boathouse will eventually house a new Harbour Office and marina amenities whilst the Lifeboat has been rehoused in a new building altogether. 

They are charging (2022) £2.25 pmpn

Facilities

Water, electricity, toilets and security gates are provided at the Marina. Town nearby, yacht club adjacent.

http://www.burryportyachtclub.co.uk/

They have plans to take this marina into a new era with a bistro, cafe etc. 

Links

Your Ratings & Comments

7 comments
Silted up - and nobody there
Written by peter.evans | 11th Jun 2024
I tried to visit Burry Port 22 May 2024.
Phoned beforehand, nobody answered. Tried five times. Should have taken that as an indication.
Weather ideal, no problem in the channel.
One hour before HW attempted to enter. Taken aback by large sandbanks in all directions, and ran gently aground about 15 metres inside (I draw 1.2m, bilge keel) .
Was able to back off against the incoming current and turned tail and fled.
Had a very comfortable night anchored in the channel to the southwest.
Afterwards googled Burry Port and found the company has gone bust and the silting is uncontrolled.
Should have done that BEFORE I went!
I live and learn ...
1 of 1 people found this helpful
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2022
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 29th Sep 2022
I reviewed these notes at the end of September 2022. They are still in the development stage here with a lot promised. meanwhile there is less than the advertised 1.5 metres depth in places and the amenities are in temporary accommodation.
UPDATE SUMMER 2021
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 22nd Sep 2021
I reviewed these notes in September 2021. They are still involved with dredging the marina before they refurbish and add pontoons. The building work ashore is about to be started. So, as we write, there is a lot going on but not much in the way of change yet.
UPDATE SPRING 2018
Written by Don Thomson | 23rd Apr 2018
There is a lot happening here. The Marina has just been taken over by The Marine Group which has big plans for the place. The flap gate is expected to be functioning early in the summer whilst the marina and close approach will be dredged idc The RNLI Boathouse will be come the harbour office and amenities block whilst the RNLI will be rehoused.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Oct 2017 - Cill has been removed
Written by julianc | 11th Oct 2017
As of October 2017 the western half of the cill has been dismantled and is sitting on the harbour wall.

At low water the harbour now dries to hard sand.

We couldn't establish if this is winter maintenance or if the harbour is now out of action.

There are a few dozen boats on the pontoons. They have all taken the ground apparently without problem

Ed note. The equipment sitting on the harbour wall is the elements of the storm gate and nothing to do with the cill.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Update Spring 2016
Written by dononshytalk | 28th Apr 2016
These notes were reviewed by Don in April 2016. This entry remains an almanac stubb and is not based on personal experience.
Update 2103
Written by dononshytalk | 15th Feb 2013
The Burry Port notes were updated by Don T on the 15th February 2013 and the new prices noted
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