Motor Boat & Yachting – May 2018

many boats, partly because of the treacherous entrance
and partly because of the slightly rundown image of the
town of Teignmouth. For me, these combine to make it an
intriguing destination.
The entrance channel is well buoyed but don’t be tempted
to cut corners – it’s a shallow entrance and the sandbars stretch
well out to sea. Enter the fairway between the outer starboard
and port-hand buoys and you have a safe run round the 90º
channel leading to the town pontoons. The current rips around
this corner so be warned!
Aside from Plymouth, Teignmouth is the only commercial
cargo port along the south Devon coast, with over 300
commercial shipping movements a year. Watching one of
these vessels manoeuvre the tight 90º turn, the master actually
using the current to push his ship around, is a treat in itself.
Like many estuaries, it’s a tale of two shores. The Teignmouth
side has the feel of a British bucket-and-spade holiday resort
a little past its prime and a little ragged around the edges. Gift
shops sell souvenirs of the town, there’s a rock and fudge shop,
an overdose of charity shops and various independent retailers
with names such as Fanny Bussells, Fork Handles, and Cherry on
the Top Ice Cream and Gift Shop. There’s even a Grand Pier – one
of the few left in the country.
The village of Shaldon on the western side is a total contrast.

Still unspoilt, locals claim that the saying, ‘A quaint drinking

village with a fi shing problem’ was fi rst coined here. There are

three decent pubs to be thoroughly investigated among the

Georgian waterfront villas and cottages as well as several

restaurants and fantastic views across Labrador Bay to Lyme Bay

on a clear day. All in all, the estuary is a quirky not-to-be-missed

Devon destination.

The red sandstone cliffs near

Teignmouth are one of the many

joys of cruising in this area

Teignmouth has one of the

few remaining Grand Piers

in the country

Proof that there are still

some quiet anchorages if

you know where to look!

Shaldon locals claim that the

saying, ‘A quaint drinking

village with a fi shing problem’

was fi rst coined here

TRAVEL