Bristol Channel and Severn Cruising Guide: Milford Haven to St.Ives, Including the navigable Severn to Worcester

Publisher: Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, 2nd ed, £29.50
Publication Date: 2008

Although Peter Cumberlidge has sailed the Bristol Channel since childhood many visits and much research must have gone into the production of this outstanding pilot. Every marina, harbour, anchorage and creek, eastwards from a line Skomer Island to St. Ives right up the Severn beyond Worcester to Stourport, is described in a standard way. First a summary (what it is), then tide times and heights, Port Control with VHF channels, tidal streams, a full description, approach, entry at night and finally berths and anchorages. There is useful passage information; in the upper reaches the tidal range is the world’s second greatest. There are many snippets of local interest, printed separately, ranging from Dylan Thomas to Berkeley Castle and Avon Hobblers. It is lavishly illustrated with excellent coloured photographs, many aerial. There are also some historic monochrome pictures and three reproductions of paintings from Tate St. Ives. Anyone who knows Messrs. Fecci’s fish and chip shop in Tenby, the Kitchen anchorage at Worm’s Head and that Swansea’s South West Inner Green Grounds buoy is called the ‘Swigg’ knows the channel well. With this guide, charts and, preferably, a boat that can take the ground, anywhere in this wide area could be visited. – JLC