Moorings in Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire

The Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire is a ria, a river valley drowned at the end of the last ice age, and one of the deepest natural harbours in the world. It gives about 22 miles of sheltered navigable water, from the entrance near Dale and Angle up through the Daugleddau estuary, where the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers meet. This coastal area also covers the south Pembrokeshire harbours at Tenby and Saundersfoot.

The Port of Milford Haven, a trust port, is responsible for navigation and traffic regulation across the waterway and licenses private moorings. Milford Marina, in the town, has a lock that operates almost around the clock. Neyland Yacht Haven has a lower basin with full tidal access and an upper basin reached over a tidal cill. Further up, Lawrenny Yacht Station has mooring buoys, a pontoon and a boatyard, and at Dale the yacht club manages the moorings in Dale Bay on behalf of the port and the Crown Estate.

The lower Haven carries significant commercial and energy shipping, including oil refineries and liquefied natural gas terminals, so leisure craft share the water with large vessels and must keep a close watch for them. Above the Cleddau Bridge the upper river is a quiet area with a dead slow, no wash speed limit.

Outside the Haven, Tenby's harbour is run by Pembrokeshire County Council, with visitor moorings in summer, and Saundersfoot's harbour holds private moorings and pleasure boats. Moorings in Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire therefore run from marina pontoons and locked berths to swinging moorings and small harbour berths.