Moorings on the River Camel

The River Camel rises on the edge of Bodmin Moor and runs about 50 kilometres to the sea between Stepper Point and Pentire Point on the north Cornish coast, making it the second longest river wholly within Cornwall. It is tidal up to Egloshayle. Padstow lies on the west side of the estuary and Rock on the east, linked by the Black Tor ferry.

Padstow Harbour Commissioners run the harbour and let its moorings. A sandbank called the Doom Bar lies across the mouth of the estuary and has wrecked many ships, so the approach needs care, and a large drying bank lies just outside Padstow harbour. The inner harbour is closed by gates that usually open for about two hours either side of high water and keep a depth of 3 to 4 metres inside. Merchant ships now go no further than Brea Hill, but a shallow-draught boat can follow the unmarked channel about four miles up to Wadebridge.

Moorings on the River Camel are let each season by the harbour commissioners. On the Padstow side they include berths in the Inner Quay, reached for about two hours either side of high water, and drying berths at South Dock and North Quay. There are also moorings off Rock, drying swinging moorings at Port Arthur, and a slipway run by Rock Sailing Club on the east shore.