Crinkers Log Polperro to Lerryn

Log of the

Picarooner

Polperro to Lerryn and Return

21st & 22nd July 2008

Lerryn Bridge at High Tide & Looking down the river towards Lerryn at High Tide
Apparently the Lerryn Bridge was authorised to be built by Queen Elizabeth the 1st for the transportation of gold.

After carefully crossing the stepping stones that run across the river we managed to touch the bridge from the boat before heading back down stream.

Crinkers Track from Mixtow up the Fowey river past Golant and up to Lerryn

Departed from Polperro 10:00 Monday morning and motored to Polruan.
Had a short trip up Pont Creek and then back to Polruan for a pint and some shopping.
Crossed the river to the pontoon at Fowey and spent some time ashore.
Waited till about 5pm at Penmarlem Quay for the incoming tide to take us up to Lerryn.

Left Penmarlem at 17:30 and headed slowly up river past the china clay loading docks and Golant.
We were well ahead of the tide and just touched the mud on the fork in the river heading up to Lerryn or Loswithiel.
We soon lifted and carried on our way slowly up the creek.

Our plan was to arrive well ahead of High tide so we had plenty of time to go for dinner at the Ship Inn.
After carefully picking our way up the creek we arrived at Lerryn well in time at 18:12.
Even though the motor was only idling we made good speed occasionally traveling at 7 knots.
Moored up alongside the visitors Quay

Still expecting at least 1.5 meters of tide we headed off for dinner and some sightseeing.
After dinner the tide had reached its peak and was almost covering the road back to where Crinker was moored.

We then headed back down stream with the tide and arrived at Golant just before dusk 21:14.
Picked a quiet spot out of the wind to moor up and slept aboard till dawn.
We had thick fog during the night and no wind, very peaceful.
Woke up to thick fog and waited for the sun to burn it off before casting off. Tuesday 22nd July We headed back to Polperro to catch the morning tide and be back on Crinkers mooring.. Arrived Polperro 10:00

The distance between Penmarlem Quay Fowey to Lerryn is about 2.6nm and once you know the river it can easily be done in 40 minutes. Space for mooring alongside is limited but if your vessel can be beached there is plenty of room.

Picarooners are an ideal vessel for mud and creek crawling, they don't draw much and do not need legs if you dry out. You could also use the centreplate to feel for the bottom.

There are some quite wide expanses of mud with small narrow channels on this trip but traveling slowly on an incoming tide its not too difficult. We spotted a couple of dead trees on our way up river and made a mental note of them for our trip back down when they would be just covered in the cloudy water. Some locals take yachts up to Lerryn and I believe there is also an occasional ferry that makes the trip.

Above picture is the visitors quay at Lerryn at High tide.

Notes:- Unleaded fuel is not available on the Fowey river as far as I am aware. There is no unleaded fuel available at Lerryn either. So make sure you have enough.
If you do run out you will have to take your jerry can and hop in a taxi or go begging to the hire boats. I have not tried either so far.
There are showers and toilets available at Penmarlem Quay and also at Golant sailing club Fowey they are coin operated showers.
Free fresh water is available on the pontoon at Fowey and at Penmarlem quay..

The next trip I hope to travel further inland to Loswithiel.

Please drop me an e-mail if you discover any broken links etc.
crinker at polperro.co.uk

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