Port Information
Axmouth harbour is a small drying haven used for recreation and inshore fishery purposes. The effective limit of navigation is headed by the low clearance under the bridges some 400m from the entrance. The narrow entrance is at the end of the shingle bank, just west of Haven Cliff, and is marked by a starboard hand beacon at the end of a short groyne from the pierhead. Some 70m seaward is a shingle bar liable to frequent shifting; the channel is therefore unmarked, though normally running SSW (NNE from seaward).
The harbour offers access over high water for craft up to 8.5m (30ft) length and 1.5m (4ft) draft. Tidal streams run strongly within the entrance channel and river, particularly on Spring tides when entry and leaving times are critical. Inside, the shelter is good, and the basin is impounded by a bedrock sill.
The Channel Pilot and other maritime publications tend to reinforce the difficulty of navigating this picture postcard harbour. The harbour is home to upwards of 120 small craft and offers Slipway access for trailed boats . The majority of the moorings belong to the two clubs who are based within the harbour however there are some moorings commercially available for private annual rent. Slipway access is available to visitors with trailed boats.
A sensible approach to using our tricky little harbour for the first time:
- Click here to print out the Pilotage notes from Axe Yacht Club
- Arrive at low water on a good weather day.
- Take a walk to view the entrance or the estuary, dependant on your interest, and talk to any boat owners around.
- Now read the pilotage notes, they will become much clearer when viewing the situation.
- Arrange to use the appropriate slipway. Prepare your boat , for launching as soon as the tide permits
- You should enjoy between two and four hours on the water
Harbour Management
The Harbour Master at Axmouth is a member of the East Devon District Council staff with responsibility for all policy matters affecting the harbour. He has two volunteer Assistant Harbour Masters appointed from the Axe Yacht Club and Fisherman's Association; while not full time posts, they are responsible for ensuring compliance with the EDDC Byelaws in respect of the harbour.
The Assistant Harbour masters are :
- Pete Poulsen Mob. 07939 044109
- Steve Rogers Tel. 01297 24200 Mob. 07837 544797
The Axmouth Harbour Management Company ,which holds the lease from the EDDC, has overall responsibility for monitoring ,advising maintenance and development of the harbour area. For further details contact Max Pritchard -Tel 01404 548737
The Harbour is actively managed against a policy of phased improvement whilst retaining its natural character. The Council had extensive repairs made to the piling near the entrance during the winter of 2003/4 .This followed the provision of a slipway on the Fish Quay side and a 20 Mt .extension to the Harbour arm in 2000 .
On the western side, the Axe Yacht Club is some 80% of the way to replacing the basin perimeter defences,. This work started in 2000 and is planned for completion by 2006. All of this work has been executed using volunteer labour and the club’s own growing fleet of plant. The design, recommended and approved by the Councils' consulting engineers (Royal Haskoning) utilises Gabion baskets and Reno mattresses which result in a finished appearance almost indistinguishable from the shingle bank .
On the maintenance front, annual dredging against a licence from the Environment Agency and regular inspection and repair of moorings is also carried out, again by volunteer labour.
Alternatively, click here to visit the Axe Yacht Club website for detailed information on Axmouth Harbour .
