As the evenings are slowly drawing out and the spring sunshine is making more appearances, summer almost seems within arm’s reach. With the boating season fast approaching and what usually is a bustling time for us, we wanted to dive into what has made Milford Marina a desirable summer stop-off throughout the years. Whilst we’re still following Covid-19 measures at Milford Marina, we hope that as Government guidelines start to change and we’ll be able to welcome berth holders and visitors back to enjoy the summer with us.
One thing that hasn’t changed over the last three decades is the sailing opportunities Milford Marina has to offer and not just limited to the Milford Haven Waterway but Pembrokeshire in general. Suitable for all standards of boating, whether you’re a sailing superstar and after something more challenging or you’re a newbie to the sport and want to learn the basics, Milford Marina is the perfect base for all!
I often enjoy sailing out to the heads and the islands, but you just can’t beat voyaging down the waterway. There’s nothing better than going out the lock gates around 7pm and finding a sweet spot to watch the sunset on a warm summer’s evening.
David Barrett, Pamella Rose
Pembrokeshire coastal sailing is generally brilliant all year round but there’s just something about taking the sea-nic route with the wind in your sails on a clear summer’s day. As a must-visit sailor destination, Milford Marina is located on the Milford Haven Waterway, providing easy access directly onto 22 miles of stunning waters. Whilst Milford Marina provides shelter for your boat, the Milford Haven Waterway is also sheltered from harsh weather conditions whilst sailing.
Not only is the location of Milford Marina great for boating opportunities, the glorious waters are also home to a vast amount of wonderful marine wildlife during the summer season. Along your voyages you may be met with Atlantic grey seals, sharks, dolphins, turtles and sunfish to name a few, as well as a variety of different species of birds, including the notorious puffins that make Skomer Island their home during the warmer months. Although the Pembrokeshire waters are magnificent, we ask leisure users to familiarise themselves with the Pembrokeshire Marine Code in order to reduce disturbance and to preserve the safety of local wildlife for all to see.
Situated in West Wales, Milford Marina is set in a convenient location and if you’re planning a south bound voyage across the Bristol Channel, by sailing past the Island of Lundy with its two light houses you can then be in Padstow the same day. You can also sail west from the marina through the Celtic Deep (if you’re lucky you may get to see some fin whales as they like to feed in this area) and then dock at either Cork or Kilmore Quay in Ireland to arrive just in time for breakfast.
Will Darwin, Antares
If I'm heading north bound from the marina, I usually voyage through Jack Sound (a passageway between the islands and mainland) right into St Brides Bay and Ramsey Sound to finally end up in Cardigan Bay, this usually includes seeing pods of playful dolphins.
Through my own personal experience, the coast of Pembrokeshire is the cream of the crop and definitely hard to compete with. Set with pristine beaches, coves, cliffs and caves as well as an abundance of nature’s finest including porpoise, dolphins, seals and sea birds - the cheerful puffins are a favourite of mine. It is unspoilt rural beauty at its very best and more recently this year, Pembrokeshire even warmly welcomed a beautiful Artic walrus to our coastline!
Throughout the boating season, Milford Marina welcomes plenty of visiting boats from all around the globe and the team always enjoying hearing stories from our visitors about their voyage so far. With the marina joining Europe’s largest cruising network Passeport Escales, it has allowed sailors from any of the 150 participating marinas (including UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco) to enjoy 2 consecutive nights for free at the marina, ideal for visiting yachts wanting to cruise around Pembrokeshire.
Milford Marina provides berth holders and visitors with all that you’ll need during your stay both long and short term, with electricity and water available to every berth, a complimentary Wi-Fi service, clean toilet and shower facilities and more.
If you’re planning for a long voyage or just need to freshen up your clothes and sheets during your stay, our laundry facilities are open 24/7 just like the marina, tokens for the washing machines and dryers are available from the Marina Office as well as washing machine capsules.
Offering more than just a berth in the summer, visitors and berth holders are met with the lively Milford Waterfront straight off the pontoons. Milford Waterfront has gone from strength to strength over the years and today the destination boasts a sensational selection of cafes and restaurants to satisfy all tastes and many adapting to the current situation by offering meals and beverages to takeaway, perfect for dining al fresco on warmer evenings.
Milford Waterfront also offers a selection of boutique shops, from souvenirs and retro sweets to clothing and accessories, satisfying all your shopping needs. You may be in need of a little TLC especially after a long or stressful voyage but have no fear, Milford Waterfront have got you covered with a variety of hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons which are only a short stroll away from your vessel. If your boat is also in need of a pick-me-up, there’s a variety of on-site marine services for all your maintenance needs.
For those wanting to stretch their legs a little bit further than Milford Waterfront , Milford Marina is a great base for exploring UK’s only coastal National Park - the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The splendid trail allows you to gain a different perspective of the picturesque coastline than if you were exploring by boat.
It really has been “long time no SEA” over the past year and with the latest Welsh Government update, we hope it won’t be too long until we can welcome visitors and for all our berth holders to be able to get back out on the water.
If you would like more information on summer berthing, please contact the Marina Office on 01646 696312 or use our berthing quote calculator for an instant quote.
Get inspired by some of our wonderful berth holders with stories about their love for the sea, as we present to you a series of short films made especially for Milford Marina.
