Milford Haven is a superb natural harbour (rated highly by no-less than Nelson), and offers the small craft sailor over 25 mile of navigable waters, encompassing facilities from marinas to numerous peaceful anchorages. Entry is possible day and night, and Milford Haven is considered the harbour of refuge.

Much of the petrol and diesel imported into the UK comes through Milford Haven, thus there are liable to be movements of huge ships. This need not be too problematic as the entrance is wide, the big ship channels are well defined, and the yachtsman or motorboater needn't use them.

Even if you don't have time for a thorough exploration, Milford Haven can offer some lovely passage anchorages close to the entrance. If heading South it is possible to wait here for suitable weather to cross the Bristol Channel, without too much of a detour.

If you do have time to explore, you will be well rewarded. Once past the oil terminals and jetties you can enter the River Cleddau, where there are plenty of opportunities for peaceful anchorages that are not dominated by the industrial scene.

Absolutely all kinds of watersports activities are encompassed within this large area, the speedy will find places to speed, jetskiers will find places for their acrobatics, and areas set aside for waterskiing.

Yachtsmen will be delighted that most of the areas suitable for anchoring have been designated as "Dead Slow, No Wash" zones, so they should be able to enjoy their peace and quiet.

Provisioning can be accomplished reasonably easily.

We intend to cover this area with two articles, this first article covers the approach and entry together with possible passage anchorages. The second article covers the marinas, moorings and many further anchorages deeper within.

Quick links to nearby and area coverage: Milford Haven 2. Marinas, Moorings and Cleddau River Anchorages , Fishguard Harbour , Swansea Harbour , Bristol Channel

Approach and entry to Milford Haven is simple enough, although there are various dangers in the offing that are best seen by reference to our chart of the approaches to Milford Haven.

To the north of the entrance there is Skomer Island, Skolholm Island, Grassholm and The Smalls. With attention to navigation you can pass between Skomer Island (giving it a good offing due to overfalls), and Grassholm. Skolholm likewise needs a good offing to avoid Wild Goose Race.

Full pilotage details:

If approaching from the South the Mariner needs to be aware of Castlemartin live firing range. This extends from St. Govan's Head to Linney Head, and firing takes place on most weekdays between April and November. The seaward range of their ballistic activities is normally 3 to 4 miles, but can sometimes extends to 10 miles. Range boats are in operation and if you enter their domain you will be called on VHF channels 16 or 12 and directed offshore. Information about firing times can be had by phoning range control on 01646 662367.

The best plan is to stay outside of the area by passing south of the St Gowan southerly Cardinal buoy (Q(6)+LFl.15s) which marks St Gowen Shoals and tide race.

The Turbot Bank as marked by a westerly Cardinal buoy Turbot Bank (VQ(9)10s) is worth avoiding in breezy weather (esp. wind against tide) by passing outside it. All the areas of tidal disturbances are clearly marked on the chart.

In the closer approaches to Milford Haven the main tidal stream runs ESE from local high water +0450 and the WNW going stream starts one hour before local high water. These streams can attain 3 kn at Springs.

Once in the entrance the effect of the cross stream is replaced by a simple in and out effect. The tide ebbs out of the entrance from half an hour after local high water reaching 2 knts at Springs. The flood into the harbour begins shortly after local low water and can reach 1.5 kn.

The area where these two streams meet at almost 90° outside of the harbour can give rise to a confused sea.

Referring to our Entrance and Anchorage chart for the closer approaches, you'll see we have marked in the two big ship channels. The entrance is wide, and small craft can use the whole width of it. In thick onshore weather, especially with an ebbing tide it is wise to give Chapel Rocks and At.Ann's Head a wide berth to avoid confused seas.

It is extremely likely you will meet big ships using either of these channels, and they are constrained by their drafts. Therefore the narrow channel rules always apply whether under sail or motor, and small craft must keep right out of the way. Also bear in mind visibility from the bridge of the ship is restricted at close quarters, you may be able to see them clearly but if you get too close in front of them they cannot see you.

All small craft must keep a minimum distance of 90 m away from all ships, terminals, and ships at anchor. All ships on the move should be considered as having a moving exclusion zone around them and especially forwards of them.

Milford Haven Port Authority have the overall responsibility for these waters, and they produce a useful guide for small craft showing what is permissible in all the different areas. Download it here:

http://www.mhpa.co.uk/uploaded/docs/MHPA%20Leisure%20Guide%202009.pdf

Their website also provides local notices to Mariners, and plenty of other information for small craft users. A link is provided below:

http://www.mhpa.co.uk/content.asp

Keep listening watch on VHF channel 12 upon approaching the harbour.

The actual entrance is made between St Ann's head to the West. The promontory is topped by a conspicuous lighthouse shown in the photo gallery. To the east lies Sheep Island at 36 m tall and Rat Island at 23 m tall, lying off Studdock Point and East Blockhouse Point respectively. In the middle lies the appropriately named Middle Channel light structure. The East and West channels pass either side of this and are well buoyed, with the West channel being the deeper.

In strong onshore conditions the East Channel is probably the best for small craft, and the shallows over Chapel Rocks and Mid-Channel Rocks should be avoided.

Night entry is possible using the St.Ann's Head Lighthouse (Fl.WR.5s 48m 18/14M) the white sector of which will guide you to the West channel entrance. Red sectors keep you away from Linney Head (although this doesn't totally cover the Turbot Bank).

A set of leading lights can then be picked up, the rear one displayed on Warwick Point, the forward one on West Blockhouse Point. Following these inwards a further set of leading lights can be picked up, the rear one on Little Castle Head, and the forward one on great Castle Head. The characteristics and arrangements are best seen on the charts.

Added to the extensive lit buoyage, these sectored and leading lights make night entry relatively easy, but to save all confusion (as often happens in these situations), it is best to enter a carefully chosen and checked selection of waypoints into your GPS to get you in.

Once inside make for your choice of Anchorage or Marina, many boats go straight to Dale just within the entrance to the North.

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This article only covers the passage anchorages near the entrance, and we have provided a chartlet for each one. Dale Anchorage, Sandy Haven Bay, and Angle Bay.

The Dale Anchorage

This Anchorage provides good shelter in all winds that do not have an easterly component. Easterlies have a big fetch. Nose into the bay and anchor to suit your draft and wind conditions. South-westerlies are best dealt with by anchoring tucked under Dale Point, while winds with northerly components can be dealt with by anchoring closer to the northern shore.

The whole area within, as marked by the yellow buoys, is designated as a quiet area with a dead slow no wash speed limit (much to the relief of those at anchor or on moorings)

The bay shelves gently and steadily and in summer pontoons for visitors are established on the 2 m line. Fresh water is piped to the inner of these pontoons.  Anchor outside of local moorings.

Ashore you will find a friendly yacht club and the small village. 

Further coverage now follows:

Sandy Haven Bay

This Anchorage is good for winds from the north-west through north to east. It lies a couple of miles to the east of the Dale Anchorage. Again it is simply a matter of sounding your way in carefully and anchoring outside of the local moorings.

Attention needs to paid to the drying Bull Rocks which lie about a cable off Little Castle Head. There are also other rocky patches to take note of should you be planning to nose your boat in and dry out on the sandy beach.

There are no facilities ashore here, and you will need to move (not far) if the wind springs up hard from the South.

Angle Bay

Angle Bay on the South side can provide shelter from winds with a southerly component. The bay is wide but shallow, much of it dries out and there are many rocky patches.

Boats wishing to remain afloat can anchor in the region of the lifeboat slipway, whilst skippers of shoal draft craft with a yen to explore can nose into the Bay fairly close to Angle Point and anchor somewhere near the local moorings. At neaps it may be possible to remain afloat here, otherwise be prepared to take the ground and very aware of the unmarked rocky patches.

If you make a landing you will find the small village of Angle close by.

If you get ashore at the Dale Anchorage you will find a friendly yacht club with a dinghy and cruiser section, The Dale Yacht Club. The club has its own restaurant. We've provided a link to their website below:

http://www.daleyc.co.uk

Limited supplies are available ashore, with a local shop and post office. A waterside pub completes the picture here, and the link gives more information about the village:

http://dalevillage.co.uk/index.htm

No facilities are available at Sandy Haven, while if you get ashore at Angle you will find the small village there has a post office and a pub serving food.

Milford Haven (Welsh: Aberdaugleddau, meaning "mouth of the two Rivers Cleddau") is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales on the north side of the inlet of the same name. Founded as a whaling centre in the 18th century, the town's port is one of the largest in the United Kingdom in terms of tonnage and plays an important role in the United Kingdom's energy sector with several oil refineries and one of the biggest LNG terminals in the world. Milford Haven is the second largest settlement in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,100; though its community boundaries make it the most populous in the county, with 13,096 people.

Early history

From the 790s until the Norman Invasion in 1066, the waterway was used occasionally by Vikings looking for shelter. During one visit in 854, the Viking Chieftain Hubba wintered in the Haven with 23 ships, eventually lending his name to the district of Hubberston. A Benedictine priory was established at the head of Hubberston Pill in 1170. Founded by Adam de Rupe, it stood until the Dissolution under Henry VIII. St Thomas a Becket chapel was dedicated in 1180, a structure which looked out over the Haven from the north shore of the town.
View of Milford Haven Docks from Hakin

In later years it was used as a beacon for sailors in foul weather. The area however was a source of anxiety for the Tudor monarchy. Due to its location, it was exposed to attacks from Ireland, a convenient base from which England could be invaded via Wales. In 1405, the French landed in force having left Brest in July with more than twenty-eight hundred knights and men-at-arms led by Jean de Rieux, the Marshal of France, in order to support Owain Glyndwr's rebellion. By the late 1700's, the two creeks which would delimit the future town of Milford's boundaries to the east and west, namely Hakin and Castle Pill, were being used as harbours for ships to load and unload coal, corn and limestone.

See the history section attached to the Milford Haven 2 Article for more details.

The text on this HISTORY page is covered by the following licence
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License