Gull Island is located on the south coast of England, a mile within the River Beaulieu. The river is entered from the western Solent, where it begins its winding journey through the New Forest. Situated at the first reach, it provides eight visitor moorings and is the only permitted anchorage in a remote and tranquil part of the river.

Set within the Solent and the River Beaulieu, Gull Island offers good seaway protection, if little in the way of air cover. It is exposed to a large eastern fetch with developed easterly conditions that will be particularly felt on the river's short, sharp ebb. In a developed south-easterly, that carries an added scend upriver, it is untenable on the ebb. Although the river has a moderately shallow sandbar that requires some consideration, access is straightforward night or day.

The River Beaulieu is best avoided by newcomers in developed southwesterly conditions of F5 or above. In these conditions, breakers are possible, and the acute turn to port in the entrance may be challenging. The river has strong currents, and a vessel will be tide-ride.

Keyfacts for Gull Island

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 46.767' N, 001° 23.411' W

This is the position of the moorings off Gull Island in the first length of the river.

What is the initial fix?

This is set on the 324° T transit adjacent to the Yellow Buoy Fl.Y 4s (Mar - Oct), which establishes the ideal approach to the Beaulieu Dolphin and, subsequently, to the entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Gull Island is situated in the lower section of the Beaulieu River, about a mile above its entrance and below Needs Oar Point. It provides an anchorage and visitor moorings behind the low-lying island, which is awash with high-water Springs.

The berthing options by Gull Island, downstream of Needs Ore, include anchoring off or picking up one of the Beaulieu River moorings. The area has a minimum depth of 3 metres (approximately 9.8 feet) at chart datum. The moorings, located near the Beaulieu River Sailing Club, are numbered 1 to 8 and marked with a white pickup buoy and a green 'V' plate. They can be freely picked up on a first-come basis, and all can accommodate vessels up to 14 metres in length. It is also possible to anchor below the moorings and clear of the fairway.




A fee will be collected in all cases since the Beaulieu River is one of the few private rivers in the UK. Downriver of No. 24 pile and Needs Ore Point, the fee remains the same irrespective of the size of the anchored or moored vessel. Due to its remoteness, it also has different pricing than the rest of the river. The moorings have a fixed price of [2025] £15 per boat, per night, and are available for up to 7 nights. Upstream of Needs Ore, the mooring fees increase to £3.00 per metre per night. Anchoring incurs river dues of £10 per boat, per night. Berthing fees are collected by the Beaulieu River Harbour Master's river staff who come downriver in their launch.




The Harbour Master's Office is manned 0800-2100 in summer; 0800-1800 in winter (0900-1800 weekends in winter) and are contactable by Ch. 68 [Beaulieu River Radio], +44 1590 616200, harbour.office@beaulieu.co.uk, www.beaulieuriver.co.uk. Helpful river staff will be encountered afloat during the summer, and they carry a list of suitable moorings.

How to get in?

The Western Approaches to The Solent and the run-up to Southampton provides shoreline guidance and a tidal timer. Refer to the Bucklar's Hard entry for details on the approaches, entry and the run up the river.




The Harbour Master has also laid eight visitor moorings close north of the red No. 22 pile that may be freely picked up. They are clearly marked V1 to V8, capable of taking vessels up to 14 metres. All the moorings carry more than 3 metres of water.




Anchor in the lower reaches of the Beaulieu River below the moorings and between the port red No. 12 pile, Fl.R.4s, and the port red No. 24 pile situated close north of Needs Ore Point. Vessels should anchor on the channel's south side, and the best protection will usually be found further upstream, closer to Needs Ore Point. Excellent mud holding will be found throughout this area. Nevertheless, make certain to dig the anchor well in as the currents run strong.




No anchoring is permitted above Needs Ore Point, where visitors must arrange a mooring with the harbour master, and normal river mooring fees apply. The Beaulieu River Sailing Club is unsuitable for landing, but running up the river to Bucklers Hard with a moderately powered engine is possible.




Those interested in visiting Exbury Estate, which is open to the public, and are happy to work the tides, may be able to avail of Exbury River Quay. The quay is not a serviced visitor facility but offers a simple landing point. However, it is important to seek permission from Exbury Gardens: +44 (0)23 8089 1203, Exbury Gardens.




However, no landing should occur on the protected Natural England wildlife sanctuary of Gull Island.

Why visit here?

Gull Island derives its name from a colony of Black-Headed Gulls that once nested here. The island's Spartina grass once supported up to 12,000 pairs of breeding birds. However, severe erosion has reduced the island's size, leading to a large-scale decline of the colony. Half of its land mass was lost between 1953 and 1992 alone.




At this time, a small boat channel between the island and Needs Ore Point provided a shortcut between the Solent and the river. The cut was created by Charles Bull in 1726-27 and was known as the 'Swatchway' or 'Bull's Run'. It offered a particularly convenient route for boats navigating in and out of the Exbury River Quay. This small, drying quay is located on the northern bank of the Beaulieu River, within the Exbury Marshes area. It was never a major commercial port and was used for private purposes related to the Exbury Estate's operations, allowing supplies, produce, and people to move between the Exbury Estate and the Beaulieu River. It is visible from the anchorage off Gull Island and is situated near the Exbury Estate (owned by the de Rothschild family), which is renowned for its gardens, particularly its springtime rhododendron displays and a steam railway.




The cut was subsequently closed in 1986 by a Special Act of Parliament targeted at protecting Gull Island from continuing erosion. In 1992, a shingle beach was engineered to connect Gull Island with the western mainland, technically making the 'island' a 'spit'. This closed the last remains of the old channel, and since it has been completed, the erosion of Gull Island is said to be significantly reduced. The channel has left a readily recognisable bay and a narrow shale causeway linking Gull Island to the mainland. The oval-shaped land mass that remains of Gull Island is now a nature reserve for colonies of nesting seabirds. It is entirely closed to the public, and no landings are permitted on Gull Island or the Warren Shore.




Today, Need Ore Point is the base of the local Beaulieu River Sailing Club, which sails Scows, a gaff-rigged dinghy, and Lasers. Their dinghy races take place in this part of the river. Aside from that, all that can be found here is very much the same as what would have been encountered by the thirteenth-century monks who named the river. Here, the Beaulieu River's ancient oak and beech woodland naturally gives way to a tidal salt marsh, reed beds, mud flats, and a shale beach. Gull Island's banks host a variety of flora and fauna. In the distance, horses can be seen lazily grazing in meadows. Aside from that, a few distant man-made structures, and the vessels plying their way to Buckler's Hard, nothing here is not of nature.



From a boating perspective, with its entrance lit and the river's moderately deep sandbar being reasonably accommodating, Gull Island serves as an excellent central staging ground from which to jump to any part of the Solent. It is also the preferred choice for those arriving at night and intending to berth at Buckler's Hard. The river is unlit beyond Gull Island and filled with moored boats and unattended buoys thereafter, so it is much less complicated to bed down here and wait for daylight to proceed upriver, especially on a dark, moonless night.




In itself, Gull Island offers a highly convenient and well-sheltered berth in the River Beaulieu and a complete escape from the Solent's hustle and bustle. It is not unlike the Newtown Creek Nature Reserve on the opposite Isle of Wight shore.




On a calm evening, it is a perfect location to bring a vessel up and let it sleep on its chain, immersed in the tranquillity of a wholly natural environment.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities here. Buckler's Hard, further upriver, can cater for almost any boating requirement and offers basic provisions.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in the Beaulieu River.

With thanks to:

Mike Nicholls, previous Beaulieu River Harbour Master, and Wendy Stowe current Beaulieu River Harbour Master.