Axmouth lies between Beer Head and Haven Cliff where the Axe River enters the sea. Close within the river mouth is a landing quay with the pontoons of the Axe Yacht Club opposite where visiting boats can make arrangments to dry out.
Axmouth lies between Beer Head and Haven Cliff where the Axe River enters the sea. Close within the river mouth is a landing quay with the pontoons of the Axe Yacht Club opposite where visiting boats can make arrangments to dry out.
The river berths provide complete protection from all conditions. The shallow entrance, over a drying sandbar, however, requires some attentive navigation. Small and narrow it only permits access to smaller vessels of a moderate draft that are prepared to make an approach around high water. It may only be addressed in settled or offshore conditions.
Anything more than moderate southerly conditions, and particularly southeasterly, will make the river unapproachable. Tidal streams in the river mouth can be surprisingly strong with a spring ebb attaining rates of up to 6 knots at full flow.
This tool can be used to estimate future costal tidal streams for this area. All that is required are two simple steps:
Step 1: What is the Dover High Water for the target date?
Use a current Dover Tide Table to find Dover High Water for the target date. The National Oceanography Centre offers online tidal predictions for up to 28 days from today. Click here to open their tide table for Dover
Step 2: Input the target date's Dover High Water
Hour:
Minute:
Taking a mean tidal offset from Dover's tide, we expect your targetted date's associated local tide at Axmouth to be:
High waters: Low waters:
Data based on an average tide is only accurate to within one hour, if you more precise times are required use the ISA tidal predictions, with Lyme Regis offset -01:00.
Tidal Hour:
()
For planning purposes only, not for navigation. Please see our terms and conditions.
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Axmouth for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
The entrance to the Axe River Image: Michael Harpur
Situated between Beer Head and Haven Cliff, is the broad and fertile valley of the River Axe through which a small stream flows into the sea. The small harbour of Axmouth with its landing quays and the pontoons of the Axe Yacht Club in a basin opposite, lie below a bridge less than a ¼ of a mile upriver from its river mouth.
The narrow, shallow and drying haven is only suitable for boats carrying no more than 1.2 - 1.5 metres of draught and up to 8.5 metres LOA although longer boats may be accommodated by prior arrangement. Berthing options are as follows:
• Axe Yacht Club: Contact the club P: +44 129720043, e: info@axeyachtclub.co.uk
The river is entered over a continually shifting bar that dries to 0.5 metres but has been known to dry as much as 1.4 metres. Depths at the entrance are typically in the order of 2.8 metres MHWS and 1.3 metres MHWN but this varies depending on preceding storms so it is essential to check with the harbour master or the club before making an approach. Any approach to Axmouth Harbour is best made at HW ±00:30.
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Axmouth's entrance as seen from the quay Image: Michael Harpur
Axmouth Harbour is entered from Beer Roads which is clear of dangers. Use southwestern England’s coastal overview from Portland Bill to Start Point for general area approaches.
Although approaches to Beer Roads is straightforward the river entrance is only 7 metres wide and not the easiest for a newcomer to identify. It lies at the end of Seaton's shingle beach that extends to a spit along the shore on the west side of the river mouth. On the east side is a small pier that has a short training wall extending into the sea with a starboard beacon, Fl G.4s 7m 2M, at its head. The latter pier and training wall is situated close west of Haven Cliff which forms a prominent object from seaward.
The comings and goings of local boats usually show the entrance and path through the outer shingle bars Image: Michael Harpur
From the initial fix Haven Cliff and the beacon at the east side of the entrance should be readily identifiable.
During the season a yellow spherical buoy is normally moored about 300 metres outside the entrance and it tends to be in the best line of approach. It has a pull ring that can be taken up for a short period whilst surveying by dinghy or making enquiries.
The river mouth is addressed through shifting shingle spits that lie immediately outside. If there is any doubt it is advisable to obtain up to date local knowledge from the club or harbour master or alternatively launch the dinghy to take a sounding. You should expect to see local boat movements in and out of the entrance at high water, making its location and depths known by flagging them down.
Steer for the beacon at the head of the training wall with a green triangle topmark on the starboard side until the entrance is visible. Proceed in and once inside the entrance, keep the boat moving as there may be some waves and current at the entrance that requires assertive steerage.
The channel turns abruptly through 90° immediately inside the entrance Image: Michael Harpur
Immediately within the entrance, the channel turns abruptly through 90° around the spit, to port and westward, where it proceeds up to the quays on the starboard side of the club pontoons in a mooring basin to port. The best water is found at all times close to the harbour wall on the starboard side.
Axmouth quay and sailingclub pontoons Image: Michael Harpur
Come alongside at Axmouth landing quay and berth as directed by the harbourmaster. Alternatively, berth by arrangement with the sailing club by rafting up on one of the club's fore & aft moorings or on their pontoon.
The bridge above the club that is the head of navigation Image: Michael Harpur
The rivers low and historic bridge, with 2 metres clearance, just north of the quay and club basin is the head of navigation.
In offshore winds, it is possible to anchor offshore ¼ of a mile west of the entrance.
Why visit here?
Axmouth, first recorded as Axanmuthan circa 880 and as Alsmunda in the 1086 Doomsday Book, takes its name from the Celtic river name conjoined with the Old English word for mouth, mútha, literally meaning 'mouth of the river Axe'.
Axmouth was a flourishing small port that was ranked as a major port by the middle of the 14th-century when it accounted for 15% of the country’s shipping trade. The coming of the railway made the harbour largely obsolete and storms between 1869 and 1875 finally put paid to the port by destroying the harbour's entrance works.
Today the village includes some thatched cottages, and the church which has a 15th-century tower and a carved Norman doorway and pillars. The Tudor period Bindon House is nearby and the remains of a hillfort can be seen on Hawkesdown Hill above the village. An early concrete bridge crosses the mouth of the river close to the harbour which is home to a yacht club.
The remains of a late medieval fishing boat can be seen at low tide in the River Axe, just south-west of the village.
What facilities are available?
There are a number of workshops in the harbour that may be able to assist with repairs.
The Sailing Club has showers and facilities. It has a welcoming bar that provides views out over the beach. The large seaside town of Seaton is only a short distance away and it has ample bars restaurants and provisioning options.
With thanks to:
Michael Harpur eOceanic.
Axmouth, Devon Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axe Yacht Club basin, left, landing quay, right Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axmouth quay Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axmouth quay Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axmouth quay Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axe Yacht Club Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axe Yacht Club Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Axe Yacht Club slip Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Yachts approaching the entrance Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Rounding the sand spit Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Yachts hugging the wall for best deapth Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Approaching the club Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
Approaching the club Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur
About Axmouth
Axmouth, first recorded as Axanmuthan circa 880 and as Alsmunda in the 1086 Doomsday Book, takes its name from the Celtic river name conjoined with the Old English word for mouth, mútha, literally meaning 'mouth of the river Axe'.
Axmouth was a flourishing small port that was ranked as a major port by the middle of the 14th-century when it accounted for 15% of the country’s shipping trade. The coming of the railway made the harbour largely obsolete and storms between 1869 and 1875 finally put paid to the port by destroying the harbour's entrance works.
Today the village includes some thatched cottages, and the church which has a 15th-century tower and a carved Norman doorway and pillars. The Tudor period Bindon House is nearby and the remains of a hillfort can be seen on Hawkesdown Hill above the village. An early concrete bridge crosses the mouth of the river close to the harbour which is home to a yacht club.
The remains of a late medieval fishing boat can be seen at low tide in the River Axe, just south-west of the village.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.
Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.
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+447939 044109
+441297 20043
info@axeyachtclub.co.uk
axeyachtclub.co.uk/
Ch.06 (HM) 
50° 42.258' N, 003° 3.561' W
50° 41.880' N, 003° 3.308' W 
Axmouth Harbour is entered from Beer Roads which is clear of dangers. Use southwestern England’s coastal overview from 
From the initial fix Haven Cliff and the beacon at the east side of the entrance should be readily identifiable. _england_NIC_8574.JPG)
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A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.