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Porth Cressa is located on the south side of St Mary’s Island which is the largest island in the Isles of Scilly. It is immediately south of the Hugh Town isthmus where the capital and principal port for the Scilly island group lies. It offers an anchorage close to the town.

Porth Cressa is located on the south side of St Mary’s Island which is the largest island in the Isles of Scilly. It is immediately south of the Hugh Town isthmus where the capital and principal port for the Scilly island group lies. It offers an anchorage close to the town.

Porth Cressa is well sheltered from west-southwest round through west, northwesterly, north, and light northeast lies but open to south and southeast. If there is any swell it becomes uncomfortable, particularly around high water with westerly winds which tends to wrap around the island and into the bay. Attentive navigation with daylight is required to pass between two above water reefs with some covered rocks adjacent. The bay may be access at any stage of the tide but the optimal time to enter is at low water when all its rocks are visible.
Please note

If a southerly quadrant wind or swell starts to appear, move immediately.




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Keyfacts for Porth Cressa
Facilities
Waste disposal bins availableTop up fuel available in the area via jerry cansShop with basic provisions availableMini-supermarket or supermarket availableLaundry facilities availableShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaPost Office in the areaInternet café in the areaInternet via a wireless access point availableDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaChandlery available in the areaMarine engineering services available in the areaRigging services available in the areaSail making or sail repair servicesBus service available in the areaBicycle hire available in the areaShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationAnchoring locationVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderQuick and easy access from open waterUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large cityScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Note: can get overwhelmed by visiting boats during peak periodsNote: harbour fees may be charged

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
January 13th 2020

Summary

A good location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
Waste disposal bins availableTop up fuel available in the area via jerry cansShop with basic provisions availableMini-supermarket or supermarket availableLaundry facilities availableShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaPost Office in the areaInternet café in the areaInternet via a wireless access point availableDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaChandlery available in the areaMarine engineering services available in the areaRigging services available in the areaSail making or sail repair servicesBus service available in the areaBicycle hire available in the areaShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationAnchoring locationVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderQuick and easy access from open waterUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large cityScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Note: can get overwhelmed by visiting boats during peak periodsNote: harbour fees may be charged



Position and approaches
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Haven position

49° 54.536' N, 006° 18.912' W

This is in the outer anchoring area, midway between Morning Point and Raveen.

What is the initial fix?

The following Saint Mary's Sound Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
49° 53.357' N, 006° 17.590' W
This is southeast of the entrance to Saint Mary's Sound the safest and easiest approach to the island group. It is on the 307° T alignment of the western extremity of Great Minalto with North Cam of Mincarlo that leads through Saint Mary's Sound and 1 mile out from the lit ‘Spanish Ledge’ East Cardinal Mark, Q(3)10s.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southwestern England’s coastal overview from Land's End to Isles of Scilly Route location and St Mary’s Pool Click to view haven for general approaches.
  • From the initial fix steer to pass midway between 'Spanish Ledge Cardinal' and Peninnis Head.

  • Pass the outlier Biggal Rock about 150 metres to port.

  • Continue in steering north by northwest to pass Wras and Fennel Rock to port and Porth Cressa Brow, a rocky ledge that occupies the eastern side of the bay, to starboard.

  • Start sounding for a location to anchor once between Morning Point and Raveen located near the extremity of Porth Cressa Brow.


Not what you need?
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 Porth Cressa for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. St Mary's Pool - 0.6 nautical miles N
  2. Old Town Bay - 0.7 nautical miles E
  3. Porth Conger - 1.2 nautical miles SW
  4. The Cove - 1.3 nautical miles SW
  5. Windmill Cove - 1.8 nautical miles NE
  6. Green Bay - 2.8 nautical miles NNW
  7. Higher Town Bay - 3.2 nautical miles NNE
  8. Old Grimsby - 3.3 nautical miles N
  9. New Grimsby - 3.4 nautical miles NNW
  10. Tean Sound - 3.4 nautical miles N
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. St Mary's Pool - 0.6 miles N
  2. Old Town Bay - 0.7 miles E
  3. Porth Conger - 1.2 miles SW
  4. The Cove - 1.3 miles SW
  5. Windmill Cove - 1.8 miles NE
  6. Green Bay - 2.8 miles NNW
  7. Higher Town Bay - 3.2 miles NNE
  8. Old Grimsby - 3.3 miles N
  9. New Grimsby - 3.4 miles NNW
  10. Tean Sound - 3.4 miles N
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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What's the story here?
Porth Cressa as seen from the southwest
Image: Visit Isles of Scilly


Situated near the southwestern end of St Mary’s Island, Hugh Town is the administrative centre, capital and the largest settlement on the Isles of Scilly. The town is built for the most part on a low sandy isthmus which connects the two granite islands that form St Mary’s, The Garrison, to the west, with the larger body of the island to the east. To the north of the isthmus is a natural bay of St Mary's Pool and to the south Port Cressa Bay.


Porth Cressa as seen from Buzza Hill
Image: Michael Harpur


Sometimes spelt Porthcressa, the bay is sheltered by The Garrison and Morning Point to the west, Carn Mahael and Peninnis Head to the east, and the isthmuses' long south-facing arc of beach at its head. Porthcressa Beach is probably the most popular beach on the island with visitors and locals alike using it for sunbathing, swimming and generally relaxing.


The view southward from Porth Cressa beach
Image: Michael Harpur


In the recent past, the bay had 14 yellow visitor mooring buoys along its northwestern edge that occupied the best anchoring location in the bay. Always controversial, these moorings are no longer there, leaving ample room again to anchor free of charge in the best part of the bay. This is most useful and it inevitably a popular anchorage. Vessels lying at the seaward end of the bay will need to mount the engine as it is a quarter of a mile dingy run to the shore and it may wind up being a scramble through rocks and weed at low water.


How to get in?
Porth Cressa as seen from the south
Image: Michael Harpur


Convergance Point Use southwestern England’s coastal overview for Land's End to Isles of Scilly Route location and St Mary’s Pool Click to view haven for general approaches.

Peninnis Head, with the white round metal tower on a black metal framework of Peninnis Light Fl.20s36m17M, will be clearly visible from some distance to seaward. Being situated immediately to the west of the head it is very easy to positively identify Porth Cressa. On closer approaches, the deep inlet with its sandy beach, the houses of Hugh Town on the isthmus, the Generator Chimney and squat tower on Buzza Hill, on the eastern side, will all be conspicuous. Likewise, many boats are likely to be anchored there during the season. The isolated rocky island of Wras, with its outer extension Biggal Rock, situated on the western side of the entrance will soon be visible on closer approaches.


Stand Off Peninnis Head to avoid Pollard Rock
Image: Michael Harpur


From the initial fix steer to pass midway between Peninnis Head and The 'Spanish Ledge' East Cardinal Mark, Q(3)10s. Peninnis Head is steep too but stand off the shoreline a couple of hundred metres when proceeding toward Porth Cressa as Pollard Rock, that dries to 1.8 metres at low-water springs, lays about 60 metres south of its inner head.


Yacht crossing the bay, Morning Point, Wras and Biggal left, Raveen, right
Image: Michael Harpur



Biggal, the outlier rock of the bay, must be circumvented first. It is always visible being 2.4 metres over MHWS and should be passed about 150 metres to port.
Please note

Two unlit lateral markers, green and red port and starboard hand buoys, showing the safe entrance to the bay may be charted. These were removed with the visitor moorings.




Morning Point Battery with Wras and Biggal beyond
Image: Michael Harpur


Continue into the bay steering north by northwest for Little Port Beach, close east of Little Carne at the head of the bay, passing Wras well to port, 3.4 metres over MHWS. This course avoids Fennel Rock, covers/uncovers to 1.8 metres MHWS, that lies at the north-eastern corner of the large drying rocky ridge extending about 800 metres from Wras.


Porth Cressa Brow, special marker buoys, Raveen Rock and Peninnis Head
Image: Michael Harpur


It also steers a course that clears the large rock shelf called Porth Cressa Brow, drying to 4.9 metres, that occupies the eastern half of the bay. Raveen Rock, 4.6 metres over MHWS, provides a good mark for the ledge as it lies just inside the ledge’s southwestern extremity.


Morning Point, Wras and Biggal as seen after rounding Woolpack Point
Image: Michael Harpur


North Western Approach Vessels arriving from St Mary's Sound should pass the starboard beacon 'Woolpack' FL.G.5s well to port. Then steer to pass Biggal Rock well to port as a covered rock, with 0.6 metres over it, lies between it and Woolpack about 150 metres southwest of Wras. Once Biggal Rock is abeam to port it is safe to start circling around it maintaining a distance of 150 metres and then steering up the bay. Do not be tempted to cut in between Morning Point and the Wras and as rock ledges extend from both of these and the entire area dries completely on big tides.


The anchorage as seen from Morning Point in the southwest
Image: Michael Harpur


Haven location The best sheltered deep water for yachts carrying any draught is entered in the area between Morning Point and Raveen Rock where 7 metres will be found. The deepwater extends about 200 metres northwestward into the harbour and the 2-metre contour can be found close after a yellow special marker buoy.


The anchorage as seen from the northeast over Porth Cressa Brow
Image: Michael Harpur


Thereafter it starts to shallow and soon after starts to dry to 0.3 metres over Brow Breeze rocks that extend across the head of the bay. The special marker buoy shows the location of the western power cable where no anchoring should take place. A fairly large patch of sand with rocky patches, normally visible underwater, provides reliable holding in moderate conditions with a sensible scope of chain.


Land on Little Porth the smaller beach on the west side
Image: Michael Harpur


Land by tender on the smaller of the two clean sandy beaches called Little Porth on the western side. This leaves the larger beach unimpeded for recreational use.


Why visit here?
It is uncertain the origin of the name Porthcressa. 'Porth' means 'harbour or cove' in Cornish but Cressa is uncertain and may have been derived from the Greek word meaning 'gold'. If this is the case it perfectly describes this south-facing bay with its crescent pale golden sand at its head. The bay is also more than familiar with denizens from the Mediterranean.

Porth Cressa Bay
Image: Michael Harpur


History of inhabitation dates back to the Bronze Age with evidence uncovered of an early settlement from this period on the east side of the cove. However significant funerary monuments have been uncovered here that date back to the Roman period. It is thought that the Romans used the site for burial.

Porth Cressa's beach pale gold sand beach in the evening sunlight
Image: Michael Harpur


The dominant funerary rite on Scilly during the Romano-British period involved the burial of a contracted corpse within a cist. A cist was a small box-like chamber sunk into the ground and walled with course rubble. The Porthcressa-type cists, as they have become known to distinguish them from the generally larger Bronze Age cists, were boulder-lined course slab walls capped by large flat natural boulder slabs. The corpses were accompanied by broaches and some of the graves had other objects such as pots, one of these containing a glass bead. The inclusion of brooches suggests that they must have played a special role in the funerary ritual and these have been used to roughly date the cists to the 1st to 4th centuries AD.

The Garrison's commanding view over Porth Cressa
Image: Michael Harpur


Today, with its golden sandy beach at the back of Hugh Town, Porth Cressa is a more attractive location for the living. Sheltered on both sides by rocky outcrops, its calm waters and with a gradually shelving beach, it provides safe swimming rocky outcrops that offer some interesting snorkelling. There is a delightful promenade above the beach, with a grassy area popular for picnics and a range of visitor facilities including the tourist office and the library overlooking the beach. This walkway leads to The Garrison wall that runs along the western side of the bay providing walks around the whole island fortress. On the western side, a pathway leads out to Peninnis Head which wanders out to a landscape of granite rocks sculpted by wind and sea into the most extraordinary shapes. A short walk over Buzza Hill leads to Old Town the medieval capital of the island.


Peninnis Light appears a as spacecraft that has landed into a wind and wave
carved alien landscape

Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating point of view, just the other side of the isthmus from Hugh Town harbour, Porth Cressa provides all facilities of the town without its commercial hustle and bustle. Indeed it feels more a remote haven of peace secluded tranquillity that can be the perfect antidote to the principal port with the constant coming and going of the island ferries. Likewise, for those intending on St Mary’s Pool and are met by unsuitable weather or the tide is running foul on arrival in St Mary's Sound, then Porth Cressa, or The Cove between Saint Agnes and Gugh, provide the ideal solution.


Spanish Ledge cardinal mark as seen between the wind-sculpted rocks of Peninnis
Head

Image: Michael Harpur


But, always remember, swell can be unpleasant in Porth Cressa. Be prepared to lift the hook at a moment’s notice and vacate at the least hint of a wind shift to the southwest round through south to the southeast or the sudden appearance of any swell from these directions.


What facilities are available?
Facilities as at St Mary’s Pool Click to view haven Public toilets and bins ashore as well as Sibleys Laundry. Takeaway vans above the beach in the evenings are particularly good. A particularly useful resource is the library at the east end of the beach that provides free WiFi.

The library behind the promenade at the west end of the beach
Image: Michael Harpur


All town facilities - shops, pubs and restaurants are immediately behind the beach. The Health Centre, Dentist and Hospital are located above the beach, to the right-hand side. A path leads up the hill directly to them.


With thanks to:
Michael Harpur eOceanic.



About Porth Cressa

It is uncertain the origin of the name Porthcressa. 'Porth' means 'harbour or cove' in Cornish but Cressa is uncertain and may have been derived from the Greek word meaning 'gold'. If this is the case it perfectly describes this south-facing bay with its crescent pale golden sand at its head. The bay is also more than familiar with denizens from the Mediterranean.

Porth Cressa Bay
Image: Michael Harpur


History of inhabitation dates back to the Bronze Age with evidence uncovered of an early settlement from this period on the east side of the cove. However significant funerary monuments have been uncovered here that date back to the Roman period. It is thought that the Romans used the site for burial.

Porth Cressa's beach pale gold sand beach in the evening sunlight
Image: Michael Harpur


The dominant funerary rite on Scilly during the Romano-British period involved the burial of a contracted corpse within a cist. A cist was a small box-like chamber sunk into the ground and walled with course rubble. The Porthcressa-type cists, as they have become known to distinguish them from the generally larger Bronze Age cists, were boulder-lined course slab walls capped by large flat natural boulder slabs. The corpses were accompanied by broaches and some of the graves had other objects such as pots, one of these containing a glass bead. The inclusion of brooches suggests that they must have played a special role in the funerary ritual and these have been used to roughly date the cists to the 1st to 4th centuries AD.

The Garrison's commanding view over Porth Cressa
Image: Michael Harpur


Today, with its golden sandy beach at the back of Hugh Town, Porth Cressa is a more attractive location for the living. Sheltered on both sides by rocky outcrops, its calm waters and with a gradually shelving beach, it provides safe swimming rocky outcrops that offer some interesting snorkelling. There is a delightful promenade above the beach, with a grassy area popular for picnics and a range of visitor facilities including the tourist office and the library overlooking the beach. This walkway leads to The Garrison wall that runs along the western side of the bay providing walks around the whole island fortress. On the western side, a pathway leads out to Peninnis Head which wanders out to a landscape of granite rocks sculpted by wind and sea into the most extraordinary shapes. A short walk over Buzza Hill leads to Old Town the medieval capital of the island.


Peninnis Light appears a as spacecraft that has landed into a wind and wave
carved alien landscape

Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating point of view, just the other side of the isthmus from Hugh Town harbour, Porth Cressa provides all facilities of the town without its commercial hustle and bustle. Indeed it feels more a remote haven of peace secluded tranquillity that can be the perfect antidote to the principal port with the constant coming and going of the island ferries. Likewise, for those intending on St Mary’s Pool and are met by unsuitable weather or the tide is running foul on arrival in St Mary's Sound, then Porth Cressa, or The Cove between Saint Agnes and Gugh, provide the ideal solution.


Spanish Ledge cardinal mark as seen between the wind-sculpted rocks of Peninnis
Head

Image: Michael Harpur


But, always remember, swell can be unpleasant in Porth Cressa. Be prepared to lift the hook at a moment’s notice and vacate at the least hint of a wind shift to the southwest round through south to the southeast or the sudden appearance of any swell from these directions.

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:
Coastal clockwise:
St Mary's Pool - 0.4 miles N
The Cove - 0.8 miles SW
Porth Conger - 0.7 miles SW
Green Bay - 1.8 miles NNW
New Grimsby - 2.1 miles NNW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Old Town Bay - 0.4 miles E
Windmill Cove - 1.1 miles NE
Higher Town Bay - 2 miles NNE
Perpitch - 2.2 miles NNE
Mousehole - 19.7 miles ENE

Navigational pictures


These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Porth Cressa.









































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