Protected sectors

What's the story here?

Perpitch is a small sandy crescent tucked away on the eastern corner of St Martin's between Gun Hill and Brandy Point. Flanked by moderately high ground and surrounded by flats and reefs, that break up the majority of any swell, it provides a reasonable anchorage and a wonderfully protected breach. It is however shallow, 1.2 metres LAT, with a stony ledge of 0.5 metres just before the anchoring area which makes it more suitable for shoal draft vessels.

How to get in?

Use southwestern England’s coastal overview from Land's End to Isles of Scilly for local approaches. The location of the bay can be positively identified from seaward by the red and white banded St Martin's Daymark tower on the 56-metre high summit of Saint Martin's eastern head.




The anchorage must be addressed from the northeast. The initial fix is set in open water northeast of the group on the alignment of Round Island Lighthouse & the south end of White Island on 273.5° T. This alignment clears Hard Lewis Rocks to the east and the ledges northeastward of Saint Martin’s Head immediately westward. It is not necessary to go out into open water and a cut-in to the approach path described, to the north of Higher Chimney, may be achieved by navigating through the Eastern Isles. This requires some careful pilotage, as best seen on a chart.



From the Initial Fix steer to pass midway between Carn Wethers, the eastern extremity of St Martin’s, and the Higher Chimney Rocks, dries to 5.6 metres, about 300 meters offshore in deep water.



Then steer to pass midway between Brandy Point and Chimney Rocks. As these points draw abrest the depths start to fall away.



Chimney Rocks has a tail that extends ¼ of a mile westward to enclose the south end of the anchoring area. The approach is at its most shallow, 0.5 metres LAT, south of Brandy Point.



Best depths will be found close north of the end of the tail extending from Chimney Rocks, about 100 metres south of the midpoint of an imaginary line joining Gun Hill and Brandy Point.




Anchor according to draft and conditions. Land by tender on the beach.

Why visit here?

They say the only difficult thing about St Martin is deciding which beach to visit on any given day. For this island is not lacking in world-class beaches and Perpitch adds to the list.




It stands against some fine competition. On the south coast, there is Lawrence’s Bay that becomes a broad sweep of sand at low tide. The adjacent Higher Town Bay is a long curve backed by sand dunes with the landing quay at its western end. On the north coast is Great Bay. The broad stretch of typical Scillonian pale golden sand backed by grassy dunes and low cliffs that is arguably Scilly’s finest beach. Yet the secluded cove of Perpitch can easily distinguish itself amongst this outstanding competition as it is very different and unique.




Sitting on the threshold between the ragged St Martin’s to the north and its cultivated southern shores, it is small and secluded and surrounded by a flush of lush greenery. The prevailing winds are held at bay by Gun Hill and Brandy Point and surrounding ledges and flats calm the waters that fall on its crescent of white quartzite sand. The view offshore is of wonderful opalescent waters and the best views St Martin's has to offer out over the scattered Eastern Isles. From there, most likely, a playful Atlantic Grey seal might even come in for a visit. In short, what is there not to like about this beach?




From a boating point of view, it is the beach that is the attraction and it makes for a lovely day anchorage but could serve overnight in fine weather or light northerly conditions possible. But it is shallow with a rocky ledge that making it more suitable for shoal draft vessels.

What facilities are available?

The beach has no facilities, but it is only a short walk to Higher Town.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur, eOceanic.com