180 berths offering year round cruising in the sheltered Menai Strait
Port Dinorwic Marina
180 berths offering year round cruising in the sheltered Menai Strait
PORT DINORWIC MARINA offers year – round cruising in the sheltered menai strait. the picturesque grade II listed marina is ideally placed to help berth-holders explore and discover the beauty of north wales.
In addition to annual and seasonal berths, the marina offers swinging moorings, a tractor park and launch service for motorboats and winter storage ashore for all vessels.
Our brokerage has a range of motor boats and yachts for sale, speak to our staff to arrange a viewing or to list your boat. From our onsite workshops, we offer a range of boatyard services and engine servicing.
The marina has a real sense of community, with a number of businesses situated around the village green overlooking the marina including; a fabulous little cafe; a tapas and seafood restaurant; a hair salon and a beautician.
From the marina, berth holders can sneak away to a quiet anchorage in Rowen Bay or Abermenai Point for a night or two. For those boat owners wanting to venture further afield, Conwy, Holyhead, Porth Dinllaen, Abersoch and Pwhelli are all within easy reach and for the more adventurous the Isle of Man and Ireland are within a day’s sailing.
Take advantage of your boat being ashore and book in your boat maintenance and engine servicing with us.
Storage
We offer a range of boatyard services from our onsite workshops including:
Boat lifting
Antifouling
Valeting
Rigging
Engine servicing
Extensive specialist refit and repair services are available at our main Cardiff boatyard. We offer preferential boat transport rates to our berth holders.
Tractor launch £25/visit
Hoist lift in/out £21/metre
Hoist lift out & back in (3 hour period) £23/metre
A strong tide can be experienced across the entrance to the Tidal Pontoon Basin. Jet Ski’s are not permitted in the Marina. A 5 knot speed limited exists in this area of the Strait. In addition please observe a DEAD SLOW speed limit to avoid creating unnecessary wash.
MARINA APPROACH
Contact the dockmaster on Channel 80 before approaching. Both the Lock Basin and Tidal Pontoon Basin entrances dry but are accessible HW + / – 3 hours approx.
LOCK ENTRANCE APPROACH
No movements in Lock or Lock Basin without permission. To enter lock, from main channel, turn when entrance opens up and keep 10 metres from wall. All movement is controlled by the dock master.
TIDAL PONTOON BASIN
Berth Holders and short stay visitors only – Dries at springs. Strong cross tide at entrance. To enter turn when entrance opens up, beware of departing vessels.
APPROACH TO PORT DINORWIC MARINA
From the North: The Britannia Bridge lies 2 nm to the north of Port Dinorwic. To the south east of the bridge, on the opposite shore to Nelsons Statue is an Historic Wreck. Avoid this by keeping north of the channel until the Straits turn south. The Lock opens up to port 300m after the start of the residential development and below the Hotel Port Dinorwic.
From the South: Provided due care is taken, the passage between Caernarfon and Port Dinorwic is danger free. The lock entrance opens up to starboard 300 mtrs before the end of the residential developments.
SAILING FROM PORT DINORWIC
Bound North from Port Dinorwic:
The correct time to pass through the ‘Swellies’ is at HW or LW slack. This is -2 Hours Liverpool (-0052PD). However, due to the height and time between the ends of the Straits, passage north at this time means you effectively travel up hill, against the tide. By timing your arrival at Britannia Bridge ( 2nm from PD) – 3 hours before Liverpool (-0152PD)you will gain a favourable tide to Bangor, then a period of relative ‘slack’ until you gain a ‘new ebb’ toward Puffin Island and the northerly exit of the Straits
Bound South from Port Dinorwic:
The tide flows with considerable strength along the full length of this end of the Straits. Provided due care is taken, the passage is danger free between Port Dinorwic & Caernarfon. ( Note buoyage change near Caernarfon). It is best to leave Port Dinorwic early as you will need to push against the last of the flood. The aim is to reach Fort Belan at the southern entrance (to the Straits (5.5.nm) at the top of the tide (-0025PD) This will allow passage over the Bar at maximum depth. Passage over the Bar at half tide is not recommended even in calm conditions.
ON ARRIVAL AT PORT DINORWIC MARINA
All new boats must report to the Marina Office on arrival to complete a mooring contract and must have a copy of their full comprehensive insurance document to comply with our terms and conditions. If you require marine insurance Bay Marine Insurance can be contacted for a competitive quote.
PORT DINORWIC MARINA IS SITUATED ON THE STRETCH OF WATER BETWEEN THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY AND THE WELSH MAINLAND KNOWN AS THE MENAI STRAIT.
The marina makes a fine base from which to explore the outstanding natural beauty of the mountains, lakes and villages of Snowdonia. Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, is only a few miles away. The summit can be reached on foot or by the famous mountain railway.
Just 6 miles away is the town of Caernarfon with its famous castle. Begun in 1283 as a definitive chapter in Edward 1st conquest of Wales, Caernarfon was constructed as both a military stronghold and as a seat of government and royal palace.
Further down the coast is Portmeirion ‘The Italian Village, in North Wales’ which became famous as the setting for the 1960s television series ‘The Prisoner’.
Other significant points of interest in the vicinity are the two famous bridges which connect the mainland to the Isle of Anglesey. Thomas Telford’s suspension bridge and Robert Stephenson’s Britannial Bridge. Anglesey also offers a number of attraction and beautiful beaches.
