Cowes to Wootton Creek

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Cowes Harbour entrance SZ 499 965
Wootton Creek entrance SZ 556 934

Intro:
The stretch of coast between Cowes and Wootton Creek needs to be explored close inshore in order to appreciate it's beauty. The four miles of coast line are all tree line, with rocky outcrops, secluded houses, several bays and a drying creek.
Most famous is Osborne Bay, overlooked by Queen Victoria's summer residence Osborne House. These delights are easy to miss if you stand offshore to gain the best of the tidal assistance.

Access / Put-ins:
Cowes has several places where you could get afloat, but none with easy parking options. Boats and gear will need to be dropped off while you park somewhere. Norris Point (East Cowes) is one option with nearby parking. Cowes itself will be much trickier. There is a public slipway next to the Red Jet terminal, but no parking.

Features:
Osborne Bay, with a private beach and no landing permitted. A very pretty and popular Anchorage for yachts, the bay can be paddled close inshore.
Rounding the next head land brings you to Kings Quay, a small drying creek which is a nature reserve.

Eastwards, the tree lined beach continues, but is much harder to access at low water owing to numerous rock patches.
Wootton Creek offers a sheltered spot with a 1950s feel to it.

Nature:
Close inshore, diving birds can be seen fishing. Kings Quay is a nature reserve.

History:
Osborne House is the most significant historical feature, though if too close inshore, it is hidden from view by the tree lined shore.

Waterside Pubs:
Wootton Creek has a pub near at the top of the creek, accessible at HW +/-2.
Two slip ways on West Cowes have pubs next to them - The Fountain Inn and The Waterside (slightly north). The slip ways will be obvious on the west shore.

Hazards:
Cowes Entrance can be very busy with pleasure craft. Tide streams can reach three knots here, causing a nasty chop.

Wootton Creek has the Wootton Rocks just North west of the entrance.

Both ports have car ferries arriving several times an hour so keep an eye open astern.