Lydney Harbour
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-08)

Information on harbour approach, moorings, fees and safety information.

Lydney Harbour is next to the River Severn in Gloucestershire. The harbour is managed by the Environment Agency who are also the:
- Statutory Harbour Authority
- duty holder under the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code
The harbour is not manned 24/7. Contact details for the harbour team and the Environment Agency are on this page.

Visiting the harbour

We’re delighted to welcome you to Lydney Harbour – a unique and historic site where the Severn meets the Wye. Whether you’re here for a peaceful walk, birdwatching, or to learn more about the harbour’s rich maritime heritage, we hope you enjoy your visit.

Please be aware that this is an active working harbour. While you’re very welcome to explore the area, we kindly ask you to take care and remain alert to your surroundings. Footpaths can be muddy and slippery, particularly in wet weather – sturdy footwear or wellies are recommended.

For your safety, please observe all signs and follow any instructions on site. You’ll find important guidance around the harbour, including warning, prohibition, and mandatory notices designed to keep everyone safe.

Look out for the harbour’s wildlife too – with luck, you might spot our resident kingfisher or graceful swans.

Enjoy your visit and stay safe by the water.

Facilities

You are welcome to use the car park at your own risk for the duration of your visit. There are a limited number of parking spaces available.

There are limited facilities for our guests such as a small visitor information centre and toilets and café. The café and public toilets are only open during the day.

Staff and visitors and contractors coming to the site are required to complete a site induction and sign in before undertaking any work or activities. Contact the harbour team for further information at least 24 hours prior to your planned visit.

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act

Areas of the harbour are scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. A monument which has been scheduled is protected against ground disturbance or unlicensed metal detecting. Written consent must always be obtained before any work on a scheduled monument can begin.

It is against the law to:
- disturb a scheduled monument by carrying out works (outside Class Consents) without written consent
- cause reckless or deliberate damage to a monument
- use a metal detector or remove an object found at a monument without a licence from Historic England
Conviction for these offences can lead to fines.

Fishing

Fishing at the harbour is prohibited except by arrangement with Lydney Angling Club. Contact them for further details.

Contacts

Harbour team

If you have any questions or need assistance, get in touch with the harbour master team using the details below. We’re available during normal office hours (9am to 5pm).
- harbour master (Sohail Abbas)
- mobile or WhatsApp: xx-xxxx-xxxx (office hours only)
- telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- post: Harbour Office, Lydney Harbour, Harbour Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4ER
VHF

VHF: Channel 37/16 (from one hour before and one hour after high water when vessel movements expected only)

Environment Agency contact details

Environment Agency: 03708 506 506

Environment Agency 24 hour incident hotline: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges).

Powered watercraft (PWC)

A new order regarding powered watercraft (PWC) applies in all UK waters including those managed by Statutory Harbour Authorities (SHAs). It extends the ability of the statutory harbour authority for Lydney Harbour to regulate the use of powered watercraft in their harbour limits through Harbour Directions. Further information is in the press release - Warning for powered watercraft users as new legislation comes into force (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warning-for-powered-watercraft-users-as-new-legislation-comes-into-force).

Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code – duty holder

Lydney Harbour is ‘on a journey’ towards compliance with the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code for UK harbour authorities. The Environment Agency is the statutory harbour authority for Lydney Harbour. As part of compliance with the Code, a duty holder has now been appointed. The duty holder for Lydney Harbour is the Environment Agency Area Director West Midlands. The duty holder under the Code is individually and/or collectively accountable for compliance with the Code and their performance in ensuring safe marine operations in the harbour and approaches to the harbour. The duty holder has carried out training for this role.

The duty holder can be contacted via xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for matters relating to safe marine operations. Normal operational matters should continue to be addressed to the harbour master team. There will be further updates here in due course as we move towards compliance.

Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code – Designated Person

The Environment Agency is the Statutory Harbour Authority for Lydney Harbour. As such it has a responsibility to ensure a safe environment at all times for the:
- general public
- users of the harbour facilities
- harbour staff
This is achieved through the implementation of the Marine Safety Management System.

The Environment Agency has appointed an independent Designated Person to monitor compliance with the requirements of the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code. The Designated Person for the Environment Agency at Lydney Harbour is Harry Aitchison of ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) Ltd. All port and harbour users - including harbour authority staff - have direct access to the Designated Person. Concerns regarding marine safety in the port or harbour, in the first instance, should be raised with the Harbour Master (or for Authority staff with your direct line manager). If additional, independent advice regarding the matter is required, any reasonable concerns can be brought to the attention of the Designated Person by any of the following methods:
- email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- post: Designated Person (PMSC) ‘Lydney’, ABPmer, Quayside Suite, Medina Chambers, Town Quay, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 2AQ
- telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx or xx-xxxx-xxxx
The Designated Person and the Maritime Team at ABPmer:
- have detailed knowledge of the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code, the guide to good practice on port and marine facilities and accompanying Competency Standards
- provide independent assurance to the Duty Holder that the marine safety management system required by the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code is working effectively
- at regular intervals, audit the Harbour Authority’s compliance with the Code
The Designated Person has direct access to the Duty Holder whenever this is deemed necessary.

Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code

Marine Safety Management System

Our Marine Safety Management System (MSMS), developed in accordance with the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC), is published and in place for harbour users. There are printed copies in the harbour office. Contact the harbour master for an accessible copy.

Safety plan for Marine Operations

The safety plan for Marine Operations is available and maintained in line with PMSC and best practice. It ensures the safe management of marine activities at Lydney Harbour.

Take a look at the Lydney Harbour Safety Plan 2024 to 2027 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lydney-harbour-safety-plan-2024-to-2027/lydney-harbour-safety-plan-2024-to-2027).

Plan your passage into the harbour

We recommend you plan your passage to or from Lydney Harbour taking account of:
- the weather
- times of high and low water
- available depths and hazards
You need to check Admiralty chart 1166. The harbour master can also give you guidance. Local notices to mariners for the safety of navigation will be published on this page. Contact the harbour team for details of any currently in force notices to mariners when planning your arrival/departure to or from Lydney harbour.

Information regarding passage planning to and from Lydney harbour is also available on the:
- Gloucester Harbour Trustees website - passage planning (https://gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/passage-planning/)
- Gloucester Harbour Trustees website - leisure craft (https://gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/new-leisure-craft/)
Navigating Lydney Harbour

Approaches to the harbour are shown on British Admiralty chart 1166, position Latitude 51o42’.6 North and Longitude 2o30’.5 West.

The harbour consists of an outer basin, inner basin and a disused canal.

There are no suitable anchorages close to the harbour.

Water height approaching the harbour

The approaches to Lydney are subject to very strong tidal streams and the area outside the harbour dries at low water.

Datum relating to Lydney

Chart Datum is 1.83m below Ordnance Datum Newlyn.

Lydney Sill is 0.13m below Ordnance Datum Newlyn.

Tidal Heights in relation to Chart Datum
- Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) 9.3m
- Mean High Water Neaps (MHWN) 5.6m
- Mean Low Water Springs 0.6m
- Mean Low Water Neaps 0.5m
The depth over the outer basin sill is 7.6 metres at MHWS and 3.9 metres at MHWN.

You can work out the depth of water over the sill by deducting 1.2 metres from the depth shown on the gauge at Sharpness Dock (http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk) at the head of Bristol Channel.

Harbour procedures

To maintain safe and efficient marine operations within the harbour limits, vessels seeking to berth in the Inner Basin must comply with dimensional restrictions, not exceeding a maximum draft of 2.0 metres, a beam of 6.0 metres, and an overall length of 25 metres.

The entrance to Lydney Harbour can be difficult to navigate. It’s only available at or within half an hour of high water. The tidal streams run across the entrance with considerable strength.

Boats approaching Lydney should switch their radio to VHF channel 37. All boat movements are controlled by the harbour master, via VHF radio or mobile phone and with a minimum of 24 hours prior notice. Boats may enter Lydney Harbour when a low intensity orange flashing light is displayed at a height of 2.5m from a stand on the north side of the entrance to the outer basin. This light is visible when abeam of the north pier, at a range of half a nautical mile.

If you are able to you should also monitor VHF radio channel 13 (Sharpness Radio) to check inter-ship communication and communication with Sharpness Dock to avoid potential collision with commercial boats bound to or from Sharpness Dock.

To ensure the safety of navigation of all boats in the River Severn, the main channel must be recognised as a narrow channel in the context of The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281965/msn1781.pdf). Rule 9 of these regulations, about narrow channels, is particularly important for all boats using the River Severn and Lydney Harbour.

You should note that large or commercial boats on the river may have restricted navigation and be unable to take action to avoid a collision because of the narrow channel and severe tides.

Basin and lock dimensions

The harbour outer gates have a width of 10.1 metres.

The outer basin is 82.3 metres long with an average width of 22.7 metres and depths of 7.3 metres at high water springs.

The lock to the inner basin is about 30 metres long, 7.3 metres wide and has depths of 4.1 metres at the upper gate sill.

The inner basin is 231.7 metres long and 32 metres wide.

Pilotage

Pilotage is not compulsory within Lydney Harbour.

Pilotage is compulsory in Gloucester Harbour if your boat is 30m or more long. You can get details from the Gloucester Harbour Trustees (http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk).

Boats entering Lydney Harbour

You should approach the dock on a westerly heading from the main channel of the River Severn, from a point north of Bull Rock. Then cross the Sanigar Sands toward the main pier of Lydney Dock.

How you approach will depend on the height and location of any off lying sandbanks. The sandbanks vary in level and may be up to 1 metre above the height of Lydney entrance sill.

The outer basin at the harbour is used to tow moor inbound boats and pre-position outbound boats as required so full use can be made of the times the tidal allows passage over the sill.

Notice of arrival and departure time

You should contact the harbour master to give notice of when you plan to arrive at or leave the harbour so the harbour gates can be opened.

A minimum of 24 hours notice of arrival and departure is required. The harbour is not manned continuously. The harbour master normally works only normal office hours Monday to Friday and so contact should be made as early as possible.

Boats leaving the harbour should be ready to enter the lock one hour before high water. The harbour is operational from 90 minutes before high water until high water.

Insurance

All boats entering Lydney Harbour must have a minimum of third party marine insurance. People using Lydney Harbour do so at their own risk; the Environment Agency accepts no responsibility for any loss or injury.

Harbour approach and entry

On both flood and ebb of the tide there is a strong flow across the entrance to the harbour, up to about 6 knots. There is slack water between the entrance piers. There is also slack water on the in-coming tide north of Lydney pier extending as far as Fairtide rock.

You should plan to arrive off Lydney no earlier than 20 minutes before high water. Take care not to arrive off the entrance too early on tide and ensure that there’s sufficient under keel clearance over Lydney and Saniger sands.

We recommend that if you are approaching from the south west you use the main navigational channel until mid way between Bull Rock Beacon and Berkeley Pill. Then steer a course for Lydney Harbour entrance making allowance for tidal influence.

If you are approaching from Sharpness head for Lydney north pier making allowance for tidal influence and making use of the slack water mentioned above. During the summer months there may be small yachts on drying moorings in this area.

Give a wide berth to the fish trap marked on the chart 2 miles south west of Lydney. At some states of tide it will be just below water level. We recommend that you don’t leave the main channel unless you have local knowledge of the area.

Large commercial ships using the nearby docks at Sharpness and the River Severn are confined to the main navigation channel. This is recognised as a narrow channel and skippers of small craft should act prudently and with due regard to the International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea to avoid hampering the movement of larger boats.

Information for small boats travelling between Sharpness and Bristol is available from Gloucester Harbour Trustees (http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk). This includes information for boats travelling to Lydney. Information is also in Arrowsmith’s Bristol Channel tide table, available to buy online or from book sellers.

Moorings at the harbour

Lydney Harbour is now accepting applications for new moorings. If you are interested in securing a berth, please register your interest by completing the mooring or berth request form (https://rfs-v1.harbourassist.com/ext/service/22793a665f934b81a3fa6c0a9e9c5305?tenantKey=Lydney).

If you are unable to complete the form online, contact the harbour team directly for assistance.

All current customers must ensure that they have provided updated contact details. This includes:
- name
- full postal address
- telephone number
- email address
- boat name
You can login to the Lydney Harbour online portal (https://lydney.harbourassist.com/portal/login) to update your details and view your account.

Read our terms and conditions for our current annual mooring licence holders (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1149746/Lydney_Harbour_TC_202324.pdf).

There are a limited number of moorings available in the inner harbour for annual and monthly and visiting leisure customers.

Harbour dues/fees and mooring charges: 2025 to 2026

Visiting commercial vessels

£4.36 per metre per day.

Visiting leisure vessels

£15.00 per night or £15.00 per visit if less than 24 hours.

Annual mooring charge

£81.75 per metre per year.

Mooring charge for less than one year

£81.75 per metre per year pro rata by arrangement.

Examples are a:

20m commercial vessel visiting for one night would pay: £4.36 × 20m = £87.20

25m commercial vessel on annual mooring: £81.75 × 25m = £2,043.75

9m leisure vessel moored for 90 days: £81.75 ÷ 365 × 90 days × 9m = £181.42

9m leisure vessel moored for 300 days: £81.75 ÷ 365 × 300 days × 9m = £604.73

12m visiting leisure vessel staying for 2 nights: £15.00 × 2 nights = £30.00

These fees include harbour dues and VAT. Fees are payable immediately on receipt of the relevant invoice. The Environment Agency has the right to exercise a general lien upon any vessel and/or her gear and equipment, whilst in or upon the limits of the harbour, until such time as the monies due to the Environment Agency in respect to such vessel shall be paid.

See our terms and conditions for our current annual mooring licence holders (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1149746/Lydney_Harbour_TC_202324.pdf).

Exemptions from harbour dues and mooring charges apply for:
- tenders clearly identified as a tender boat to a vessel already paying fees and
- boats of the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) and other emergency services vessels while on duty
The harbour team controls all moorings within the harbour area. Allocation is determined though discussion between the harbour master and the boat operator/owner.

Although there are no permanent alongside moorings for leisure craft, our newly acquired pontoon can accommodate up to 5 boats. Visitor boats will be given priority for berths at the pontoon. All mooring customers will be given free access to the pontoon for up to 20 days. Any additional days at the pontoon will be subject to the harbour master’s discretion.

All annual and monthly mooring leisure craft are currently moored to mooring buoys in the inner harbour. Access to vessels at their moorings is by tender vessel (owner-provided or by arrangement with the local yacht club or harbour master). You should consider this when choosing whether to apply for a mooring at Lydney – there may be more suitable harbours for your needs. There is also very limited access to fresh water, engineering services, or waste disposal.

The terms and conditions above are for the mooring of vessels only. We aim to assist our customers and marine users as much as possible within the limits of what is reasonable and safe within the operating parameters of the harbour at the present.

Lydney Yacht Club (https://lydneyyachtclub.org/) leases premises and the slipway adjacent to Lydney Harbour.