Holmscar HarbourHarbour Authority · VHF Ch 12

Mon 5 Oct 10:40 BSTTide 2.83 m risingHW 14:13 4.20 mLW 19:50 1.84 mOver the sill 0.93 mWind SW 4, gusts 21 kn

Approach and lights

Enter on the leading line, 312°, from the fairway buoy. The channel is dredged to 2.0 m and open at all states of tide.

Drawn for this practice site. Not for navigation. Use an official chart.

Holmscar Harbour and approaches Drawn chart. The harbour faces south-east. The approach channel runs on a leading line of 312 degrees from the fairway buoy to the breakwater heads. Holm Scar rock and light lie 1.1 nautical miles south-west of the entrance. Depths shallow toward the coast; drying banks lie along the shore west of the harbour. 010918284353945051344454448596568686516151431465477276887993911203243451587395981021141111210402162839626876911013114114152142142732526416810310611413147153154173166171173556091449871281391481761781751991991886859751091491972052221229879574153681061462412816724252526153145186212425262727272727 Dredged 2.0 m Leading lights in line 312° Ldg Lts Oc W 4s Fl G 3s Fl R 3s Fl(2) W 10s 18m 12M Fairway Iso 10s No. 3No. 4No. 5No. 6 HOLMSCAR Holmscar Point Holm Scar Rill Sands Holmscar Harbour Holmscar Roads Depths in metres below chart datum.Underlined figures: drying heights above chart datum.Contours 0, 2, 5, 10 m. Drawn for this site. Not for navigation. 0.5 nautical miles
Holmscar Harbour and approaches. Depths in metres below chart datum.

Lights

Holm Scar
Fl(2) W 10s 18m 12MWhite tower on the rock, 1.1 nautical miles south-west of the entrance
East breakwater head
Fl G 3s 7m 4MGreen post
West breakwater head
Fl R 3s 7m 4MRed post. Unreliable, see notice 23/2026
Leading lights
Oc W 4s, front 9m, rear 21mFront on the Fish Quay, rear on the church tower. In line on 312°
Fairway buoy
Iso 10sRed and white vertical stripes, red ball top mark

Pilotage

  1. From the westPass south of Holm Scar by at least 0.3 nautical miles. Rill Sands dry 2 m and extend 0.6 nautical miles from the shore.
  2. Fairway buoyCall Holmscar Harbour on Ch 12. Turn onto 312° with the leading lights in line.
  3. ChannelBuoys No. 3 to 6. Dredged 2.0 m. Keep to starboard; fishing boats leave at all hours.
  4. Breakwater headsEntrance 60 m wide. Strong cross-set on the ebb, up to 1.5 knots east to west.

Dangers

  • Holm Scar: rock awash at low water springs, 0.2 nautical miles around the light.
  • Sunken mooring block off the slipway, 0.4 m at datum. Yellow buoy. Notice 16/2026.
  • Dredger in the channel, Mon 12 to Fri 23 October. Notice 22/2026.
  • Swell breaks on the bar off Rill Sands in south-westerly gales.

Lights and buoys notices

A red light tower on a rock in calm grey water