Dorset and Devon Coast (13): Sharpness, Gloucestershire

Dorset and Devon Coast Trip, Day 15 (Sat 22nd May 2021)

Yesterday was the final day of our planned holiday on the Dorset and Devon Coast, but we decided to break our journey homeward with an overnight stay at Sharpness.  The stopover was actually at Sharpness Dockers Social Club, which offers places for motorhomes and campervans on their car park and the field below the clubhouse.

We arrived in reasonable weather and soon enough to explore the area.  Sharpness docks lies at the end of a canal, on the River Severn quite close to the estuary.  As such it is tidal. 

At the end of the canal, there is a marina where there are many boats which appear to provide full-time living accommodation.

Others looked as though it had been some time since they were lived-in.

From the banks of the river, you can see the Severn Road Bridges in the distance, downstream.  But this was not the first bridge across the river near here.  The Severn Railway Bridge was opened in 1879 and took 21 spans and a swing-bridge to cross the river, stretching to ¾ mile.  It was destroyed in a horrific accident in 1960.

We walked along the banks of the river, following the path which runs between the river and the canal.  All along this part of the river bank, there are scuttled boats and ships which were sunk to help stabilise the banks by trapping silt.  Known as Purton Ships Graveyard, the remains of many of these vessels can be seen with bits of hull and ribs sticking out through the mud.

We enjoyed a meal and a couple of pints in the clubhouse that evening.  This was the first time we had eaten in such a venue for some time and was a welcome change resulting from the relaxation of Covid lockdown rules.