When venturing to Kingsbridge and Salcombe the tidal road to Aveton Gifford can be tempting at times, and sat navs may suggest it at any time - DO NOT TRUST YOUR SAT NAV - IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE TIDE IS DOING. Look out of the apartment windows and if the tide is in or coming in don't go there!
The tidal road runs along the river and is accessed down the extremely narrow Stakes Hill (from Holywell Stores down past the Oyster shack). The other end is the roundabout on the A379 to Kingsbridge etc. The photo below was taken at 13.22 when Salcombe low tide was 13.08 - 14mins earlier, and you can see how low the road is, it is quickly covered. Actually the tidal road though interesting has little to recommend it. Stakes Hill beyond the Oyster Shack is very very narrow with virtually no room to pass, if you own your own car its one to avoid!
IF THE ROAD IS COVERED OR CLOSE, DO NOT RISK IT. Water lapping around the car can stop the engine and do irreparable damage, it can push the car off the road into the channel. It is easy to miss the edges and get wheels into the soft mud.
Don't be 'that person'.
Check tide tables first. Google tide times Bigbury on Sea or visit https://www.devon-tides.com/bigbury-on-sea-tide-times. On spring tides (high water in early evenings and early mornings) the tidal road may start to be covered about two hours before high tide, and remains covered for about two hours after high tide; in bad weather, particularly if there are strong onshore winds, this may be even longer.
On neap tides (high water just after mid-day/night) the tide may barely cover the road. Be aware that it is possible to get cut off; the tide can come in very rapidly, and its rate varies – if in doubt ask a local!.
To give an AVERAGE time of high and low water at the mouth of the river, add 7 minutes to the above time. To give an AVERAGE time of high and low water at Aveton Gifford add 35 minutes on to the above time.
In British waters there are two high and two low tides every lunar day. The lunar day is slightly longer than our own 24 hour day – it is 24 hours, 50 minutes and 28 seconds, and that is why the time for high tide moves on each day.
The photo immediately below was taken at 13.22 when Salcombe low tide was 13.08 - 14mins earlier, and you can see how low the road is, it is quickly covered.
The photo below from the Bigbury Coastguard Rescue Team shows what can happen
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