Use Admiralty Chart 1165. The coast is fairly steep-to from either direction and the trick is simply to find the entrance, 1.4 miles east of Ilfracombe. The white Coastguard cottages high on Rillage Point are not quite half a mile west of Watermouth entrance. The pill-box on Burrow Nose stands two cables east of the entrance, a useful mark when approaching Watermouth from the east. Combe Martin village is visible just over a mile east of Watermouth.

You can enter Watermouth at practically any state of tide, although at low springs the cove dries out almost to the end of Burrow Nose. Neaps are best for cruising the Bristol Channel and a dead low neap is a good time to enter Watermouth, with minimal cross-tide across the entrance. You then know exactly how far to edge in before anchoring. Watch out for crab-pot floats each side of the entrance.

A night entry is not recommended, although it’s not difficult to leave at night if the weather changes. You should avoid Watermouth in fresh winds that have any hint of north.