But I've BEEN to the Smallest Pub !

Yes I have, it's called the New Inn and it's near Cerne Abbas in Dorset.

Well that's all a misapprehension on my part apparently. The boozer that three of my mates and I used to sneak into for pints of Bulmers from the wood at the tender age of 14 (no I don't recommend it now)*** whilst we were on Summer camp it turns out isn't the smallest.

It's another pub in the Cerne Valley, the Smiths Arms at Godmanston so there.

No it's not. It's actually the Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds, no, no Wikipedia reliably informs us it's the Hole in the Wall, Brighton, apparently there's a certificate on the wall to prove it, so there.

Only problem is the same Wiki page also tells us the Nutshell is the smallest.

Go figure.

I Reckon this one's smaller

But then again who knows or cares?

If you're wondering what set me off on this particular track (apart from the usual insane random thoughts that come from getting up at five and working too hard all day) it was Ports.

Yes I did say Ports, plural.

Not the dark brown nectar from Brazils home town but the things we sail into. As AT would say the land/water interface for transfer of commerce,personnel and the extrapolation of a travel based undertaking.

Now the first Mate and I have taken a bit of an interest in the dockside agenda lately (what with it being our job and all).

In one of our more random chats on the subject of all water borne freight he happened across a site which claimed to show the smallest dock in Britain.

Having seen the photo's I'm pretty sure that's an accurate description.

That's it Folks. In its entirety.

Firstly many thanks to Bob Jones for his wonderful photo's.

Let's be honest, how would you feel about docking in there on a stormy night on the Berwick Coast?

A visit is definitely in order for this one, the sort of Ports we visit in the line of duty have a ring of rainbow coloured scum slopping in an oily ripple round some miscellaneous polystyrene bits.

I mean this place might not even be real.

It's been "blasted out of the Gegan Rock in the shadow of Tantillan Castle".

Who wrote this stuff? JRRT himself I reckon.

Perhaps Bob is really 18 inches tall with a pointy hat.

Seriously folks I just hope that the tiny Harbour at Seacliff IS the smallest Port in Britain.

Otherwise you lot are all going to post objections and send me pictures from your ruddy phones of some scummy little puddle of Barking Creek or the Lower Mersea.

But have no fear.

I won't publish them.

I shall sit here and dream of the tide getting up at the foot of the cliffs in Seacliff.

Many thanks to Bob for letting me use his shots, you won't see better.

You can see more of our British Ports (as people in 94 countries now visit the Handy Shipping Guide)at www.ports.org.uk

But they aren't all gonna be as pretty as this one.

*** Actually that's a fib.

Comments

[Wotchit321]

No, I can believe that's a port. It has, as you pointed out, the obligatory skin of scum on the surface, clearly visible in the lower pic.

Still, looks very picturesque.

[Captain P]

That ain't scum, that's genuine spume mate !

[Bob Jones]

Good stuff! But it's not the easiest place to find, I should warn your friends. Take the A198 between North Berwick and Dunbar. At the right-angle bend at Auldhame, go straight on (if travelling from N Berwick), or sharp right if coming from Dunbar. You may have to deposit a £2 coin to venture much further. There's a car park by the beach. Strike off across the rocks towards the distant lobster pots. It's worth the effort.

18" Bob (and that's not my height...)
http://www.ports.org.uk

[Freight fan]

Love it. Great info.

[Janney]

Thanks for sharing your great travel adventure. The photos makes me long to visit the place in the future. Good luck on all your endeavors. By the way, do you know that you can earn by travelling? I found a new social networking community that is surely exciting to join. I hope you'll be interested too. Have a blessed day!