Planning for Ireland 2026. Part 2 Baltimore to Lough Foyle & beyond

Lots of potential places to visit depending on the weather.
A few potential routes shown (from planning some years ago, to
be reviewed).

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It took well over a day but I now have a good selection of anchorages where, in the right conditions, I would be happy to stop over night. 139 of them (now 155) from Carnsore clockwise to Portrush, plus those on the east coast and the ones I have already used between Carnsore and Baltimore. Now as I sail round I don't have to plough through the pilot when at sea or at anchor, a glance at this chart on my iPads, phone or PC, then if there is more than one a more detailed review of the likely candidates.

Updated November 2025

I originally planned this as a route to St Kilda for 2022 but decided to prioritise going direct and later to Shetland, that took more years than expected to achieve. Hopefully in 2026 I can take a more leisurely approach, the original plan was intended as a passage rather than a cruise but it is a good starting point and so far I have just added days to allow for diversions on route although the mileages shown are direct. 

                                  NM  Days

To Baltimore                 220   7

Baltimore - Bantry Bay     36   3

Bantry - Ballycrovane         33   2

Ballycrovane - Valentia       33   2

Valentia - Dingle /Smerwick   24   2

Smerwick -Fenit               30   2 

Fenit - Carrigahold           27   2

Carrigahold -Doonbeg          33   1

Doonbeg - Inishmore           26   2

Inishmore - Clifden           42   2

Clifden - Inishbofin           9   1

Inishbofin - Blacksod         35   1

Blacksod - Broad Haven        31   1

Broad Haven - Kilcummin       33   1

Kilcummin - Teelin            30   3

Teelin - Inishkeel            29   1

Inishkeel - Arranmore         18   2

Arranmore - Sheep Haven       32   1

Sheep Haven - Lough Swilly    21   2

Lough Swilly - Culdaff Bay    21   1

Culdaff Bay - Islay           41   1

               Total direct  795  40

The distances don't account for stop offs / diversions from the direct routes so it will likely be over 1,000 NM and with weather delays probably 7 - 9 weeks. 

After Islay I plan to head to the Western Isles, particularly Barra Sound that I bypassed in 2023 and the Shiant Islands I missed this year when I had to head home from Stornoway. 

If the weather is good, a very BIG IF given my experiance of the area in May and June over the last 5 years, a trip through  The Sound of Barra  to the Monach Islands and another visit to St Kilda with time to go ashore and look at the smaller islands and stacks would be nice.

Update November.

The ICC Sailing Directions (15th Ed, 2020) highlight a lack of places to get fuel, partly due to the EU ruling on coloured diesel in pleasure boats, according to Reeds things seemed to have improved since then, from that I have compiled a list of places I might refuel and restore, several require short range porterage or use of the dinghy (there are more): Crosshaven Royal Cork YC, Kinsale, Castletownbear, Valentia Cahersiveen, Dingle Marina, Fenit, Mullaghmore, Sligo, Killybegs, Portrush.

The Sound of Barra is interesting and in the right weather
attractive. And Barra probably has the only airport with the
runway on the beach and scheduled flights. An objective for
the trip is some pics of an aircraft (often a Twin Otter, aka a
Twotter), taking off or landing.