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| Anchorages = Red, Marinas = Blue, Green = Possible |
To see my recent visits to each anchorage check out the "Labels" towards the bottom of the right hand panel, links below may not be comprehensive.
Update through Sept 2023 to include Harbours and Marinas also info on fuel & gas availability although this is not comprehensive as I don't need either that often.
Further updated during a boring winter 2023/4 to include some information on access to and from marinas. See my page Marina notes (opens in a new window) for some general tips and the context (handling of my boat) in which I comment.
Comment re the Pilot refer to the 2nd edition, the 3rd edition may correct the minor errors found.
Contents (in order presented, S to N) updated to 14th June 2025.
- Ardglass.
- Knockinelder Bay.
- Ballyholm Bay, Bangor.
- Bangor Marina.
- Brown's Bay.
- Larne “Yellow Stone” anchorage.
- Red Bay
Ardglass
A well sheltered small marina with very limited manoeuvring room, the entrance is likely to be problematic and often dangerous, in a strong south easterly or easterly wind.
The berths directly ahead as you enter (see pic below) are easiest to get into but, at least at low tide when you will want to leave if heading south, tricky to get out of with very limited turning room especially from the one I was in below, On one occasion with no wind very early in the morning I reversed out from this berth to the end of the channel. At high water it can be somewhat easier, the rise in tide being from a little over 2 metres at neaps to well over 5 at springs.
I have not been further in but with a clockwise prop it may well be easier on the far side of the first pontoon, after passing the hammerhead all turns are to starboard and coming out from any but the furthest berth there is room to back out turning to port into the avenue then drive out ahead. Update: on one of my 2024 visits I went inside and it was indeed straight forward.
Fuel by porterage a longish walk without a trolley (c 1/2 mile?) from a garage with an unusually good SPAR shop. Small off licence, several places to eat and take-aways, the Chinese (sit down or take out) is good. Showers and laundry facilities (domestic type) at the marina. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.
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| On a visitors berth at Ardglass, getting onto one of these berths is not normally a problem, getting out could be due to lack of manoeuvring room. |
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| And keep close to the pontoon if going to the back of it, more work to get on to but more turning space when you leave. |
The marina at low tide, Sancerre on an inside
berth. When full screen it works better slowed
down a bit.
Knockinelder Bay.
A useful passage anchorage or a place to wait for the tide going into Strangford Lough, Its quite open and not as well sheltered from the north as the pilot would have you believe with swell from a F5 NNW wind that had only been going a few hours refracting into the bay whilst it was not severe it could wel lbe a lot worse after a sustained northerly blow. O2 only one bar, fine for a phone call but data was very poor, Vodafone 2 bars and usable internet.
Video to follow
Visited in 2025.
Ballyholm Bay, Bangor
Bangor Marina
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| I was lucky here, I could back out turning to port, John then owner of the 34ft Pippin next to me who took the picture was not so lucky but had a bow thruster to help and I was gone by then so he had some manoeuvring room. |
Initial access is easy but be prepared for a pile appearing as you turn to starboard from the commercial harbour, with a moments thought it is obvious that you leave it to starboard but iirc it is not marked as starboard hand.
Small boats are likely to be sent to the berths furthest from the entrance, the channel is quite narrow and the avenues more so, getting in and out needs care and if you need to turn round in the channel on the west side of the marina you will need to use a spare berth or go to the back and use one of the avenues.
A well sheltered decent marina, local authority owned but privately operated. Facilities rather utilitarian but perfectly acceptable. Fuel berth, but I refuelled by porterage, white diesel only. Small chandlery, lots of places to eat of varying quality, good ASDA supermarket about half a mile (uphill). Gas is available. Vodafone and O2 (5G) signals OK.
Browns Bay
A good spot for the passage across the North Channel to or from Islay, Gigha or Campbelltown, the usual first or last ports of call when cruising through the Scottish Islands and not using the Crinan canal. It is exposed to the North and can suffer from surge but if it is too bad you can always go into Larne as I did in 2025. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.
Larne “Yellow Stone” anchorage.
It’s quite open to the south through west to north with no protection from the wind but the fetch is not great and it is protected from swell outside of the lough. There is a moderate tidal current through the anchorage from the way another yacht was lying it appears to be stronger the further south you go. There is plenty of room but avoid the cable. Vodafone and O2 OK.
The view south is not unpleasant but the less said
about the north the better.
Red Bay
A good alternate to Browns Bay if you can get that far north but be warned the tide runs very strongly around Garron Point. It can be a useful place to wait for a good tide going in either direction making use of inshore counter currents for an early start see my visit in 2023. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.
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Anchorages, marinas and harbours:
- The Solent.
- The Needles to Rame Hd (Plymouth).
- Rame Head to Lands End.
- The Isles of Scilly.
- Lands End to The Mull of Galloway excluding Ireland.
- The East Coast of Ireland from Carnsore Pt to Carlingford.
- N. Ireland
- Ireland clockwise from Carnsore Point.
- Mull of Galloway to South of Crinan.
- Crinan to Ardnamurchan Point.
- Ardnamurchan Point to Skye Bridge.
- Skye Bridge to Rubha Reidh (west of Loch Ewe).
- The Western Isles.
- Rubha Reidh to Duncansby Head.
- Orkney and Shetland.
- Duncansby Head to the Solent.
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