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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 05:02,
High water: 11:21
Low water: 17:19,
High water: 23:37
Local weather
ENE Force 6, Patchy light drizzle, 7°C
Swell today
Direction NE, height 1.3 metres, period 8.2 seconds, significant wave height of 1.8 metres.
Summary
An exposed location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
3 metres (9.84 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: NE, E, SE, S
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, village, secluded, scenic.
Facilities (summary)
Basic shopping, hot food, public houses, walks, family recreation.
Haven position? See it »
55° 7.620' N, 006° 2.280' W
Where is that position? See it »
This position is in about 5 metres of water situated at the south side of the beach and approximately 200 metres east of the mouth of the River Dunn.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Cushendun Bay Initial Fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
55° 7.620' N, 006° 1.850' W
This is approximately 400 metres out from the anchorage and 600 metres out from the mouth of the River Dunn. A bearing of due west or 270°(T) will lead to the anchorage from here.
Why visit here?
Cushendun derives its name from the river mouth it was built upon; in Irish, ‘Cois Abhann Duinne’ meaning ‘beside the brown river’ or ‘foot of the brown river’. It is a particularly picturesque costal village that is situated upon a raised beach at the outflow of the glacial valleys of Glendun and Glencorp.
The exact origins of the site are unknown but it most likely began life as a holy place in the Iron Age. Being just sixteen miles away from the Scottish coast and the closest Irish mainland harbour it has been a landing point between Ireland and Scotland since this area was first inhabited. Historically there has been a continuous passage of travellers from Cushendun and Kintyre, on the opposite coast, trading black cattle and pigs for Highland ponies.
In 1830 plans were drawn up for a commercial port at Cushendun by a local businessman Nicholas Cromelin to serve the surrounding district and industrial centre of Ballymena. The architect Sir John Rennie was commissioned for the design but the project failed when the government pulled funding from the project. Subsequently however several factories were built beside the south quay, including a ropewalk (a long narrow shed for spinning rope) and starch works, to which later was added a steam-powered flax mill that was the only one in the glens.
The village we see today owes much of its character and unique architectural heritage to Ronald John McNeill who became the 1st Baron of Cushendun in 1927. He developed the village square with seven house in 1912 and later, in 1923, Mauds Cottages and Glenmona House.
This unique architectural inheritance in a picturesque coastal setting, that itself is in the heart of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area, resulted in Cushendun being designated a Conservation area of outstanding natural beauty to be preserved by the National Trust in 1980.
Today Cushendun is a quiet location with some small leisure boating and fishing. Although an exposed anchorage in settled conditions it offers another location on this beautiful coastline at the mouth of the River Dun with Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim, above the town.
It also offers another stop off point for boats bound in either direction through the North Channel or indeed crossing from the Western Isles of Scotland. Access to Cushendun is straightforward as it is non-tidal and available at all times plus free of off-lying dangers. Hence it serves as a tide wait location to allow mariners to take full advantage of favourable tidal streams that is the dominate feature of this area of the coast.
How to get in?
Approaching from the south. The coast to the north of Black Head, marked by Black Head lighthouse, a white 8-sided tower, presents a steep perpendicular cliff. It is composed of black basaltic rocks that at ‘The Gobbins’ is 45 metres high with deep water close in.
Blackhead Lighthouse - Fl 3s 45m 27M position: 54° 46.016’N, 005° 41.338’W
Muck island, 5 miles to the northward of Black head, is attached to the shore by a narrow neck of shingle beach, its east or sea face presents a perpendicular cliff. It is possible to stop a tide on either side of it. On rounding Muck island, you may choose to come up either inshore of Hunter Rock or between Hunter Rock and the Maidens.
Hunter Rock is covered by 0.8 metres and lies two and a half miles northeast of the Larne Harbour entrance. It is marked by North and South Cardinal Light buoys.
North Hunter - VQ position: 54° 53.046’N, 005 45.114’W
South Hunter - VQ (6) + LFl 10s position: 54° 52.691’N, 005 45.284’W
Further out to sea from Hunter Rock, a distance of 4.5 miles from Larne and nearly 4 miles east of Ballygalley head, consist two clusters of rocks, separated from each other by a deep and wide sound called the West and East Maiden.
The Maidens are steep-to all round and are marked by a lighthouse with a white tower and black band on the East Maiden - plus the remains of a West Maiden lighthouse that was taken out of service in 1903.
Maidens Lighthouse - Fl (3) 20s 29m 24M position: 54° 55.748’N, 005° 43.709’W
Once past Hunter Rock, and the Maidens Lighthouse is abeam, Cushendun is about 16 miles to the northwest and clear of offshore dangers.
Upon the shore the round bulge, 89 metres high Ballygally Head, will be seen. It is a steep cliff; its base is fringed by craggy basaltic rocks. Nearby stands the ruin of the ancient castle of Ballygally. From there the coastline is backed by a rocky mountain range attaining a height of 380 metres, and terminating in Park head. This is a conspicuous headland of a nearly perpendicular 140 metres high cliff. Glenarm bay resides immediately to the north of Path head.
Five miles north of Glenarm is Garron Point that resides to the south of Red Bay. It is a bold precipitous headland that rises abruptly to a height of 230 metres close to the shore, and 396 metres a short distance inland. Red Bay resides between Garron Point and Limerick Point three and a quarter miles northwest. It is a deep and open bay where inland hills rise to a height of over 350 metres. Cushendun Bay is 3 miles to the northward of Red Bay. The entire stretch of coast line to Garron Point is clear of off lying dangers with good depths close in.
Across the North Channel, the Scottish Islands of North Islay, Mull of Kintyre, Rhyns of Galloway, Paps of Jura and Paddy's Milestone or Ailsa Craig can be seen as close as fifteen miles off. The North channel is scarcely 11 miles wide here and 140 metres deep and clear of hidden dangers.
Approaching from the north the most significant landmark is the impressive Fair Head that represents Ireland’s northeast corner. The mountain range bordering the coast terminates here in a flat top 190 metre high headland that extends out level with the mainland. A perpendicular cliff rounds the edge of Fair Head dropping down straight for 90 metres to an abrupt slope of boulders. This then descends at an almost uniform 30 degree angle to the water's edge. Fair Head’s surrounding waters are steep-to all round with from 15 to 35 metres of water to be found a distance of 200 metres from the rocks.
Progressing south from Fair Head the rugged Antrim mountain slopes push almost vertically out to the coast. Composed of white limestone overlaid with black basaltic rocks the cliffs were formed from deposits of skeletal remains of fish from when the area was submerged in a warm tropical sea about 140 million years ago. They are a remarkable feature of this coast.
3 miles southeast of Fair Head, and approximately 5 miles North of Cushendun, Torr Head that is the next significant headland. Torr Head has a disused coast-guard watch-house on its summit and an elevation of 67 metres above the sea.
On closer approach Runabay Head will be conspicuous just over two miles to the north of Cushendun Bay. It is formed by the base of a rugged mountain slope that descends sheer into the sea from a height of 260 metres.
Once in Cushendun Bay head for the Initial Fix. From there it is approximately 400 metres due west or 270°(T) to the anchorage just north of the mouth of the River Dunn and off the south end of the beach. A yellow outflow marker Fl(4)Y.12s on approach plus conspicuous terrace of houses will be seen near on the south side of the River Dunn. These are located to the south of where the recommended anchorage resides and a hotel ashore on the south end of the beach to the west. A sandy bottom shoals gradually to the shore on final approach and you can anchor in 2 to 4 metres to your preference. Shallow draft vessels drawing 0.5 metre can cross the bar of the River Dun at high water and dry out inside on the north shore just below the road bridge.
Please note it is inadvisable to anchor any further north than 200 metres from the south end of the bay. There is a wreck near the middle of the bay, approximately 400 metres offshore, with a depth of 4.2 metres of cover. Foul ground exists on either side of the wreck for a distance of 400 metres to the north and south. Consequently the south side of the bay is the only clear area to anchor.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0006
Today's Belfast tides — High water: 11:15, 23:31, Low water: 04:56, 17:13
Today's Dover tides — High water: 11:14, 23:30, Low water: 06:06, 18:22 (From Tide Times)
High Water Dover –0015 Dover
MHWS 1.6m MHWN 1.5m MLWN 0.3m MLWS 0.2m
The stream sets round Garron point at the rate of 5 knots on springs, running in a direct line between it and Tornamoney Point at the north side of Cushendun Bay. At half ebb there is an eddy round the shores of Red bay, which sets out pretty strong along the south shore, causing 9 hours stream to the eastward there. There is also an eddy along the western shore with the flood, after half tide, but there is little stream in the bight of the bay where the Red Bay or Cushendall anchorages are situated. These two locations are out of the run of the strong tides but not so Cushendun that is less protected and subject to strong tidal streams.
Further north, the tide sweeps round the headlands at the rate of 5 knots close to the shore. The spring ebb tide has been observed to run at 9 knots close off the tip of Torr Head causing a large eddy about 100 metres northeast of the head and great overfalls.
The latest monthly Dover and Dublin (North Wall) tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.
The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Ulster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.
A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.
What facilities are available?
Cushendun is a small coastal village with a population of less than 150 people and as such has only basic provisions and no fuel ashore. It is situated off the A2 coast road about 20 kilometres to the south east of Ballycastle. Nearby Cushendall, a slightly larger village two to three miles walk, has more shops, pubs and a hotel.
What emergency contacts are there?
Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.
Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933. An auxiliary coastguard station and an inshore lifeboat are stationed at Cushendall.
Other useful contacts in this area:
Cushendall Sailing & Boating Club, Phone: +44 28 2177 1673, Web: http://www.csbc.co.uk/
Address: Cushendall Sailing & Boating Club, Coast Road, Cushendall, Co Antrim BT44 0QW, Northern Ireland.
Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel anchored off Cushendun.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’ 2199 ‘North Channel – Northern Part’ scale of 75,000:1 and 2198 ‘North Channel - Southern Part’ scale of 75,000:1 are good planning charts for the area. Also Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’ Chart C64 ‘Belfast Lough to Crinan and Islay’ plus Northern Ireland Ordinance Survey No. 5 and 9 at a scale of 1:50,000 for inland details.
With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, County Wexford.
Please note inyourfootsteps.com makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.
