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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 04:48,
High water: 11:24
Low water: 17:06,
High water: 23:49
Local weather
NE Force 5, Patchy light rain, 6°C
Swell today
Direction E, height 0.0 metres, period 7.8 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.
Summary* Restrictions apply
A completely protected location with careful navigation required for access.
LWS draught
2 metres (6.56 feet).
Shelter See it »
Completely protected.
Nature (summary)
Marina, moorings, watched over, village, tidal, scenic, fish farming area, strong tides, fees due.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, diesel alongside, gas, slipway, electricity, waste disposal, laundry, supermarket, toilets, showers, hot food, public houses, cashpoint, post office, internet café, wireless access, doctor, pharmacy, chandlery, marina cart , haul-out, hard-standing, scrubbing posts or a place where a vessel can dry out for a scrub below the waterline, marine engineering, rigging services, electronic repair, walks, handicapped access, family recreation.
Haven position? See it »
54° 3.130' N, 006° 11.430' W
Where is that position? See it »
At the marina entrance marked with day marks and lights Port and Starboard, QR 4m 1M and QG 4m 1M.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Carlingford Lough Entrance Initial Fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
54° 0.100' N, 006° 2.052' W
500 metres due south of Hellyhunter a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.
Why visit here?
Carlingford Lough, with its upper parts resting between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains, is the most picturesque inlet on the East Coast of Ireland.
It is simply a must for sailors providing both interesting sailing plus a variety of beautiful locations to anchor in waters that are absent of swell. The area offers a unique blend of natural beauty, spectacular panoramas, myths and legends that combine with a modern day culture and great boating facilities.
Carlingford Lough (Irish: Loch Cairlinn – Cairlinn) takes its name from a shortened form of Cathair Linn literally translated as "City of the Pool". In older sources, Carlingford Lough is called Snám Aignech (meaning "swift channel", "swift shallows"). The old town's sheltered harbour on tranquil Carlingford Lough, may well have provided a useful base for Viking raiding parties but no signs of a permanent settlement have been found.
Today, Carlingford is one of Ireland's best preserved medieval towns, founded by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century, a linear settlement with typical medieval patterns, burgage plots, defensive walls, narrow streets, Friary and Urban Tower Houses. Much of this heritage and atmosphere remains today.
For the visiting boatman, Carlingford provides a tranquil, intimate base from which to enjoy the Cooley Peninsula and an ideal stepping stone to explore the other anchoring locations in the Lough itself.
How to get in?
Small vessels cannot enter or leave Carlingford Lough against the tide and for a first time visit it is advisable to approach on slack water. As slack water only happens twice a day, and most likely once in daylight, here are some cruising distances in nautical miles that may assist in planning your arrival:
Ardglass ~ 23 nm
Portaferry ~ 28 nm
Malahide ~ 38 nm
Dublin ~ 44 nm
Peel ~ 50 nm
Holyhead ~ 64 nm
Carlingford Lough is highly conspicuous as you approach the initial fix to set up for entry. The inlet is eight miles long, with its northeast reach residing between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains. In addition there is a 34 metre high grey granite tower, Haulbowline Lighthouse, standing in the entrance.
The Carlingford Lough Initial Fix is approximately 1 mile from the mouth of the Lough and marks the entrance to deep water shipping channel.
From the initial fix you may come straight in on the leading lights, in line 310° following the outer channel markers until the Haulbowline Lighthouse is past abeam.
Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W
Please be aware the entrance channel is only eighty metres wide here and yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic in this area.
When the lighthouse is abreast the course alters slightly to port towards Greenore Point on the south shore - conspicuous for a pine plantation with some buildings.
Then it is a matter of following the well marked mooring buoys - odd numbered buoys to starboard and even numbered red buoys to port. Once inside you will find the waters completely absent of swell and thus marker identification easy.
Continue up the Lough to the No.18 Port Hand Channel Buoy Fl R(4) 8s although as already mentioned it takes you past the marina. The Carlingford Bank resides between the channel and the marina up to No.18 buoy.
Take the No.18 buoy to Port and then round it to steer a course of approximately 190°. From there it is half a mile back to the entrance of the marina.
There is plenty of water all the way with more than six metres in the main channel up No.18 Buoy. From No.18 to the marina there the minimum depth of 2 metres MLWS and the marina itself is dredged to this depth.
The marina entrance is marked with day marks and lights Port and Starboard, QR 4m 1M and QG 4m 1M.
It is advised that you make berthing arrangements with the marina in advance by phoning +353 42 93 73073; VHF: or Channel 37 or 16, channel 16 - change to channel 06.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0019
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High water: 11:43, , Low water: 05:07, 17:25
Today's Dover tides — High water: 11:14, 23:30, Low water: 06:06, 18:22 (From Tide Times)
Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0500, Ebb +0020 Dover.
Max tidal rates:
One mile outside the entrance streams are imperceptible.
Buoyed approach channel 3.5 kn,
East of the lighthouse 4.5 kn
Between Greenore and the entrance 1.5 kn
Off Carlingford 1.5 kn
What facilities are available?
Carlingford Marina has fuel, water, electricity, toilets, showers plus garbage disposal. There is a public telephone, free WiFi plus a first class bar and restaurant with spectacular views of the Mourne and Cooley Mountains.
Address: Carlingford Marina, Carlingford, County Louth.
There is a slipway plus a 50 tonne travelling boatlift and winter storage can be arranged. You will also find a boat yard that provides repair facilities and a chandlery.
Ten minutes walk will take you to Carlingford town, although hardly bigger than a village, has a surprising array of excellent facilities such as hotels, restaurants, pubs a post office, a reasonably good supermarket, newsagent, launderette, water, fuel, gas and a host of tourist facilities. Launching slip available at high tide upon the east pier.
Useful transport contacts in this area:
Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521
Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075
Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531
Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271
What emergency contacts are there?
Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.
Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3
Other useful contacts in this area:
Carlingford Marina Telephone: +353 42 93 73073
VHF: Channel 37 or 16, channel 16 - change to channel 06.
Email: cmarina@iol.ie
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ VHF channel 12 (24 hrs)
Tel: +44 28 417 73381
Any security concerns?
Carlingford Marina is a secured access location.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ Scale of 20,000, including the ‘Entrance of Carlingford Lough’ scale of 12,500; ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000; Kilkeel Harbour scale of 5,000.
Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.
With thanks to:
Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/'>www.sailsoutheast.com/'>http://www.sailsoutheast.com/
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.