Click the logo for the 'Lite' search page.
Today's local tide estimates
High water: ,
Low water: * Coming soon
High water: ,
Low water:
Local weather
NW Force 5, Clear/Sunny, 3°C
Swell today
Direction SW, height 0.6 metres, period 7.3 seconds, significant wave height of 1.0 metres.
Summary
An exposed location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
2.5 metres (8.2 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, NE, E, SE, S
Unprotected: SW, W, NW
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, landing by tender, secluded, strong tides.
Facilities (summary)
Public houses.
Haven position? See it »
52° 10.650' N, 006° 54.400' W
Where is that position? See it »
Off the beach in the 2.5 metre LWS contour.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Waterford Harbour marked channel initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
52° 10.740' N, 006° 56.320' W
This waypoint is 600 metres south by southwest of the Waterford Channel Number 1. starboard-hand marker (Fl.G.2s on a bearing of 009°T). It is directly east of Creadan Head, upon the eastern side of the Waterford Channel where at night you will see the Dunmore East leading lights alternate white/green.
Why visit here?
This is a lovely beach to land a dinghy and let the family loose upon. If you stroll up the footpath past the Templetown church there is an excellent pub to have lunch in about 10 minutes walk. It also is an excellent place to wait out a tide.
How to get in?
Once Hook Head Light House has been identified check the chart for the location of the race.
Hook Head Lighthouse - Fl 3s 46m 24M position: 52° 07.300’N, 006° 55.700’W
The race is at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. At deck level the strong race will be clearly visible, a very short chop with the water dark green to seaward and light green / pale blue inside and this colouration is particularly visible in sheltered waters. When the tide is on the ebb the chop is much shorter, in the flood the wave length is longer and much easier. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force eight on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided. Once past the race, and inside the harbour, the seaway quickly calms and Waterford Harbour offers good depths for the pleasure sailor.
Yu can use the initial fix and find the bay is approximately 1500 metres (.8 of a nautical mile) due east of the Commercial Channel. Alternatively you can round Hook Head and follow the Hook Peninsula’s western shoreline up. There are no off lying dangers so you are clear to come in at an angle.
What are the tides here?
Today's Dover tides — High water: 09:09, 21:36, Low water: 03:55, 16:22 From Tide Times
Dover -0535, mean level 2.4 metres, mean level 2.4.
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.4m
Outside the entrance of Waterford Harbour
West going stream begins -0100 Dover or (+0450 Cobh)
East going stream begins at +0515 Dover (-0120 Cobh).
The external spring rate not exceeding 1 kn
Inside the Waterford Harbour estuary:
The flood begins at +0210 Dover (-0425 Cobh).
The ebb tide at -0505 Dover (+0045 Cobh).
Strong tides of up to 3 knots inside the estuary following the channels
What facilities are available?
This is a secluded bay with no facilities save for a good landing beach and a rough footpath that takes you up to the road - you may have a gate and fence to scale.
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:
Contact Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office Tel +353 51 383166 VHF Ch 16 when manned as this is used by the Waterford Authorities
Port of Waterford Harbour Master 051-74499.VHF ch.16 and 14
Any security concerns?
You are most likely to be completely alone at this beach and away from any interference.
With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. 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.