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Kitchen Cove is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland, near the head of Dunmanus Bay. It provides an anchorage with visitor moorings in a truly beautiful sailing location with access to a new pier and a small village.

Kitchen Cove is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland, near the head of Dunmanus Bay. It provides an anchorage with visitor moorings in a truly beautiful sailing location with access to a new pier and a small village.

The small rocky cove provides good protection from all but strong southerly conditions and even this is somewhat dissipated by its fringing rocks. Access is straightforward at any stage of the tide but the coves fringing dangers that, although easily avoided in daylight, would make a nighttime entry inadvisable.
Please note

A good weather window would be required to visit any of Dunmanus Bay’s havens if a vessel is time-restricted. Especially the inner havens that are situated close to the head of the cul-de-sac. If the prevailing winds were to come on strong, though good shelter may be found, it would be difficult however to sail out of the bay.




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Keyfacts for Kitchen Cove
Facilities
Water available via tapShop with basic provisions availableSlipway availableShore power available alongsideHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaInternet via a wireless access point availableBus service available in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinitySet near a village or with a village in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Note: fish farming activity in the vicinity of this location

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
3 stars: Tolerable; in suitable conditions a vessel may be left unwatched and an overnight stay.



Last modified
November 30th 2021

Summary

A tolerable location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
Water available via tapShop with basic provisions availableSlipway availableShore power available alongsideHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaInternet via a wireless access point availableBus service available in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinitySet near a village or with a village in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Note: fish farming activity in the vicinity of this location



Position and approaches
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Haven position

51° 35.901' N, 009° 37.967' W

this is the position of the anchorage in the inner harbour

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) Kitchen Cove initial fix

51° 35.465' N, 009° 38.130' W

This is immediately outside the southwest entrance to Kitchen Cove, on the 20 metre contour and about half a mile from the anchoring area. Maintaining a steady bearing of 16° T to Ahakista's new concrete pier head, located at the head of the bay, leads the way through the centre of the harbour fairway.

(ii) Dunmanus Bay initial fix

51° 30.700' N, 009° 51.200' W

This initial fix positions an Atlantic approach to Dunmanus Bay and is set midway between Sheep's Head and Mizen Head.
Please note

Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.




What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head Route location. Details for the run up the long and narrow Dunmanus Bay are covered in the Dunbeacon Harbour Click to view haven entry.

  • The inlet is entred between Carrigeenaroontia, a drying rock lying off the western entrance point, and a rocky ledge that extends to the southwest from Owen's Island.

  • Two-thirds of the way in pass an unlit red and white pole, that may occasionally carry a flag, on its east side (to port) as it marks the head of a reef that dries and the inshore area between it and the mainland is entirely foul.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Kitchen Cove for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Dunbeacon Cove - 1.9 nautical miles ESE
  2. Kilcrohane Pier - 2.7 nautical miles WSW
  3. Dunbeacon Harbour - 3.2 nautical miles ENE
  4. Dunmanus Harbour - 3.6 nautical miles SSW
  5. Dooneen Pier - 4.1 nautical miles WSW
  6. Toormore Cove - 4.9 nautical miles S
  7. Carrigmore Bay - 5.2 nautical miles S
  8. Ballynatra (Trá Ruaim) Cove - 5.3 nautical miles WSW
  9. Schull Harbour (Skull) - 5.6 nautical miles SE
  10. Adrigole - 6 nautical miles NNW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Dunbeacon Cove - 1.9 miles ESE
  2. Kilcrohane Pier - 2.7 miles WSW
  3. Dunbeacon Harbour - 3.2 miles ENE
  4. Dunmanus Harbour - 3.6 miles SSW
  5. Dooneen Pier - 4.1 miles WSW
  6. Toormore Cove - 4.9 miles S
  7. Carrigmore Bay - 5.2 miles S
  8. Ballynatra (Trá Ruaim) Cove - 5.3 miles WSW
  9. Schull Harbour (Skull) - 5.6 miles SE
  10. Adrigole - 6 miles NNW
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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What's the story here?
Kitchen Cove
Image: Michael Harpur


Kitchen Cove is a small rocky inlet on the northwest shore of Dunmanus Bay located about 11 miles from the entrance and nearly midway between Point-na-bullig and Reen Point. The small low Owen's Island sits almost centrally outside of it and the east side of the cove is foul with reefs. Within the deep waters to the west of these reefs and the western shore, the cove provides a well-sheltered anchorage. At its head is the sheltered and recently renovated Ahakista Pier that dries. The coastal village of Ahakista is just set back and close northward from the pier.


Ahakista Pier at the head of the inlet
Image: Michael Harpur


Kitchen Cove is nearly as good the best of the harbours available in Dunmanus Bay, Dunbeacon Harbour being just better. It is exposed to the south but its good holding and protection from Owen's Island and other reefs that occupy its eastern side, it is possible for shoal draught to find protection in the inner part of the cove against all winds. Small fishing vessels remain on moorings here throughout the winter.


'Arundel's By The Pier' overlooking Kitchen Cove
Image: Michael Harpur


The harbour has two seasonal visitor moorings rated to 15 tons and are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR.


Ahakista Pier and the slipway at its head
Image: Michael Harpur


Ahakista Pier has a dingy dock and slipway that makes for convenient landings. The pier is used by local fishing boats but it is worth making enquiries to see if it is possible to dry along the inner side of the pier. It can take a moderate-sized boat alongside at the end on a neap tide if it is free.


How to get in?
The Kitchen Cove inlet on the northwest shore of Dunmanus Bay
Image: Michael Harpur


Convergance Point Use Ireland’s coastal overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head Route location for seaward approaches and the the run-up the long and narrow Dunmanus Bay is covered in the Dunbeacon Harbour Click to view haven entry. The cove may be easily recognised from seaward by some trees near its head, a chapel on the rising ground a ½ mile to the northeast, and also its pier and pub, the mansion house in the northwest corner.


Kitchen Cove as seen from seaward
Image: Burke Corbett


The entrance’s navigable width is 250 metres where a midway path provides depths in excess of 18 metres. It is situated between Carrigeenaroontia, a drying rock lying off the western entrance point, and a rocky ledge extending 150 metres to the southwest from Owen's Island.

Approach path as seen from the northeast
Image: Michael Harpur



Initial fix location From the initial fix Ahakista's new concrete pier will clearly be seen a ½ mile away at the head of the bay with a house standing close behind. Steering for the pier on a steady bearing of about 18° T, leads midway in through the entrance and up the harbour fairway in at least 10 metres as far as the Isolated danger pole marker.

Once inside the entrance it is simply a matter of running along the western shore and keeping on track to the pier. This path passes between the western shorelines rocky fringes and the reefs that occupy the eastern side of the inlet.


The western shore and isolated danger marker pole
Image: Michael Harpur


Once northward of Owen's Island the principal dangers of the pathway are the rocks encroaching from the western shore near the head of the bay. The outermost of these is two-thirds of the way in too the pier and is a singular rock that dries to 0.2 metres. It is situated immediately west, or to port, of the entry track about 300 metres to the southwest of the pier. The outer head is well marked by an unlit red and white pole that may occasionally carry a flag and the seasonal moorings are usually laid close northeast of it. This pole must be passed to port as the rock dries and the inshore area between it and the mainland is entirely foul.


Passing eastward of the isolated danger pole
Image: Burke Corbett


It is essential to pass to the east of the inner pole marker and continue at least 100 metres towards the pier before turning to explore the northwest section of the cove. Do not pass between the pole marker and the shore.
Please note

The danger here is that the inner anchoring area, tucked into the northwest corner of the cove, begins to reveal itself to an entering vessel westward of this mark. This invites the unfamiliar to cut inside the mark and over the reefs towards the mooring area.




The eastern cut into the cove between Owen's Island and the inner refs
Image: Michael Harpur


A side-channel to the north of Owen's Island is often used by boats approaching the cove from the east side, or the head of Dunmanus Bay. This 120-metre wide cut is situated to the north of Owen's Island and has at least a depth of 0.9 metres LAT. It is skirted by rocks on either side and although frequently used by local vessels it presents an unnecessarily dangerous approach path for a stranger to take.


Anchored Yacht as seen of the head of Ahakista Pier
Image: Michael Harpur


The inner harbour is ringed by rocks that encroach from the shore so stand well off at all times. By contrast, these rocks and reefs that effectively encircle the inner harbour, add to its protection.


Ahakista Pier
Image: Michael Harpur


Haven location Pick up the moorings or anchor according to draft about a hundred metres to the south of Ahakista Pier. The head of the cove is most likely to be too full of small-boat moorings to be serviceable.


The dingy dock at Ahakista Pier
Image: Michael Harpur


Land by dinghy at Ahakista Pier. The pier almost entirely dries except for its outer end where less than 0.5 metres can be found. A few fishing vessels operate from here but there may be room for a yacht to come alongside for a short period or to dry out near the shore.


Why visit here?
Kitchen Cove is a small, deep and well-sheltered harbour that has the small hamlet of Ahakista at its head. Ahakista, takes its name from the Irish Átha an Chiste 'the ford of the treasure' and, optically, that name perfectly describes this location in boating terms.


Kitchen Cove can be recognised from seaward by its trees
Image: Michael Harpur


Traces of the area’s ancient history can be found immediately above on the Rossnacaheragh headland where there are the remains of a large and impressive ring fort. It is the fort that provides the area with its name, in Irish Ros na Cathrach that means 'headland of the fort'. The fort is a short walk from the pier situated in a field near St Patrick’s church, built 1836, and directly opposite the small school. Although now covered in briars and primroses, or even bluebells on occasions, it was well-constructed as its steep banks and deep ditch are still intact and in excellent condition. The ancient fort holds a wonderfully secluded but still commanding position as it looks down over a small valley and out over Dunmanus Bay.


Kitchen Cove as seen from the Sheep's Head Way
Image: Berdrisharhar1 by CC BY 2.0


It is this landscape that provides a good reason for coming to Kitchen Cove as the safe harbour provides an ideal entry point onto the Sheep's Head Way. This 88 km long trail follows old tracks and roads around the peninsula from Bantry to the headland and back. The route combines low and rugged hills with the coastline cliffs, where the narrowness of the peninsula means that walkers are never far from glorious views out over the Atlantic Ocean or Dunmanus and Bantry Bays. The terrain is varied and includes quiet country roads, open grassy and heathery hills, rocks, fields, and the occasional short stretch of woodland path.


The Sheep's Head Way
Image: Rebel11 via CC BY 2.0


The full trek takes a walker past many interesting structures, the remains of copper mines, stone circles, tower houses, standing stones, a famine graveyard, a Napoleonic signal tower and old churches that relate to the vibrant history of this wild coastline. It is well marked and very straightforward and the walk is divided into eight stages each representing half a day’s walk. Situated halfway up the bay and offering a well-protected harbour Kitchen Cove provides the ideal access point for the Sheep's Head Way. Those who want a short taste of the experience will find one of the stages, up and over the spine of the peninsula with views over Bantry Bay, is a loop that starts and ends at Ahakista.


Memorial Sundial Kitchen Cove
Image: © Emma Cooney


By contrast, a very unusual feature of the harbour area is the Memorial Garden & Sundial that is built on Illaunacusha on the eastern side of the harbour. The origin of the sundial goes back to 8.13 am on Sunday, June 23, 1985. At that moment a terrorist bomb detonated on an Air India jumbo jet flying from Canada to India which was approaching the southwest coast of Ireland. A total of 329 people died and most of these were Canadian citizens of Indian origin. In the days that followed a huge search was carried out by ships, planes and helicopters but less than half the bodies were ever recovered. Shortly afterwards, many relatives of the dead flew from India and Canada and travelled by bus along the coast to be near to the place where their loved ones died.


Memorial to those who lost their lives in Air India Flight 182
Image: © Emma Cooney


At Ahakista, they stopped and threw wreaths into the sea and expressed a wish that some type of memorial be erected to commemorate the disaster. One year later, on the 23rd June 1986, the memorial garden was officially opened at a ceremony that was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Ireland, India and Canada. A sundial designed by a sculptor from Cork is the focal point of the garden. It is designed so that its shadow touches a precise point at 8.13 am on June 23 every year. The inscription on the sundial reads 'Time flies, suns rise, shadows fall, let it pass by, love reigns forever overall'. A commemoration service is held each year at the memorial on 23rd June at 08.00.


'Arundel's By The Pier' a few short steps from the pier
Image: Michael Harpur


The village is little more than a scattering of houses in a pretty wooded coastal area around Ahakista House. It is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it village that has a tiny primary school, church, a small shop and a pier that is home to a handful of local fishing boats. But it makes for a truly wonderful sailing haven. It would be remiss of a sailor undertaking a comprehensive cruise of southern Ireland to overlook the wonderful experience this haven and the adjacent Dunmanus Harbour have to offer.


View out over the harbour from 'Arundel's By The Pier' beer garden
Image: Michael Harpur


It is the ideal place to come and relax with two of the best watering holes on Sheep's Head. One of its two quiet old pubs allows a boater to quietly sip a pint whilst overlooking their vessel from a picture-perfect location above the harbour. Slightly further along is Tin Pub, nicknamed for its corrugated tin roof, which has a wonderfully rustic atmosphere, indoors as well as in the rambling beer garden out back that also has views over the harbour. It has a long-standing reputation for great music, with trad sessions here on Tuesday and Sunday nights. It should also be noted that every August Bank Holiday weekend the village hosts the Ahakista Regatta where both pubs and restaurants come alive with traditional music and entertainment.

Yacht on moorings Kitchen Cove
Image: Burke Corbett


From a boating point of view, Kitchen Cove is a very good anchorage. Although it may not be the best-protected anchorage in Dunmanus Bay, Dunbeacon offers slightly better protection, it is truly a beautiful tranquil setting that unlike the others has the essential bars and restaurants immediately ashore and much more good sailing company.


What facilities are available?
The only facilities available in Kitchen Cove are at Ahakista where fresh water and electricity are available at the pier and a basic provisions store, a post box, two bars and restaurant are located in the village. A Wi-Fi service is available in the harbour.

For other services e.g. doctor, chemist, bank and post office use Bantry 20 km (12 miles) away. There is a bus service to Bantry three days per week, and the nearest major airport is Cork Airport.


Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel anchored in Kitchen Cove.


With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photography with thanks to Sheepsheadplaces.net, Pam Brophy, Emma Cooney, Andrew Wood, Burke Corbett and Andy Stephenson.







Aerial views of Kitchen Cove




Aerial views of the coast approaching Kitchen Cove



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