Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

4°C

Swell today

Direction SSE, height 1.9 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 2.6 metres.

Haven position?

54° 58.173' N, 005° 57.029' W

Where is that position?

This is the position of the West Pierhead at the entrance Fl. G. 3s 3M

What is the initial fix?

This is the Harbour Master’s recommended point of approach. It is located 300 metres directly north of the Marina Entrance. Come directly south into the harbour entrance from here.

What is the story here?

Glenarm is located on the northeast coast of Ireland about eighteen miles south of Fair Head. It offers a small very well sheltered marina and with favourable conditions the possibility of anchoring outside the harbour in the bay.

Tucked into the root of Glenarm Bay under the sheltering Antrim mountains Glenarm Marina provides complete protection. The small harbour and entrance are completely sheltered from all winds between east-southeast through south to north-northwest. Straightforward access is provided by the absence of offshore dangers or any tidal restriction.

Please note in severe north-easterly conditions the entrance would be highly challenging so it is not to be taken for granted that it is ideal here all of the time.

Why visit here?

Glenarm (from the Irish: Gleann Arma meaning "valley of the army") takes its name from the glen in which it lies, the southernmost of the nine Glens of Antrim. It claims to be the oldest town in Ulster having been granted a charter in the 12th century Norman era.

The village is now a Conservation Area with many quaint shops and pubs centred by the imposing Barbican Gate. This is the entrance to Glenarm Castle that was the seat of the Earl of Antrim since the 17th Century. From the top of the main street (Altmore Street) a short walk leads through the "Town Gate" to Glenarm Forest. It is the first of many walking opportunities that are a major feature of Glenarm.
Glenarm Forest Park is an 800-acre nature preserve once part of the demesne of Glenarm Castle that is now in public ownership. The easy two mile forest walk provides views across the glen to Glenarm Estate and Castle. Much of the walk is along the bank of the little river that runs through the village to the sea.
Another immediately accessible walk is the Layde Walk around the village on the Coast Road. This is a well marked mile long circular walk along the path of the old waterway high above the village. It is mostly upon a road ascending to a viewpoint that offers spectacular views of the village and its surroundings. Finally there is the Glenarm Coastal Walk that is two miles south of the village beside the famous County Antrim Coast road.
Glenarm has long been a port of call for sailors and yachtsmen as it has effectively got it all. It is a charming and interesting village with an attractive, deep, secure Marina with easy access into a historical limestone harbour. The area is picturesque with wonderful walks set upon one of the most beautiful coasts in the country.

Moreover Glenarm is perfectly located as a convenient stop off point for boats bound in either direction through the North Channel or indeed crossing from the Western Isles of Scotland. Finally being non-tidal, and available at all times, it allows 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 Glenarm is less than eight miles 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 then resides immediately to the north of Path head. The entire stretch of coast line to Park head 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.

Approaching from the north. The immediate offshore area is likewise free from outlying dangers and the coastline presents a remarkably bold outline. 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.

Three miles southeast of Fair Head, and approximately five miles North of Cushendun, Torr Head is the next significant headland. Torr Head rises to 67 metres above the sea and has a disused coast-guard watch-house on its summit.

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. Cushendun Bay is next and 3 miles to the north of Red Bay. Garron Point resides to the south of Red Bay and is about 4 miles north of Glenarm. 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.

Upon final approach Carnlough Bay may be considered as part of Glenarm bay, being separated only by a slight projecting curve of the coast called Straidkilly Point. Black Rock resides off the point and it is always visible above water.

From the Glenarm Initial Fix come south to enter the harbour between the east and west harbour pier heads. Both are marked with port Fl. R. 3s 3M and starboard Fl. G. 3s 3M lights.

Once inside the pier heads you will find a large sheltered area within the harbour with plenty of swinging room to prepare for berthing. The well-lit 52 berth marina with 30 visitor berths is to the southwest of the entrance. It consists of two well spaced finger pontoons supporting vessels up to 14 metres.

It is also possible to anchor outside in 2 to 4 metres directly north of the harbour. The bay affords good anchorage with westerly and north-westerly winds; but is exposed to south-easterly winds.

Please note poorly marked marine farms are reported to be in the area. VHF communication with the harbour master can be unreliable owing to a signal blanket from adjacent hills.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:11, 23:32, Low waters: 06:21, 18:43 ^{From Tide Times}

High Water Dover +0006, Belfast +0005
Rise (HW) approximately 1.8-1.5 metres (-1.6 metres on Belfast)

Tidal streams outside of Hunter Rock run in line with the general direction of the coast. Inside Hunter Rock the streams gradually shift to run across the entrance to Larne Lough. Carnlough and Glenarm bays are out of the run of the strong North Channel tides.

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?

All the marina berths are serviced with water, diesel and electricity plus a shower and toilet block is available in the marina facility. There is a chandlery plus repairs available. General shopping that includes two mini-supermarkets, a butcher, several pubs with 'pub-grub' in village plus public toilets beside the car park. The Tourist Information Centre, located on the Coast Road, is open all year, Tel: +44 28 2884 1087. Glenarm lies on the A2 Coast Road 11 miles from Larne and a bus service is available to Coleraine, Larne and Belfast.

Adjacent Carnlough, 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.

Other useful contacts in this area:
Harbour Master: Tom McKnight
Phone: +44 28 2884 1258 Mobile: +44 7703 606763
Address: Glenarm Harbour, Glenarm, Co. Antrim, BT44 0EA

Any security concerns?

The Marina has secure coded gate access to pontoons.

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. 9 at a scale of 1:50,000 for inland details.

With thanks to:

Terry Crawford, local boatman of many decades and Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail trainer - details: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

---

Please zoom out to see the 'initial fix' for this location.

How can I get this offshore?

If a mobile signal is available you can access all of our information via a mobile phone's internet browser. We provide a 'Lite' site, Lite In Your Foot Steps using the shorter initials www.liyfs.com, that presents our data in a simplified, speed optimised format. Similarly, if an internet connection is limited or expensive, switching to the 'Lite' site enables faster and more efficient access.

Alternatively print this page's text, illustrations and photos, but without the internet menu, layout, backdrops and Google maps, or economise upon printer consumables and print this page with text only, to get a hardcopy of this location.



Print this haven

Add a review or comment:

Please log in to leave a review of this haven.

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.