Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

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Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.4 metres.

Haven position?

54° 22.682' N, 005° 34.119' W

Where is that position?

Upon the five metre contour in the middle of the marked small craft anchoring area. It is in the approximate midpoint between the small stone pier, under the ruins of Audley Castle, and the pole marking Sleuth Rocks at the southeast most point of the anchorage.

What is the initial fix?

Two miles out from the Angus Rock Lighthouse, a white tower with a red top Fl. R. 5s 15m 6M. It is situated upon the 323° leading line provided by the tower in-line with the Cross Roads anchorage beacon that is a grey stone pillar. It is just over half a mile southwest of the Strangford Light buoy (safe water marker L Fl.10s) and it leads into the Lough’s preferred East Channel.

What is the story here?

Audley Roads is located on the northeast coast of Ireland, upon the western shore of the head of Strangford Lough’s narrows, that lead into the magnificent sailing area and marine natural reserve. It offers a picturesque anchorage in a quiet bay adjacent to Strangford Harbour.

Audley Roads provides a good anchorage out of the main tidal stream. However to the south of the anchorage is the open Strangford Bay with low lands and a funnelling river bed. Thus the anchorage has an uncomfortable fetch with southerly quadrant winds of force five and above. Holding is also challenging due to kelp over boulders.

Although the entrance to Strangford Lough and ‘Narrows’ are well marked, access requires careful navigation owing to exceptional currents. Consequently an approach should be timed to be around slack water, in daylight with a vessel that has adequate and reliable power. However although the entrance and narrows are challenging they are well marked. If the tides are respectfully worked, Strangford Narrows are easily managed by day and Audley Roads is immediately adjacent to the main channel.

Please note that Strangford Lough should be avoided in any strong onshore winds. Heavy breaking seas will be encountered one and a half miles southeast of the entrance. Worst of all is a southeasterly on an ebb or rise where furious standing waves and overfalls will result. A notably dangerous situation can occur if exiting into these conditions as it will not be possible to turn back against the tide to regain safe water and a vessel will be pushed out into the overfalls. Special attention should also be paid when approaching the car ferry crossing from Strangford to Portaferry. With strong currents carrying the vessel it is difficult to judge relative paths and closing distances.

Why visit here?

Audley Roads is a very beautiful quiet rural part of County Down with small fields and low hills. The deepwater anchorage below the castle has been a traditional boating haven from the tides of Strangford Lough Narrows throughout the centauries.

The picturesque ruin of Audley’s Castle, that overlooks the anchorage, was the home of the Audley family from the 1550s. The Audleys lived in the castle until the mid-17th Century, when the last recorded Audley sold his land to the Ward family. The Wards (subsequently Lords Bangor) absorbed the castle and part of the Audleystown lands into their demesne of ‘Castle Ward’ where then lived for several hundred years.

The first ‘Castle Ward’ house built by the Ward family, in about 1610, was a tower house designed with defence rather than comfort in mind. In the 18th century Viscount Bangor invested largely in perfecting his country estate in order to keep up with the latest Georgian era aristocratic fashions.

Using Audley’s Castle as a focal point at the end of their lake he built a large mansion with sweeping views down to Strangford Lough. Nothing was spared in his zeal for perfection. For instance in the 1840s he completely demolished a village that had sat down at the shore called Audley’s Town. It was felt this would spoil the ‘naturalistic’ panoramas across his parkland from the mansion. Hence the small settlement of Audleystown tenants were shipped off to America and the Bangors planted the more aesthetically pleasing Audley’s Woods over the fields. In other areas, it is believed, the Viscount may have had to retreat from his personal view of perfection. The centre of mansion is quirky inside and layed out in the distinctly different styles of classical Palladian and Gothic. It is said that occurred due to the Viscount Bangor and his wife not being able to agree and each insisted on a different style.

Today there is ‘Audley’s Castle’, ‘Audley’s Woods’ and ‘Castle Ward’ are all available to the visiting boatman and walks through beautiful countryside. Audley's Castle is well worth a visit whilst also affording excellent view of the narrows and the towns of Portaferry and Strangford. It is possible to land at the little beach and jetty beside it and climb to the top.

The resultant 820 acre Castle Ward is now one of Ireland’s finest demesnes or country estates. The winding woodland, lough shore, parkland and lakeland trails are owned by the National Trust and open to visitors. Residing a walk from the anchorage (1 mile west of Strangford on Downpatrick Road on the A25; GR 575497) Dinghy access is best gained during HW as there are extensive mud flats in the bay.

On site you will find WCs, tea room, shop, adventure playground, a Wildlife Centre and Victorian Past available. The Barn has excellent audio visual displays of the marine wildlife, particularly the bird and mammal life found in the Lough. They also have a number of excellent videos on the wildlife of the Lough. Finally it is worth the visit to take in Viscount Bangor’s superb views across the waters of the Lough.

How to get in?

Small vessels cannot enter or leave Strangford 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 (local knowledge is required to negotiate the Narrows at night so a first visit should be in daylight), planning the approach to work the tides is essential. As a minimum you should plan to enter with flood and leave with ebb.

We describe the approach to the East Channel that is the principal approach into Strangford Lough. It is east of Angus Rock Lighthouse and approximately midway between Killard Point and Ballyquintin Point. Although there are other channels and short cuts they are not covered here and not recommended for strangers to the area.


The Strangford Lough Initial Fix is approximately two miles out from the Angus Rock Lighthouse, white tower with a red top, and approximately five miles from Strangford Creek.

Angus Rock Lighthouse - Fl. R. 5s 15m 6M position: 54° 19.843’N, 005° 31.520’W

It is just over half a mile southwest of the Strangford Light buoy (safe water marker) and leads into the Lough’s East Channel.

Strangford Light buoy - L Fl.10s position: 54° 18.626’N, 005° 28.689’W

From the initial fix you may come straight in upon the 323° leading line provided by the tower, in-line with the Cross Roads anchorage beacon that is a grey stone pillar situated approximately a mile and a half behind, on the western shore – please note Angus Rock tower obscures the Cross Roads beacon when the transit is directly in line.

The route takes you past St Patrick's Rocks, half a mile away on the port side, marked by a red beacon (that is unlit at night).

St Patrick's Rocks - Red Beacon position: 54° 18.584’N, 005° 30.937’W

Then past Bar Pladdy South Cardinal, 400 metres to starboard, off Ballyquintin Point.

Bar Pladdy South Cardinal – Q(6) +L Fl. 15s position: 54° 19.344’N, 005° 30.501’W

When the north end of Portaferry town comes open to the west of Bankmore Hill, located at Rue Point, you are in the East Channel. The route then turns slightly eastwards taking a north by northwest direction. This aligns the 341° leading light beacon off Dogpoint (front; Oc(4)G.10s, 2 metres high red beacon) and Gowland Rocks (rear; Oc(2)G.10s, 5 metres high white stone beacon, green top). Take this new bearing and leave Angus Rock Lighthouse, 300 metres to port, and Pladdy Lug, upon which stands a large pile beacon made up of glazed white tiles, 500 metres to starboard.

Pladdy Lug – position: 54° 19.826’N, 005° 30.812’W

Continue upon this track until Kilclief Castle, upon the western shore, bears 265° when the ‘Meadows Shoal’, an area with just over 2 metres of cover, has been safely passed to port. From then on up, a midchannel route is free of obstructions.

Please be aware that the Narrows’ rocky and uneven bottom can cause eddies and overfalls to occur throughout the channel, particularly when heavy weather collides with the full run of the tide. The most important area to be aware of is the ‘Routen Wheel’ that lies approximately 500 metres south of Rue Point. A ledge extension from the point causes a whirlpool that is dangerous for yachts. The ‘Routen Wheel’ will be a clearly identifiable seething surface rip. As it lies to the east of the Narrow’s mid-channel route it is easily avoided. It should also be noted that the constricted part of the channel, just above the ‘Routen Wheel’ and immediately south of Rue Point, is where the outgoing tidal streams attains its fastest rate of 7.5 kn at springs.

A marine turbine has been located in the centre of ‘The Narrows’ about 500 metres south of Portaferry. The pillar marking this turbine should be given a wide berth by all boat users.

Upon approaching Strangford Harbour and Portaferry take care when meeting the vehicle ferry as it is challenging to predict the vessels tracking when carried by the swift moving currents.

Audley's Roads is situated to the north of Strangford Harbour between Church Point and Audley's Point. Upon final approach keep well north of Church Point in order to avoid the ‘Zara Shoal’ that extends 300 metres northwest from the point.

The current halves upon entering Audley's Roads and attention should be paid to steerage when passing from the main tidal streams of the fairway into the comparative slack water of the anchorage.
Anchor in 4.5 metres on west shore of Audley Roads by Audley castle. The recommended berthing area, well marked on the chart, is between small stone pier under the castle and a pole marking Sleuth Rocks at the southeast side of bay – approximately 800 metres cables south-southeast of Audley's Point.
At weekends in the summer, or during race days, it may be busy with local boats. However there is plenty of room if you are prepared to anchor in depths of up to 10 metres when the area is busy.
The area is subject kelp over boulders that may foul a CQR and makes for uncertain holding. Hence an anchor watch is advisable and the vessel should not be left unattended until the security of the holding has been assured. If a mooring is “borrowed”, please do not leave your vessel unattended should it be required by its owner.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0152
Today's Belfast tides — High waters: 01:11, 13:24, Low waters: 07:09, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
High Water Strangford Quay Dover +0147 springs, 0157 neaps
MHWS 3.6m MHWN 3.1m MLWN 0.9m MLWS 0.4m

Local high water is 2 hours 15 minutes after high water at Belfast

Strangford Narrows Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0345, Belfast -0330
Ebb starts Dover +0215, Belfast +0230
Attainable speed: East Channel, in-going 5 kn; out-going stream 7.5 kn at springs. Streams are almost simultaneous throughout the narrows and the period of slack water is very short as the tides reverse. The stream runs in line with the Narrows except to the north of Angus Rock where the flood and ebb run northwest and southeast respectively.

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?

Showers available on race days at Strangford Sailing Club and a boat slip with fresh water is available at Audley’s pier. Nearby Strangford Harbour has basic provision plus pubs and restaurants that you would expect with a population of approximately 500. A bus service runs from Strangford Harbour to the larger town of Downpatrick that serves as a commercial and administrative centre for the locality. Nearest international airport is at Belfast 56 km. Portaferry, on the Ards Peninsula, is available by a car ferry service that runs every half hour (weather permitting) from Strangford Harbour.

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 inshore lifeboat is maintained at Portaferry.

Other useful contacts in this area:
Strangford Sailing Club Tel:+44 28 44 86404

Strangford Harbour Master (at ferry terminal)
VHF Channel Ch 12, 14, 16, M
Tel:+44 28 4488 1637
Monday to Friday (9am-5pm)

Portaferry Marina
VHF Channel Ch. M2, 80
Tel: +44 28 4272 9598
Mobile: +44 7703 209 780
barholm.portferry@virgin.net

Police: +44 4461 5011, Medical Clinic +44 4461 3016

Any security concerns?

Never a problem known to have occurred in Audley Roads.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 2156 ‘Strangford Lough’, scale of 37,500:1. The key detail chart for the narrows is 2159 ‘Strangford Narrows’, scale of 12,500:1, including ‘Strangford’, scale of 5,000:1. Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area. Northern Ireland Ordinance Survey No. 21 at a scale of 1:50 000.

With thanks to:

Brian Crawford, local Strangford Lough boatman of many decades.

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