Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

10°C

Swell today

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

Haven position?

54° 29.456' N, 005° 26.420' W

Where is that position?

This is the position of the Ballyhalbert Harbour pierhead.

What is the initial fix?

The initial fix is one mile northeast of the pierhead. A course of west by southwest will lead into the anchoring position that is 200 metres north of the small harbour.

What is the story here?

Ballyhalbert is located on the northeast coast of Ireland, to the south of Belfast Lough and immediately north of Burr Point the most easterly point of Ireland. It offers a small harbour that dries out completely at low water with an anchorage outside in Ballyhalbert Bay.

Ballyhalbert Bay provides a tolerable anchorage in southwest and westerly winds. However a heavy sea runs into the bay when winds trend eastward of south, and onward through east and around to north. Vessels that can take to the hard however will find good protection inside in the harbour. The bay is open and clear of dangers making access straightforward in daylight at any stage of the tide.

Why visit here?

Ballyhalbert derives its name for from the Irish Baile Thalbóid meaning ‘Talbot’s townland’; (also Talsbotstoun in Ulster Scots as the locals here speak with an accent as broad as any Scot). Following John de Courcy’s 12th Century Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland the Talbot family came to occupy the area and the locality took their name Talbotyston. This was gaelicised to Ballitalbot by 1605, and finally Ballihalbert by 1617.

Prior settlements here date back to Ireland’s original inhabitants as an ancient standing stone near the village graveyard indicates. The Anglo-Norman invasion left the remains of an 800 year old castle mound that can be seen near the harbour. The present village grew around a small fishing community that attracted other trades such as spirit dealing, grocers and a smith to the area. Two corn mills were in operation by 1836 and in 1848 the area became much more accessible owing to the Portaferry road being upgraded as part of a famine relief public works program. The now disused tower on Burr Point was a Coastguard Station constructed in 1863, one of twelve that made up a Donaghadee district coastal watch.

Although a quiet and out of the way location Ballyhalbert had some lively moments during World War I and II. In May 1917 U-boat UC65, under the command of the famous Otto Steinbrinck, captured four vessels, the Saint Mungo, Derrymore, Amber plus the Morion and sunk all four in Ballyhalbert Bay.

During World War II the village played a major role in the defence of Belfast and the eastern half of Northern Ireland when in June 1941 an RAF airfield was opened in Ballyhalbert. The control tower and a lot of the runways are still visible today and in its time RAF Ballyhalbert was home to RAF, Army, Navy and United States Air Force (USAF). It hosted servicemen from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America and Poland and evidence to this can be found today in the two local churchyards that reside a short distance away from the airfield. Here the Canadian, Australian and Polish men who lost their lives whilst serving at Ballyhalbert found their final resting places. One particularly notable visitor inspected the station in May 1944. This was General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces. He later went on to become the President of the United States in 1953. After the war the airfield was decommissioned and in the 1960s it was sold to developers to create several popular caravan parks.

Today Ballyhalbert is largely residential area with a large holiday park on the former air base. From a coastal navigation standpoint it is also of interest as Burr Point is mainland Ireland’s most easterly point. The bay is a highly convenient location to await a tide.

How to get in?

Directions are provided for northern and southern coastal approaches plus a final location approach. If coastal guidance is not applicable, skip directly to the ‘for the final approach’ section.


FOR A NORTHERN COASTAL APPROACH

Donaghadee Sound is the normal route for leisure craft making along this coast from Belfast Lough with favourable tidal streams. The southern shore of Belfast Lough appears comparatively low and unremarkable. Groomsport’s church spire will be visible plus the radio mast of a disused Coastguard Station on Orlock Point makes for a useful mark. Pass the South Briggs Red Can Buoy well to starboard as it marks a dangerous reef that extends from the shore.

South Briggs Red Can Buoy – Fl (2) R 10s position: 54° 41.182’N, 005° 35.732’W

Likewise the area north of Orlock Point should be avoided out to a distance of at least 250 metres to avoid off-lying dangers. From here take the shipping channel through the middle of Donaghadee Sound by aligning upon the Foreland Red Can Buoy.

Foreland Red Can Buoy - Fl R 6s position: 54° 39.640’N, 005° 32.307’W

Although at the northern entry point the sound is almost a mile wide, between Copeland Island and the mainland to the southwest, foul ground called the ‘Magic Rocks’ extend nearly half way from Copeland Island’s southwest side. Then Deputy Reef, marked by a red buoy, is situated nearly in the middle of the southern fairway. These contract the channel through the sound to a quarter of a mile in width. This however is well marked for vessels entering and exiting Belfast Lough by the buoyed shipping channel. Pass the Foreland Buoy to starboard and then between the Deputy and Governor buoys.

Deputy Green Can Buoy - Fl G 2s position: 54° 39.513’N, 005° 31.944’W

Governor Red Can Buoy - Fl R 3s position: 54° 39.360’N, 005° 31.991’W

It should be noted that Donaghadee Sound streams achieve 4.5 knots in places so tidal planning is essential and great care should be taken during the passage.

After exiting the southern end of Donaghadee Sound Donaghadee Harbour will be clearly identified ashore by its handsome cut stone piers and the Donaghadee Light (white tower, 16 metres in height) that stands on the head of South Pier. Those who venture inshore here should note the position of the Wee Scotchman Rocks. This is a sunken ledge with less than 2 metres in places that extends 300 metres east-northeast from the Donaghadee Light off the south Pier. Copelands Marina resides 600 metres south of the Donaghadee Harbour.

From Donaghadee to Millisle the rocks do not extend more than half a mile off shore, and are steep-to, with 13 metres close outside them. From Millisle to the southward as far as Ballyferris Point, outlying rocks extend to the distance of nearly three-quarters of a mile off; some of these uncover, on others there are from 1.8 to 3.6 metres at low water. The coastline here is largely made up of shingle and sand beaches.

The costal area between Ballyferris Point and Ballywalter sees the commencement of a series of rocks that run along the shore for a distance of nearly 2 miles and are barely covered at high tides. This reef terminates in Long Rock at the southern end and a shoal called The Reef at the northern end. The outer edge of this rock group run in a north by northwest direction from the Long Rock, and are steep-to as quarter of a mile out and 12 metres of water can be found. Ballywalter village stretches along the shore within the bay to the South of Long Rock.

Three quarters of a mile to the south of Long Rock resides Skulmartin Rock. Skulmartin Rock lies 3 miles north by east from Burial island, and nearly a mile from the shore. It is steep-to on its north and east sides, dries to 1.2 metres and is covered at half-tide. Between Skulmartin and the shore, on the southwest side, there is Little Skulmartin reef extending from the shore towards the rock, in an east northeast direction. A narrow inshore passage does reside between them with from 5 to 7 metres of water. However the passage inside it is very foul and only people well acquainted with the coast should venture inside Skulmartin Rock. Skulmartin is marked by a conspicuous red 11 metres high mast with cage and flag topmark.

Skulmartin Beacon – Unlit position: 54° 32.327’N, 005° 27.154’W

Plus a red and white Skulmartin Safe Water spherical buoy is moored 1.4 miles east by southeast.

Skulmartin Safe Water Buoy - LFl 10s buoy position: 54° 31.848’N, 005° 24.910’W

With Skulmartin astern Ballyhalbert Bay is a clean open bay that may be addressed via the Initial Fix or directly.

A useful set of routing waypoints for a southern approach to Belfast Lough are available in the route ’Bangor, Belfast Lough - Dublin on 12 hours of favourable tide – both ways’.


FOR A SOUTHERN COASTAL APPROACH

The coastal area to the north of Strangford Lough, for a distance of 23 miles as far as the Copeland islands, is that of the Ards Peninsula. This is the thumb of land that separates Strangford Lough from the sea and it has almost an island feel to it because of its remoteness by road. The coastline characteristic is that of a low rocky shore that is skirted by dangerous reefs and backed by a succession of low undulating hills.

The principal dangers to be found on the way from the Strangford Lough to Ballyhalbert are the Butter Pladdy, South and North Rocks, the Plough rock, and Burial Island.

Commencing from Strangford Lough area the first offshore marker is the Strangford Lough Marker Light Float situated a mile and a half to the southeast of Ballyquintin Point.

Strangford Light Float - LFl 10s position: 54° 18.626’N, 005° 28.689’W

From Ballyquintin Point the shore runs 3 miles in a north-easterly direction to Kearney Point, a low shelving point that is foul out to a distance of 400 metres all round. The ruins of a windmill will be seen upon it and a village a little to the northward.

The next key marker is the Butter Pladdy east cardinal. This resides one mile southeast of Kearney Point and 800 metres east of the cluster it marks.

Butter Pladdy – East Cardinal Q (3) 10s position: 54° 22.453’N, 005° 25.741’W

The Butter Pladdy is a 400 metres wide cluster of rocks that ranges in depths from 1.8 to 4 metres of water. The Butter Pladdy east cardinal is placed to the east of the shoal as a guide to vessels taking the offshore route along this coast. This is the best approach as on the north side of Butter Pladdy, approximately 200 metres from the centre and clearly marked Admiralty Chart 2156, there is a wreck of a steel ship that only uncovers at low water. Unless at low water, where the wreck is clearly visible, this complicates an inshore, passage up the western side of Butter Pladdy’ making the offshore the preferred approach.

Three miles to the northeast is the next key marker the South Rock Light Float.

South Rock Light Float - Fl (3) R 30s 12m 20M position: 54° 24.478’N, 005° 21.993’W

The name is unmistakably written in white letters on each side. The red hulled structure with a light-tower and white mast on foredeck is stationed one mile east-by-north of the extensive cluster of rocks it marks.

South Rock is part of an extensive group of covered rocks that are barely covered at high water. Some rocks appears at low water, others never uncover, however the tide always creates a rippling over the bank, and in strong breezes there is a heavy breaking sea on it. Amidst the cluster is the primary South Rock that is the largest of the rocks and dangers. This is always uncovered and easily identified as it hosts an old and now disused Lighthouse.

South Rock (Disused Lighthouse) position: 54° 23.948’N, 005° 25.148’W

Vessels with a deeper draft should also note that approximately midway between Butter Pladdy and South Rocks is the Crooked Pladdy, with 2.1 metres and deep water all around. If passing inshore to the west of South Rock, often advantageous in clear weather when running against a foul tide, make note of the position of Privateer Rock, also with 2.1m over it, half a mile north by northwest of Crooked Pladdy.

A mile and a half to the northward of the South Rock lighthouse is another cluster of rocks called the North Rock. However vessels with a deeper draft should also note that approximately midway between North and South Rocks is the ‘Breast’, a rocky shoal with 2.1 metres of cover.

North Rock, with its breeding Grey Seals, is an irregular bank of rocks and gravel that is covered on spring tides only. It extends nearly three quarters of a mile in an east and west direction. A narrow spit of gravel, called the Kirkistown Spit, extends from North Rock to Ringboy Point on the mainland and this spit forms the northern boundary of Cloghy Bay.

A red painted 12 metres, above high water, stone pillar beacon stands on the eastern end of North Rock, about 150 metres inside the east drying edge, makes the rock identifiable in most conditions.

North Rock Beacon – Unlit position: 54° 25.638’N, 005° 24.970’W

The next off-lying coastal group called Plough Rock resides two miles further north and half a mile southwest of the busy Portavogie fishing harbour. Plough Rock resides more than half a mile from the shoreline, covers at half flood and dries to 3 metres, but has almost twenty metres of water as little as 300 metres distance to the east of it. The marker buoy for the rock resides 300 metres to the northeast also marking the southern edge of the Portavogie white light sector.

Plough Rock - Fl R 3s position: 54° 27.389’N, 005° 25.104’W

Nearly half a mile to the northward of Plough Rock, half a mile to the northwest of Portavogie, and one-third of a mile from the shore lie the McCammon Rocks. These cover at high water but again, similar to Plough Rock, depths of 12 metres will be found just 300 metres eastward.

Burial Island, is the eastern most point of Ireland residing 400 metres east of Burr Point. The visible island is the highest part of a reef of rocks that extends nearly half a mile in a north / south direction and is about 400 metres wide. The northern portion of the reef is just awash at high water. The small spot to which the name of Burial Island applies is on the inner edge of the reef, near to its southern end. It has an elevation of 8 metres above high water springs when it appears very small. On its north and east sides the reef is steep-to, and clear from danger. A rocky shoal extends a mile to the southward of it, with patches of 2.7 and 3.4 metres of water on it.

A channel exists between Burial Island and Ballyhalbert Point, contracted by a spit of gravel extending from the latter to about 100 metres in width, and it carries a depth of 2 metres at low water. However, passing outside, keeping at least 600 metres east of the island, would be the preferred path.

The Initial Fix will be found one mile northeast of Ballyhalbert Pier head.


FOR THE FINAL APPROACH

Ballyhalbert Bay is a clean open bay, immediately to the northward of Burial Island. Anchor 200 metres north of the pier-head in 5 metres. The bottom is generally hard but there are some patches of clay in this location. Land at Ballyhalbert Pier situated immediately inside Burr Point.

The harbour dries out entirely beyond the pier head. Boats that can take to the hard will find the harbour behind the pier small but well sheltered.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0016
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: as Dover, Belfast +15 minutes Get Dover
MHWS 4.7m MHWN 0.6m MLWN 3.9m MLWS 1.4m

Tidal planning for vessels departing Belfast Lough is essential. Vessels approaching from the north will encounter tides that run hard through the sounds in and between the Copeland Island Group and the mainland. Those approaching close outside the Copelands Group will encounter races with overfalls as they close in upon the islands. At the eastern tip of Mew Island the ‘Ram Race’ initiates and extends 1.5 miles south-by-southeast on the flood and up to 1.75 miles north-by-northwest on the ebb.

From Dover HW +0455 to -0115 (Belfast HW +0510 to -0100) the tide floods southeast. Donaghadee Sound’s spring streams can, in places, reach up to 4.5 knots in both directions making a favourable tide transit a prerequisite for most leisure craft. Streams largely follow the direction of the channel but it should be noted heavy tide rips in a big seaway may cause overfalls to occur across the southeast end of Donaghadee Sound.

Copeland Sound tides are not as strong but still attain rates of up to 2.5 knots with Spring tides. This is not the preferred channel owing to the two challenging and unmarked rocky shoals called ‘Platters’ and ‘Ninaen Bushes’, the latter with less than a metre of cover situated out half a mile off from the north-east point of Copeland Island. Eddies are very strong elsewhere all around the islands group.

Outside the islands the tides turn about one hour later. On the south going flood a vast eddy forms to the south of Mew Island. This circles back upon itself in the five miles area between the entrance to Donaghadee Sound and Ballyferis Point. Hence the streams off Donaghadee Harbour are 1.5 kn rotary in a clockwise direction on the flood. However when this vast circular eddy of water courses around to collide with the flood tide, to the south-southeast of Mew, the ill-famed Ram Race shows its true colours. Thus the area is at its worst after the recirculation on the second half of the flood circa HW Dover -0230 to +0015 or about local HW (HW Belfast -0215 to +0030 or about local HW). Likewise the north-northwest race occurs on the latter half of the ebb from HW Dover +0330 to +0630 (HW Belfast +0345 to +0615 or about local LW).

Expect a spring rate of about 2.5 knots off Skullmartin Rock and 1.5 knots along the coast from Burr Point to Ballyquintin Point. It should also be noted a south going eddy forms in Ballyhalbert Bay during the second half of the north going stream.

What facilities are available?

The remote anchorage area has reasonably good facilities. Water can be obtained adjacent to the pier. The village services a domestic population of just less than 500 people, has a good shop that is open seven days a week. Fuel is located half a mile to the northwest of pier and in Ballyhalbert Village there is a Pub.

By road from Belfast take the A20 to Newtownards and continue onto the Ards Peninsula. At Greyabbey take the B5 to Ballywalter then the A2 south to Ballyhalbert. Ulsterbus (ULB) Service 9 runs between Portaferry. From Belfast use the Laganside Buscentre that stops in Ballyhalbert.

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:
Belfast Harbour Radio on VHF Ch 12 or 16 or +44 2890 553504
Portavogie Harbour Master
Radio Watch VHF Channel 14
Telephone: +44 28 4277 1470
Mobile: +44 77 1207 4609

Any security concerns?

Never an incident know to have happen to a vessel anchored in Ballyhalbert Bay.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 2156 ‘Strangford Lough’, scale of 37,500:1 that includes ‘Portavogie’, at a scale of 5000:1 British Admiralty 1753 ‘Belfast Lough and Approaches’, scale of 37,500:1, including ‘Donaghadee Sound’ scale of 15,000:1 and ‘Bangor Bay’ scale of 17,500:1. Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’ plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 15 (Belfast - scale of 1:50 000) and Map 21: Strangford Lough also cover this area.

With thanks to:

Michael Fitzsimons, Groomsport Harbour Master.

---

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.