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Balscadden Bay, County Dublin, Ireland

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Harbour position?

53° 23.240' N, 006° 3.598' W

Where is that position?

On the 2 metre contour just off the strand.

What is the initial fix?

The following waypoint will set up a final approach:

Balscadden Bay initial fix
53° 23.390' N, 006° 2.750' W
This waypoint is 1,200 metres east-northeast of the bay directly north of the Nose of Howth.

What LWS draught is available?

2 metres (6.56 feet).

What are the tides and weather here?

Dover +0025, Dublin (North Wall) -0006, mean level 2.4
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.3m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.5m

The latest monthly Dover Tides and Cobh 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 Leinster 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. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, 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 considerations are there?

Balscadden Bay resides to the north of Dublin Bay on the far side of the Howth peninsula that juts out into the Irish Sea. The bay lies on the southeast corner of Howth Harbour underneath the Martello tower at the beginning of Howth Harbours East Pier. The anchorage is a good location if you have not been able to secure a berth in Howth Harbour or off the West pier.

Balscadden Bay is a good anchorage that affords protection to all conditions from the south round to west but is completely exposed to anything with an easterly component. Seaward access is straightforward but daylight navigation is required to locate the bays fringing rocks.

Please note conditions with easterly or northerly components you should plan to go inside Howth Harbour that offers complete protection from all conditions.

How to get in?

The bay may be approached directly from seaward or to the east. You can locate the bay easily by coming south of Howth Harbours East Pier and identifying the overlooking Martello tower situated on a prominent bluff that is locally known as ‘Tower Hill’.

Approach the bay from due east; do not follow the harbours eastern wall. Between the tower and the harbour wall the bay’s fringing rocks reach out seaward, and it is critical that you identify these rocks approaching the anchorage so good visibility is required.

Be careful to check your holding after anchoring as seaweed is prevalent in this area.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities in Balscadden Bay save for a landing beach with road access.

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 Harbour Master's Office: Captain Raja Maitra VHF Ch 16/11 when manned
Tel: +353 1 8322252 and +353 86 3814926 at most times (office situated Northern End of Auction Hall).
The Marina Office maintains a 24 hour listening watch on Ch M ( 37A ) and Ch 80
Tel: +353 1 83292777 e-Mail- marina@hyc.ie

Why visit here?

This is an excellent location to anchor in favourable conditions should it not be possible to secure a berth in Howth Marina or outside the harbour. The Bay is also a tranquil escape from the busy harbour it fringes.

Balscadden is an Anglo-Irish effort at using the original Irish name "Baile na Scadán" or literally "The town of the Herrings" indicating that Balscadden Bay may have served as a fish market for landing boats.

As with Howth Harbour you may also use Balscadden Bay as a good location to take a costal walk along the Howth peninsula. A particularly good path leads from the bay up and around the Nose of Howth and onto the cliff tops. Stunning views of Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye are afforded from a short walk but take care of your footing as the path draws very close to the lip of the cliff and you must walk near to the edge. If you stride on and upward the Baily Lighthouse – the last of Ireland’s 82 lighthouses to become automated - and the Ben of Howth - marked by an ancient burial cairn – are all accessible by foot. All walks in this area will be shrouded in the magnificent heady coconut like scent from the bright yellow gorse on the heath.

Historically Balscadden Bay catered for genteel society in the period just after World War One. The Dalriada Tea Shop served refreshments above the small cove that was designated the ladies beach. In accordance with the proprieties of the day, the men’s facilities were to be found further around the bay, away from the ladies.

Any security concerns?

Your vessel is most likely to be alone in Balscadden Bay. It is uncertain how secure your dingy will be on the beach. Those with a fast outboard could land in the marina if it needs to be left unattended for some time.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, 1415 ‘Dublin Bay’ scale of 1:25,000 including Howth at a scale of 1:7,500 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

How can I get this offshore?

If you are receiving a mobile signal you can access all of our information via a standard mobile phone internet browser. We provide a streamlined version of the site at www.liyfs.com, which is a shortcut to our 'Lite' site called Lite.InYourFootSteps.com, that is simplified and optimised for speed. Here are the phonetics to pass the address on via VHF: WWW.LIYFS.COM, I SPELL... LIMA... INDIA... YANKEE... FOXTROT... SIERRA... DOT.COM. Similarly, if you have limited or expensive internet capabilities, you may switch to the 'Lite' site www.liyfs.com for faster more efficient access.

Alternatively you may print a hard copy to have aboard. Either print this page with 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.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

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