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Adjacent Haven EAdjacent Haven WSW

Little Killary Bay (Salrock)

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Overview






Please note

eOceanic has been made aware of this haven. We are looking for a sailor with first-hand experience to provide their direct personal insights so that we may complete our write up. In advance of this we have posted these preliminary research notes. Do you know this location? Please contact us or click the 'Report a Mistake or Omission' button below to help share this location with the sailing community.



Little Killary Bay, or also known as Salrock, lies halfay between Aughrus Point and Roonah Head, on the west coast of Ireland. It has an excellent secluded anchorage which is free from swell at the head of the inlet. It provides complete protection and is safe to access in all conditions.


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Keyfacts for Little Killary Bay (Salrock)
Facilities
Water available via tap


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinitySet near a village or with a village 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
5 stars: Safe access; all reasonable conditions.
Shelter
5 stars: Complete protection; all-round shelter in all reasonable conditions.



Last modified
May 30th 2017

Summary

A completely protected location with safe access.

Facilities
Water available via tap


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationVisitors moorings available, or possibly by club arrangementScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinitySet near a village or with a village in the immediate vicinity

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



Position and approaches
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Haven position

53° 36.593' N, 009° 50.996' W

This is the position at the head of the bay opposite Salrock House

What is the initial fix?

The following Killary Harbour initial fix will set up a final approach:
53° 38.251' N, 009° 57.873' W
in the Atlantic Ocean midway between Rinvyle Point and Tonakeera Point



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 Little Killary Bay (Salrock) for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Ballynakill Harbour - 5.2 nautical miles WSW
  2. Killary Harbour - 5.5 nautical miles E
  3. Fahy Bay - 6.6 nautical miles WSW
  4. Cleggan Bay - 9.8 nautical miles WSW
  5. Clifden - 9.8 nautical miles SW
  6. Inishturk - 10.3 nautical miles WNW
  7. Clifden Boat Club - 10.5 nautical miles SW
  8. Bertraghboy Bay - 11.7 nautical miles S
  9. Clare Island - 12 nautical miles NNW
  10. Bofin Harbour - 12.9 nautical miles W
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Ballynakill Harbour - 5.2 miles WSW
  2. Killary Harbour - 5.5 miles E
  3. Fahy Bay - 6.6 miles WSW
  4. Cleggan Bay - 9.8 miles WSW
  5. Clifden - 9.8 miles SW
  6. Inishturk - 10.3 miles WNW
  7. Clifden Boat Club - 10.5 miles SW
  8. Bertraghboy Bay - 11.7 miles S
  9. Clare Island - 12 miles NNW
  10. Bofin Harbour - 12.9 miles W
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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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How to get in?
Route location The 'Slyne Head to Erris Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northbound Route location sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southbound Route location sequence; western approaches may use either description.

Little Killary Bay is on the west coast of Ireland on the border of Counties Galway and Mayo about 40 miles northwest of Galway.

It is a narrow inlet off the Atlantic Ocean about 2 miles long which has a northwest facing entrance channel between Carricklea islet to the north and Carricklass rocks to the south, and the Rosroe peninsular seperates Little Killary Bay from its near neighbour Killary Harbour. The shores of the inlet slope steeply, the south side being covered with trees down to the water whilst the north side is barren with Mweelrea mountain towering over it.

Access is straightforward and the bay can be entered in any weather, and once inside it offers good shelter. The two popular anchorages are off Rosroe Point on the north shore which has no facilities, and at the head of the bay beyond Ship Rock northeast of Salrock House where you may obtain water from a well with the owners permission. This good anchorage with perfect shelter has 8 visitors moorings in a tranquil location.

Consideration should be given to the number of fish farms in the area; and although the access is straightforward caution is required in bad weather or poor visibility as there are quite a number of off-lying rocks and shoals and it is not recommended for a night approach as there are no lights.


Why visit here?
Little Killary Bay lies immediately to the south of Killary Harbour, their entrances divided by the Rosroe peninsular, and it runs in a south easterly direction for about 2 miles to its head at Salrock.

Illaunmore, a rocky islet connected with the shore by a sandy isthmus, forms the southern point of entrance, and care should be taken to avoid Bird Rock which is always above water, and similarly Carrickglass Rocks which stand between 7 and 15 feet high above the water at the entrance to the bay.

Fish farming is a major occupation of the area and care should be taken to avoid the salmon fishing nets and mussel cages, inside the entrance to the bay, whose positions are only approximately charted and are often moved without notice. An Adventure School also has its base on the southern shore of the bay and you may encounter several dinghies and canoes as you travel through. The area is also popular with serious climbers as the surrounding mountains offer severe challenges.

This tranquil bay has little in the way of facilities but is well worth a visit for its dramatic scenery.


With thanks to:
inyourfootsteps.com site research










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Please note eOceanic 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. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.