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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 01:11,
High water: 07:06
Low water: 13:26,
High water: 19:23
Local weather
SSE Force 4, Light drizzle, 13°C
Swell today
Direction WSW, height 0.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.
Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
3 metres (9.84 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: N
Nature (summary)
Marina, anchorage, moorings, watched over, village, secluded, scenic, edifying, drying, fees due.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, diesel alongside, gas, slipway, electricity, laundry, basic shopping, toilets, showers, hot food, public houses, post office, chandlery, haul-out, hard-standing, marine engineering, bus, walks.
Haven position? See it »
51° 38.060' N, 009° 49.534' W
Where is that position? See it »
Alongside the marina pontoon.
What are the initial fixes? See it »
The following waypoints will set up a final approach:
(i) Lawrences Cove initial fix
51° 38.333' N, 009° 49.300' W
This waypoint is approximately 300 metres north of the entrance to the marina.
Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.(ii) Bearhaven East entrance initial fix
51° 38.670' N, 009° 45.840' W
This position is approx 600 metres east of Carrigavaddra Perch south cardinal off Lonehort Point.
Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.(iii) Bearhaven Southwest entrance initial fix
51° 36.849' N, 009° 55.679' W
This position is approx 600 metres east of Fair Head, half a nautical mile from the entrance, situated on the 024° leading light and beacon on Dinish Island.
Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.
Why visit here?
Bear Island, also know as Bere Island, (Irish: An tOileán Mór) is said to have been named by a 2nd Century king of Munster, Mogh Nuadat, in honour of his wife, Beara, the daughter of Heber Mor, King of Castile.
Lawrence Cove is the main harbour for the island, and it resides near the main village of Rerrin (Raerainn). The island has a current population of about 200 people but this was not always the case. At the time of the 1841 census the population was 2,122 but by the 1851 census the population had decreased to 1,454 due to The Great Famine. The population decline continued in line with the national trend for emigration throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Bearhaven, the enclosed waterway between the island and mainland, was formerly a fortified anchorage for the British Atlantic fleet. On the island are the remains of the late Victorian military fortifications that Britain built to protect its naval base at Berehaven, which was held until 1938. These include two six-inch guns and the Martello towers. The circular towers, built of rubble masonry, were sited to defend the anchorage between the mainland and Lawrence Cove. Reported complete on February 2nd 1805, the Bear Island towers were probably the earliest to be completed in Ireland.
There was a period of military stagnation after the Napoleonic Wars until 1898 when the British Military raised a compulsory purchase order on large areas of the island. This was to construct additional fortifications in order to protect the British Fleet at anchor in the bay. In 1922, under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty that followed the Irish War of Independence, the British withdrew from most of Ireland but three deep water Treaty Ports, at Berehaven, Queenstown (renamed Cobh) and Lough Swilly, were retained as sovereign bases until 1938.
In addition to this relatively recent military history the island has many points of older historical interest including a wedge tomb and a standing stone. The Ardnakinna Lighthouse was constructed in 1850.
Unlike many of the other islands off the Irish coast, the inhabitants of Bear Island are native speakers of English. Irish ceased to be the spoken language of the majority of the native islanders between 1880 and 1885.
Bear Island is a peaceful and tranquil spot, unspoilt and underdeveloped cruising country with scenery and sunsets that will take your breath away. Along with good pubs, points of historical interest, beaches all around as well as the ‘Beara Way Walking’ route there is plenty of local interest to occupy the visiting cruiser. In addition to this it is a safe secure place to leave a boat for a period with plenty of serious cruising well within range upon your return.
Bantry Bay’s Adrigole, Glengarriff and Bantry within a few miles plus around Mizen head Crookhaven, Schull and Baltimore. Also to the north Kenmare river and Dingle Bay lies within easy reach. The haven could also provide an excellent base for cruising the area.
How to get in?
The eastern approach to Bearhaven is between Roancarrigmore Fl.WR. 3s, to starboard, and Carrigavaddra South Cardinal Beacon to port. Carrigavaddra is an unlighted beacon upon a 2.7 metre high rocky area half a mile south east of Lonehort Point that is the low eastern most point of Bear Island. The remains of an old pile lighthouse may still be seen on the point.
Pass between these two markers then steer a course of 280° in order to enter Bearhaven well clear of Lonehort Point.
Keep 500 metres offshore as you approach Lawrence’s Cove from the east to avoid Palmer Rock. This resides 600 metres northeast of Turk Island, 300 metres offshore, and has 1.8 metres of cover on LWS.
Larger yachts should anchor in the middle of the cove south of Turk Island in 4 metres of water with good mud holding. There are four seasonal visitor moorings to the SSE of Ardnagh point. The 15 ton rated moorings are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR. A daily charge of €7.50 may be levied.
Lawrence’s Cove - Four visitor moorings position: 51° 38.200’N 09° 42.200’W.
Smaller yachts can go further in to anchor. However the haven narrows as you progress in due to an island with a rocky connecting ledge that extends from the eastern shore. The .9 metre high island has a conspicuous rusty tank on its southern end. Stay within 100 metres of the western shore, to starboard, as you progress in and when you come round the headland that forms the west side of the entrance keep within 50 metres. Small vessels can anchor within the entrance N or NE of the island with the cylindrical tank in 5 – 6 metres. Leave enough room for the car ferry to enter to the north and you should set bow-and-stern anchors as there is little swinging room.
The marina lies beyond this island with the entry channel along the western shoreline. Pass midway between the island and the western shore to access the marina where you will find 5 metres.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0030
Today's Cobh tides — High water: 07:36, 19:53, Low water: 01:41, 13:56
Today's Dover tides — High water: 01:04, 13:22, Low water: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
HW Cobh –0048sp, -0012np
MHWS 3.2m MHWN 2.6m MLWN 1.2m MLWS 0.4m
Bearhaven Entrance
In-going High Water Dover (Cobh +0550)
Out-going +0610 Dover (Cobh -0025)
Max spring rate eastern entrance 0.5kn
Western entrance 2 kn
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 Munster 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. Cork 26, Bantry 23, Valentia 24. 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?
The marina has fuel, water, electricity, showers and clothes washing facilities. Basic shops, post office and essential provisions are within twenty minutes walk from the marina and there are 2 pubs, 2 restaurants on the island. It is served by a car ferry, which can carry light vehicles and this is met by private mini bus to Cork.
There is a travel-lift crane providing capability for below-waterline repairs and secure, over-wintering, storage ashore. Should you choose to do this you can leave the boat in care and take the ferry to pick up a connection to Cork (or Cork airport is a 2 hour drive).
What emergency contacts are there?
Valentia Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) VHF Ch 24 & MF 1752 kHz covers this costal area. Cork (26), Mizen (04), Bantry Bay (23), Shannon (28) and Galway (04) 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. Valentia (MRSC) may be called on +353 669 476 109
Other useful contacts in this area:
Lawrence Cove Marina
Postal address Lawrence Cove, Bere Island, Co. Cork, Ireland
Tel: +353 27 75044
E-mail: lcm@iol.ie
Bere Island Ferries
Tel: +353 27 75009
Any security concerns?
Never heard of a problem in Lawrence’s Cove.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
The large scale Admiralty Charts 2424 ‘Kenmare River to Cork Harbour’ Scale of 1:150,000 covers this area. Detail is provided by 1840 ‘Bantry Bay - Black Ball Head to Shot’ Scale of 1:30,000 (including Castletown Bearhaven Scale of 1:15,000 provide detail). Imray C56 ‘Cork Harbour to Dingle Bay’ scale of 1:170,000. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail.
With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
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.
