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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 00:46,
High water: 06:41
Low water: 13:01,
High water: 18:58
Local weather
SSE Force 4, Patchy light drizzle, 13°C
Swell today
Direction SSW, height 2.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 2.5 metres.
Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with careful navigation required for access.
LWS draught
2 metres (6.56 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, NE, E, SE, NW
Unprotected: S, SW, W
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, jetty, scenic, drying, strong tides.
Facilities (summary)
Walks.
Haven position? See it »
51° 46.140' N, 010° 3.320' W
Where is that position? See it »
the anchorage south of the pier in two metres.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following West Cove Initial Fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
51° 45.580' N, 010° 3.230' W
200 metres south of Grey Island on the first transit - entrance bearing 045° approximately.
Why visit here?
West Cove is another one of those little gems along this coast that is well worth a visit to take in the naturally beauty. The scenery is spectacular in fine weather and it is a lovely spot to spend a night in settled weather.
West Cove is near the famous 'Kerry Way' walk that takes you along the ridge of hills, all the way from Waterville to Kenmare and is well signed, but still wonderfully unspoiled. It is a nice anchorage from which to explore the many fascinating areas in this most scenic corner of Ireland. The surrounding countryside is ideally suited for all types of walking, ranging from gentle strolls along lovely sandy beaches to more serious hikes over craggy hills.
How to get in?
From the initial fix waypoint track in on the 045°. By the time Grey Island is abreast the grey beacon ahead on Burnt Island, about one mile away, should come inline with the beacon behind higher up on the mainland to the north east of it. Please note the back beacon was very grey when I was last there and blends in with the rocky background so in poor light you will need strain to see it but it is there.
Next you will see a tall stone beacon (Fl.R.3s) on Limpet Rock at the southwest side of the entrance and also a white beacon east of the house and quay at West Cove (Fl.2s). Once you see the second set of transits align to port, turn onto 314° and track into this.
Pass the Limpet Rock beacon to port between it and the island on the starboard. The gap between the beacon and the adjacent islet is narrow, perhaps 50 metres or less, but the inner harbour waters should be more settled and it should not present a major challenge.
Between the white beacon transits you will see a post in the water inside the entrance – see photo. When passing the Limpet beacon and rocks, you may allow the post just to come to the left of the bea¬con but once clear come back on transit.
Progressing towards the post you will see the harbour open out to the west and when you come to approximately 20 metres off the post turn to port.
Anchor in an area indicated on the chartlet where there is a small area where you will find 2 to 2.5 metres in good sand holding there. Further in it drops off to 0.4 to 0.7 metres with mostly mud to the northwest of the quay. The anchorage is not that large and it is mostly frequented by smaller yachts (however last time I was in there I was followed in by a 35 footer at low water).
You can land at the steps beyond the quay at all tides and a vessel that can take to the mud can come alongside.
Please note, pleasure craft operating under power should have no difficulty in entering West Cove in good conditions. However, due to the amount of sunken rocks and the tight entrance in the last section, keeping to the transits and taking it steady is important in West Cove.
Also the normally covered Carriganglee Rock is directly in line with the second 314° transits, it can look very inviting if you have not spotted the first transit and see a couple of yachts anchored in there.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0055
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 -0113sp, -0033np, LW -0010
MHWS 3.5m MHWN 2.7m MLWN 1.2m MLWS 0.4m
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?
There are no facilities in West Cove. However the main road is about three quarters of a mile away. Castlecove is one mile east along this road where a shop and petrol pump may be found.
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
Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred in West 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. 2495 ‘Kenmare River‘ Scale of 1:60,000 covers ‘Sneem Harbour’ scale of 1:30,000, plus ‘Dursey Sound’ scale of 1:12,500, ‘Ardgroom and Kilmakilloge Harbours’ scale of 1:30,000, ‘Ballycrovane Harbour’ scale of 1:30,000, ‘Upper Kenmare River’ scale of 1:30,000.
Imray C56 ‘Cork Harbour to Dingle Bay’ scale of 1:170,000 and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 84 also cover this area. 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.
