Glengarriff Harbour is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland and in the northeast corner of Bantry Bay. it is a beautiful harbour that offers the option of anchoring with excellent holding or picking up visitor moorings.

Glengarriff offers complete shelter from all weather conditions in beautiful surroundings. Access is available at any state of the tide in all reasonable conditions but Glengariff requires some straightforward navigation. Although there are lit marks on its primary entrance mussel rafts flank the approaches and small islets need to be circumvented in the inner harbour area. This makes it advisable to only enter during daylight.

Keyfacts for Glengarriff Harbour

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 44.594' N, 009° 32.352' W

At the centre of Glengarriff bay north of Garnish Island.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 700 metres southeast of Four Heads Point 1.5nm from the channel between Ship Island and the eastern shoreline.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Glengarriff Harbour is a deep enclave set into the northeast corner of Bantry Bay. It is entered between Crowdy Point and Gun Point to the northeast and the harbour is divided into an inner and outer part by Garinish Island which lies on the west side of the harbour. The village of Glengarriff, of approximately 140 people, stands at the head of the harbour on its northwestern side. Its population swells during the summer as this area is known internationally as a tourism venue with many natural attractions, most particularly Garinish Island that has been transformed into an exotic garden.




The inner harbour area, to the north of Garinish Island, offers complete shelter to leisure craft. It has a wide choice of anchorages and six visitor moorings. A daily charge of €7.50 may be levied for the use of the moorings.




Glengarriff pier on the north shore has 1.8 metres LAT and the same in its approach channel but mussel boats and passenger ferries make it difficult to come alongside here.

How to get in?

Use southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head for Bantry Bay approaches.

From the Glengarriff Initial Fix proceed round Four Heads Point keeping at least 300 metres off or in 20 metres to avoid the foul ground and islets that extends eastward from the point. After passing between Four Heads Point and the low islet of Carrigskye, opposite, the entrance to the harbour is clear up to Garinish (Illnacullen) Island. The only dangers are mussel farms that lay off both shores above Crowdy Point and Gun Point.

Make towards Gun Point on the eastern shore keeping at least 300 metres offshore as a shallow area extends westward from the point. On closer approaches steer towards the conspicuous martello tower on the 41-metre high summit of Garinish Island. This clears the mussel farm extending northwestward of Gun Point. Save for the foul ground that extends 200 metres southward of Garinish Island, called Yellow Rocks p account of their appearance, this area is clear and it is possible to anchor here in settled weather.




Once clear of the rafts off of Gun Point, alter course for the entrance into the inner harbour. This is on the east side of Garinish Island and the two islets that extend east of it, Garvillaun and Ship Island.




The channel lies between the outer Ship Island and the eastern shoreline. It is at least 300 metres wide, has over 16 metres of water and is marked on either side by lit lateral marks. A red port buoy, Fl.R3s is moored on the west side and to the east of Ship Island. A Green Starboard buoy, Fl.G.4s is moored off the eastern shoreline.




When past Garvillaun Island, close north of Ship Island, the centre of the harbour is deep and clear of submerged rocks. Generally, the east side of the harbour is steep-to close offshore, but foul off its north and west sides above Garinish Island. There is one other mussel farm on the eastern side of the harbour beneath Glengarriff Castle.




A choice of several lovely anchorages area available in the inner harbour. There is ample room to anchor in very good mud holding clear of dangers. Depths decrease from about 12 metres to less than 2 metres approaching the head of the harbour.




Yachts may anchor anywhere south of Bark Island in approximately 10 metres of water. North of Bark Island there is a perfectly sheltered anchorage in about 3 metres that provide convenient access to the piers and slips situated in the north end of the harbour.




In addition, there are six seasonal visitor moorings available rated 15 tons rated moorings are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR.

Visitor Moorings - Position: 51° 44.900’N, 009° 32.300’W.




Landing can be had at the pier and a smaller platform and slip close east. There is also a slipway in the northwest corner close to the Eccles Hotel.

Why visit here?

Glengarriff takes its name from the Irish 'Gleann Garbh', meaning 'rough glen'. The name relates to a forested valley to the northwest that remains to this day as it was once the private estate of the Earl of Bantry. It is now a national forest that has some of the oldest and most extensive oak and birch groves left in Ireland. The ancient woodland's thick tree cover also maintains a level of humidity that allow ferns and mosses to flourish beneath.




Glengarriff is pretty by any measure. Set in the sheltered northwest corner of Bantry Bay, where the Caha Mountains descend into the ocean, the lush and thickly wooded valley has rightly lured visitors for centuries. By the 19th-century it had firmly established itself as a resort village for prosperous Victorians. They sailed from England to Cork, then took the train to Bantry and made the final crossing to Glengarriff by paddle steamer. In the latter part of the century the valley became increasingly accessible when, in 1850, a road link with Killarney was established by blasting through the mountains from Kenmare (the rail line subsequently closed in 1961).




Those who made the trek came to enjoy the harbour's spectacular beauty and mild climate. Glengarriff was known at this time as the 'Madeira of Ireland' and although nothing like Madeira its climate differential was very much a real thing. Thanks to the Gulf Stream and the assistance of its pine shelter belt, Glengarriff has a protected microclimate that is mild enough for subtropical plants to thrive. This can be recognised immediately upon entering the harbour by its clutch of islands being covered in a thick blanket of golden gorse and wild rhododendron. The Eccles Hotel that overlooks all this was much loved by the writers William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott. Later it has been graced by Queen Victoria and George Bernard Shaw who is said to have written Saint Joan here.




The jewel of the harbour is Illnacullen Island, Garinish on the charts, which is open to the public. Often called the 'Irish Eden' it consists of 15 hectares (37 acres) and is known to horticulturists all around the world as an island garden of rare beauty. Remarkably, Illnacullen was not always like this. Far from it, when the British War Office built the Martello Tower on its summit, around 1805, the island was a windswept rocky island that was barren but for some scrub. All changed however when in 1910 the island was sold by the British War Office to Annan Bryce, a Scottish businessman and Liberal politician, and his wife Violet L'Estrange.




Between 1911 to 1914, the Bryce family contracted the famed architect Harold Peto and Scottish plantsman Murdo Mackenzie (known as 'Mac') to create a garden capable of defying the Atlantic storms and its salt-laden winds. They imported soil, stone and subtropical species and landscaped gardens were laid out to transform the island into the exotic garden seen today. The microclimate and peaty soil provide the damp, warm conditions needed for these ornamental plants to flourish. Exotic shrubberies abound, especially during the summer. In May and June, there is a seasonal blaze of colour with beautiful displays of camellias, magnolias, azaleas and rhododendrons. There is also a New Zealand fernery, a Japanese rockery and a rare collection of Bonsai trees.




But it was the gifted British architect Harold Peto that gave Ilnacullin its most glorious bone structure. The centrepiece is a collonaded Italianate garden with its formal terraces featuring a Classical folly and ornamental reflective lily pool. The main showpiece is a wisteria-covered 'Casita' that is a roofed-over viewing point that overlooks a sunken Italian garden and pool. Among its follies are a clock tower and a Grecian temple. Much of its charm resides in the contrast between the cultivated lushness of the garden and the glimpses of wild seascape and barren mountains beyond.




In addition to the 'Casita' and gardens, a spectacular view of the surrounding area may be obtained from the old Martello Tower that is freely accessible. Crowning the island it offers superb views out over Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island. Like other towers in Cork, but unlike all other Irish Martello towers, it has a straight cylindrical shape that does not splay out at its base. This is said to be due to the high rainfall which washed the lime mortar out of sloping walls before it could set. At one stage the Bryce family intended to build a new mansion here which was supposed to incorporate the Martello tower as a music room. Fortunately, plans changed and the fort remains intact.




Today the comely village of Glengarriff still exudes an air of Victorian gentility with its neatly painted shopfronts and craft shops. It has a host of local pubs that frequently offer live music in the evenings during the tourist season when it becomes lively. There is ample to explore around the village too. The valley of the River Glengarriff rising to the north and west that gave the harbour its name provides wonderful hikes.




Five waymarked walking trails radiate from the main car park 1km north of the village. They are of varying lengths, from 500m to 3km, covering woodland, mountain, river and meadow. The walks abound in wildlife such as red squirrels in the forest and otters and kingfishers may be seen along the river. But the rough and rocky Caha Mountains make for challenging hill walking, despite their small size.




For those preferring to take a more moderate hike, there is a short but steep trail that leads up to Lady Bantry's Lookout, offering a vista of Bantry Bay and the West Cork area. Even easier are the gentler strolls in and around town. The Blue Pool is a pretty harbour hidden in an area of seaside woodland, which has been extensively developed, in the heart of the village. A visit to the exotic coastal garden Glengarriff Bamboo Park features 30 different species of bamboo and palms, and as always, offers splendid views. But the horticultural miracle of Ilnacullin is the must-visit.




The island was bequeathed to the Irish people in 1953 and is now under the care of the Commissioners of Public Works. The OPW has recently finished a restoration of Bryce House and the rest of the features around the island with the loving care that they deserve. There is an entrance fee to set foot on the island but it is really worth it. Anchor near Otter Island and land at the slip on the northwest side and make a landing by tender.




Ferries berth to the west of the slip, so take the tender around to the opposite eastern side to tie it off. There is a beach nearby but there is no way up to the island as the only access is via the slip. The best time to visit is early before the small turquoise-blue ferry chugs over with its many visitors. Sauntering around the harbour is very much worth it to see many sleepy harbour seals sunbathing on the rocks or cavorting in the water. One islet is colloquially known as 'Seal Island' as it is said to have a permanent colony of 250 seals.




From a nautical perspective, Glengarriff Harbour also happened to be the birthplace of the Irish Cruising Club. Nineteen yachtsmen happened to meet there in July 1929 aboard five cruising yachts and though unplanned the club was founded and thrives to this day.




From a boating point of view, the island-studded harbour surrounded by a shelterbelt of mountains is a cruising paradise. No one cruising Ireland’s southwest coast should miss out on this haven. It is truly a lovely harbour that offers a host of quiet anchorages to explore and several days of pleasure for the exploring boater. Even if the visit is unlucky with the weather, or a vessel is taking shelter here on account of rough conditions, there is ample to explore in the protected waters and some excellent eating out at the many local pubs and restaurants. It is also an excellent harbour to safely leave a yacht plus moorings are available.

What facilities are available?

Glengariff is a lovely little tourist village with post office, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and basic shops for provisions of milk and bread but not fresh meat. However, note that most shops here are tourist-oriented. Before 0900 and after 1800 it is possible to get alongside the pleasure ferry berth on the main pier to top up with water. Petrol & diesel are available and two water taps are available on the quay. The Eccles Hotel offers showers and baths to boaters.

Glengarriff is a 10-minute drive, 14 km (8 miles) from Bantry on the N71, and 30 km (18 miles) east of Castletownbere. Bus Éireann runs four to six buses daily between Bantry and Cork (two hours), and five daily to Glengarriff (25 minutes); the summer-only bus 282 allows you to continue from Glengarriff to Kenmare (one daily Monday to Saturday).

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Glengarriff harbour. I left my boat here in the west corner of the bay in the Blue lagoon for a week unattended and there was no problem. In fact the ferry men to the island generously tied my yacht Topaz to their moorings as a force nine was promised one night while I was away and they felt she would be better on their spare mooring.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.