Seaward approaches are detailed in eastern Ireland’s coastal overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay .

The mountains at the upper part of the lough may attain heights of from 300 to 600 metres but the land at the entrance is low. The low ingress is nevertheless easily identified from seaward by being framed between the Cooley Mountains on the southern side and the Mountains of Mourne appearing in the upper part of the Lough. On the shoreline, the entrance is situated between Ballagan Point and Cranfield Point, 2 miles to the northeast, and is almost entirely blocked by rocks and shoals that extend across the mouth of the Lough. At the centre of this stands the conspicuous 34-metre high grey granite Haulbowline Lighthouse.

Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W

Close northeast of the lighthouse is the Carlingford Cut, the main entrance channel that the lighthouse marks. It lies between the foul ground off Cranfield Point and the Limestone Rock shoals extending out to Haulbowline Lighthouse. A fairway through the cut is dredged to a depth of 6.3 metres. It is marked by lighted buoys on each side and indicated by range lights.



The key point to factor into any planned visit to Carlingford Lough is that it is very difficult for a displacement leisure vessel to enter or leave against its tides. Spring velocity in the entrance, around the Haulbowline Rocks, attains speeds of 5 knots.

Newcomers are therefore best advised to approach at slack water. As the slack water period between two tides at the Lough entrance is very short, and only happens twice a day, possibly once in daylight, it may be best to stage the visit to the Lough by staying in a convenient local haven to set up an optimum time entry.



It is also worth noting that during northwest winds, the inlet is subject to heavy squalls that descend from the hills and, owing to the funnelling effect of the mountains, expect the northwest wind strength to be double what is forecasted. As such, during strong north-westerlies, Warrenpoint and Carlingford Lough Marina are the only places that will be comfortable.

LISTED WAYPOINTS
The complete course is 11.82 miles from the waypoint 'Hellyhunter' to 'Entrance to Victoria Lock' tending in a north westerly direction (reciprocal south easterly).


















The first waypoint is 500 metres due south of Hellyhunter, a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s situated a ½ mile south of Hellyhunter Rock.

Hellyhunter South Cardinal - Q (6) + LFl 15s position: 54° 00.351'N 006° 02.052’W

This buoy is situated about 1½ miles southeast of Cranfield Point the northwestern side of the entrance to Carlingford Lough. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.





From the first waypoint approaching the Carlingford Cut on 310° T to the first channel marks close southward of Greencastle. At night the leading lights will just become visible at this range, Oc.3s7m13M.





Then it is a matter of following the well-marked mooring buoys up to the Warrenpoint entry channel; odd numbers to starboard and even to port. Once inside the entrance, the waters are completely absent of swell making marker identification easy. Once inside the buoyed channel continue along the Carlingford Cut between the marks until the No. 6 port hand mark is passed when the Haulbowline Lighthouse is abeam to port. This is the junction of Hoskyn Channel and Carlingford Cut.




Haulbowline Rock, on which the lighthouse stands, covers on the first quarter of the flood and dries to 1.2 metres. The lighthouse marks the west side of the entrance channel and lies about a ½ mile west by southwest of Cranfield Point. It is surrounded by rocky prongs. One of these is situated about 200 metres northeast by north of the lighthouse and it dries at low water. Another rock with 1.1 metres of cover lies 200 metres east-northeast of Haulbowline lighthouse.

When the lighthouse is abreast to port, and No. 5 starboard hand buoy is off Cranfield Bay on the opposite side, the course alters slightly to port taking a path towards Greenore Point. This is situated on the Lough’s southern shore and made conspicuous by a pine plantation with some buildings including an old lighthouse. This leg takes a vessel to the north of the extensive rocky flat Block House Island, part of which is always exposed, and to the south of New England Rock and Vidal Rock.




This broad rocky flat of Block House Island guards the entrance to Carlingford Lough. It is nearly covered at high water but its northern shore is steep-to. A military building was erected here in 1602, now entirely ruined, and was known as Carlingford Fort. Within this, on the inner edge of the Limestone Rocks, is the Sheep Rock that uncovers on last quarter ebb about a ¼ of a mile west of this is a yellow special marker buoy.

From just within to the westward from this buoy, up to Greenore Point, the western shore of the lough is covered by extensive flats where there is extensive marine aquaculture. These uncover at low water and are steep-to, as does Greenore Point.

Off the northeastern shore marking the northern side of the Hoskyn Channel, between the No. 5 and No. 7 starboard marks, the latter marking the New England Rock with 1.5 metres over it, the path passes Soldiers Point on the northern shore. This is located about ¾ of a mile to the northwest of the northeastern entrance point Cranfield Point. A gravel spit, which dries, extends about 0.3 of a mile southeast from the point and is called The Scar. This lies in front of Cranfield Bay and is dry at low water and steep-to.





From Soldiers Point to Greencastle Point, located about 1.1 miles to the northwest, the shore between is fronted by a flat which dries out to a distance of about ⅓ of a mile and is steep-to. The towers that host the entrance's leading lights are positioned on the outer extremity of this drying area. A prominent ruined castle, Green Castle stands at Greencastle Point.




The No. 7 starboard hand marks Vidal Rock with 1.1 metres of cover, and the No. 11 nearly a mile away westward, recommences to the southwest of Green Island. This is a small 2.7-metre high islet a ½ mile from the Greencastle shore. It is surrounded by an extensive rocky foreshore with outlying rocks to the east. Between Green Island and the shore, there is a narrow but deep channel where the very good haven of Greencastle can be found.





From just within to the westward from this buoy, up to Greenore Point, the western shore of the lough is covered by extensive flats where there is extensive marine aquaculture. These uncover at low water and are steep-to, as does Greenore Point.




The car ferry service sails on the hour crossing Carlingford Lough from Greencastle to Greenore. From Greencastle it departs on the hour (Mon-Sat 7 am–8 pm, Sun 9 am–8 pm) From Greenore, ferries depart on the half-hour (Mon-Sat 7.30 am–8.30 pm, Sun 9.30 am–8.30 pm) and the crossing takes 15 minutes. It is important not to obstruct the channel or its approaches when it is manoeuvring.




In this area just within the entrance, between Green Island, Greenore Point, The Yellow Buoy, Sheep Rock and Block House Island, there is a clear open space.




Greenore Point is located about 2½ miles northwest of Ballagan Point. The tower of a disused light, 12 metres high, is prominent. The privately-owned Greenore Harbour lies close west of Greenore Point and a regular container ferry service uses the port.




The Greenore Channel to the upper part of the Lough passes close northeast of the point and recommences after this space to the westward of Green Island. Off the eastern shore to the northward of Green Island and opposite Grenore Point, there is a series of dangers extending for nearly a mile towards the Stalka Rock. These all lie to the east of starboard hand marks No.11 through to No.19. The first and southernmost of these are Frazer Rock with 0.7 metres of cover close to the No.13 Buoy.




Earl Rock dries at low water and is 600 metres east by north from Greenore Point. It is marked by a 6-metre-high beacon on its southern end. Midway between it and Frazer Rock are unnamed rocks with 0.2 and 0.3 metres of water.

Stalka Rock is a ½ mile north by west of Earl Rock. It uncovers an hour before low water and is marked by a perch. A ridge of sand, uncovered at low water, connects these rocks, and continues to the north of the Stalka. Within, or between this ridge and the great eastern banks, there is a clear channel about 200 to 400 metres wide with from 6 to 7 metres of water. It extends down to the anchorage inside Green Island and is often used by local vessels passing between Green Island and Warrenpoint.




Above Greenore Point the channel runs between two extensive rocky shoals, called Watson and Stalka Rocks, for about a ½ mile. Above these continue through the middle of the lough in a north by northwest direction for about 3 miles, maintaining an average width of about 600 metres, and which is bounded by extensive sandbanks that line both shores.




Off the western shore to the north of Greenore are the Watson Rocks. Port hand markers No. 14 through to No.16 carry a vessel past these dangers. Watson Rocks have 0.7 metres of water and form the southern portion of an extensive bank. This bank runs in a northwest-by-north direction for more than a ½ mile and carries from 1.8 to 2.7 over its northern end. Black Rock, on the outer edge of the stony foreshore and a ½ mile from the western side, is covered at half-tide and dries to 2.7 metres. From Black Rock, the edge of the bank runs in a northwest direction for 1¾ miles terminating before the No. 18 port hand buoy on the north spit of Carlingford Bank.





The Carlingford Bank is the portion of the western bank in front of the town of Carlingford, its outer edge dries and is steep-to and there is 0.6 or 1.6 metres of water between it and the shore. To the north of the Carlingford Bank the western shore is skirted by a flat with 2.2 or 2.7 metres of water, extending to a distance of about 600 metres off, that affords a good anchorage for leisure vessels.




Immediately inshore there is the Carlingford Marina or the potential to dry out alongside Carlingford Harbour’s pier.





Opposite the Carlingford Bank is Killowen Bank which bounds the eastern side of the channel. The No. 23 starboard hand buoy marks its outer edge. The Killowen Bank uncovers from the shore out to the buoy and has extensive fish farming activity within the area.




The Starboard No. 23 buoy marks the Killowen Bank with a western extension of the bank being marked by the yellow Killowen Bank Special Mark Buoy Fl.Y.5s. Killowen Point has a terrace of shelly gravel that extends from it and dries to more than 4 metres.




About 1 mile to the northwest of Killowen Point, at the foot of the forested Slieve Martin where the Mountains of Mourne terminate, there is the well-established Killowen anchorage where moorings and the facilities of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club may be availed of.




The narrowest part of the channel is between the Killowen and Carlingford banks where it is about 600 metres wide. A little above Killowen Point the deep channel terminates and is succeeded by a broad expanse of shallow water that occupies the whole head of the lough to Warrenpoint, with scarcely a third of a metre of depth difference across from shore to shore.





In Rostrevor Bay there is from 2.2 to 2.8 metres, shoaling to 1.5 to 0.9 metres off Warrenpoint, the whole of which provides an excellent anchorage with perfect shelter from all winds and sea. However, the 'Carlingford Lough Marine Conservation Zone' (Carlingford Lough MCZ) has been established over the bulk of the area between Rostrevor the ship channel all the way into Warrenpoint. Anchoring should be avoided in this area but it is just possible to anchor immediately outside and a ½ mile northwestward of Killowen Point and offshore of the historic Wood House set on the foot of the mountain here.




Or alternatively, anchor off the southern shore at Greer’s Quay or Omeath .





The No. 25 starboard buoy, situated in the southwest corner of Rostrevor Bay, marks the entrance to the buoyed Warrenpoint approach channel.

No. 25 Green Light buoy – Fl. G 3s position: 54° 04.200’N, 006° 12.100’W

The channel is 120 metres wide and dredged to a depth of 5.4 metres to the harbour basin. The cranes at the commercial berths will have been visible for some time beforehand during the run-up to the Lough.





From the light buoy, it is a distance of 2½ miles to the town via the 60-metre wide channel that is well marked with lighted buoys. It is also covered by the Newry River Leading Lights set above the port in two round towers, that lead through the centre of the channel lights in line at 310° T.





The dredged channel has 5.4 metres to the container berths but it shallows rapidly on either side. Moderate draft vessels will find good depth with a half tide up as far as the Gunnaway Rock which is marked by a starboard pole beacon. It covers on the first quarter flood, dries to 3 metres, and is close to the northeast of the channel about 600 metres south by southeast from Warrenpoint. Between it and the point are some rocks that uncover at low water.




Black Rock on the opposite shore, marked by a perch and covered at 3 hours flood, is on the outer edge of the stony foreshore that borders the southwestern side of the Lough.

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