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Ballycastle

Your Comments: 9 Read or add your comments

Courtesy Flag

Flag, Red Ensign

Waypoint

55°12.40N, 006° 14.10W

Charts

AC 2798-0 (Lough Foyle to Scanda Island), AC 2494-3 (Ballycastle), SC 5612 (Carlingford Lough to Loch Foyle), Imray C64 (North Channel)

Rules & Regulations

Skippers must contact the harbour on VHF channel 80 before entering

Hazards

Extreme currents, overfalls etc. See Approach section

Tidal Data Times & Range

HW Dover -0450 Springs and Dover -0200 Neaps; MHWS 1.2m MHWN 0.9m MLWN 0.9m MLWS 0.3m; The tidal stream outside the harbour runs West from 3hrs before HW Dover to 2hrs after   (links)

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General Description

Contacts:
Harbour Master    VHF Channel 80,  tel  028 2076 8525 mob 07803 505084

Ballycastle is a harbour which tends to be overlooked by the Almanacs and Pilot Books which is not unsurprising given the tides and currents in Rathlin Sound.  On the other hand it is ideally placed for the cruising sailor who likes to proceed in comfortable day hops of between 25 to 30 miles; this puts it within range of Glenarm on the East coast of Antrim, Port Ellen on Islay and Lough Foyle to the West. 

The challenge is to arrive at Rathlin Sound at the optimum state of the tide!!

The Harbour itself contains a well endowed marina, provides excellent shelter and is accessible at all states of the tide. The town of Ballycastle has a wealth of eateries, pubs and hotels and, as the marina has coded gates, the boat can be left there quite securely and it can be used as a base to explore the county of Antrim.  Knocklayde  mountain to the South of Ballycastle is a gentle uphill walk and provides a view of the whole of Antrim and across to Scotland on a clear day.  At the foot of the mountain is Glentaise (which is one of the Nine Glens of Antrim) and its forest  One can also bike round the coast to the East where there is a superb view of Rathlin Sound from Fairhead.

There is a ferry across to Rathlin Island which takes about half an hour, runs roughly every two hours in the summer and in 2019 cost £12.00 pp return (cheaper for a family);  Tickets can be bought on line at 
https://rathlinballycastleferry.com/tickets-old/or by phoning them on (0)28 2076 9299 this does have the advantage that you can leave the course-to-steer up to the guy on the bridge!! There are walk on tickets available but at the weekends you'd be advised to book ahead.

Approach

Hazards:
There is a large rock (more an islet) off Kinbane Head two miles up the coast......

........to the NW of Ballycastle which is at the confluence of meeting tidal eddies.  The whole of Rathlin Sound from Carrickarade Island in the West to Fairhead in the East is affected by extremes of currents, overfalls and eddies.  The tidal streams can reach 6kts at springs and 4kts at neaps.  Headlands especially can have heavy overfalls and round the corner off Torr Head the springs can run up to 9 knots

On the face of it the approach to Ballycastle is simple; one comes round Fair Head from the East or outside Carrickmannanon Rock from the West and makes for the Initial Fix just to the East of the harbour entrance and makes one’s way in from there.


In reality the situation is very different, especially if a Spring Tide is running; get it wrong and you could spend six hours going backwards... even on engine!

Remember also, that around all the main headlands when the streams are at their worst there are considerable overfalls and eddies.  Having said all that; at High and Low Water Dover the inshore currents are mild and it is only two or three miles to Ballycastle from either Fair Head or Carrickmannanon Rock; so if you pick your time right there should be no problems.  The cruising sailor should not be put off by the dire warnings in the Almanacs and Pilot books; yes, if you venture into the Sound with a F5 against the worst of the tide you can expect an extremely rough passage but, other than that, a well found boat on a well planned passage has nothing to fear. Detailed information on the tides in Rathlin Sound can found in our article at:

Rathlin Sound

Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring

The Pontoons can take boats up to 13 metres but is fairly tight....

.... and larger yachts may find it easier to go alongside the pontoon to the West of the link-span... the HM will advise on this on VHF channel 80.

If preferred there is a suitable anchorage outside the harbour though this can be subject to swell if the wind goes into the North and you should take care to remain to the East of the submarine cable serving Rathlin Island.

Berthing charges;  They are now charging by the metre,  £2.80 per metre per night and, and if you stay more than four days you can get the weekly rate of  £14.50 per metre. This is all in, shore power and VAT

Facilities

Ballycastle has everything: water and shore power on the pontoons, a fuelling berth (diesel only, petrol in cans from garage about half a mile), showers, toilet and laundrette block.  Gas/Gaz and provisions can be obtained in the town. There is a bus link to Belfast and ferry to Rathlin Island. The RoRo ferry to Campbeltown has not run for several years though there is a passenger RIB (with enclosed cabin) operating on that route.  This ferry has not restarted post Covid but is hoped for sometime in August 2022

http://www.kintyreexpress.com

Eating, Drinking & Entertainment

There are public houses and restaurants/take-aways to suit every taste and pocket.  If you are here on the last Monday and Tuesday of August, beware, you are liable to enjoy yourself as it is the annual “Auld Lamas Fair” with music on every street corner and pub; you’ll be glad to get back to the boat to put your feet up.

A selection of pubs can be found at

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml?l=ballycastle

Links

Your Ratings & Comments

9 comments
Update 2024/06
Written by Seatern | 17th Jun 2024
Overnight is now £3.50 per meter.
Morton's just outside has excellent Fish & Chips, etc.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Update July 2022
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 6th Sep 2022
These notes were reviewed in July 2022. The Kintyre Express ferry was not operating then but it is believed to be back up and running now (August 22) - phone them to confirm.
Update Early Summer 2021
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 17th Jun 2021
I reviewed these notes in June 2021. Only change is to prices. Whilst Covid restrictions are on there are restrictions on how to obtain ferry tickets to Rathlin.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Update Spring 2019
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 1st May 2019
These notes were reviewed in May 2019. Pricing has been re-organised and is now by the metre. Be aware of a Maritime Festival being held here weekend commencing 24th May 2019. I've given more information on the booking of tickets to Rathlin Island and new charts have been uploaded
1 of 1 people found this helpful
UPDATE APRIL 2017
Written by Don Thomson | 4th Apr 2017
These notes were reviewed by Don in April 2017. I've changed the prices a bit but very little else has changed
2 of 2 people found this helpful
MOBILE NUMBER FOR THE MARINA
Written by BERT T | 24th Sep 2016
The mobile number listed is incorrect. It should be 07803505084.

By Don, Thanks, fixed
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Update 2015
Written by dononshytalk | 10th Apr 2015
These notes were reviewed by Don in April 2015. We have made no changes but we have been unable to update the pricing situation.
2 of 2 people found this helpful
Decent Marina & town
Written by Miura | 21st Mar 2012
I have visited several times. Sean Morton, the harbourmaster, has been very helpful. The approach is easy shelter on the pontoons within the harbour is excellent. Water, electricity & fuel are all available. Ballycastle has a certain charm and there are a couple of good restaurants & pubs. We ate well in the Cellars in the middle of the town. There are reasonable public transport links from the town and you could leave a boat here safely if you had to. I will continue to be a regular visitor.
4 of 4 people found this helpful
Ballycastle - a pleasant experience
Written by belforge | 14th Dec 2011
Easy to find and enter; very welcoming and well run. Not expensive, washing machines and showers included. So far I've been ther twice, next summer is a certainty!
2 of 2 people found this helpful
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