Any advice from folk who have crossed from IoM to Northern Ireland?

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steve yates

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Will be going to Iom this spring from Workington, and it occurs to me that rather than come back, depending on time and weather, I could carry on to Northern Ireland and leave the boat there for a week or so when my time is up, flying home for work then carry on to western scotland on my next break.

Any suggestions as to best routes, dep /arr ports? Anywhere I should try and not miss over there? any hazards I should be particularly aware of?

It's a small slow boat, (bradwell 18) so need to watch the weather and sea state closely, but apart from that, anything else you think I may need a heads up on?

Thx
 
steve yates said:
Will be going to Iom this spring from Workington, and it occurs to me that rather than come back, depending on time and weather, I could carry on to Northern Ireland and leave the boat there for a week or so when my time is up, flying home for work then carry on to western scotland on my next break.

Any suggestions as to best routes, dep /arr ports? Anywhere I should try and not miss over there? any hazards I should be particularly aware of?

It's a small slow boat, (bradwell 18) so need to watch the weather and sea state closely, but apart from that, anything else you think I may need a heads up on?

Thx
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I haven't done the route but have been to IOM and NI. I would leave Peel and head for Belfast. The marina is in the city centre, it cheap and a good place for
Transport links. Leave Peel at high tide and catch the ebb North.
Info herehttps://www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/port/marina/
 
You could go in to Strangford. It has a tricky entrance if you time it wrong but once in you have a large area of sheltered water with lots of islands and interesting places to visit. Up the coast is quite tidal so you need to judge it right for a nice boost but if you carry round the coast there is a good marina at Bangor then at Glenarm or the harbour at Carnlough if you want a restaurant. Further round and you can head in to Ballycastle which has a marina and some nice restaurants. From here you can easily make Rathlin but you need to be very careful of the tides as there are strong races and currents at the wrong times. It is a nice coastline with quite a few sheltered spots and you do get a good boost from the tide. If you want to get back to the mainland then from Glenarm you can make for Sanda or Campbeltown then Portpatrick and back to IOM.
 
Port Erin to Ardglass is a nice little trip of just over 30 miles and very do able in a small boat. It would give you a pleasant 30 mile trip up the coast to Bangor to follow. Bangor gives easy access to Belfast on the train and easy access to City Airport for the cheap flight home.

It also then gives you a good route to Girvan (which could be via Glenarm) from which to start exploring the Clyde.

I did it a few years ago in a couple of decent weather windows and it was glorious, enjoy.

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Would definitely go into Strangford if you have not been before and you could easily spend a few days exploring the lough. I would leave from Peel with the key point to time arrival off the lough at the right time. Plenty advice available on that elsewhere. If you want to leave the boat and return home then the marina in Belfast a good spot for cost and transport. From there probably Glenarm. Then Ballycastle or Rathlin. After that Gigha or Port Ellen on Islay should be manageable distances for your boat. Then you have loads of options for easy day sails.
If you aren't doing Strangford then consider East Tarbet Bay on the east side of the Mull of Galloway to anchor. From Ramsey it should be easy enough taking the ebb all the way. Then perhaps Portpatrick then Glenarm.
All above suggestions should work okay for your boat speed making the most of the tides.
 
As said, Peel's the closest place to leave from. If going into Strangford you need to arrive there on the flood, which will dictate your departure time from Peel (around 28NM to the entrance). It may mean leaving from the outer harbour...either visitor's mooring or outer breakwater. Neither are much fun in a brisk northerly. Tidal streams are of no great concern heading to Strangford or Ardglass, except for the need to arrive at the former on the flood. Ardglass is a dump, albeit with a certain rough charm (after a few pints of the black stuff).

Glenarm is fairly secure, if not very handy for either of Belfast's airports, and only one tide away from the Western Isles (Gigha or Islay). Belfast, or perhaps Bangor, may be more convenient. If time permits, Rathlin Island is an interesting stop on the way.
 
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If you are trying to get to Scotland there is no advantage in all the suggested diversions other than to extend your cruise, you could use the time saved to explore Mull. or the Small Isles.
One ebb tide plus a bit of slack water either end gets you to Bangor, good secure marina, reasonable town with good links to both airports.
When you resume your trip leave Bangor at HW, the ebb will carry you to Sanda or the Mull of Kintyre with the flood then lifting you to Campbeltown (for the Clyde) or Gigha for the West Coast. No need to go to Glenarm etc. just wasting the benefit of the tide. When we were based in Belfast Lough we allowed 7hrs. Carrickfergus to Campbeltown (Sigma 33) or 11 hours going outside the Mull to Gigha, we did the return passage several times a year. If you regard 7 hrs. as a long passage then Glenarm is an option but Gigha is a much nicer place, worth a days stopover if it should happen to be sunny. Of course weather can change all of this but with nearly three knots of tide to help, you might make good times even in a small boat. Our Achilles 24 was not that much slower on these particular legs.

Coming back you have the same good tide help but less chance of using the kite as the wind is more likely to have south in it, that might be the time to try out the diversions, shortening the legs.
 
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Glenarm has some good pubs but no food other than a mediocre fish and chip van on the beach or a light lunch in the castle. The castle has lovely gardens and there are often events on such as Highland games, concerts, opera or just garden displays. It is a lovely marina just to chill out in. You can find a key hidden near the door for visitors or if you are there when Billy is around he will sort things for you. If you are going further north to Scotland in an 18foot boat I would advise going via Rathlin rather than Sanda. There are races round Rathlin but leaving at the right time gets you to Islay with minimal fuss whereas going from Sanda to Gigha you tend to get pretty rough conditions outside the Mull. Of course you can just stay inside the Clyde which is ideal for that size of boat but can be busy.
 
We've been a number of times from the IoM to Northern Ireland. It can be amazingly pretty and basking sharks and dolphin schools all the way. The entry to Strangford is exciting... and needs some care, but Glenarm is an easy access and the Harbour Master is friendly and helpful.

From Glenarm to Bangor NI is a pleasant run and it has easy access to Belfast and a great restaurant next to the marina http://theboathouseni.co.uk/

From Bangor NI to Sanda and onto Islay is a great trip and lots of distractions.
 
Did Bangor - Peel and back a few years ago. Other than watching tides carefully there is no great problem. Pay attention to the pilotage around the Copland Islands as you approach Bangor. Going north of Bangor you could do Belfast / Carrickfergus or Larne?
As pointed out, though Glenarm is a nice little harbour there is not really a lot there. Rathlin or Ballycastle have more to offer. Either sets you up for west of Kintyre or the Clyde as you choose. The Mull of K is not as dreadful as made out , provided you time the tide / wind. The inside ( a boatlength or 2 off the cliffs) passage can be smoother than farther out. Going west or east, you can opt to stay well clear , remembering of course the traffic separation system....
 
Brilliant, thanks all. I'm in no great rush, if there re nice places to visit I'm happy to detour or do short hops.

The idea is to meander up using the gaps between weddings ( I'm a wedding photographer) and leave the boat to go back and shoot/edit, then pick up where I left off. I'll need to put in a few hrs work every few days on admin stuff/email etc so quite happy to do that in a good pub with wifi on an afternoon of a short hop.( or when weather bound :))
Sometime in October I'll sort out the killer trailer and go pick her up from wherever I got to and take her back to her Workington mooring for short trips when winter permits. Next year, I'll trail her back to the same point and carry on. Maybe, or maybe I'll trail,her somewhere entirely different , or maybe I'll do it all again via different routes and ports , who knows :)

Far too many places to explore.
 
Peel to Ardglas. Done it a few times in my Centaur.This is an easy crossing, no obstructions and a handy Marina with a fairly straightforward entrance. Tides are always an issue at any port but Strangford as a stranger in a small boat presumably without a reliable sturdy engine is not for the faint hearted!
 
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steve yates said:
Yeah, I think I like the sound of peril to ardglas, for some some Guinness to gird the loins for strangford lough for the next leg :)
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If you make it to Strangford, the most dangerous place to wind up is the Down Cruising Club, we never managed to leave the bar sober. Clubhouse is an old light ship and the locals are very friendly. http://www.downcruisingclub.org/
 
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