Sailing around Ireland 2026

[Sea Change]

Ahh - I think you are referring to this one. Or as one of my crew described it “Famous people who failed to stop at Ardglass”

Ah my memory let me down slightly, but yes that's the one.

 

[Concerto]

I had found this when gathering information for a trip I never made, seems well done
eOceanic

What a wonderful resource. Will definitely be using this web site. Thank you for posting.

 

[Supertramp]

I’ve only sailed in the north. In glenarm, the pub is perfectly happy to order you a chinese and give you cutlery to eat it with as long as your in there buying beer, super friendly. Good pubs in Ballycastle bay, much better than the touristy pub on Rathlin itself. Ardglass is a strange wee place, felt very proddy. Friendly small marina with a tight entrance. The place feels like a throwback to a Glasgow scheme in the eighties, complete with shellsuits.
Be careful with the tides in Rathlin sound. Good pubs in Bangor. The marina in Belfast is really handy for a pubcrawl in the city, and its a great night out. I have a soft spot for Donaghadee if there’s room on the wall, the pub does greatsteaks and used to be run by the daughter of the Portpatrick harbourmaster, dunno if thats still the case.
For some reason my observations seem to be mainly about pubs

Thanks, and a good pub is not a bad criteria. Depending on wind, I often anchor opposite Donaghdee on the Copeland Islands - the tide keeps it reasonably swell free and you can sneak well up into the bay but take care as there are some plonks of rock close in. Handy stop to await tides or sleep. Also Knockinelder Bay and Benderg Bay are handy passage stops saving the journey into Strangford or down to Ardglass.

 

[Supertramp]

We cruised a little bit of of the west coast many years ago... wrote it up in PBO in around 2016 if you can get a copy.
Highlight was the Inishkea Islands, off Belmullet.
Tory was interesting, the anti-Rathlin.
Would love to get back there and finish exploring that coast.

Thanks, added both to my list. Beginning to sense that there is a lot to see.

 

[Supertramp]

I had found this when gathering information for a trip I never made, seems well done
eOceanic

Thanks - I have used this and found it useful and accurate, though some of the anchorages can be rolly (unsurprisingly). The pictures are done well and give a good sense of the places. I dont have Starlink or similar so I sometimes rely on screen shots so I can refer to details when offline.

 

[Sea Change]

Thanks, added both to my list. Beginning to sense that there is a lot to see.

I'm not sure I'd call Tory a must-see, but it was certainly unusual! It made sense for us as our landfall after a non stop passage from Stornoway. I think we were the only non locals on the whole island.
Very dramatic scenery, useful well protected little fishing harbour which was no problem in our 27ftr, I wonder if it would seem tight with a bigger boat though.

 

[Dino]

From Cork Harbour around to Dingle are the most popular and best cruising grounds in my opinion. There is lots to do around Cork Harbour and Cork city is well worth a visit. From Kinsale around to Baltimore are fab. Definitely worth doing a night or two in Kinsale, Baltimore, Cape Clear, Schull can be a bit lumpy, but Crookhaven is a must visit. They have visitors moorings and a pub and two really good restaurants. Around the corner, Bantry Bay has a lot to offer with the beautiful Glengarriff and Bantry has a small new marina. There’s also a jetty beside the SuperValu Supermarket for getting provisions. You also have Lawrence Cove Marina on Beare Island which is well worth a visit.
Kenmare Bay is also a lovely spot but a long way up the inlet.
Knightstown on Valentia is a good stop too. The marina is free as it was never fully completed and there is no shore power. Definitely take the ferry across to O’Neills The Point for some very good seafood.
Eoceanic.com is a great resource along with Norman Keanes excellent ICC guides.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Get hold of a copy of Salt and Emerald by Alastair Scott, a hesitant solo voyage round Ireland.

 

[seanav]

Dingle a favourite harbour. Vibrant town. Long walks, with smoky hillsides and the atmospheric Reask Stone as evocative backdrops. Warm welcome.​

Arrived in Dingle late on the Sunday during an Easter sailing week, one crew was assigned to sprint to the bar and order a round as we tied up."When do you close ?" he asked the barman ...... After a slight pause to think "End of October",he replied.

 

[Supertramp]

From Cork Harbour around to Dingle are the most popular and best cruising grounds in my opinion. There is lots to do around Cork Harbour and Cork city is well worth a visit. From Kinsale around to Baltimore are fab. Definitely worth doing a night or two in Kinsale, Baltimore, Cape Clear, Schull can be a bit lumpy, but Crookhaven is a must visit. They have visitors moorings and a pub and two really good restaurants. Around the corner, Bantry Bay has a lot to offer with the beautiful Glengarriff and Bantry has a small new marina. There’s also a jetty beside the SuperValu Supermarket for getting provisions. You also have Lawrence Cove Marina on Beare Island which is well worth a visit.
Kenmare Bay is also a lovely spot but a long way up the inlet.
Knightstown on Valentia is a good stop too. The marina is free as it was never fully completed and there is no shore power. Definitely take the ferry across to O’Neills The Point for some very good seafood.
Eoceanic.com is a great resource along with Norman Keanes excellent ICC guides.

Thanks - useful info and Valencia has always appealled. I recall listening to the coastal weather station reports and being glad I wasn't there!

 

[steve yates]

Get hold of a copy of Salt and Emerald by Alastair Scott, a hesitant solo voyage round Ireland.

This, and also Celtic Gold by Peter Marshall, a trip round Ireland on a Centaur.

Also, webby has an interesting log of their trip round in his old Albin Vega here.