Warrenpoint is located on the northeast coast of Ireland and at the head of the Carlingford Lough inlet. It is a small commercial port that provides visiting boats with pontoon berths, the possibility to anchor close offshore with good landing points and several good options for vessels that can take to the ground.
Warrenpoint is located on the northeast coast of Ireland and at the head of the Carlingford Lough inlet. It is a small commercial port that provides visiting boats with pontoon berths, the possibility to anchor close offshore with good landing points and several good options for vessels that can take to the ground.
The port offers complete protection. Pilotage up to Warrenpoint is straightforward via a deep water shipping channel that runs the entire length of the lough making the port accessible at night or day in all reasonable conditions. Although well marked, access and piloting require good charts and visibility owing to exceptional currents in the entrance area where they attain 5 knots. As a particular consequence of this, the entrance should be timed to be around slack water, and the vessel should be equipped with a reliable engine.
An approach to Carlingford Lough is best avoided in any strong onshore winds as it causes a dangerous seaway at the entrance. The flood tide makes the entrance highly challenging but the southeastern ebb tide running out into a strong southeasterly renders the entrance completely impassable.
This tool can be used to estimate future costal tidal streams for this area. All that is required are two simple steps:
Step 1: What is the Dover High Water for the target date?
Use a current Dover Tide Table to find Dover High Water for the target date. The National Oceanography Centre offers online tidal predictions for up to 28 days from today. Click here to open their tide table for Dover
Step 2: Input the target date's Dover High Water
Hour:
Minute:
Taking a mean tidal offset from Dover's tide, we expect your targetted date's associated local tide at Warrenpoint to be:
High waters: Low waters:
Data based on an average tide is only accurate to within one hour, if you more precise times are required use the ISA tidal predictions, with WARRENPOINT offset -01:00.
Tidal Hour:
()
For planning purposes only, not for navigation. Please see our terms and conditions.
Plan the approach to be at slack water, preferably low water. Tides in the entrance attain rates of up to 5 kn making it virtually impossible for a displacement leisure craft to enter or leave against the tide.
From the entrance follow the well-buoyed and lit commercial channel up the length of the inlet.
Carlingford Lough's entrance channel and the dredged channel to Warrenpoint are both narrow where sailing vessels of less than 20 metres in length cannot impede ships in transit.
Contact Warrenpoint Harbour Radio using VHF Channel 12 for permission to proceed prior to arriving at the Starboard No. 27 Buoy.
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Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Warrenpoint for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
Warrenpoint, locally known as The Point, is a small commercial town and port that forms the east side of the entrance to Newry River at the head of Carlingford Lough. The narrow strait separates Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland and as such, the sizable town of about 9,000 people is located in Northern Ireland. At its western end, it presents a large industrial harbour to the river whilst presenting a Victorian resort town to the head of Carlingford Lough.
Visiting boats alongside the pontoon inside the southeast breakwater Image: Tourism NI
The town offers pontoon berths in two locations, inside its southeast breakwater and within the Town Dock. The area immediately alongside the pontoon placed against the inner side of the breakwater is dredged to a depth of 1.1 metres LWS.
The port of Warrenpoint and the Town Dock (right) Image: Michael Harpur
The Town Dock, at the northwest end of the basin, is available during the summer months when it is vacated by a fleet of shellfish boats that only harvest during the winter months. The outer fingers of the pontoon has 2 metres LAT but the largest part of the inner pontoon dries. It has four to five visitor berths that support 2 metres LWT.
Yachts in the Town Dock Image: Michael Harpur
It is possible to anchor directly off the end of the breakwater and land at its pontoon. This is a completely protected area although subject to scend from the occasional passing commercial vessel. Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge and lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way of the pontoon and commercial traffic. Vessels that can take to the hard have a wide range of options to dry out in the soft mud.
Yachts berthed in the Town Dock Image: Michael Harpur
Berthing arrangements should be made in advance or at the latest when approaching the entrance channel by contacting Warrenpoint Harbour Authority on Ch. 12 [Warrenpoint Harbour Radio] (24 hrs.), +44 (0)28 417 73381. It is advisable to check that no large ships are about to depart the port as vessels may not pass each other in the confines of the dredged channel.
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The pontoon attached to the inner side of the breakwater Image: JMC Aerial Media
Berth as arranged with the Harbour Master upon arrival. The area immediately alongside the pontoon's inner side of the southeast breakwater is dredged to a depth of 1.1 metres LAT and the remainder of the harbour area adjacent to the pontoon dries. So vessels should come straight in and out alongside the pontoon as the access path is only 20 metres wide. Visiting boats should use the inner half of the pontoon, leaving the outer part for the ferries to Omeath in the Irish Republic.
Leisure craft anchored off Warrenpoint Image: Michael Harpur
It is possible to anchor directly off the end of the pontoon. It is wholly protected here although subject to scend from the occasional passing commercial vessel.
Warrenpoint's Town Dock (left) Image: Michael Harpur
The Town Dock is in the older part of the harbour close upriver, at the northwest end of the basin. Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge and lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way of the pontoon and commercial traffic.
Pontoon in the Town Dock Image: Michael Harpur
Its bottom is very muddy at low water, and ground tackle should have a trip line, as sixty years of old moorings in this area could potentially foul an anchor.
The RoRo Terminal and container berths upriver of the Town Dock Image: Michael Harpur
Upriver and abreast the town is the RoRo Terminal and a container berth. The harbour master may give permission to temporarily use a general cargo berth. These are not suitable for leisure vessels because of the distance between the widely spaced vertical timber fenders.
The Town Dock Image: Daniel Morrison via CC BY 2.0
The town of Newry can be reached by way of a canal accessed via a single lock near the Warrenpoint Port at high water. Berthing in Newry is alongside the town quay. The essential first step for any planned visit to Newry is contacting Newry Tourist Information for approval.
Why visit here?
It is believed Warrenpoint derives its name from a family that lived here around the latter half of the 18th century. The Waring family lived here in a house called Waring’s Point and the name came to describe the location. The Irish place name is Rinn Mhic Ghiolla Rua which translates to 'McIlroy's Point' and can still be seen on some maps. It has been shortened to the commonly used name 'An Phointe' simply 'The Point'.
Warrenpoint port as depicted in the 1800s
Image: Public Domain
Warrenpoint was initially founded as a port that was constructed here during the 1770′s. However, it was the Victorian passion for coastal holidays that drove its development throughout the 1800s. In 1908, a bandstand was built in the town park, along with a swimming pool and baths on the coast. In 1836 along came the town infrastructure of a school, a courthouse, a savings bank and a farming society. A railway connection opened in 1849, increasing Warrenpoint's popularity as a holiday destination. Its guests were well received in a planned town with a grid system, a central square, promenades, and all the desirable Victorian seaside resort hallmarks. Alongside this, the town's indigenous population grew; in 1824, its population was a mere 500, and in 1831, 1,000, but by 1884, it was 2000, rising to 5000 in the summer with the influx of visitors. The town's residential development surged again after the 1930s and has significantly expanded again in recent decades.
Victorian Warrenpoint Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
The town's commercial port was just as successful. The original Port of Warrenpoint, which consisted of a wet dock and piers, was constructed by Roger Hall, Robert Ross, and Isaac Corry. In the early 1900s, the port was sold and expanded again. It was later sold to Warrenpoint Port and was enlarged again in 1972 – 1974. Warrenpoint Breakwater was added at this stage to provide the harbour with increased protection and a welcome addition to the town’s promenade. After this redevelopment, it took over the trade of the port of Newry, situated 5 miles inland, when it closed in the 1970s. In its time thousands of emigrants passed out of Ireland from these docks in search of a new future. On the corner of the dock, a plaque can be found commemorating their departure.
The Bandstand was set in place in 1908 Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
After the redevelopment, Warrenpoint will be remembered for being at the centre of tragedy during Northern Ireland's 'Troubles'. In 1979 the IRA proved that it was well-organised, well-armed, and capable of sustaining a terrorist campaign indefinitely by the occasional spectacular act. One of these was the murder of Lord Mountbatten and three others assassinated by the IRA at Mullaghmore, County Sligo. On the same day, they ambushed a British Army convoy near Warrenpoint's Narrow Water Castle. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the Warrenpoint ambush, and it represents the British Army's most significant loss of life in a single incident during the conflict. Yet, its strategic location, which is set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, continues to help the port thrive to the present day. Warrenpoint Port is only second in terms of tonnage handled by ports in Northern Ireland.
Victorian Postcard of the Espanade Image: Public Domain
Today Warrenpoint is a busy and prosperous town that is thought to be one of the best-planned in Ireland. The town is compact and attractive with neat Victorian buildings and broad streets. It has an animated waterfront and a long promenade and port forming the interface between the town centre and Carlingford Lough. The town's historic core is apparent, with its square forming its nucleus. Within the town centre, there is a public open space which is used mainly as a car park but also for fetes, occasional markets and festivals, most notably the 'Maiden of the Mournes' festival and the 'Blues on the Bay' music festival.
Narrow Water Castle at sunrise Image: Richard Browne via CC BY 2.0
With its beautiful Municipal Park and promenade, quaint shops, restaurants and many different pubs and clubs, Warrenpoint is a joy to explore. Of particular note are the two and three-storey 'Seaview Terraced Houses', along Seaview. These individual buildings have architectural merit but their combined effect is a sense of Victorian quality and grandeur that speaks of the town’s past as a resort. Set at the foot and with distant views of the Mourne Mountains, Cooley Mountains, and Carlingford Lough, it is readily apparent what elicited their development. A hike of about 2km to the northwest of the town centre, beyond the port area, takes a visitor to the Narrow Water Castle. This is a fine Elizabethan three-storey garrison tower house built in 1568 to command the entrance to the River Newry.
Warrenpoint presenting its Victorian resort face to the head of Carlingford Lough Image: Tourism Ireland
Hiking is, in fact, the finest way to see this beautiful area as it has many trails, particularly up into the Mourne Mountains. Be aware that the word walk is used instead of hike which can mean anything from a gentle ramble to a challenging scramble over boulders here so it is advisable to ask for specifics from the Mourne Heritage Trust in the Town Hall on Church Street in Warrenpoint.
Tall Ship exiting past the Town Quay Image: Daniel Morrison via CC BY 2.0
The centre is open most days during the summer and offers all sorts of maps and information, plus a series of talks on various facets of the area and guided weekend hikes. Any appetite that the countryside develops will be well catered for in the town's first-rate dining, which can be had in its many restaurants and gastropubs.
A picturesque berth at the head of Carlingford Lough Image: Tourism Ireland
From a boating point of view, Warrenpoint offers a very safe and convenient harbour in a scenic location. It is one of Carlingford Lough’s key locations that has long enjoyed popularity with holidaymakers and sailors alike for more than a century. It also offers excellent convenient provisioning, transport links and an ideal staging point for those awaiting a tide to access the canal to Newry . It also provides the best shelter in the Lough should the north easterlies blow.
What facilities are available?
Fuel is available by road tanker, fresh water at the quays; and with a population of approximately 7,000 provisions are plentiful, and minor repairs can be undertaken here. The port has excellent road links to the major population centres of Ireland. International air services are available from Belfast airport 96 km.
Useful transport contacts in this area: Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521 Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075 Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531 Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271
Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred at Warrenpoint.
With thanks to:
Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.
Northern Ireland tourist board overview
About Warrenpoint
It is believed Warrenpoint derives its name from a family that lived here around the latter half of the 18th century. The Waring family lived here in a house called Waring’s Point and the name came to describe the location. The Irish place name is Rinn Mhic Ghiolla Rua which translates to 'McIlroy's Point' and can still be seen on some maps. It has been shortened to the commonly used name 'An Phointe' simply 'The Point'.
Warrenpoint port as depicted in the 1800s
Image: Public Domain
Warrenpoint was initially founded as a port that was constructed here during the 1770′s. However, it was the Victorian passion for coastal holidays that drove its development throughout the 1800s. In 1908, a bandstand was built in the town park, along with a swimming pool and baths on the coast. In 1836 along came the town infrastructure of a school, a courthouse, a savings bank and a farming society. A railway connection opened in 1849, increasing Warrenpoint's popularity as a holiday destination. Its guests were well received in a planned town with a grid system, a central square, promenades, and all the desirable Victorian seaside resort hallmarks. Alongside this, the town's indigenous population grew; in 1824, its population was a mere 500, and in 1831, 1,000, but by 1884, it was 2000, rising to 5000 in the summer with the influx of visitors. The town's residential development surged again after the 1930s and has significantly expanded again in recent decades.
Victorian Warrenpoint Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
The town's commercial port was just as successful. The original Port of Warrenpoint, which consisted of a wet dock and piers, was constructed by Roger Hall, Robert Ross, and Isaac Corry. In the early 1900s, the port was sold and expanded again. It was later sold to Warrenpoint Port and was enlarged again in 1972 – 1974. Warrenpoint Breakwater was added at this stage to provide the harbour with increased protection and a welcome addition to the town’s promenade. After this redevelopment, it took over the trade of the port of Newry, situated 5 miles inland, when it closed in the 1970s. In its time thousands of emigrants passed out of Ireland from these docks in search of a new future. On the corner of the dock, a plaque can be found commemorating their departure.
The Bandstand was set in place in 1908 Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
After the redevelopment, Warrenpoint will be remembered for being at the centre of tragedy during Northern Ireland's 'Troubles'. In 1979 the IRA proved that it was well-organised, well-armed, and capable of sustaining a terrorist campaign indefinitely by the occasional spectacular act. One of these was the murder of Lord Mountbatten and three others assassinated by the IRA at Mullaghmore, County Sligo. On the same day, they ambushed a British Army convoy near Warrenpoint's Narrow Water Castle. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the Warrenpoint ambush, and it represents the British Army's most significant loss of life in a single incident during the conflict. Yet, its strategic location, which is set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, continues to help the port thrive to the present day. Warrenpoint Port is only second in terms of tonnage handled by ports in Northern Ireland.
Victorian Postcard of the Espanade Image: Public Domain
Today Warrenpoint is a busy and prosperous town that is thought to be one of the best-planned in Ireland. The town is compact and attractive with neat Victorian buildings and broad streets. It has an animated waterfront and a long promenade and port forming the interface between the town centre and Carlingford Lough. The town's historic core is apparent, with its square forming its nucleus. Within the town centre, there is a public open space which is used mainly as a car park but also for fetes, occasional markets and festivals, most notably the 'Maiden of the Mournes' festival and the 'Blues on the Bay' music festival.
Narrow Water Castle at sunrise Image: Richard Browne via CC BY 2.0
With its beautiful Municipal Park and promenade, quaint shops, restaurants and many different pubs and clubs, Warrenpoint is a joy to explore. Of particular note are the two and three-storey 'Seaview Terraced Houses', along Seaview. These individual buildings have architectural merit but their combined effect is a sense of Victorian quality and grandeur that speaks of the town’s past as a resort. Set at the foot and with distant views of the Mourne Mountains, Cooley Mountains, and Carlingford Lough, it is readily apparent what elicited their development. A hike of about 2km to the northwest of the town centre, beyond the port area, takes a visitor to the Narrow Water Castle. This is a fine Elizabethan three-storey garrison tower house built in 1568 to command the entrance to the River Newry.
Warrenpoint presenting its Victorian resort face to the head of Carlingford Lough Image: Tourism Ireland
Hiking is, in fact, the finest way to see this beautiful area as it has many trails, particularly up into the Mourne Mountains. Be aware that the word walk is used instead of hike which can mean anything from a gentle ramble to a challenging scramble over boulders here so it is advisable to ask for specifics from the Mourne Heritage Trust in the Town Hall on Church Street in Warrenpoint.
Tall Ship exiting past the Town Quay Image: Daniel Morrison via CC BY 2.0
The centre is open most days during the summer and offers all sorts of maps and information, plus a series of talks on various facets of the area and guided weekend hikes. Any appetite that the countryside develops will be well catered for in the town's first-rate dining, which can be had in its many restaurants and gastropubs.
A picturesque berth at the head of Carlingford Lough Image: Tourism Ireland
From a boating point of view, Warrenpoint offers a very safe and convenient harbour in a scenic location. It is one of Carlingford Lough’s key locations that has long enjoyed popularity with holidaymakers and sailors alike for more than a century. It also offers excellent convenient provisioning, transport links and an ideal staging point for those awaiting a tide to access the canal to Newry . It also provides the best shelter in the Lough should the north easterlies blow.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.
Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.
provides a tide timer and sailing directions for the run up the Lough.
+44 28 41773381
info@warrenpointharbour.co.uk
warrenpointharbour.co.uk
Ch.12 [Warrenpoint Harbour Radio] 
54° 5.770' N, 006° 15.220' W
54° 0.100' N, 006° 2.052' W 
Seaward approaches are detailed in eastern Ireland's coastal overview for 
Warrenpoint port as depicted in the 1800s
Victorian Warrenpoint
The Bandstand was set in place in 1908
Victorian Postcard of the Espanade
Narrow Water Castle at sunrise
Warrenpoint presenting its Victorian resort face to the head of Carlingford
Tall Ship exiting past the Town Quay
A picturesque berth at the head of Carlingford Lough
. It also provides the best shelter in the Lough should the north easterlies blow. 
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A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.