
Kilkeel is located on Ireland’s northeast coast three and a half miles northeast of the entrance to Carlingford Lough. It is a small town and very busy fishing port that has no provisions for leisure craft but will accommodate vessels in its harbour if space is available.
Kilkeel’s inner basin offers a vessel complete protection. Access is straightforward night or day but best approached on half tide for vessels of any draft.
Keyfacts for Kilkeel Harbour
Last modified
July 18th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
A completely protected location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
HM
+44 28 41762287
Ch.12, 14
Position and approaches
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Haven position
At the head of the South Pier at the position of the light Fl W.R. 2s 8m 8M
What is the initial fix?
The following Kilkeel Harbour Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in eastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay
.
- Contact the harbour master to see if a berth is available and if so the expected depths.
- Approach the harbour from deep water to the east on 340° T of the south pierhead.
- Follow the channels up into the inner harbour.
Not what you need?
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 Kilkeel Harbour for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Greencastle - 4.2 nautical miles WSW
- Annalong Harbour - 4.5 nautical miles NE
- Carlingford Harbour - 6.9 nautical miles W
- Carlingford Marina - 7.1 nautical miles W
- Killowen - 7.2 nautical miles W
- Rostrevor - 7.7 nautical miles WNW
- Greer’s Quay - 8.7 nautical miles W
- Newcastle Harbour - 9.2 nautical miles NNE
- Omeath - 9.4 nautical miles WNW
- Warrenpoint - 9.6 nautical miles WNW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Greencastle - 4.2 miles WSW
- Annalong Harbour - 4.5 miles NE
- Carlingford Harbour - 6.9 miles W
- Carlingford Marina - 7.1 miles W
- Killowen - 7.2 miles W
- Rostrevor - 7.7 miles WNW
- Greer’s Quay - 8.7 miles W
- Newcastle Harbour - 9.2 miles NNE
- Omeath - 9.4 miles WNW
- Warrenpoint - 9.6 miles WNW
How to get in?

Image: Eric Jones via CC BY-SA 2.0
Kilkeel Harbour is a small artificial harbour that extends 600 metres inland from its pierheads. The harbour consists of a drying outer harbour that is connected to an inner basin by a narrow walled channel. It is a busy fishing port that services 100 fishing vessels, which is the largest fishing fleet in Northern Ireland. The town of Kilkeel is situated close northwest of the harbour.
Kilkeel is not set up for leisure vessels but leisure craft are permitted to use the harbour provided berthing space is available. Due to space constrictions and the high level of fishing activity, particularly so in the evenings when it’s active fishing vessels return, finding a berth will be an issue but boats are usually accommodated. It is recommended that the harbour master be contacted in advance of arrival. VHF Channel 12 or 14, P: +44 28 417 62287 M: +44 77 0257 3879 Normal working hours are Mon - Fri 8 am to 4.30 pm, Sat 8 am to 12 noon, excluding Sundays and Statutory Holidays.
The access channel to Kilkeel has a maintained depth of 1.5 metres LAT and the inner harbour has 1.3 metres LAT but 2 metres can be expected MLWS. Any vessels of 1.5 metres draft, or greater, should not enter the harbour until at least 2 hours after low water.
Outside the harbour entrance is a moving sandbar that has reduced depths to 1.2 metres LWS. During a southwest gale, a sandbank builds outside the entrance to Kilkeel reducing the depth to a metre or less. The natural flow of the Kilkeel River clears a shallow channel through this. But this takes time and after such weather conditions, it is essential to seek advice as to the degree of silting that has occurred and plan to work the tides accordingly. At least three metres over the bank is a fair expectation at half-tide.
Kilkeel Bay Buoy – Outfall buoy Fl.(4).Y.12s position: 54° 3.252' N 005° 58.573' W


From Lee Stone to Kilkeel the shoreline becomes foul and it is advisable to keep at least 1,200 metres off. Steering to pass close east of the Kilkeel Bay Buoy clears all dangers.


When closing in to within 100 metres of the South Pier alter course to starboard until the pierhead is on a track of 010° to 015°T and the side of the pier opens. This passes clear of the edge of the bank on the northeast side of the entrance.

Enter the outer harbour on this line between the heads of South Pier and Meeney's Pier, a breakwater on the north side. Then the track immediately turns northwest into the harbour rounding and staying close to the pierhead of South Pier.

The entire area behind ‘Meeney's Pier’ or breakwater, dries and is rarely used. Once inside the heads proceed to the northwest taking the 13-metre wide walled channel that leads to ‘Meeney's Dock’, or the ‘Old Dock’.


Continuing past ‘Meeney's Dock’ the channel widens and another 12-metre wide opening leads into the ‘Inner harbour’ at the northwest end. The ‘Inner Harbour’ has depths of at least 2 metres LWS with some deeper holes.

The most likely berth will be alongside the southwest wall or rafted up to a fishing boat there. The northeast side of the inner harbour should not be used.
The pontoons at the head of the harbour are normally shallow and fully occupied by small fishing craft.

Why visit here?

Kilkeel's history goes back much further than that and it was known as the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mourne. It is still called the capital and there are many historic sites in and around the area. References to Kilkeel date back as far as the 11th century, and within the site of the church is an early Christian ring fort. The ruined church itself was constructed by a noble Spanish family in 1388 and dedicated to "St Colman Del Mourne’’. Although Kilkeel was very sparsely populated in the Middle Ages this was thought to be one of the area’s principal Churches.


The surrounding area is characterised by open, flat and stonewalled countryside. Occasional large clusters of mature trees associated with historic parks or gardens can be seen, and smaller clumps of mature trees surrounding established farm groups or older houses. All of this has a stunning northern backdrop provided by the Mourne Mountains. The Mourne Mountains provide excellent walks and particularly around the Silent Valley Reservoir. The Silent Valley Reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains and is the main water supply source for most of County Down and a large part of Belfast. Ringed by mountains and situated approximately 6.5 km (4 miles) from Kilkeel, 'The Valley', is set within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and features beautiful parkland, lakes and a pond. It attracts around 50,000 visitors per year most of whom come to enjoy the peace and solitude of this mountain area with its unique landscapes and varied wildlife. Northern Ireland Water has provided a number of visitor facilities at the site including a restaurant and information centre housed in two old colonial style bungalows that provide delightful views over the parkland.

A local heritage trail helpfully guides visitors around the various local attractions. This embraces a number of ancient monuments that include the church and St Colman's graveyard. The cemetery was used for burials until 1916. The last burials at the cemetery were victims of a collision between two steamers the Retriever and the SS Connemara in Carlingford Lough.

Although not specifical set-up for pleasure craft, the harbour’s location is less than an hour from the Carlingford Lough entrance makes it a very helpful staging point, excellent for provisioning, gives complete protection and is an interesting town with beautiful surroundings, which all make it an attractive destination.
What facilities are available?
Diesel fuel by tanker, fresh water and gas are all available at the harbour, and most other provisions can be had from the town of Kilkeel situated three quarters of a mile from the harbour. With a population in excess of 6000, it has supermarkets, shops, Post Office, banks, ATM's, pubs, restaurants, internet access, doctors, and a chandlery. Showers, café and sea food meals are available at the Nautilus Centre overlooking the harbour. Hotels, pubs and laundry are all available in the immediate vicinity.Being the major fishing port on this side of the coast, all repairs can be undertaken except for sail work. There is a 350 tonnes capacity slip; two patent 150 tonnes capacity slips at the head of the old dock; plus a 10 tonnes crane. Belfast international airport is 96 km away.
Any security concerns?
Kilkeel is a completely open harbour where normal security precautions should be attended to.With thanks to:
Michael Young - Harbour Master Kilkeel and Thomas Cunningham - Harbour Master for ‘Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission’. Photography with thanks to Eric Jones, Marksie531, Garry Harper, Rossographer, Julie Berlin, Neil Mitchell, Harry Clark and Albert Bridge..













A short film about Kilkeel's plans to develop an offshore wind farm
Excellent scenes of Kilkeel harbour since it's overhaul in 2012.
Kilkeel Harbour (at 1 minute and 45 seconds)
About Kilkeel Harbour

Kilkeel's history goes back much further than that and it was known as the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mourne. It is still called the capital and there are many historic sites in and around the area. References to Kilkeel date back as far as the 11th century, and within the site of the church is an early Christian ring fort. The ruined church itself was constructed by a noble Spanish family in 1388 and dedicated to "St Colman Del Mourne’’. Although Kilkeel was very sparsely populated in the Middle Ages this was thought to be one of the area’s principal Churches.


The surrounding area is characterised by open, flat and stonewalled countryside. Occasional large clusters of mature trees associated with historic parks or gardens can be seen, and smaller clumps of mature trees surrounding established farm groups or older houses. All of this has a stunning northern backdrop provided by the Mourne Mountains. The Mourne Mountains provide excellent walks and particularly around the Silent Valley Reservoir. The Silent Valley Reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains and is the main water supply source for most of County Down and a large part of Belfast. Ringed by mountains and situated approximately 6.5 km (4 miles) from Kilkeel, 'The Valley', is set within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and features beautiful parkland, lakes and a pond. It attracts around 50,000 visitors per year most of whom come to enjoy the peace and solitude of this mountain area with its unique landscapes and varied wildlife. Northern Ireland Water has provided a number of visitor facilities at the site including a restaurant and information centre housed in two old colonial style bungalows that provide delightful views over the parkland.

A local heritage trail helpfully guides visitors around the various local attractions. This embraces a number of ancient monuments that include the church and St Colman's graveyard. The cemetery was used for burials until 1916. The last burials at the cemetery were victims of a collision between two steamers the Retriever and the SS Connemara in Carlingford Lough.

Although not specifical set-up for pleasure craft, the harbour’s location is less than an hour from the Carlingford Lough entrance makes it a very helpful staging point, excellent for provisioning, gives complete protection and is an interesting town with beautiful surroundings, which all make it an attractive destination.
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:
Coastal clockwise:
Greencastle - 2.6 miles WSWKillowen - 4.5 miles W
Rostrevor - 4.8 miles WNW
Warrenpoint - 6 miles WNW
Newry - 8.7 miles WNW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Annalong Harbour - 2.8 miles NENewcastle Harbour - 5.7 miles NNE
Dundrum Harbour - 8.1 miles NNE
Killough Harbour - 10.5 miles NE
Ardglass Harbour (Phennick Cove Marina) - 11.3 miles NE
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Kilkeel Harbour.
















Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
A short film about Kilkeel's plans to develop an offshore wind farm
Excellent scenes of Kilkeel harbour since it's overhaul in 2012.
Kilkeel Harbour (at 1 minute and 45 seconds)
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