Inside the Quoile River, akin to many of the islands and snug creeks on the western shore, a vessel will find complete protection. This anchorage offers complete protection that is a particularly good anchorage when seeking protection from strong easterly conditions. The Lough's enclosed body of water provides sheltered sailing in all weather, all tides and ample marks to make daylight navigation straightforward.
Keyfacts for Salt Island (Southwest)
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
November 7th 2022 Summary
A completely protected location with attentive navigation required for access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
54° 22.497' N, 005° 39.245' WBetween Rat & Salt Island – to the west of Salt Island.
What is the initial fix?
The following Quoile River Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
54° 23.614' N, 005° 38.195' W
300 metres east of Town Rock off Killyleagh. This is a distinctive red cylindrical brick pillar marker lit with a sectored light, Fl(2)WRG.5s6M, leading between Barrel and Skate rocks. What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details for vessels approaching Strangford Lough from the north are available in northeast Ireland’s coastal overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough . Details for vessels approaching from the south are available in eastern Ireland’s coastal overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay . Details of the approaches, tidal timings, the run up The Narrows and onward to Killyleagh, on the Lough's western shore, are covered in the Entering and exiting Strangford Lough route description. The run from Killyleagh is covered in the Quoile haven directions.
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 Salt Island (Southwest) for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Brandy Bay (North Salt Island) - 0.3 nautical miles NNE
- Moore’s Point - 0.3 nautical miles NW
- Salt Island (South) - 0.3 nautical miles E
- Quoile - 0.7 nautical miles WSW
- Killyleagh - 1.4 nautical miles N
- Jackdaw Island - 1.6 nautical miles ENE
- Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island - 2 nautical miles ENE
- Holm Bay - 2.1 nautical miles NNE
- Chapel Island - 2.2 nautical miles ENE
- East Down Yacht Club - 2.4 nautical miles N
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Brandy Bay (North Salt Island) - 0.3 miles NNE
- Moore’s Point - 0.3 miles NW
- Salt Island (South) - 0.3 miles E
- Quoile - 0.7 miles WSW
- Killyleagh - 1.4 miles N
- Jackdaw Island - 1.6 miles ENE
- Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island - 2 miles ENE
- Holm Bay - 2.1 miles NNE
- Chapel Island - 2.2 miles ENE
- East Down Yacht Club - 2.4 miles N
Chart
What's the story here?
The anchoring area off the southwest end of Salt Island
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
Salt Island is located within the Quoile Estuary just over 1 mile south of Killyleagh. It is a small island, about 0.4 miles long and 0.2 miles wide, lying in a northeast/southwest direction. It rises to 13 metres high at its northeast end and the island dries to the shoreline on its southeastern side at low water. This anchorage is in the channel that runs between Salt Island and Rat and Gores islands which always offers deep water with excellent holding.
The southwest end of Salt Island as seen from the channel
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
The anchorage is anywhere in the channel between the tiny Rat Island and the middle of the gap between the corresponding points of Gores Island and Salt Island. Depths of 4 metres LAT will be found between Rat Island and Salt Island with 3.1 metres LAT between Gores Island and Salt Island. Land on Brandy Bay at all times and it is about five minutes walk to the Bothy on the southern shore. It is also possible to pass around to the landing point fronting the Bothy on the southeast side of the island. The small dilapidated stone jetty here was in the past used to land farm animals but it is today still called upon for landing on the island. It is accessible ±2½ hours of high tide but best avoided outside of this as the extensive mud flats at low tide can be treacherous.
How to get in?
Salt Island with Rat Island (central) and Killlyleagh and Green Island in the
backdrop
Image: Michael Harpur
backdrop
Image: Michael Harpur
Details of the approaches, tidal timings, the run up The Narrows and onward to Killyleagh, on the Lough's western shore, are covered in the Entering and exiting Strangford Lough route description.
The entrance to the River Quoile as seen from Killyleagh
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
The Initial Fix places a vessel off Killyleagh and the run up the Quoile River is then covered in the Quoile haven directions.
Salt Island's Brandy Bay opposite Moore's Point
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
Salt Island will become readily apparent after a ½ mile southwest of Green Island opposite Moore’s Point.
Turn into the channel favouring the Rat Island side of central
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
Proceed past Brandy Bay and turn into the channel between the islands slightly favouring the Rat Island side where there is plenty of water.
Anchor according to conditions anywhere along the channel
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
Anchor according to conditions anywhere along the channel as there is plenty of water and excellent holding.
The low lying Rat Island with Gores Island in the backdrop
Image: Michael Harpur
Image: Michael Harpur
Land on the beach or below the Bothy, but be aware of substantial mud flats during low tide.
Why visit here?
Salt Island is one of the many picturesque islands in Strangford Lough owned and preserved for future generations by the National Trust. Information on the island is covered in the Salt Island (South) haven entry that leads to the island's old stone quay.From a boating point of view, this Salt Island anchorage is an ideal location to find protection from most quarters, and particularly from very strong easterlies.
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities at this river anchorage.Any security concerns?
Never a problem known to have occurred off Salt Island.With thanks to:
Brian Crawford, local Strangford Lough boatman of many decades. eOceanic would like to thank Quoile Yacht Club for hosting our survey boat during the survey of Strangford Lough.
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