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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
Between 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:

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?

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.

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?
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backdrop
Image: Michael Harpur

Image: Michael Harpur

Image: Michael Harpur
Salt Island will become readily apparent after a ½ mile southwest of Green Island opposite Moore’s Point.

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.

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)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 ClubAdd your review or comment:
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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. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.