Protected sectors

What's the story here?

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 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?

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 Initial Fix places a vessel off Killyleagh and the run up the Quoile River is then covered in the Quoile haven directions.




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




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 as there is plenty of water and excellent holding.




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.