Salt Island is located on the northeast coast of Ireland within Strangford Lough’s southwestern corner and in the Quoile River estuary. This anchorage is in the channel that runs between Salt Island and Rat and Gores Island.
Salt Island is located on the northeast coast of Ireland within Strangford Lough’s southwestern corner and in the Quoile River estuary. This anchorage is in the channel that runs between Salt Island and Rat and Gores Island.
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.
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:
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.
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 Salt Island (Southwest) 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 Quoile Barrier offset -01:00.
Tidal Hour:
()
For planning purposes only, not for navigation. Please see our terms and conditions.
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:
Subscribers can view this harbour on eOceanic’s raster charts.
If you already have a subscription, please login to view the charts.
What's the story here?
The anchoring area off the southwest end of Salt Island 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
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.
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Salt Island with Rat Island (central) and Killlyleagh and Green Island in the 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
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
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
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
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
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.
About Salt Island (Southwest)
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.
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.
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54° 22.497' N, 005° 39.245' W
54° 23.614' N, 005° 38.195' W 
. Details for vessels approaching from the south are available in eastern Ireland’s coastal overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay 
haven directions.
The anchoring area off the southwest end of Salt Island 
The southwest end of Salt Island as seen from the channel
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Salt Island with Rat Island (central) and Killlyleagh and Green Island in the
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 
The entrance to the River Quoile as seen from Killyleagh
The Initial Fix places a vessel off Killyleagh and the run up the Quoile River is then covered in the 
Salt Island's Brandy Bay opposite Moore's Point
Turn into the channel favouring the Rat Island side of central
Anchor according to conditions anywhere along the channel
The low lying Rat Island with Gores Island in the backdrop
