What's the story here?

Balscadden Bay is situated beneath the cliffs to the south of Howth Harbour and on the northern side of the Ben Of Howth peninsula that forms the northern arm of Dublin Bay. It is situated close outside the extensive fishing port and yachting centre of Howth Harbour.

It makes for a convenient anchorage as Howth Harbour is subject to overcrowding and it is of itself well protected from prevailing winds. It is subject to swell however so it is better thought of as a settled conditions anchorage.

How to get in?

Use the directions provided for Howth Harbour's for approaches to Balscadden Bay. The bay is readily located from all directions by following the line of Howth Harbour's East Pier and it's conspicuous overlooking Martello tower. This tower is situated on a prominent bluff to the immediate east of the bay and is known locally as 'Tower Hill'. Once identified the approach must be from seaward to avoid the bay's fringing rocks.

From the initial fix come in slowly west by southwest towards the strand in the corner of the bay maintaining a careful watch for rocks, carefully sounding all the way in. Keep well out of the area situated between the tower and the harbour wall as fringing rocks that dry to 2 metres reach out more than 150 metres to seaward in this area.


These rocks must be identified during the approach and certainly before anchoring in the inner reaches of the bay. So good visibility is required and if this is not available it would be best to anchor further out than normal in at least 5 metres.




However, anchoring further out places a vessel in the area where disused cables have been discarded as seen on the chart. The official line on the cables is that they were cut off, pulled back from the swimming area on the foreshore and left in situ on the seabed. This happened many decades ago and a headland marker has ceased to be maintained for almost as long. They could present a hazard to anchoring craft as their whereabouts is now uncharted, marked or monitored. As a minimum, it is advised that a solid tripping line be deployed when anchoring in this area. This will also help with the lobster pots in the season, not all of which are marked by a buoy, which lie in this area.




Anchor according to draft and conditions. The 2 metre contour line is very close to some rocks so keep the scope short inshore. Likewise, be careful to check the holding is secure after anchoring as seaweed is prevalent in this area.

Why visit here?

Balscadden is derived from the Irish name Baile na Scadán that means the town or homeland of the herrings. The name indicates that it may have served as a fish market for landing boats in past times.




Its next known use was in the period just after World War One when it was a favourite bathing-place, for genteel society. Then the small cove was designated as the ladies beach. In accordance with the proprieties of the day, the men’s facilities were to be found further around the bay, away from the ladies. The Dalriada Tea Shop served the ladies with refreshments immediately above the beach. One of its bathers must have been a young William Butler Yeats.

As a teenager, the poet’s often penniless father, John Butler Yeats, accommodated his family in a small, long and low thatched house that looking out from the cliffs of Balscadden Bay cliffs towards Ireland's Eye and Howth Harbour. This was late in the autumn of 1880 and the family remained here for two years. John Butler Yeats, a painter of some renown today, had been lent the cottage and used his scarce funds to rent a studio for himself in Dublin’s York Street. Although primarily driven by a need to economise the family found deep contentment here. An unexpected consequence was a deepening of W.B.’s relationship with his father as they spent time together travelling by train from Howth into his father’s studio in the town centre. There they would have breakfast with other poets who tended to congregate in the studio reading passages from poetry and literature.

Yates went on to be Ireland’s leading poet and, having been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, became one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. It is said that the happiness they found combined with the house's beautiful aspect could have had a major influence on the poet's early works. A plaque commemorating the families stay has some of Yate’s immortal lines on it. W. B. Yeats poet lived here 1880 -1883 "I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams".




Today Balscadden Bay is a lovely family beach. As with Howth Harbour, the bay serves as a good location to take a coastal walk along the Howth peninsula. A particularly good public path and steps lead from the bay up and around the Nose of Howth and onto the clifftops.




From a boating perspective, if it is not possible to secure a berth in Howth Marina or outside the harbour, this is an excellent alternative location in which to anchor given favourable conditions. The Bay is also a tranquil escape from the busy harbour which it fringes.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities in Balscadden Bay save for a landing beach with steps and pathway up to the road above.

Any security concerns?

A vessel is most likely to be alone in Balscadden Bay, but it is uncertain how secure a dingy would be if left on the beach. Those with a fast outboard could land in the marina if it needs to be left unattended for some time.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh, ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner and Burke Corbett. Photography by Kinsie84, Jojo Nemcok, William Murphy, Daniel Dudek-Corrigan and Ana Rey.