Planning my route to Nth Ireland

[mm5aho]

I've called in to Rathlin once whe rounding the MoK, but never explored Eastern Ireland coast. So this summer that's on the list.

Planning 1st to 12th Aug, and have in mind this route:
Rhu - Millport about 20 miles (evening of 31st)
Millport - Sanda 40 mi 1/8
Sanda - Red Bay 20 mi 2/8 (or Larne 36 mi, dep wind)
Red Bay - Carrick Fergus / Belfast 14 mi 3/8
Belfast Lough - Strangford Lough 33 mi 4/8
Inside Strangford 5/8
Strangford to Bangor 33mi 6/8
Bangor - Red Bay 30mi 7/8
Red Bay - Campbeltown 33mi 8/8
Campbeltown - Tarbert 32mi 9/8
Tarbert - Rhu 37mi 10/0
2 days spare/ contingency.


Anything in that area of NI I'm missing out that's a "must see" ??
Any advice (other than the well publicised tides, etc)?
Which marinas are really worthwhile stopping at?

[cpedw]

I've only been that way twice, both times rushing past to get to other places so I don't know much but... I would recommend several days in Strangford Lough. It's a fascinating, weird place unlike anywhere else I've sailed.
Derek

[wully]

Can't remember the name but there is a nice wee harbour half way between Red Bay and Carrickfergus. ( Carnlough? )
Beware of Bangor. I went in there to get some diesel and was there for three days....hic.

I'd also try to fit in a trip up the River Bann to Colraine- great wee place.

[Nick]

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Glenarm is the place Wully is thinking of - a natural first stop or departure point when returning . . . a friendly wee marina, but watch out for an unlit fish farm if approaching in the dark.

If you have time do go up into Belfast Harbour to the incredibly cheap marina in the centre of the city and visit the Titanic exhibition.

[wully]

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Glenarm is the place Wully is thinking of - a natural first stop or departure point when returning . . . a friendly wee marina, but watch out for an unlit fish farm if approaching in the dark.
.

Ah, couldn't remember..were no pontoons when I was there, tied up to the harbour wall. And no fish farm in the bay where I once anchored while waiting for fog to clear on a different trip.

There is a tiny wee, very exposed looking harbour a bit farther south that has pontoons crammed into it, maybe that's Carnlough?

[Nick]

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Here's Glenarm Marina:



Carnlough is a couple of miles North of Glenarm, with an entrance channel that is usually pretty silted up. I ran aground in the entrance channel there back in the pre-Fairwinds days in the wee dark blue hulled Cobra 25 you can see against the harbour wall below:



When we were in NI last year I got the impression that Carnlough was not very yacht-friendly any more since Glenarm opened.

[claymore]

That seems very unkind, it wasn't the yachts fault they opened Glenarm.....

[mm5aho]

That seems very unkind, it wasn't the yachts fault they opened Glenarm.....

But if there were no yachts, would they have opened this marina? So maybe it is the yachts fault.

btw, thanks for all the info. Pity I wasn't there the last 2 weeks instead of facing more "normal" weather.

[wully]

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Glenarm is the place Wully is thinking of .

Naw it wisnae, deffo Carnlough - drove through both today. The harbour looked smaller than I remember but still managed to park a 40 footer nae bother.

[claymore]

Tha's a very big car - are ye drivin yin o' they stretch hummers?

[wully]

Tha's a very big car - are ye drivin yin o' they stretch hummers?

The only Hummers roon here are mah gutties.