Northern Ireland
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NORTHERN IRELAND
The coast of Northern Ireland is separated from Scotland by the North Channel which, at its most narrow, is less than 12 nm wide. Sailors from the Firth of Clyde have for many years crossed the Channel on weekend visits to the area, but recent investment in facilities along the northern coast has meant that the area is now used as a cruising destination for sailors from both the Clyde and Argyll coasts.
Belfast Lough is the home of the two largest marinas in the country – Bangor and Carrickfergus, which have approximately 800 berths between them together with a full range of support services. The marinas are often used as a stopover for boats en route to Scotland from the south, and their close proximity to Belfast makes both marinas excellent locations for crew changes. A short distance northwards along the coast is Glenarm, a smaller and more intimate marina close to the ferry port of Larne.
The northern coast of Antrim, known as the Causeway Coast, has much to offer the visiting sailor. The Giants Causeway, the spectacular rope bridge at Carrick Arede and the Bushmills Distillery are perhaps the best known features of the area, but the numerous glens offer much more than this. Visiting boats may call in at Rathlin Island on their way to the marina at Ballycastle, before heading further west to Lough Foyle and Londonderry where you can berth your boat alongside visiting cruise ships before setting off to explore this historic city.
