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The port offers complete protection. Pilotage up to Warrenpoint is straightforward via a deep water shipping channel that runs the entire length of the lough making the port accessible at all states of the tide and in all reasonable conditions. Although well marked, access and piloting require good charts and visibility owing to exceptional currents in the entrance area where they attain 5 knots. Consequently, a first entrance should be timed to be around slack water, and the vessel should be equipped with a reliable engine should the tide take control.
Keyfacts for Warrenpoint
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
January 8th 2021 Summary* Restrictions apply
A completely protected location with careful navigation required for access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
At the south end of Warrenpoint Breakwater where a light Fl. G 3s stands.
What is the initial fix?
The following Carlingford Lough Entrance Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in eastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay
.
- Plan the approach to be at slack water, preferably low water. Tides in the entrance attain rates of up to 5 kn making it virtually impossible for a displacement leisure craft to enter or leave against the tide.
- Carlingford Lough's entrance channel and the dredged channel to Warrenpoint are both narrow channels where sailing vessels of less than 20 metres in length cannot impede ships in transit.
- From the entrance follow the well buoyed and lit commercial channel up the length of the inlet.
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 Warrenpoint for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Omeath - 0.3 nautical miles SSE
- Greer’s Quay - 1.5 nautical miles SSE
- Rostrevor - 1.9 nautical miles ESE
- Killowen - 2.6 nautical miles ESE
- Carlingford Marina - 3.5 nautical miles SE
- Carlingford Harbour - 4.1 nautical miles SE
- Newry - 5.2 nautical miles NW
- Greencastle - 6.4 nautical miles ESE
- Giles Quay - 6.7 nautical miles S
- Dundalk - 7.1 nautical miles SW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Omeath - 0.3 miles SSE
- Greer’s Quay - 1.5 miles SSE
- Rostrevor - 1.9 miles ESE
- Killowen - 2.6 miles ESE
- Carlingford Marina - 3.5 miles SE
- Carlingford Harbour - 4.1 miles SE
- Newry - 5.2 miles NW
- Greencastle - 6.4 miles ESE
- Giles Quay - 6.7 miles S
- Dundalk - 7.1 miles SW
Chart
What's the story here?

Image: DMull via CC BY 2.0
Warrenpoint, locally known as The Point, is a small commercial town and port with a population approaching 9,000 situated at the northeast side of the entrance to the Newry River. The river enters the sea at the head of Carlingford Lough and its narrow strait separates Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland. As such, the sizable town is located in Northern Ireland, presenting a Victorian resort to the head of Carlingford Lough and a large industrial harbour at its western end to the river.
The town offers pontoon berths inside its southeast breakwater and in the Town Dock. The area immediately alongside the pontoon placed against the inner side of the breakwater is dredged to a depth of 1.4 metres LWS. The older part of the harbour has a Town Dock, at the northwest end of the basin, with four to five visitor berths that support 2 metres LWS. This is available to pleasure craft during the summer season and reserved for fishing vessels at other times.

Image: Tourism NI
It is possible to anchor directly off the end of the breakwater and land at its pontoon. This is a completely protected area although subject to scend from the occasional passing commercial vessel. Vessels that can take to the hard have a wide range of options to dry out in the soft muds. Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge and lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way of the pontoon and commercial traffic.

Image: Daniel Morrison via CC BY 2.0
Berthing arrangement should be made in advance or at the latest when approaching the entrance channel by contacting Warrenpoint Harbour Authority on

Image: Tourism Ireland
Stretching 8 miles inland, with its northeast reach situated between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains, Carlingford Lough makes for a beautiful expanse of water that has long been enjoyed by sailing vessels. It is easily navigated having sufficient depth for the largest ships and a well-marked, regularly dredged deepwater commercial channel stretching from its entrance through to Warrenpoint. The key point to factor into any planned visit to Carlingford Lough is that it is very difficult for a displacement leisure vessel to enter or leave against its tides. Spring velocity in the entrance, around the Haulbowline Rocks, attains speeds of 5 knots.

Image: NOAA's National Ocean Service via CC BY 2.0
Newcomers are therefore best advised to approach on slack water. As the slack water period between two tides at the Lough entrance is very short, and only happens twice a day, possibly once in daylight, it may be best to stage the visit to the Lough by staying in a convenient local haven to set up an optimum time entry.
It is also worth noting that during northwest winds, the inlet is subject to heavy squalls that descend from the hills and, owing to the funnelling effect of the mountains, expect the northwest wind strength to be double what is forecasted. Take it that during strong northwesterlies, Warrenpoint and Carlingford Lough Marina are the only places that will be comfortable.

Image: Tourism Ireland
Fish farming is widespread within the lough area and the locations are well marked on the charts. However, Carlingford's farming is more orientated towards shellfish beds than that of fish cages so they are more of a concern for anchoring than navigation.
How to get in?

Image: Graham Rabbits
Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W
Close northeast of the lighthouse is the Carlingford Cut, the main entrance channel that the lighthouse marks. It lies between the foul ground off Cranfield Point and the Limestone Rock shoals extending out to Haulbowline Lighthouse. A fairway through the cut is dredged to a depth of 6.3 metres. It is marked by lighted buoys on each side and indicated by range lights.

Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0
Once inside the buoyed channel continue between the marks until the No. 6 port hand mark is passed when the Haulbowline Lighthouse is abeam to port.

Image: Auris Photography
Haulbowline Rock, on which the lighthouse stands, covers on the first quarter of the flood and dries to 1.2 metres. The lighthouse marks the west side of the entrance channel and lies about half a mile west by southwest of Cranfield Point. It is surrounded by rocky prongs. One of these is situated about 200 metres northeast by north of the lighthouse and it dries at low water. Another rock with 1.1 metres of cover lies 200 metres east-northeast of Haulbowline lighthouse.
When the lighthouse is abreast to port, and No.5 starboard hand buoy is off Cranfield Bay on the opposite side, the course alters slightly to port taking a path towards Greenore Point. This is situated on the Lough’s southern shore and made conspicuous by a pine plantation with some buildings including an old lighthouse. This leg takes a vessel to the north of the extensive rocky flat Block House Island, part of which is always exposed, and to the south of The Scar, New England Rock and Vidal Rock.
This broad rocky flat of Block House Island guards the entrance to Carlingford Lough. It is nearly covered at high water but its northern shore is steep-to. A military building was erected here in 1602, now entirely ruined, and was known as Carlingford Fort.
Within this, on the inner edge of the Limestone Rocks, is the Sheep Rock that uncovers on last quarter ebb about a ¼ of a mile west of this is a yellow buoy. From just within to the westward from this buoy, up to Greenore Point, the western shore of the lough is covered by extensive flats. These uncover at low water and are steep-to, as is also Greenore Point.

Image: Eric Jones via CC BY-SA 2.0
Off the northeastern shore, between the No. 5 and No. 7 starboard marks, the latter marking the 2.3 metres deep New England Rock, the path passes Soldiers Point. This is located about ¾ of a mile to the northwest of Cranfield Point. A gravel spit, which dries, extends about 0.3 of a mile southeast from the point and is called The Scar. This lies in front of Cranfield Bay and is dry at low water and steep-to.
From Soldiers Point to Greencastle Point, located about 1 mile to the northwest, the shore between is fronted by a flat which dries out to a distance of about ⅓ of a mile and is steep-to. The towers that host the entrance's leading lights are positioned on the outer extremity of the drying area. A prominent ruined castle stands at Greencastle Point.

Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0
The No. 7 starboard hand marks Vidal Rock, charted to have 1.7 metres of water but revised by a recent survey to 1.1 metres, and No. 11 nearly a mile away westward, recommences to the southwest of Green Island. This is a small 2.7-metre high islet half a mile from the Greencastle shore. It is surrounded by an extensive rocky foreshore with outlying rocks to the east. Between this and the shore, there is a narrow but deep channel where the very good haven of Greencastle

Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0
In this area just within the entrance, between Green Island, Greenore Point, The Yellow Buoy, Sheep Rock and Block House Island, there is a clear open space.

Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0
The channel to the upper part of the lough recommences after this space to the westward of Green Island. Greenore Point is located about 2½ miles northwest of Ballagan Point. The tower of a disused light, 12 metres high, is prominent. The privately-owned Greenore Harbour lies close west of Greenore Point and a regular container ferry service uses the port.
Above Greenore Point the channel runs between two extensive rocky shoals, called Watson and Stalka Rocks, for about half a mile. Above these continue through the middle of the lough in a north by northwest direction for about 3 miles, maintaining an average width of about 600 metres, and which is bounded by extensive sandbanks that line both shores.


Image: Tourism Ireland
Off the western shore to the north of Greenore are the Watson Rocks. Port hand markers No. 14 through to No.16 carry a vessel past these dangers. Watson Rocks have 1.5 to 2 metres of water and form the southern portion of an extensive bank. This bank runs in a northwest-by-north direction for more than half a mile and carries from 1.8 to 2.7 over its northern end. Black Rock, on the outer edge of the stony foreshore and half a mile from the western side, is covered at half-tide and dries to 2.7 metres. From Black Rock the edge of the bank runs in a northwest direction for 1.75 miles terminating before the No. 18 port hand buoy on the north spit of Carlingford Bank.

Image: Tourism Ireland
The Carlingford Bank is the portion of the western bank in front of the town of Carlingford, its outer edge dries and is steep-to and there is 0.6 or 1.6 metres of water between it and the shore. To the north of the Carlingford Bank the western shore is skirted by a flat with 2.2 or 2.7 metres of water, extending to a distance of about 600 metres off, that affords a good anchorage for leisure vessels. Immediately inshore there is the Carlingford Marina

Opposite the Carlingford Bank is Killowen Bank that bounds the eastern side of the channel. The No. 23 starboard hand buoy marks its outer edge. The Killowen Bank uncovers from the shore out to the buoy and has extensive fish farming activity within the area. About 1 mile to the northwest of Killowen Point, at the foot of the forested Slieve Martin where the Mountains of Mourne terminate, there is the well-established Killowen

The narrowest part of the channel is between the Killowen and Carlingford banks where it is about 600 metres wide. A little above Killowen Point the deep channel terminates and is succeeded by a broad expanse of shallow water that occupies the whole head of the lough to Warrenpoint, with scarcely a third of a metre of depth difference across from shore to shore. In Rostrevor Bay

The No. 25 starboard buoy, situated in the southwest corner of Rostrevor Bay, marks the entrance to the buoyed Warrenpoint approach channel which is dredged to a depth of 5.4 metres. The cranes at the commercial berths will have been visible for some time beforehand during the run up the lough.
No. 25 Green Light buoy – Fl. G 3s position: 54° 04.200’N, 006° 12.100’W
From the light buoy, it is a distance of 2½ miles to the town via the 60 metres wide channel that is well marked with lighted buoys. It is also covered by the Newry River Leading Lights that lead through the centre of the channel; lights in-line at 310° T.

The dredged channel has 5.4 metres to the container berths but it shallows rapidly on either side. Moderate draft vessels will find good depth with a half tide up as far as the Gunnaway Rock that is marked by a starboard pole beacon. It covers on the first quarter flood, dries to 3 metres, and is close to the northeast of the channel about 600 metres south by southeast from Warrenpoint. Between it and the point are some rocks that uncover at low water. Black Rock on the opposite shore, marked by a perch and covered at 3 hours flood, is on the outer edge of the stony foreshore that borders the southwestern side of the Lough.

Image: JMC Aerial Media

Image: JMC Aerial Media
It is possible to anchor directly off the end of the pontoon. It is completely protected here although subject to scend from the occasional passing commercial vessel.

Image: Daniel Morrison via CC BY 2.0
The older part of the harbour has a Town Dock close upriver, at the northwest end of the basin, has four to five visitor berths that support 2 metres LWS.
Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge and lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way of the pontoon and commercial traffic. It has a very muddy bottom at low water and ground tackle should have a trip line as there are sixty years of old moorings in this area that could potentially foul an anchor.

Upriver and abreast the town is the RoRo Terminal and a container berth. The harbour master may give permission to temporarily use a general cargo berth. These are not suitable for leisure vessels because of the distance between the widely spaced vertical timber fenders.
The town of Newry
Why visit here?
It is believed Warrenpoint derives its name from a family that lived here around the latter half of the 18th century. The Waring family lived here in a house called Waring’s Point and the name came to describe the location. The Irish place name is Rinn Mhic Ghiolla Rua which translates to 'McIlroy's Point' and can still be seen on some maps. It has been shortened to the commonly used name 'An Phointe' simply 'The Point'.
Image: Public Domain

Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
The town's commercial port was just as successful. The original Port of Warrenpoint, consisting of a wet dock and piers, was constructed by Roger Hall, Robert Ross and Isaac Corry. In the early 1900s the port was sold on and expanded again. It was later sold to Warrenpoint Port and was enlarged again in 1972 – 1974. Warrenpoint Breakwater was added at this stage to provide the harbour with increased protection and a welcome addition to the town’s promenade. After this redevelopment, it took over the trade of the port of Newry situated 5 miles inland when it closed in the 1970s. In its time thousands of emigrants passed out of Ireland from these docks in search of a new future. On the corner of the dock, a plaque can be found commemorating their departure.

Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
It was after the redevelopment that Warrenpoint will remembered for being at the centre of tragedy during Northern Ireland's 'Troubles'. In 1979 the IRA proved that it was well organized and well-armed, and capable of sustaining a terrorist campaign indefinitely by the occasional spectacular act. One of these was the murder of Lord Mountbatten and three others assassinated by IRA at Mullaghmore, County Sligo. On the same day, they ambushed a British Army convoy near Warrenpoint's Narrow Water Castle. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the Warrenpoint ambush and it represents the British Army's greatest loss-of-life in a single incident during the conflict. Yet it is the strategic location set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland continues to help the port thrive to the present day. Warrenpoint Port is only second in terms of tonnage handled by ports in Northern Ireland.

Image: Public Domain
Today Warrenpoint is a busy and prosperous town that is thought to be one of the best-planned in Ireland. The town is compact and attractive with neat Victorian buildings and broad streets. It has an animated waterfront, and a long promenade and port forming the interface between the town centre and Carlingford Lough. The historic core of the town is apparent with the town square forming the centre of the town. Within the town centre there is a public open space which is used mostly as a car park but also for fetes, occasional markets and festivals; most notably the 'Maiden of the Mournes' festival and the 'Blues on the Bay' music festival.

Image: Richard Browne via CC BY 2.0
With its beautiful Municipal Park and promenade, quaint shops, restaurants and many different pubs and clubs, Warrenpoint is a joy to explore. Of particular note are the two and three-storey 'Seaview Terraced Houses', along Seaview. These individual buildings have architectural merit but their combined effect is a sense of Victorian quality and grandeur that speaks of the town’s past as a resort. Set at the foot and with distant views of the Mourne Mountains, Cooley Mountains and with views over Carlingford Lough it is readily apparent what elicited their development. A hike of about 2km to the northwest of the town centre, beyond the port area, takes a visitor to the Narrow Water Castle. This is a fine Elizabethan three-storey garrison tower house built in 1568 to command the entrance to the River Newry.

Lough
Image: Tourism Ireland
Hiking is in fact the finest way to see this beautiful area as it has many trails particularly up into the Mourne Mountains. Be aware that the word walk is used instead of hike which can mean anything from a gentle ramble to a tough scramble over boulders here so it is advisable to ask for specifics from the Mourne Heritage Trust in the Town Hall on Church Street in Warrenpoint. The centre is open most days during the summer offering all sorts of maps and information, plus a series of talks on various facets of the area and guided weekend hikes. Any appetite that the countryside develops will be well catered for in the town's first-rate dining that can be had in its many restaurants and gastropubs.

Image: Tourism Ireland
From a boating point of view, Warrenpoint offers a very safe and convenient harbour in a scenic location. It is one of Carlingford Lough’s key locations that has long enjoyed popularity with holidaymakers and sailors alike for more than 100 years. It also offers excellent convenient provisioning, transport links and an ideal staging point for those awaiting a tide to access the canal to Newry
What facilities are available?
Fuel is available by road tanker, fresh water at the quays; and with a population of approximately 7,000 provisions are plentiful, and minor repairs can be undertaken here. The port has excellent road links to the major population centres of Ireland. International air services are available from Belfast airport 96 km.Useful transport contacts in this area:
Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521
Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075
Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531
Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271
Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred at Warrenpoint.With thanks to:
Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.



Northern Ireland tourist board overview
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