
Annalong Harbour is located on the northeastern coast of Ireland at the mouth of the Annalong River, approximately eight miles northeast of the entrance to Carlingford Lough. It is a small tidal harbour used by fishing boats that have a pontoon for pleasure craft. Annalong Harbour is small, space-constrained and subject to silting. It is, therefore, best suited to medium to small shallow draft vessels but larger vessels can anchor outside in settled conditions.
The harbour offers good protection except in strong onshore winds where there can be a surge when the storm boards are open. Access to the harbour and its inner basin is straightforward, but within the harbour, there are space and tide constraints.
Keyfacts for Annalong Harbour
Last modified
July 18th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
HM
+44 773 9527036
Ch.12, 14
Position and approaches
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Haven position
At the position of the light OC. WRG. 5s 8m 9M
What is the initial fix?
The following Annalong Harbour 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
.
- Contact the harbour master to ascertain current depths.
- Approach the harbour from east with the south wall of the pier and channel just open.
- Swing hard to port to enter the basin.
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 Annalong Harbour for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Kilkeel Harbour - 4.5 nautical miles SW
- Newcastle Harbour - 5.4 nautical miles N
- Greencastle - 8.4 nautical miles WSW
- Dundrum Harbour - 9.1 nautical miles NNE
- Killowen - 10.6 nautical miles W
- Carlingford Harbour - 10.9 nautical miles WSW
- Rostrevor - 10.9 nautical miles W
- Carlingford Marina - 11 nautical miles WSW
- Greer’s Quay - 12.1 nautical miles W
- Killough Harbour - 12.5 nautical miles NE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Kilkeel Harbour - 4.5 miles SW
- Newcastle Harbour - 5.4 miles N
- Greencastle - 8.4 miles WSW
- Dundrum Harbour - 9.1 miles NNE
- Killowen - 10.6 miles W
- Carlingford Harbour - 10.9 miles WSW
- Rostrevor - 10.9 miles W
- Carlingford Marina - 11 miles WSW
- Greer’s Quay - 12.1 miles W
- Killough Harbour - 12.5 miles NE
How to get in?

Annalong is a small town and harbour at the mouth of the Annalong River that hosts several small boats. The harbour consists of a drying inner basin accessed and protected by an outer channel that is enclosed by a pier extending south from the northern shore. The river exits to the sea through this outer channel and to the north of a further eastward projecting breakwater off the northeastern seaward corner of the basin, that protects the mouth of the outer harbour.

However, the harbour is subject to silting and only occasionally dredged. Dredging can be subject to the local council’s fiscal constraints so depths may vary and it would be best to appraise the conditions as they are experienced at the time of the visit, or contact the HM in advance M: +44 773 952 7036.
Vessels of a draft of 1.5 metres, or more, should not enter the harbour until at least 2 hours after low water. Larger vessels will be better off planning to anchor off outside in settled conditions.
The offshore approaches are largely clear with no outlying dangers existing 150 metres off the shoreline or within soundings of 5 metres or above.


On closer approaches, from about 200 metres offshore, keep the north face of the breakwater wall just open to avoid the rocky shores north and south of the entrance.


Why visit here?

The current harbour dates back to the early 1800s and was built to support the exportation of dressed Mourne Mountain granite. Local masons built up such expertise that in time different types of granite were imported to be cut and polished in Annalong. Consequently, the harbour was enlarged to receive schooners carrying granite back and forth to English cities. The harbour was also used to import materials for the construction of the nearby Silent Valley Reservoir that was built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners. The reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains and includes the construction of the famous Mourne Wall. The wall was created to enclose the water catchment areas for reservoirs. It runs for more than 35 KM (22 miles), with an average width of 0.8 to 0.9 metres and a height of 1.5 metres. The wall was entirely crafted from natural granite stone using traditional dry stone walling techniques. Passing over fifteen of the Mourne's summits and taking 18 years to build it is an engineering phenomenon in itself. A purpose built standard-gauge railway was built from Annalong to the dam to transport the reservoir’s construction material. Today the reservoir is the main water supply source for most of County Down and a large part of Belfast.


Today Annalong is a picturesque and secure harbour situated at the foot of the awe-inspiring Mourne Mountains. With the mill, plus many old cottages and houses in the harbour area, Annalong is a worthy visit for any coastal touring boatman.
What facilities are available?
The town of Annalong lies mostly south of the harbour and has a population of almost 2,000. Hence almost all basic provisions and necessities are immediately available including a post office and fuel. There is also a pub overlooking the harbour aptly named the 'Harbour Inn'. Electricity and fresh water are available at the pontoon and showers are nearby. There is a small launching slip 200 metres north of the harbour.Any security concerns?
Annalong Quay has a security gate.With thanks to:
Thomas Cunningham - Harbour Master for ‘Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission’. Photography with thanks to Erick Jones, Donal Tinneny,A_K_M, Andrew Spenseley, Rossographer, Albert Bridge, Ardfern, Harry Clark, P Flanagan and Ryan McDonald.





















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A film of Spegla Dam, Kilkeel, Annalong at 5minutes 15 seconds in and Newcastle.
A short view of the harbour.
Annalong harbour at low water
About Annalong Harbour

The current harbour dates back to the early 1800s and was built to support the exportation of dressed Mourne Mountain granite. Local masons built up such expertise that in time different types of granite were imported to be cut and polished in Annalong. Consequently, the harbour was enlarged to receive schooners carrying granite back and forth to English cities. The harbour was also used to import materials for the construction of the nearby Silent Valley Reservoir that was built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners. The reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains and includes the construction of the famous Mourne Wall. The wall was created to enclose the water catchment areas for reservoirs. It runs for more than 35 KM (22 miles), with an average width of 0.8 to 0.9 metres and a height of 1.5 metres. The wall was entirely crafted from natural granite stone using traditional dry stone walling techniques. Passing over fifteen of the Mourne's summits and taking 18 years to build it is an engineering phenomenon in itself. A purpose built standard-gauge railway was built from Annalong to the dam to transport the reservoir’s construction material. Today the reservoir is the main water supply source for most of County Down and a large part of Belfast.


Today Annalong is a picturesque and secure harbour situated at the foot of the awe-inspiring Mourne Mountains. With the mill, plus many old cottages and houses in the harbour area, Annalong is a worthy visit for any coastal touring boatman.
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:
Coastal clockwise:
Kilkeel Harbour - 2.8 miles SWGreencastle - 5.2 miles WSW
Killowen - 6.6 miles W
Rostrevor - 6.7 miles W
Warrenpoint - 7.9 miles W
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Newcastle Harbour - 3.4 miles NDundrum Harbour - 5.6 miles NNE
Killough Harbour - 7.8 miles NE
Ardglass Harbour (Phennick Cove Marina) - 8.5 miles NE
Kilclief Bay - 11.5 miles NE
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Annalong Harbour.









Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
A film of Spegla Dam, Kilkeel, Annalong at 5minutes 15 seconds in and Newcastle.
A short view of the harbour.
Annalong harbour at low water
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