Audley’s Point is located on the northeast coast of Ireland, on the western shore at the head of Strangford Lough’s ‘Narrows’, which leads into the magnificent sailing area and marine nature reserve that is Strangford Lough. It is a lunch-stop anchorage whilst maintaining an anchor watch, in a location that is a favourite for local boats to observe club races.
Audley’s Point is a stay-aboard anchorage due to the uncertain rocky holding in an area that has currents running up to 3.5 knots, although the closer a boat tucks in, the currents will be less. However unlike Audley’s Roads situated immediately south around the headland, Audley's Point is very well protected from southerly winds due to the forested headland. Tucked close under the tree line for cover one can have a very pleasant afternoon anchorage in strong southerly conditions. The anchorage is however exposed to winds from every other quadrant. Access requires attentive navigation as although there are no off-lying dangers, the location is on the edge of the fast-running ‘Narrows’ tidal channel.
Keyfacts for Audley’s Point
Last modified
July 18th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
An exposed location with attentive navigation required for access.Facilities
None listedNature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
Upon the 2.7 metre contour within 100 metres of the shore.
What is the initial fix?
The following North ‘Narrows’ Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details for vessels approaching Strangford Lough from the north are available in the northeast Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough
. Details for vessels approaching from the south are available in eastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay
. Details of the approaches, tidal timings and the run up the Narrows to about a ½ mile below Strangford are covered in the Entering and exiting the Strangford Narrows
.
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 Audley’s Point for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Audley's Roads - 0.5 nautical miles SE
- Chapel Island - 0.5 nautical miles W
- Ballyhenry Bay - 0.6 nautical miles ENE
- Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island - 0.8 nautical miles W
- West of Jackdaw Island - 1.1 nautical miles W
- Portaferry - 1.1 nautical miles ESE
- Strangford Harbour (Strangford Village) - 1.1 nautical miles SE
- Don O’Neill Island - 2.1 nautical miles NW
- South of Salt Island - 2.3 nautical miles WSW
- Cross Roads - 2.4 nautical miles SSE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Audley's Roads - 0.5 miles SE
- Chapel Island - 0.5 miles W
- Ballyhenry Bay - 0.6 miles ENE
- Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island - 0.8 miles W
- West of Jackdaw Island - 1.1 miles W
- Portaferry - 1.1 miles ESE
- Strangford Harbour (Strangford Village) - 1.1 miles SE
- Don O’Neill Island - 2.1 miles NW
- South of Salt Island - 2.3 miles WSW
- Cross Roads - 2.4 miles SSE
How to get in?

Track in from the initial fix on a bearing of 235° for a quarter of a mile paying careful attention to steerage when passing from the main tidal streams of 3.5 knots of the fairway into the comparative slacker waters of the inner bay.
The area is subject to kelp covered rocks that may challenge a CQR making for uncertain holding. Hence an anchor watch is advisable and the vessel should not be left unattended unless the security of the holding has been absolutely assured.
Why visit here?
Audley’s Point is a very beautiful quiet anchorage in a place where Strangford begins to open out into the more gentle waters of the Upper Lough.Though a lunch spot where a boat cannot be left unattended owing to the difficult rock holding, it is a nice place to shelter from southerlies beneath a forested headland. This is a good alternative to Audley Roads on the opposite side of the headland that is exposed to this quadrant.
It is also the last ‘Narrows’ anchorage and on the doorstep of an island-studded sea lough that offers the boatman the chance to discover some of the country’s finest scenery.
What facilities are available?
Audley’s Point is a stay-aboard anchorage with nowhere to land and no local facilities.Any security concerns?
Never a problem known to have occurred at Audley’s Point. A vessel anchored here is most likely to be alone.With thanks to:
Brian Crawford, local Strangford Lough boatman of many decades.

An aerial overview of Strangford Lough.
About Audley’s Point
Audley’s Point is a very beautiful quiet anchorage in a place where Strangford begins to open out into the more gentle waters of the Upper Lough.
Though a lunch spot where a boat cannot be left unattended owing to the difficult rock holding, it is a nice place to shelter from southerlies beneath a forested headland. This is a good alternative to Audley Roads on the opposite side of the headland that is exposed to this quadrant.
It is also the last ‘Narrows’ anchorage and on the doorstep of an island-studded sea lough that offers the boatman the chance to discover some of the country’s finest scenery.
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:
Audley's Roads - 0.3 miles SEStrangford Harbour (Strangford Village) - 0.7 miles SE
Cross Roads - 1.5 miles SSE
Kilclief Bay - 2 miles SSE
Ardglass Harbour (Phennick Cove Marina) - 4.6 miles S
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Chapel Island - 0.3 miles WBetween Jackdaw & Chapel Island - 0.5 miles W
West of Jackdaw Island - 0.7 miles W
South of Salt Island - 1.5 miles WSW
Brandy Bay - 1.6 miles W
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Audley’s Point.

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Picture view | On |
An aerial overview of Strangford Lough.
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