Chapel and Jackdaw Islands are located on the northeast coast of Ireland within Strangford Lough and are the first islands encountered on the southern shore after exiting The Narrows. This anchorage is in a deep channel that lies between the two small uninhabited islands.

This is a good anchorage offering all-round protection except for northerly quadrant winds and it offers particularly good protection against southerlies. The Lough's enclosed body of water provides sheltered sailing in all weather, all tides and ample marks to make daylight navigation straightforward.

Keyfacts for Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 23.097' N, 005° 36.047' W

Between Jackdaw & Chapel Island

What is the initial fix?

On the small 8.8 metre contour patch approximately 300 metres north of Chapel Island.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

The small uninhabited Chapel and Jackdaw Islands are the two easternmost islands on the southern shore of Strangford Lough. Chapel Island, the easternmost, rises almost wedge-shaped to 12 metres at the highest point on its northwest end.




Jackdaw Island lies 400 metres to the southwest and a ¼ of a mile off the shoreline. It is an almost square islet that is about 160 metres wide with a central hummock that rises to 10 metres. The shoreline dries out to about 25 metres around both islands.




The channel between the two offers from 5 to 3 metres LAT in the area between the two islands and as much as 1.2 LAT metres further in and approaching the shore.

How to get in?

Details of the approaches, tidal timings, the run up The Narrows and onward to Killyleagh, on the Lough's western shore, are covered in the Entering and exiting Strangford Lough route description. Chapel Island, on the south shore of the Lough, is a little under a mile northwestward of Audley Point.




The Chapel & Jackdaw Islands Initial Fix is placed 300 metres north of Chapel Island where it is a matter of tracking in between the islands and passing down equidistant between them.




Anchor according to draft and conditions in shale that provides excellent holding. Land on the island's gravelly shoreline.

Why visit here?

Although alongside each other Jackdaw and Chapel Island are very different to each other.

Chapel Island most likely had a hermitage, hence the name, and has been farmed whereas not so Jackdaw Island. It has been left untouched as a perfect example of one of the scores of drowned drumlins in Strangford Lough. By contrast, the island's tussock grass has been home to bird populations which is perhaps how it acquired its name.

The snug anchorage between two pleasant islands is a perfectly secure berth that is easy to access and has superb holding. It is a place from which a family boat can let the kids off to roam either island or, indeed, strike out oneself. Please note that Jackdaw Island is an important nesting site for Sandwich Terns in the spring and should be avoided at that time.

From a boating point of view, this is an excellent anchorage, especially during heavy southerlies. Craft needing some respite from this Audley's Roads exposure need look no further.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities on Chapel and Jackdaw Islands or in the surrounding area.

Any security concerns?

Never a problem known to have occurred around the isolated Chapel and Jackdaw Islands.

With thanks to:

Brian Crawford, local Strangford Lough boatman of many decades. eOceanic would like to thank Quoile Yacht Club for hosting our survey boat during the survey of Strangford Lough.