Portrush Harbour is situated on the north coast of Ireland approximately ten miles east of the entrance to Lough Foyle, on the west side of the Ramore Head promontory. It is a small harbour enclosed by two piers where it is possible to berth alongside a pontoon or to pick up moorings in the harbour area.

Tucked into the promontory behind substantial breakwaters the harbour provides good protection and shelter from most elements in all reasonable conditions. However, in strong north or northwesterly conditions a shore swell enters the harbour making it uncomfortable. Access is straightforward as all that is required is to pass between the heads of its lighted piers and the approaches are clear of hazards.

In northwest or westerlies above force five the sea can break right across the entrance making it hazardous to approach and there can be a heavy run in the harbour area making it uncomfortable.

Keyfacts for Portrush Harbour

Position and approaches

Haven position

55° 12.417' N, 006° 39.498' W

This position of the pontoon alongside the North Pier inside the harbour.

What is the initial fix?

This is on the 5-metre contour 200 metres outside the entrance. It is set on the harbour leading marks, bearing 028° T, lit fixed blue at night and two orange triangular shapes by day.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Portrush is a busy holiday town saddling the promontory of Ramore Head and the shoreline of Portrush Bay. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a nearly ¾ mile-long peninsula and it has a population of about 6,500 people. The town has a small harbour protected by two substantial breakwaters that cater for commercial fishing vessels, small yachts and angling boats. The harbour lies close south of Ramore Head and on the west side of the promontory facing Portrush Bay.




Portrush Harbour receives visitor craft at its 75-metre-long pontoon that lies alongside the North Pier. It can receive vessels of up to 48.8 metres LOA carrying draughts of up to 3.00 metres LAT but there is a minimum of 2 metres depth in the entrance at LWS. Vacant moorings, bow and stern, may also be available in the harbour area by arrangement with the Harbour Master. Portrush Harbour Office and the clubhouse of Portrush Yacht Club are immediately above the pontoon on the North Pier.




Space is however limited and it is advisable to make arrangements during office hours with the Portrush Harbour Master in advance Ch. 12, [Portrush Harbour], +44 (0)28 7082 2307, +44 (0)788 908 1860, portrushharbour@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk with more details available on their website .




The harbour is small, very busy and subject to congestion so consider this a short-stay location. It would be difficult to leave a boat unattended here for an extended period. A slightly uncomfortable swell may be felt alongside the pontoon in westerly conditions where the Harbour Master will offer the best advice. The welcoming Portrush Yacht Club might also be contacted as follows +44 (0)28 7082 3932, info@portrushyachtclub.com with more details available on their website .




It is also possible to anchor outside west of the North Pier but not the area southward of the South Pier which is shallow. This is not suitable in strong west or northwest winds.

How to get in?

Offshore details are available in northeast Ireland’s coastal overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough . The direction and velocity of the tide should be the central feature of any navigation planning on this corner of Ireland and these are covered in Rathlin Island's Church Bay entry.




Vessels approaching from the east should keep at least 1 mile offshore of Benbane Head to avoid a formidable tide race that exists off the headland. Those hugging the shore should make note of the Mile Stone about 160 metres off of Runkerry Point before crossing Bushmills Bay. Portballintrae is then readily identified from seaward by its modern housing development. It is conspicuously the only tight grouping of housing along the coastline between Portrush and Ballycastle. From Portballintrae, there is then a choice of approaches to circumvent The Skerries and make an approach on Portrush.




The Skerries are a chain of low rocky islets located 1 mile out from the shore. The group’s western end is located a ⅓ of a mile northeast of Ramore Head from which they extend for 1½ miles in an easterly direction. The largest islets are Great Skerrie, which is about 200 metres across and 25 metres high, whilst little Skerrie is only 15 metres high. The choice is either to pass to the south of The Skerries, between and the shoreline, through Skerries Roadstead and then Skerries Sound, or, to pass out to the north side of the group and continue outside to seaward of them.




Coastal cruisers will find ample water in the passage through Skerries Roadstead, between the group and the mainland, and Skerries Sound, between the Carr Rocks and the Ranmore headland, making it a convenient and interesting approach to Portrush. Although tides may be disturbed on either side of the Skerries it sets fair through the Sound that is free from outlying island dangers. Vessels can even obtain a sheltered anchorage, during the summer, within Skerries Roadstead.

However at night, this approach has no lit marks and in poor weather, a heavy sea can be experienced within this narrow passage, especially so at the narrower western end of Skerries Sound, where strong tidal currents and overfalls are often encountered. In all these cases, and in limited visibility without the benefit of an experienced local boatman aboard, it would be best to avoid the unnecessarily narrow channel and approach Portrush from outside the Skerries.




Those taking the inshore route should identify The Storks which is the key Skerries Roadstead mark. It is situated on the eastern entrance to Skerries Roadstead, 2½ miles from Ramore Head and the sea breaks heavily upon it in any swell. The Storks is an isolated rock patch that dries to 2.1 metres. It is steep-to on its northern side with 13 metres of water found 100 metres from the mark. The south and east side has foul ground that extends out 100 metres. The Storks beacon is a conspicuous red conical metal beacon, ball top mark, 11 metres in height that lies 0.6 of a mile offshore. Although unlit there is a lighted (Q) North Cardinal Buoy moored 200 metres north of The Storks. Keeping at least 250 metres out from its beacon clears all dangers.




Vessels approaching from the northeast may use the Admiralty Chart 2494 line of bearing of 219° T of the conspicuous Ballywillan Church tower. This leads through the middle of the 1-mile wide passage to the northwest of The Storks Beacon and to the southeast of Black Rock - the easternmost of the Skerries. In the middle of the Skerries Roadstead The Storks Beacon provides an eastbound line-of-bearing of 083.5° T, westbound 262.5° T astern, that leads through the central Skerries Roadstead and Sound. Here it is simply a matter of tracking along the line of bearing with plenty of water on each side. With the exception of the Stork Rocks, the area between The Skerries and the shore is free from danger.




Coastal cruisers passing along the mainland shore can also pass south of The Storks. There is a ½ mile-wide channel between the southernmost danger of The Storks with up to 11 metres of water. This is a pleasant passage with no outlying dangers and plenty to see ashore.




Most notably, a little over 1 mile to the west of Portballintrae, at the end of a line of mainly black rock basalt cliffs that rise and stretch eastward from the small village, stands the magnificent ruins of Dunluce Castle. Perched on the summit of a rocky outcrop the prominent castle overhangs the sea and is approached from land by a narrow causeway over a stone bridge, whilst underneath the castle is a particularly beautiful cavern.




West of the castle, to the south of The Storks, the limestone cliffs of White Rocks Beach commence. The powerful dumping waves have carved this coastal limestone into caves and huge sea sculptures with interesting names such as the Elephant Rock and the Lion's Claw. The last ¾ of a mile to Portrush is a range of sand hills.




The narrowest point of both these approaches is at the exit in Skerries Sound. Skerries Sound leads between Ramore Head and the southwest end of the chain called the Carr Rocks. The navigable fairway here is only 180 metres wide and its currents attain speeds of up to 2.5 knots. Although the centre is clear of danger and has depths of up to 14 metres of water, attention must be paid to two dangerous sunken rocks that skirt each side.




The first is the Reviggerly Reef on the south side. This is a shelving partially-exposed rocky reef spur that extends 50 metres into the Skerry Sound from the east part of Ramore Head.




Then opposite, on the north side of Skerries Sound, are sunken Carr Rocks that mark the western end of the Skerries group. Situated 400 metres northeast by north of Ramore Head they uncover at half-tide and are always visible by the break on them. The southwesternmost corner of the group is Big Carr dries to 0.9 metres. It is situated under 100 metres to the southwest of the tiny islet of South Island Ean which is 5 meters high.




The northern sunken Carr Rocks are of particular concern as the bay’s east-going tide sets strongly towards Ramore Head, across the entrance of Skerries Sound and onto these covered rocks. The safest option, travelling either way, is to tend to the southern side of the Skerries Sound where the reliably visible, and partially-exposed, Reviggerly Reef is situated off the steep-to Ramore Head.




Vessels approaching from the west or northwest will find few hazards to the west of Portrush as far as the entrance of Lough Foyle. From Lough Foyle, the shoreline is composed of rocky precipices rising to Mount Benevenagh’s 396-metre summit a short distance inland. The entire coastline is fronted by a low sandy beach extending 9 miles from Magilligan Point. With the exception of the Tuns Bank, extending 3 miles northeast from Magilligan Point at the Foyle entrance, this passage is clear of any danger save for the shoaling beach. There are some outlying rocks after Portstewart, but there are no hidden dangers beyond a ¼ of a mile from the shoreline. A berth of at least 600 metres will keep a vessel well clear of dangers.




The principal headland encountered after Portstewart is Ramore Head and Portrush Bay lies between these heads with Portrush Harbour clearly visible throughout the entire bay. Portrush Bay shoals gradually inwards towards Mill Strand which forms its head. It is clear of dangers except on its west side. The 7-metre-high Island Doo lies 200 metres out from the shore. It has The Moat, a half-tide rock drying to 1.2 metres, situated about 200 metres further to the west of it. Westward of the moat are some sunken ledges extending about 200 yards offshore.





From the Initial Fix, the harbour is entered between the heads of North Pier and South Pier on each of which stands a light. The North Pier: FlR3s6m3M is visible 220°-160° T and the South Pier: FlG3s6m3M and is visible 220°-100° T. Leading marks are provided bearing 028° T, occasional fixed blue at night (but these are normally only switched on for lifeboat use), two orange triangular shapes by day.




The North Pier light and those within the harbour make a night entry easy but expect to find some difficulty to pick out the navigation lights from the town lights behind. The helm should not drift south of the leading line as water shallows quickly on this side of the leading line when close to the entrance and particularly so in the last 100 metres. In all cases, once the entrance has been identified, come south until it is well open before turning northeast to track into the harbour.

Care is required in the final approach to the harbour entrance itself. The north pier should be given a wide berth as a sunken breakwater, with 0.6 metres of cover, runs out about 20 metres to the southwest from the pierhead. In robust conditions expect a groundswell to run across the entrance.




Once through the entrance take a central route up through the harbour and come alongside the southern end of the pontoon or as prearranged with the Harbour Master.




Vessels anchoring should carefully check the chart for the location of the undersea cable that passes out northwestward from the beach about 300 metres outside of the harbour.

Why visit here?

Portrush derives its name from the Irish 'Port Rois' which aptly means 'the landing place on the promontory' or 'port of the promontory'.




Portrush's history of human habitation goes back to 'Larnian'; the late Irish Mesolithic period. A number of flint tools were found here in the late 19th century that have recently been dated to around 4000 BC. Set on the Ramore Head promontory the site would have provided excellent natural defence. To underscore this the headland name of Ramore is derived from the Irish 'Rath Mhor' meaning 'big ring fort'. As such the Portrush settlement would have established itself beside a pre-existing promontory fort.




The current town began as a small fishing settlement that grew around a Norman Castle known as 'Caisleán an Teenie' in the 12th or 13th century. This castle was believed to have been sited at the tip of Ramore Head and it had a church close by. The takings of the church, as detailed in the 1306 records of the papal taxation, were very good and by extension, the settlement must have been wealthy. This most likely was because Portrush was an active little port with fishing boats and trading links to Scotland. It is believed the Norman Castle was destroyed in the late 16th century and no trace of it nor the church can be found today. Another castle, 'Portrush Castle', was believed to have been built in the town early in the 17th century around the time of the Plantation of Ulster. Again nothing survives of this structure, but in its day after the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, between 1639 and 1651, Portrush had been well established as a small fishing town.




Portrush would take off in the 19th century following the industrialised post-railway holiday boom. Following the opening of the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway in 1855, thousands came here to enjoy North Antrim's landscape and scenery. By the end of the 19th century, the Causeway Stones had become an important tourist attraction. They had been well documented in contemporary literature and visited by many famous travellers including Sir Walter Scott and William Thackeray.




Portrush, 12km from the site, was the popular Victorian seaside resort and the starting point for many visitors to explore the area by jaunting car. It was an ideal location as it had of itself three sandy bathing beaches; the West Strand, East or Curran Strand and White Rocks which remain to this day among the finest beaches in Ireland.




It was during this period Portrush acquired its elegant terraces of Georgian houses that reach out along the mile-long peninsula towards Ramore Head. Within this stretch is the main part of the old town is situated including the railway station as well as most of the hotels, restaurants and bars. The Royal Portrush Golf Club opened in 1888 and Portrush Yacht Club was established in 1894. By the turn of the 20th century, Portrush had become one of the major resort towns of Ireland, with several large hotels and boarding houses including the prominent Northern Counties Hotel. These were the town's seminal years, the late 19th and early 20th century, and the town declined when foreign travel began after the Second World War.




Most remarkably amidst the heights of the tourist boom, Portrush was the site of the innovative and first long-distance hydro-electric tramway in the world. The Giant's Causeway Tramway's initial section opened from Bushmills to the Giant's Causeway in 1887 and the 9¼ miles from Portrush was directly connected to the Giant's Causeway in 1893.

The 3 ft railway service operated until 1949. The power was generated by water turbines at Walkmill Falls at Bushmills and was fed by third rail to the train. The voltage was initially 290 V to 360 V, later reduced to 250 V after a cyclist was accidentally killed in 1895 after coming in contact with the third rail. In the summer of 1899 operation was changed to overhead electric wire. The Ulster Transport Museum has a saloon carriage from the tram on exhibit today. The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway operates diesel and steam tourist trains over part of the Tramway's former course.

Today Portrush carries forward its seaside Victorian legacy and is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular family holiday destinations. The resort town bursts at the seams with holidaymakers in the high season, especially so on bank holiday weekends and it also runs special events throughout the year. As such many of its attractions are focused unashamedly on good old-fashioned family fun. It has a variety of eating-out options with restaurants, gastro pubs, cafes and hotels, and has all amenities a popular holiday resort demands.




The town is also one of Ireland’s top surfing centres. Portrush usually hosts the Portrush Open Irish Surfing Association competition at Easter, but dates can vary depending on weather conditions. It is also home to the North’s most prestigious golf club, the renowned Royal Portrush Golf Club situated on the peninsula hosted the 2019 British Open Championship. As such the town offers a host of activities for all the family and it is an especially good location for younger family members. The safe harbour also makes it a base from which to visit surrounding attractions.




Well worth visiting in the immediate area is Dunluce Castle which is situated on the coast three miles east of Portrush south of the Storks. Dramatically crowning a 100-foot-high basalt-rock crag and overlooking the sea Dunluce was undoubtedly one of the very best natural sites for a promontory fort, and its cliffs removed the need for any defensive ditches. Even roofless, this shattered bulk conjures up a strength and aura that is quintessentially Antrim. It is one of the north’s most evocative ruins and is thought by many to be the most picturesque and romantic of Irish castles.



A pleasant walk is available to it by the coastal footpath Port Path (part of the Causeway Coast Way) the 23 km / 14.3 miles leading between Portstewart and Portrush and along Curran Strand to Dunluce Castle. Returns by a quiet country road with splendid views over Portrush. The Skerries seen offshore along the way, where it is possible to anchor, are an important habitat for a large population of breeding seabirds of which several bird species are unique. Interestingly the islands have their claim to fame as a footnote in geological history. Formed from cooled volcanic lava, geological evidence from this outcrop was pivotal in proving the theory that basalt is formed from cooled volcanic lava. The world-renowned Giants Causeway, 10 miles from Portrush, Old Bushmills Distillery, & the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are also located nearby making the visit very worthwhile.




From a boating perspective, Portrush Harbour is a very useful resource. Easily accessed and adjacent to the main sailing fairways of the north coast, it takes little time to drop in. Likewise, it is a perfect staging location to set up 25 miles westward run around Malin Head, or 20 miles eastward around Fair Head. Provisioning and transport links are all excellent from here.




But there would be no reason to leave hastily as it is a great berth from which to enjoy the area. A short stroll from its secure picturesque harbour, are restaurants, wine bars, and cosy pubs. From its every point, there are views out over beautiful sandy beaches with panoramic views over the ocean to the Causeway Coast, Scotland and the hills of Donegal. Add to this a wide range of activities for younger folk and the aforementioned attractions of the wider area with good transport links and there's something for everyone aboard at Portrush.

What facilities are available?

The pontoon offers water and fuel, and arrangements can be made to dispose of waste from on-board waste tanks. Fresh provisions including gas and a launderette can be obtained from the sizeable town which serves a population of about 6,500 that expands considerably during the summer. Portrush Yacht Club has showers and is located in a modern building adjacent to the Harbour Office on the quay. Visitors will find its members very welcoming. A slip plus a good beach for scrubbing can be found inside the harbour.

Portrush is a busy and friendly holiday town with all the pubs, good restaurants, wine bars and cafe resources you would expect. Its railway station is the last stop on the Coleraine-Portrush line, where travellers can connect with trains to Derry, Belfast and beyond. Translink run a regular bus and train service to and from Portrush. The nearest airport is at Aldergrove 77 km.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in Portrush and the pontoon is a secure area. However this is a seaside resort that gets particularly busy in the season. The below user comment should be considered before planning a visit.

With thanks to:

Terry Crawford, local boatman of many decades.