
Portachurry is a stay-aboard anchorage that only affords tenacious protection from northerly winds. It is however severely exposed to Atlantic swell and holding can be poor off the rocky inlet. Access requires careful navigation and good visibility as the surrounding inlet is fringed with rocks and the area is subject to strong currents, standing waves and tidal races.
Keyfacts for Portachurry
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
July 10th 2021 Summary* Restrictions apply
A stay-aboard location with careful navigation required for access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
This is the approximate anchoring location off the mouth of the inlet on the southwest corner of the island.
What is the initial fix?
The following Portachurry Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in the northeast Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough
.
- Vessels approaching from the east will find open water all the way to Inishtrahull and Portmore.
- Vessels approaching from the west should avoid the Garvan Isles and will find it easier to round Inishtrahull's southern side.
- Align a bearing of 227° T of the conspicuous red tripod crane situated on the Portmore quay and track into the cut.
- Pass between the flanking outer rocks and continue up the centre of the cut.
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 Portachurry for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Portmore - 0.5 nautical miles NE
- Malin Harbour or Slievebane Bay - 4.6 nautical miles SW
- Culdaff Bay - 8.3 nautical miles SSE
- Tremone Bay - 11 nautical miles SSE
- Kinnagoe Bay - 13 nautical miles SE
- Lenan Bay - 14.9 nautical miles SW
- Portkill - 15.6 nautical miles SE
- Portnocker - 16.1 nautical miles SE
- Moville - 16.1 nautical miles SSE
- Carrickarory Pier - 16.2 nautical miles SSE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Portmore - 0.5 miles NE
- Malin Harbour or Slievebane Bay - 4.6 miles SW
- Culdaff Bay - 8.3 miles SSE
- Tremone Bay - 11 miles SSE
- Kinnagoe Bay - 13 miles SE
- Lenan Bay - 14.9 miles SW
- Portkill - 15.6 miles SE
- Portnocker - 16.1 miles SE
- Moville - 16.1 miles SSE
- Carrickarory Pier - 16.2 miles SSE
Chart
What's the story here?

Inishtrahull is situated off the north coast of Ireland three miles northwest of the outermost Garvan Isle across Inishtrahull Sound. It is nearly a mile long and is made up of two rounded hills joined by a stretch of low ground with a prominent lighthouse at its western end. Portachurry is a narrow rocky inlet situated on the south west corner of Inishtrahull Island under the lighthouse.
How to get in?
The final few metres require keen eyeball navigation and close observation to stay clear of drying rocks fringing the shore whilst finding an anchoring location.

Why visit here?
Portachurry in Gaelic means ‘Currach Harbour’ which aptly describes the rocky inlet. The gut has provided a dramatically less attractive but nonetheless alternative landing place for islanders over the centuries. The southwest facing inlet has a jetty, steps and a slip, but landing here is said to be a problem. It is exposed to the Atlantic swell and as such it is not recommended.A better anchorage, along with details on Inishtrahull Island, can be found in the island’s primary berth of Portmore
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities on Inishtrahull and landing is not recommended at Portachurry as the location is subject to swell.Any security concerns?
This is a stay-aboard anchorage where it would be unsafe to leave a vessel unattended. This aside, never an issue is known to have occurred to a vessel anchored in this isolated location of the uninhabited Inishtrahull.With thanks to:
Bill McCann, Londonderry Harbour Master. Photography with thanks to Margaretincarn and Arnold Price.
This video presents a Sea Kayaking visit to Inishtrahull's south-western corner.
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