
Ferris Bay is situated on the northeast coast of Ireland immediately east of the entrance to Larne Lough. It is an anchorage outside Larne Lough between the entrance and Islandmagee’s northern promontories.
Ferris Bay is a good anchorage especially in conditions with a southerly quadrant, however, any conditions with a northerly component would make the anchorage untenable. In such circumstances, it would be advisable to move a short distance into Larne Lough. Accessing the bay is straight-forward at any stage of the tides as it is completely open to the northwest.
Keyfacts for Ferris Bay
Last modified
July 18th 2018 Summary
A good location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
Expand to new tab or fullscreen
Haven position
This is set on the 2 metre contour within Ferris Bay's south-western corner.
What is the initial fix?
The following Larne Harbour 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
.
- Approaches to bay can be found in the Larne Harbour
entry.
- Track into the middle of the bay staying well clear of the rocky spit extending northward from Ferris and Barr’s Point.
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 Ferris Bay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Brown’s Bay - 0.6 nautical miles ENE
- Larne Harbour - 0.7 nautical miles SSE
- Ballydowan - 1.6 nautical miles SSE
- Magheramorne Point - 2 nautical miles SSE
- Portmuck - 2 nautical miles E
- Mill Bay - 2.1 nautical miles SE
- Ballygalley Bay - 3.8 nautical miles NW
- Whitehead - 6.5 nautical miles SSE
- Carrickfergus Harbour & Marina - 8.6 nautical miles S
- Glenarm Bay and Harbour - 9 nautical miles NW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Brown’s Bay - 0.6 miles ENE
- Larne Harbour - 0.7 miles SSE
- Ballydowan - 1.6 miles SSE
- Magheramorne Point - 2 miles SSE
- Portmuck - 2 miles E
- Mill Bay - 2.1 miles SE
- Ballygalley Bay - 3.8 miles NW
- Whitehead - 6.5 miles SSE
- Carrickfergus Harbour & Marina - 8.6 miles S
- Glenarm Bay and Harbour - 9 miles NW
How to get in?

Ferris Bay is a small sandy northwest facing bay situated between Ferris and Barr’s points on the north side of the Islandmagee peninsula.
Vessels approaching Ferris Bay should take care not to impede commercial traffic approaching Larne. An approaching vessel should make ‘Larne Port Control’ aware of its intentions and they will advise on ship movements, weather, tide, etc. The call sign for the Port of Larne is [Larne Port Control] on VHF Ch. 14, P: +44 28 28 872179.


Why visit here?

The original lighthouse, known as Larne Lough Lighthouse, was designed by the celebrated engineer George Halpin. Constructed in 1838 it exhibited its first light in the following year when it was considered a work of immense architectural value. Three assistants operated the lighthouse supported by a Principal Keeper who was also responsible for the Maidens Lighthouse until 1951. But when Ballylumford power station opened in 1943 and the port of Larne continued to develop its ferry trade the installations of these near neighbours increasingly began to obscure the lighthouse. The power station chimneys behind confused its position during the daytime, and the Larne Harbour floodlights by night. The light finally became redundant in 1976 when a directional light was installed at Chaine Tower Lighthouse on the western side of the harbour entrance. Today the modernised Ferris Point building remains in service as a base for the Larne Port Control, the maintenance of buoys and the Maidens light plus it also provides a Helipad.



From a purely boating point of view, Ferris Bay is an alternative anchorage to its neighbouring and very popular Brown’s Bay. Although a little overgrown, it is a picturesque little bay that overlooks the mainland to the north. It is a shorter stroll from here to the Ballylumford Ferry and it may provide a good alternative if Brown’s Bay is experiencing some swell.
What facilities are available?
Ferris bay has road access and the Larne Golf Club, where full catering and bar facilities are available and visitors are always welcome, but little else. Public Toilets are available in the adjacent Brown's Bay where there is Steele's shop that has some provisions plus a post office.All other facilities are available in Larne Harbour half a mile distant and serviced by the small ferry from Ballylumford that takes 5 minutes to cross the mouth of the lough. There is a footway for the short distance from Ferris bay to Ballylumford where the small passenger ferry departs. The small ferry takes no more than 12 people and booking is essential P +44 28 2827 3785.
Any security concerns?
Never a problem known to have occurred in Ferris Bay.With thanks to:
Terence Stitt, Portmuck Harbour Master. Photography with thanks to Albert Bridge, KyleH, Alvaro, Aubrey Dale, Andrew Hill, Michael Hogan, Mary and Angus Hogg and Anne Burgess.




The following video presents views of Ferris Bay.
The following video and images were taken by sea canoeists who visited The Maidens.
About Ferris Bay

The original lighthouse, known as Larne Lough Lighthouse, was designed by the celebrated engineer George Halpin. Constructed in 1838 it exhibited its first light in the following year when it was considered a work of immense architectural value. Three assistants operated the lighthouse supported by a Principal Keeper who was also responsible for the Maidens Lighthouse until 1951. But when Ballylumford power station opened in 1943 and the port of Larne continued to develop its ferry trade the installations of these near neighbours increasingly began to obscure the lighthouse. The power station chimneys behind confused its position during the daytime, and the Larne Harbour floodlights by night. The light finally became redundant in 1976 when a directional light was installed at Chaine Tower Lighthouse on the western side of the harbour entrance. Today the modernised Ferris Point building remains in service as a base for the Larne Port Control, the maintenance of buoys and the Maidens light plus it also provides a Helipad.



From a purely boating point of view, Ferris Bay is an alternative anchorage to its neighbouring and very popular Brown’s Bay. Although a little overgrown, it is a picturesque little bay that overlooks the mainland to the north. It is a shorter stroll from here to the Ballylumford Ferry and it may provide a good alternative if Brown’s Bay is experiencing some swell.
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:
Brown’s Bay - 0.4 miles ENEPortmuck - 1.3 miles E
Whitehead - 4 miles SSE
Carrickfergus Harbour & Marina - 5.3 miles S
Greenisland - 6.1 miles SSW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Larne Harbour - 0.5 miles SSEBallydowan - 1 miles SSE
Mill Bay - 1.3 miles SE
Magheramorne Point - 1.2 miles SSE
Ballygalley Bay - 2.4 miles NW
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Ferris Bay.







Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
The following video presents views of Ferris Bay.
The following video and images were taken by sea canoeists who visited The Maidens.
Add your review or comment:
Please log in to leave a review of this haven.
Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.