Ferris Bay is situated on the northeast coast of Ireland, on Islandmageee immediately east of the entrance to Larne Lough. It is an anchorage in a small rural bay outside the entrance to Larne Lough.

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 straightforward at any stage of the tide as it is completely open to the northwest.

Larne Harbour is Northern Ireland's busiest ferry port with very fast cross-channel ferries and shipping. The anchorage is close to where the ferries enter and exit Larne Harbour and is subject to wakes from the commercial ships. Although vessels will be in the entrance and travelling slowly here, one should be prepared for a sudden 'wake roll' from these vessels.

Keyfacts for Ferris Bay

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 51.126' N, 005° 47.190' W

This is set on the 2-metre contour within Ferris Bay's southwestern corner.

What is the initial fix?

A ½ mile north of the harbour and approximately midway between Larne No. 1 and No. 2 Light buoys. This is set upon the leading lights alignment of 184.3° T that leads through the centre of the entrance channel.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

Ferris Bay is a small northwest-facing bay situated upon the entrance to Larne Lough and between the Islandmagee peninsula’s inner promontories. It is entered between Barr’s Point and Ferris Point, a ½ mile southwestward, and shoals gradually to a low sandy foreshore in a rural setting. Ferris Point Lighthouse and the watch tower of the Port Control Office is situated on Ferris Point making the bay unmistakable.




The bay offers an anchorage with good holding and ample depths and a nice beach to land upon with road access.

How to get in?

The bay is immediately outside the entrance to Larne Lough and directions for Larne Harbour may be used for approaches. Vessels approaching Ferris Bay have to pass into the limits of Larne Port Control and must make Larne Port Control aware of the intentions to anchor in the bay. Larne Port Control is may be contacted on [VHF] Ch. 14 [Larne Port Control] or by +44 28 28 872179. Larne Port Control can advise on ship movements, weather, tide, etc. Leisure craft should take care not to impede commercial traffic approaching Larne.




The key local dangers to avoid are the rocky outcrops that extend from the three northern points of the Islandmagee. Of these Skernaghan Point’s rocky outcrop that stretches northward from the northernmost point of Islandmagee is the most dangerous. Skernaghan Point, which translates to 'point of the reef' has been responsible for numerous shipwrecks and should be given a berth of at least 500 metres. This is particularly in the way of a vessel following the coastline from the south and it is essential to take care to stand well off the point. Likewise, vessels approaching should keep at least 200 metres off the ends of Barr's and Ferris Points.




From the Larne Harbour initial fix, situated midway between the No. 1 Green buoy Q (3) 10s and the No. 2 Red buoy Fl (2) R 6s, set a course of 160° T to pass close by the No. 2 port hand buoy and continue for a ½ mile into Ferris Bay keeping Ferris Point well to starboard. The conspicuous square white watch tower of the Port Control Office, with a radar scanner on top and surrounding white walls, that stands on Ferris Point renders the bay unmistakable.





Anchor according to draft and conditions. The 2-metre contour is reached before the tower climbs to a bearing of 200° T, about 2000 metres from the shore and the head of the bay shallows abruptly thereafter so stay well offshore of the beach. Very good holding will be found here over sand.

Land by dinghy on the sandy beach at the head of the bay.

Why visit here?

The surname Ferris could derive either from the Irish name 'Fergus', which means 'strong man'/ 'man of vigour', or from the English surname ' Ferrers', referring to a blacksmith or ironworker. The origin of how it was used to name Ferris Bay and Point is however unknown.




Today the point and small rural bay's single most conspicuous feature is the Port Control Office building that stands on the point marking the east side of the narrow entrance into Larne Lough. Constructed in 1976 the space-age black glass box in a white tower is an ultra-modern structure that replaced a traditional lighthouse that once showed a light from 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.


The lighthouse usability slowly came to an end after the Ballylumford power station opened in 1943 and the port of Larne ferry trade started to grow. Then 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 was finally made redundant in 1976 when a directional light was installed at Chaine Tower Lighthouse on the western side of the harbour entrance.




The remarkable granite tower, known locally as 'The Pencil' is an accurate replica of an Irish Round Tower and stands 27 metres high and 7.5 metres wide at its base. It was originally built in 1887 as a memorial for James Chaine, the developer of Larne Harbour, with money raised by public subscription in Larne. The modernised Ferris Point building remains the base for the Larne Port Control and the maintenance base for the buoys and the Maidens light plus it also provides a Helipad.




George Halpin also designed and supervised the erection of the Maidens lighthouses which were built almost a decade before the Larne Lough Lighthouse in 1829. Situated five miles from Ferris Point and steep-to all round these dangers consist of two clusters of rocks called the West and East Maiden, separated from each other by a deep and wide sound. They marked the dangers by building two lighthouse towers 750 metres apart, one on each rock cluster. The keepers of the lighthouses and their families originally lived on site for the whole year and the isolation led to a remarkable 1830s romance. Rowing across the sound that separated the towers the assistant keeper of one lighthouse fell in love with the daughter of the keeper of the other. But the families were uncomfortable with the relationship and fell out. When the father forbade his daughter to meet the assistant keeper, the couple ran off to Carrickfergus where they eloped.




In 1903 an improved light was exhibited on the Maidens East Lighthouse and the West Tower light was discontinued. In 1906 Maidens Lighthouse became a combined station with the light at Ferris Point, with the Principal Keeper of Ferris Point Lighthouse responsible for both. Shore dwellings for the families of the four Maidens' assistant keepers were built at Ferris Point. Three of the assistant keepers were on duty on Maidens at any time. Each assistant keeper, in turn, spent 30 days on Maidens Lighthouse followed by 10 days ashore with his family at Ferris Point. In 1977 the keepers were permanently withdrawn after the station was converted to automatic operation. The lights at the Maidens and Chaine Tower are now monitored by remote control.




Barr’s Point bounds the eastern side of Ferris Bay and this may be very interesting to golfers as it is home to a testing and picturesque golf course. The nine-hole course has been in existence for over 100 years and is part parkland and part links, with views east reaching as far as Scotland. The clubhouse, a short stroll from the landing beach, has full catering and bar facilities where visitors are always welcome. A footpath follows the road to the east past the golf course to the sandy beach at Brown’s Bay where there is a small shop and a walk out to the point. But for many, the pretty little beach may be all that is needed for an afternoon.




From a purely boating point of view, Ferris Bay is an alternative anchorage to its larger 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.