
The anchorage offers good protection from all conditions except from the northeast. It can be subject to northwest swell when its outer fringing rocks cover at high water. In such cases Fenit, less than ten miles away, provides all round protection. Access to Scraggane Bay is straightforward in daylight at any stage of the tide.
Keyfacts for Scraggane Bay
Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Protected sectors
Approaches
Shelter
Last modified
May 15th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
Expand to new tab or fullscreen
Haven position
This is the position of the head of the pier that is situated in the northwest end of Scraggane Bay.
What is the initial fix?
The following Scraggane Bay initial fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head
.
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 Scraggane Bay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Illauntannig - 0.7 miles NNE
- Castlegregory - 1.9 miles SSE
- Brandon Bay - 3.3 miles WSW
- Barrow Harbour - 3.7 miles E
- Fenit Harbour - 4.2 miles ESE
- Dingle Harbour - 8.5 miles SW
- Smerwick Harbour - 9 miles WSW
- Kilbaha Bay - 10.4 miles NNE
- Ventry Harbour - 10.5 miles SW
- Ross Bay - 10.9 miles NNE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Illauntannig - 0.7 miles NNE
- Castlegregory - 1.9 miles SSE
- Brandon Bay - 3.3 miles WSW
- Barrow Harbour - 3.7 miles E
- Fenit Harbour - 4.2 miles ESE
- Dingle Harbour - 8.5 miles SW
- Smerwick Harbour - 9 miles WSW
- Kilbaha Bay - 10.4 miles NNE
- Ventry Harbour - 10.5 miles SW
- Ross Bay - 10.9 miles NNE
Chart
How to get in?

from Tralee Bay
Image: © William Glasgow Howe
Scraggane Bay located within a bight at the head of the peninsula that lies directly south of Illauntannig and separates Brandon Bay from Tralee Bay. There is a pier on the west side with two slipways. The small village of Fahamore, on the Brandon Bay side of the peninsula, is accessible via a short walk from Scraggane Bay pier. It provides an anchorage amongst fishing boats plus a pier.
Once inside the entrance proceed south for ¼ of a mile to anchor outside of the moored fishing vessels.
Anchor according to draught and conditions. 2 metres will be found with the pierhead bearing 287° and the east side of Illauntannig bearing 023°. 3 metres can be found 150 metres east from the pier and shallower draft vessels will find about 1 metre with swinging room just southeast of the pier.
Continuing further southward of the pier requires a high great degree of care. A reef of large boulders extends from the pier to occupy the southwest corner of the bay. Likewise, a shoal occupies nearly the entire southern half of the bay with a small central part awash at low water springs.

Image: © Dwane Doyle

Image: Terry Ballard
Why visit here?
Scraggane Bay, in Irish An Scragán or "Scraggies", as it is colloquially known, is a small fishing port that is home to a fleet of about twenty fishing trawlers. The main local catch consists of lobster, flat-back crab, spider crab, Atlantic crayfish, Atlantic salmon and mackerel.Visitors will also see the unusual aspect of this fleet, as nearly all the fishermen use traditional Irish curraghs for trawler tenders. This is because the master curragh builder Monty O'Leary is located across the peninsula, in Fahamore, busily constructing curraghs, or Naomhóg.

Image: CC0
The traditional curragh was constructed with ribs made of sally rods with the ends being brought up through holes in a strong gunwale frame. Over the ribs were placed longitudinal pieces of thin deal and this was then covered with canvas or hides. This was all then blackened and made water-tight with bitumen (tar). The ancient boats could be managed with great dexterity as the traditional design provided qualities that are only seen today in modern craft made from advanced technologies. The boat’s elasticity enabled a curragh to recoil from a shock that would stove-in a heavy structured vessel and their lightness provided such buoyancy that they floated like ducks on the water.
These craft are still in use today but are more likely to have an outer skin of fibreglass to replace the hide. They still look delicate but are surprisingly strong and resilient when used on the often rough Atlantic coast. Having the boats constructed in the area has made this bay a centre for curragh enthusiasts and this love of the boats reaches a climax each July. Then the bay hosts a currach racing regatta where currach racing teams from Ireland’s entire western seaboard, from Kerry to Galway, come to compete in the All-Ireland Currach racing series.

Image: Terry Ballard
Fahamore derives its name from the Irish An Faiche Mor meaning ‘The Big Green’; a reference to the big open space in front of the famous Spillane’s Pub. The local economy of the village and bay area is underpinned by tourism through holiday home rentals, pubs and restaurants, and particularly for watersport enthusiasts as Scraggane Bay is used extensively for flat water windsurfing. The areas consistent wind and protection from the Atlantic waves makes it sailable in almost any condition, regardless of wind direction. This capability was recently observed by the Sunday Times when it voted it the No.1 windsurfing destination in the World. Scuba diving, sea angling and walking are other popular leisure activities here. Those who enjoy a hike should plan a visit to the 14ft high standing stone with a cross situated in a field at Candiha at the southern end of the bay.
From a cruising perspective, Scraggane Bay is another interesting and very pleasant anchoring opportunity in this area of outstanding natural beauty. For when the sun shines here, this area looks more like the Caribbean than the west coast of Ireland.
What facilities are available?
There is a water tap on the pier outside a basic but well cared for public lavatory. The small village of Fahamore, at Brandon Bay less than 10 minutes’ walk, has pubs and some basic shopping serving about 50 houses.Any security concerns?
Never an incident known to have occurred in Scraggane Bay.With thanks to:
Mark Murray, Yacht 'Motivator'.



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.