Castlegregory is located in Co. Kerry on the west coast of Ireland, on the north side of the Dingle Peninsula. It is a remote anchorage off a small inshore village within Tralee Bay, on the east side of the headland that separates it from Brandon Bay.

The anchorage is well protected from southwesterly winds but is increasingly exposed to other quadrants if the wind should move round. In such cases, Fenit, only five miles across the bay, provides all-round protection. Access is straightforward in daylight at any stage of the tide.

Tralee Bay has a ledge and can be divisive in a big seaway. A vessel enduring highly adverse conditions along this coast should run for the River Shannon. With the exception of strong tides it has easy access and provides complete protection from all conditions within.

Keyfacts for Castlegregory

Position and approaches

Haven position

52° 15.800' N, 010° 0.200' W

This is off the beach near the village of Castlegregory.

What is the initial fix?

This is on the eastern side of the transit marked on Admiralty Charts that marks Magharee Sound’s best water. The transit is 106°(T) of the rock islet The Rose with Fenit Castle. Once at this point a course of due south along the east side of the peninsula leads to the anchorage.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Castlegregory lies off the eastern side of the sandy peninsula separating Brandon Bay from Tralee Bay. This area, located to the south of fish farms, is often used as a wait point for commercial ships planning on berthing at Fenit. For leisure craft, it offers an anchorage off miles of attractive blue flag beaches backed by sand hills.

Vessels approaching from the southwest may take a shortcut into the southern half of Tralee Bay via the Magharee Sound that is described in the aforementioned coastal description and for convenience also discussed here. This lies between the Magharee Islands, or Seven Hogs, and the sandy peninsula that separates Brandon and Tralee Bays. Magharee Sound is narrow and intricate and has a least depth of 4.5 metres. In moderate or clear weather with a favourable tide there is no great difficulty in running through this cut that saves at least an hour from the passage whilst adding interesting sailing.


Little Samphire – lighthouse Fl WRG 5s 17m W16M position: 52° 16. 254’N, 009° 52.909’W

The white sector will carry a vessel through the dangers on either side of the bay, the shoals off the Magharee Islands on one side and Mucklaghmore, Boat Rock, and further south the shoal water off Fenit Island on the other. Once the Castlegregory initial fix is a mile and a half to the southwest of this approach it is safe to ignore the initial fix and head directly to the anchoring location.

The Castlegregory initial fix is on the east end of the transit marked on Admiralty Chart 2739, 106° T of the rock islet The Rose with Fenit Castle, and to the east of Rough Point.

Drop down south for three and a half miles from the initial fix to the anchoring position. This passes the fish farms, located off the peninsula to the south by southeast of Rough Point, to starboard in the first mile and a half. Sometimes a commercial ship awaiting a berth in Fenit may be seen in the area.

The beach shelves gradually out from the shore so vessels will be a long way out. Anchor according to draught offshore where excellent holding may be had in sand and mud.

Why visit here?

Castlegregory in Irish Caisleán Ghriaire derives its name from a 16th-century castle built by Gregory Hoare.

It is the capital of Lettragh, whose population is now a quarter of what it was before the Great Irish Famine, and it remains the only place in the area which resembles a real village. The area is very popular with locals and tourists because of its miles of blue flag beaches for enjoying bathing and water sports. Nearby Lough Gill is a breeding place for the rare, and noisy, natterjack toad.

Castlegregory offers the boaters with another anchoring opportunity in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

What facilities are available?

Castlegregory is a village which has a permanent population of about 200 that is vastly swelled by an influx of holidaymakers attracted to its extensive blue flag beaches. To cater for this there are two small supermarkets, a post office, a doctor and a pharmacist. All resources are available in either Tralee or Dingle from which Castlegregory is about halfway between.

Any security concerns?

Never an incident known to have occurred off Castlegregory.

With thanks to:

Batty McCarthy, Fenit Harbour Master

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