Roberts Cove is a small coastal inlet that is situated just over three miles southwest of the entrance to Cork Harbour and approximately halfway between Robert’s Head and Cork Head.

This inlet provides an exposed anchorage that is open from south round to southeast. It offers marginal protection from south-westerly conditions up to a Beaufort force 3-4, but after that, it will tend to roll uncomfortably. However shallower draft vessels may go deeper into the cove to find more protection. In general, it should be considered a fair-weather anchorage for southerly winds but it is well protected from all other quarters. Access is straightforward in daylight as there are no unmarked off-lying hazards in the immediate area.

Keyfacts for Robert's Cove

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 44.530' N, 008° 18.630' W

Half way up the inlet.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is set half way between Robert’s Head and Cork Head, just under a mile north by northwest of Daunt Rock. A course of 322° (T) for a quarter of a mile will place a vessel outside the mouth of the bay.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Robert’s Cove is a small narrow inlet situated about ½ a mile westward of Cork Head and a little more than the same north of Robert's Head. The cove has a small village that includes two pubs, near its head which are overlooked by the Roberts Cove Holiday Park on the northeastern high ground.




With its long flat, gradually descending beach deeply set into gently rolling hills the small bay is a popular destination for bathers and day-trippers from Cork City during the summer months.

How to get in?

Approach details are available in southeastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour . Details for vessels approaching from the southwest are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head . The narrow inlet blends in with its surrounding cliffs and locating its position from seaward will require some keen eyeball navigation.




From the west, after rounding the head and turning towards the initial fix, the cove should make itself known by its caravans and a bungalow set on the eastern side of the narrow inlet. These should be seen just before the cove opens up. It may be more difficult to spot from the east where the coastline presents as a solid cliff wall.



From the initial fix steer northwestward for the entrance that is a ¼ of a mile distant.

If the cove still cannot be identified at this point make a course for the conspicuous square top of the Robert's Head Signal Station on the headland to the west of the initial fix. It is set on a 73 metres high headland and is located ⅓ of a mile to the southwest of the cove. Proceed towards the cliff face beneath the tower and the bay, being orientated north-northwest/south-southeast, will soon open and reveal itself. A white house will appear first on this line of approach.




Once the cove has made itself known alter course towards the outer end of the cove. The Robert's Cove Inn will be seen, most likely painted a conspicuous colour, and a stone arched bridge plus a seawall at the head of the bay.




Procced in clear of its heads sounding all the way in. The inlet within is approximately 350 metres long of which about half dries at low water.



Anchor according to the vessels draft where there is good holding in sand. The shallower the vessel’s draft, the further it may enter into the cover and the more protection the cove provides.



Land by dingy on the hard sand beach at the head of the inlet. Vessels that can take to the bottom will find an excellent flat beach to dry upon.

Why visit here?

Originally formed by a retreating glacier, Roberts Cove, in Irish Cuainín Riobaird most likely took its name from the Roberts family who owned a local slate quarry.




Samuel Lewis', 1837 'A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland' noted 'At Roberts' Cove is a valuable slate quarry, belonging to Sir Thomas Roberts, Bart., but it is not worked to any considerable extent. Britfieldstown, the seat of Sir Thomas Roberts, Bart., is pleasantly situated in a secluded spot above Roberts' Cove . . . The Cove affords a commodious shelter for vessels of 200 tons' burden, which occasionally arrive laden with coal, and return with cargoes of slate'. The 1842 Ordnance Survey map of the area noted Britfieldstown House, the seat of the Roberts family, was situated further to the north of the signal tower and close to the cove. But the families' fortuned must have ebbed away as in 1851 the estate was sold on behalf of Sir Thomas Howland Roberts who was listed as 'an insolvent debtor'. The family home became derelict by the 1970s and the only remains to be seen are parts of a walled garden and a derelict gate lodge. The small cove however has several remaining interesting buildings.




The beautiful raised building with a slipway situated on the northwest side was once a coastguard station, the most westerly of the eight stations that constitute the district of Cove. The Robert's Cove Inn, which dominates the head of the inlet, was originally the site of an old mill. It once hosted a community of monks who milled corn here and also later turned their hand to the import of coal and reciprocal export of Roberts slate.




The extensive signal tower on the headland to the southwest was built in 1806 to provide a watch location for a Napoleonic invasion. A total of 81 of these towers were built on strategically high and often remote, exposed locations near the coast. They all had inter-visibility with each other communicating by using flags and balls on a mast in front of the tower. It is also possible that the station was also used as a watch station by the coastguards that were based in Robert’s Cove but its time was short-lived. The threat of a French invasion diminished after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 and the high maintenance costs, caused the abandonment of most of the weather-beaten towers. They became derelict soon after, mainly due to the ravages of the weather in their exposed locations. It is however possible that Robert's Head signal tower continued to be used into the early years of the 20th-century as a fog signal station as it had subsequent structural additions to facilitate the manning of the station for this use.




Today Robert's Cove is one of the most scenic bays on the southwest Cork coastline. The cove hosts a small village that consists of several houses, a caravan park and two pubs one of which is a gastropub. Recessed from the coast and sheltered from the breeze by its high western headland the calm waters of the enclosed cove are ideal for families and swimming. Bathers enter from the beach, or further out on the western side where readily accessible rocks give access to deeper waters. Walkers will find the coves cliff walks offer spectacular views out over the coastline. All of this and its proximity to the city make it a popular summer destination for day-tripping Corkonians.




From a boating perspective, this is a picturesque place to visit. Although far from being the perfect all-weather anchorage it is a very snug little inlet that is frequented by surprisingly large vessels. It provides a good landing beach for a tender and is ideal for a bilge-keeler to dry out on. It is the ideal location to let a family boat to let the kids off to play and, there is a choice of pubs and a very good restaurant for the adults aboard. These make it a well worthwhile stop over in favourable conditions to enjoy this pleasant stretch of coastline, some pints and a nice meal.

What facilities are available?

Robert's Cove hosts a small village that consists of a number of houses, a caravan park and two pubs. There is a tap at the head of the bay near a grassy area that was placed there for the benefit of campers. There are no other facilities except for the bars plus a good beach to land a dinghy with car access almost alongside. The pubs offer good food daily during the season with an extensive bar and dinner menu available nightly throughout the year. Sunday lunch is on offer from 12.30 to 14.30. The village is situated 5km from Minane Bridge, 12km from Carrigaline and 25km from Cork.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in Robert's Cove.

With thanks to:

Anthony McCarthy, local yachtsman, and Burke Corbett. Photographs with thanks to aspecticide, Brian Catcart, Mark Murray and Burke Corbett.