Roundstone Bay and the fishing village and harbour of the same name, is an inlet off the Big Sound on the approaches to Galway Bay situated about midway between Golam Head and Slyne Head, and approximately 38 miles west of Galway itself, on the west coast of Ireland. Inside the harbour, berth alongside the north quay or anchor half a mile off the pier where four seasonal visitors moorings have been laid. This leaves a long dinghy ride up to the village which is set in a peaceful location, except in the busy holiday season, with scenic mountain views.

The bay offers good safe shelter, and can be approached in all reasonable weather and tides except in really bad visibility and storms. The access is straightforward and this is one of the few harbours along this coast where it is possible to enter at night, although this is not recommended because of the numerous salmon drift nets in the approaches.

There are several fish farms in the vicinity of this location.

Keyfacts for Roundstone

Position and approaches

Haven position

53° 23.882' N, 009° 54.969' W

this is the position at the pierhead at Roundstone

What is the initial fix?

in the Atlantic Ocean midway between Gorteen Bay peninsula and Mace Head

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How to get in?

The 'Loop Head to Slyne Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northbound sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southbound sequence; western approaches may use either description.

Inside the harbour, berth alongside the north quay which has a clear bottom, but avoid the east or west parts of the quay as the bottom is foul, or anchor just off the pier which is a well sheltered anchorage in shallow water exposed only to SSE winds when shelter can be found in the adjacent Bertraghboy Bay. There are 4 visitors moorings half a mile southeast of the harbour, but these are in a more exposed location and leave a long dinghy ride to the village.

Roundstone is a good base from which to explore the nearby bays, Bertraghboy and Cashel, both of which give good shelter against all winds and seas depending on the choice of anchorage, and they afford lovely views of the Connemara mountains. The more recognised popular anchorages in Bertraghboy Bay are, off a bold bluff in south winds halfway between the entrance to Bertraghboy Bay and Carrickaleigh Rock where you can land at the old ruined pier; to the east side of Croghnut Islet which gives good shelter but rather a poor landing over weed covered rocks; and north of Salt Point which gives good shelter in west winds. There are two notable anchorages in Cashel Bay, north of Canower Point at the entrance to the bay which gives good shelter in west winds, and off the quay at the head of Cashel Bay where you can land at the quay, but it is advisable to check before going alongside or drying out as the quay is pretty rough but the bottom alongside is clean.

Why visit here?

Roundstone, Irish : Cloch Na Ron which means Rock of Seals or Seals Rock, is beautifully set on the west bank of Roundstone Bay. As early as 1684 the Bay was referred to as Roundstone Haven and the strikingly round rock after which it is named stands like a marker at the entrance. Roundstone is one of the oldest resorts in Connemara being founded in the mid 1820's by the Scottish engineer Alexander Nimmo and is situated on one of the most spectacular coastal drives in Ireland bordering the Atlantic Ocean and at the foot of Errisberg Mountain, and with great views of The Twelve Bens a small mountain range located north east of Roundstone village.

In this area of natural beauty Roundstone has been rightly credited as being the birthplace and inspiration of much of Irelands artistic and creative art, to the extent that it attracts national and international artists to the village, and visitors will find several works of art in local peoples homes, bars and hotels, as well as in the village's galleries. It has also been described as a botanists delight as many rare wild flowers are to be found in the area around Roundstone.

Today Roundstone's busy little harbour is home to the local fishermen who prepare and return with the days catch of lobster, mackerel, crab, crayfish, shrimp and cod, some of which are supplied to the many local seafood restaurants. It has also developed as a popular holiday destination for naturalists and artists, who together with visitors just come to enjoy the remarkable beauty of the surrounding seascapes and mountains, and also to sample two of Irelands finest beaches about 2 miles from Roundstone at Dogs Bay and Gurteen Beach. These beaches are of pure white sand formed exclusively of sea shells and not from the usual quartz grain, and the safe and sheltered crystal clear waters are ideal for swimming and other water based activities such as windsurfing, canoeing, snorkelling or scuba diving.

There are many places of historical, geological and scenic interest in the area near to Roundstone including the remains of numerous Christian settlements which have been found on several of the islands along the coast. At the northern end of Inishee the long island across the bay from Roundstone are the remains of an ancient monument to St. Brendan. There are up to 10 recognised walks in the vicinity of Roundstone one of which climbs Errisberg Mountain to the west of the village, the pleasant walk to the summit height of about 300 metres takes about 2 hours and affords stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and its islands, the Twelve Bens mountains, and the Roundstone Bog.

For those sailing in Roundstone Bay and the two adjacent bays, Bertraghboy and Cashel, there are several suitable anchorages to choose from with some marked visitors moorings available, and generally the area offers safe shelter with good access. The village has a good selection of pubs and bars, restaurants and cafes, a shop for provisions, and craft shops many of which can be found at The Michael Killeen Park which is a small craft centre about 5 minutes walk from the centre of Roundstone and which has various shops selling everthing from jewellery to sweaters. The park was built on the grounds of an old Fransican Monastery first established in 1835. The monks left in the mid 1970's and the buildings were demolished in 1980, the bell tower in the centre of the park and the old walls that surround it are the last remaining pieces of the old Monastery. Roundstone is fast becoming a dormitory for Clifden and a weekend residence for Galway but it still retains much of its old charm. Other facilities to be found in Roundstone are a post office, a bicycle hire shop, a health centre, and a rural bus service to Galway.

With thanks to:

inyourfootsteps.com site research

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