Kilmakilloge Harbour is an inlet on the south bank of the Kenmare River on the southwest coast of Ireland in County Kerry. It is situated on the Beara Peninsula 11 miles west of the large town of Kenmare and approx. 1.5 miles to the east of Ardgroom Harbour.

The harbour offers an excellent overnight anchorage with good shelter and protection from most conditions. Access to the anchorage is good but requires attentive navigation to avoid the many rocky shoals, and also Book Rocks and Spanish Island which are situated in the middle of the main harbour.

It should also be noted that there are extensive marine farms at the area of the entrance to the main bay.

Keyfacts for Kilmakilloge Harbour

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 46.148' N, 009° 49.777' W

this is the position at the anchorage in Collorus Harbour

What is the initial fix?

this is at the entrance to the Kenmare River midway between Lambs Head and Cods Head

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Lying close to the east of Ardgroom, Kilmakilloge Harbour, provides perfect security for a small vessel against all winds. Its position is easily recognised from its proximity to Ardgroom and a grassy precipice on the east side of the entrance. Within a rocky cove on the east side of Kilmakilloge Harbour there is also Bunaw Harbour.




The entrance to the harbour is between Laughan Point on the northeast shore and Collorus Point on the southwest shore, a distance of about 4 miles, and its 29 metres high grassy precipice on the east side of the entrance. Collorus Head divides Kilmakilloge Harbour from its near neighbour Ardgroom.




Kilmakilloge Harbour has three recognised anchorages, Collorus Harbour to the west, Bunaw Harbour to the north, and at Carrigwee islet which is also known as Yellow Rock and which is a location midway between Doorus Point and Derreen Gardens.

The most secure anchorage is Collorus Harbour but its entrance is encumbered by a shoal, whilst in northwest winds, the rocky cove at Bunaw is prone to heavy seas within the harbour. The southeast arm of Kilmakilloge Harbour at Carrigwee shoals gradually to the head but is well protected.

Why visit here?

Kilmakilloge Harbour is a much-favoured location for spending an overnight stop on account of its outstanding natural beauty with a backdrop of Caher Mountain, which is Ireland’s third highest mountain, and its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. Whilst affording good shelter in all winds, space for anchoring is much restricted by a number of shoals and also marine farms.

The area forms part of the Beara Peninsula which is shared between the counties of Kerry and Cork, and this area is visited less than the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula which makes it a quieter alternative for visitors than its northern neighbouring peninsula's. The area around Kilmakilloge Harbour forms part of the Beara Way long distance walking route which is a 128-mile circular trail around the Beara Peninsula starting and ending at Glengarriff, and which is reputed to be the most scenic route in all Ireland. The Beara Peninsula which was named after a Spanish Princess, Princess Beara, has over 500 historical sites dating back to 2000 BC making it the location of one of the highest number of antiquities in one area of Ireland. The oldest writing on a stone in Ireland is Pre – Ogham and can be found in Glentastel, Lauragh.

At the eastern end of Kilmakilloge Harbour on the coast road from Lauragh to Tuosist and just outside the village of Kilmakilloge are the Derreen Gardens. These gardens were planted over a hundred years ago by the 5th Lord Landsdowne in the grounds of his residence. A fabulously wealthy and politically impeccable member of the Victorian Society, a First Lord of the Treasury, a Governor of Canada, a Viceroy of India, this was Landsdowne's special place of peace and tranquility and he brought delicate things from all over the world and watched them thrive due to the mild temperatures experienced in this region thanks to the effects of the gulf stream. Today the gardens boast a wealth of sub-tropical plants and trees, and you can take one of the planned walks through the glades of eucalyptus, giant blue gums and bamboo and wonder at the 140ft high giant red cedars. Of the many walks, the outer ring called the Broad Walk is the easiest.

Bunaw Harbour offers the visiting yachtsman the most opportunity for restocking of provisions from the small shop and post office, as it is possible to berth alongside the pier in shallow depth. Top up fuel and Kosengas can be obtained from a garage which is about 5 miles from the quay. There is a great pub on the quayside that does meals where you can sit outside under the shade of the pandanus tree enjoying local mussels or a toasted sandwich, and a well earned drink. Freshwater from the pub's kitchen and use of the pub's showers are reported to have been made available to visiting yachtsmen by the kindly landlord. At the Carrigwee anchorage, a dinghy landing may be made near the road bridge southeast of Derreen when the tide is up, where 1.5 miles to the east at Lauragh there is a shop, a couple of pubs that do meals, and fuel available. There are no facililties at Collorus Harbour.

What facilities are available?

At Bunaw there is a small shop, post office and a pub that serves hot food and which also allows use of its fresh water, showers and toilets. Top up fuel and Kosgas is available from a garage about 5 miles from the quay.

Approx. 1.5 miles from the Carrigwee anchorage at Lauragh there is a shop, two pubs that do meals and fuel available.

There are no facilities at Collorus Harbour.

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