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Ballygalley Bay is situated on the northeast coast of Ireland about twenty-two miles south of Fair Head and three miles to the north of Larne. The bay offers an anchorage out of the run of the currents and off a small holiday village.
Ballygalley Bay offers good protection in west through south to southeast but is entirely exposed to any northerly quadrant conditions. With the absence of any immediate offshore dangers, or any tidal restriction, daylight access to the bay is straightforward.
Keyfacts for Ballygalley Bay
Last modified
July 18th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with straightforward access.Facilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
This is the anchoring area in sand off the head of Ballygalley Bay.
What is the initial fix?
The following Ballygalley Bay Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in the northeast Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough
.
- Vessels approaching from the east or southeast can choose to pass around either side the well-marked Hunter Rock and The Maidens.
- Locate Ballygally Castle, 0.6-mile west-southwest of the headland at the head of the bay, and track in on a bearing 210° T of the castle.
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 Ballygalley Bay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Ferris Bay - 3.8 nautical miles SE
- Brown’s Bay - 4.1 nautical miles SE
- Larne Harbour - 4.5 nautical miles SE
- Glenarm Bay and Harbour - 5.2 nautical miles NW
- Ballydowan - 5.4 nautical miles SE
- Portmuck - 5.5 nautical miles SE
- Magheramorne Point - 5.7 nautical miles SSE
- Mill Bay - 5.9 nautical miles SE
- Carnlough Bay and Harbour - 7.1 nautical miles NW
- Whitehead - 10.3 nautical miles SSE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Ferris Bay - 3.8 miles SE
- Brown’s Bay - 4.1 miles SE
- Larne Harbour - 4.5 miles SE
- Glenarm Bay and Harbour - 5.2 miles NW
- Ballydowan - 5.4 miles SE
- Portmuck - 5.5 miles SE
- Magheramorne Point - 5.7 miles SSE
- Mill Bay - 5.9 miles SE
- Carnlough Bay and Harbour - 7.1 miles NW
- Whitehead - 10.3 miles SSE
How to get in?

Taken in order from, south to north, Hunter Rock has 0.8 metres of water over it. It is a single well-marked shoal that lies between the Maidens and Larne with North and South Cardinal Light buoys. It is the singular and only danger in this area with more than a mile and a half of clear water around it in all directions.
North Hunter - VQ position: 54° 53.046’N, 005 45.114’W
South Hunter - VQ (6) + LFl 10s position: 54° 52.691’N, 005 45.284’W

The Maidens are situated four and a half miles east by northeast of Ballygalley Head. The southern section of the Maidens consists of two clusters of rocks called the West and East Maiden that are separated from each other by a deep and wide sound. The Maidens are marked by a lighthouse with a white tower and black band on the East Maiden plus the remains of a West Maiden lighthouse that was taken out of service in 1903.
Maidens Lighthouse - Fl (3) 20s 29m 24M position: 54° 55.748’N, 005° 43.709’W
The northern cluster consists of three small rocks that are in the form of a triangle. The western Russell’s Rock is 1.00 metre above high water, the eastern Highlandman Rock covers one hour before high water, and the southern or Allen Rock covers at high water. Rocky ledges extend both to the northward and southeast of the Allen Rock whilst the others are steep-to. A Highland Rock beacon shows their position.
Highlandman (Highland Rock) – unlit 1.5m position: 54°57.286'N, 005°43.935'W

Likewise, vessels approaching from the south will find an inshore passage from Larne Head, between the mainland and Hunter and the Maidens, steep-to and clear of off lying dangers. Good depths will be found close in with 400 metres from the rock clearing all dangers.
Why visit here?
Ballygalley Bay, also spelt Ballygally, derives its name from the Irish words Baile Geithligh. Pronounced bala gehlee this is believed to mean ‘Geithleach’s townland' but the origin of the personal name 'Geithleach' is uncertain and very rare in the area today.Ballygalley’s history of inhabitation, akin to this entire stretch of coast, goes way back to very ancient times and long before the times of the Geithleach family. A 1990s archaeological excavation of the bay’s low ground, about 500 metres from the shoreline, unearthed the remains of a number of Neolithic houses. The historically important site produced a large number of artefacts, including pottery, worked flints and stone axes.

Though featuring a flourish of design the castle was well capable of defending itself. It had walls five feet thick, including loopholes for muskets, and an open stream running through the outer hall provided water in the event of a siege. During the rebellion of 1641, it served as a place of refuge for the Protestants. The castle came under attack from the Irish garrison at Glenarm several times during the rebellion, but each assault was unsuccessful. It continued to be a point of retreat during the following two centuries and was used as a fortress as late as the 18th Century. Because the castle provided sanctuary for such large numbers of people and saw off so many large-scale attacks in its time, it is now believed that the original building was more extensive than the current remains of the ancient Castle.
During all this time it stayed in the Shaw family until the early 1800s when they lost their lands and wealth. It then passed through several hands taking on many different roles such as a coastguard station, for several years, then a rectory for an extended period, until it was eventually sold to the textile millionaire Mr Cyril Lord in the early nineteen fifties. He refurbished the building and turned it into a hotel that was subsequently purchased by its present owners ‘The Hastings Hotels Group’ in 1966. They have, over the years, undertaken a series of extensive renovation programmes.

The small village of Ballygalley may often be overlooked as a destination. But anyone setting down on its 200-metre long sandy beach will see it has plenty to offer. To the north, up towards the Antrim coast, is the dramatic wall of Antrim with its headlands. To the east, the open sea expands, and beyond it, the low outline of the Scottish coast can be visible. To the south is the distinctive Ballygalley Head with its roadside crag, a village landmark and a favourite with climbers. Inland to the west are the village’s landmark features such as Scawt Hill and Sallagh Braes. Immediately ashore is its castle, standing proudly in all of its 17-century Planter sobriety it looks more a centrepiece of Scotland than Ireland. There is a lot to take in and the village offers its visitors a range of activities. It has a host of wonderful walks, and golfers will find the welcoming 18 Hole Cairndhu Golf Club, on top of Ballygalley Head to the south of the village, more than attractive. Divers will find the wreck of an 1889 gunboat, SS Thrush, a big attraction. Though the Ballygally Castle building is more impressive from the outside than in, a potential drink with Lady Isobella in the ‘Ballygally Castle Hotel’ dungeon bar has to be tempting.
From a boating point of view, Ballygalley Bay is the first anchorage and settlement to the north of Larne. It provides a place to step out of the run of the current along this coastline, with good protection and holding to the prevailing winds. This is a considerable advantage in this area making it a good place to await a favourable tide or even to overnight in good conditions.
What facilities are available?
Ballygalley now has a new two-storey community centre (funded by the Big Lottery, Larne Borough Council and NER) which includes a Spar shop with some Post Office facilities at ground level and a Community Hall on the first floor.Any security concerns?
Never a problem known to have occurred to a vessel anchored in Ballygalley Bay.With thanks to:
Terry Crawford, local boatman of many decades. Photography with thanks to Kenneth Allen, Mat Tuck, Michael Clarke, Albert Bridge, Richard Webb, Sandra White, Sue Adair, Dave Napier and Phil Sangwell.




This video shows the beach at the head of the bay at dusk
This video shows aerial views of Cairncastle & Ballygally
This video shows aerial views of from Scawt Hill
About Ballygalley Bay
Ballygalley Bay, also spelt Ballygally, derives its name from the Irish words Baile Geithligh. Pronounced bala gehlee this is believed to mean ‘Geithleach’s townland' but the origin of the personal name 'Geithleach' is uncertain and very rare in the area today.
Ballygalley’s history of inhabitation, akin to this entire stretch of coast, goes way back to very ancient times and long before the times of the Geithleach family. A 1990s archaeological excavation of the bay’s low ground, about 500 metres from the shoreline, unearthed the remains of a number of Neolithic houses. The historically important site produced a large number of artefacts, including pottery, worked flints and stone axes.

Though featuring a flourish of design the castle was well capable of defending itself. It had walls five feet thick, including loopholes for muskets, and an open stream running through the outer hall provided water in the event of a siege. During the rebellion of 1641, it served as a place of refuge for the Protestants. The castle came under attack from the Irish garrison at Glenarm several times during the rebellion, but each assault was unsuccessful. It continued to be a point of retreat during the following two centuries and was used as a fortress as late as the 18th Century. Because the castle provided sanctuary for such large numbers of people and saw off so many large-scale attacks in its time, it is now believed that the original building was more extensive than the current remains of the ancient Castle.
During all this time it stayed in the Shaw family until the early 1800s when they lost their lands and wealth. It then passed through several hands taking on many different roles such as a coastguard station, for several years, then a rectory for an extended period, until it was eventually sold to the textile millionaire Mr Cyril Lord in the early nineteen fifties. He refurbished the building and turned it into a hotel that was subsequently purchased by its present owners ‘The Hastings Hotels Group’ in 1966. They have, over the years, undertaken a series of extensive renovation programmes.

The small village of Ballygalley may often be overlooked as a destination. But anyone setting down on its 200-metre long sandy beach will see it has plenty to offer. To the north, up towards the Antrim coast, is the dramatic wall of Antrim with its headlands. To the east, the open sea expands, and beyond it, the low outline of the Scottish coast can be visible. To the south is the distinctive Ballygalley Head with its roadside crag, a village landmark and a favourite with climbers. Inland to the west are the village’s landmark features such as Scawt Hill and Sallagh Braes. Immediately ashore is its castle, standing proudly in all of its 17-century Planter sobriety it looks more a centrepiece of Scotland than Ireland. There is a lot to take in and the village offers its visitors a range of activities. It has a host of wonderful walks, and golfers will find the welcoming 18 Hole Cairndhu Golf Club, on top of Ballygalley Head to the south of the village, more than attractive. Divers will find the wreck of an 1889 gunboat, SS Thrush, a big attraction. Though the Ballygally Castle building is more impressive from the outside than in, a potential drink with Lady Isobella in the ‘Ballygally Castle Hotel’ dungeon bar has to be tempting.
From a boating point of view, Ballygalley Bay is the first anchorage and settlement to the north of Larne. It provides a place to step out of the run of the current along this coastline, with good protection and holding to the prevailing winds. This is a considerable advantage in this area making it a good place to await a favourable tide or even to overnight in good conditions.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Magheramorne Point - 3.5 miles SSEMill Bay - 3.6 miles SE
Ballydowan - 3.4 miles SE
Larne Harbour - 2.8 miles SE
Ferris Bay - 2.4 miles SE
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Glenarm Bay and Harbour - 3.2 miles NWCarnlough Bay and Harbour - 4.4 miles NW
Red Bay Pier (Glenariff Pier) - 7.4 miles NW
Cushendall - 7.7 miles NNW
Cushendun - 9.2 miles NNW
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Ballygalley Bay.





Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
This video shows the beach at the head of the bay at dusk
This video shows aerial views of Cairncastle & Ballygally
This video shows aerial views of from Scawt Hill
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