Adrigole, Co. Cork, is a beautiful anchorage of the Beara Peninsula on the southwest coast of Ireland and is located on the north side of Bantry Bay approximately three miles east of Bearhaven. It offers excellent all-round protection but may be uncomfortable in heavy southerly conditions with other nearby locations offering better protection.

The anchorage is not large and the entry, at Pointamore Point, is only 400 metres wide. Once past the entrance, the harbour opens out but is obstructed by a low islet called Orthon Island that lies in the middle of the harbour and its surrounding rocky outcrops reaching out a distance of 200 metres. However, when rounded, it is this island that offers protection from southerly conditions. Sea entry from Bantry Bay is easy and unobstructed and you may enter at any stage of the tide. Due to the rocky outcrops extending to the north, west and south sides of the island, and with more rocks extending north-northeast of the eastern shore, careful daytime navigation is required in Adrigole and a vessel should not enter at night.

There are mussel rafts on the west side of the entrance but as the west side is obstructed and the anchorage is on the east side of the bay they may be left to port and present no problem to navigation. One should also note that in heavy westerly or northerly conditions you can experience very heavy squalls coming down from the Caher Mountains to the north of the harbour.

Keyfacts for Adrigole

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 41.030' N, 009° 43.122' W

Approximately 300 metres northeast of Orthon Island in 3.4 metres.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 300 metres south east of the entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Adrigole is a scattered village strung approximately 9 km along the north-western shore of Bantry Bay on the scenic south coast of the Beara Peninsula. Adrigole Harbour is entered ½ a mile northeast of Bulliga Point. It is a beautiful inlet that provides a sheltered anchorage for leisure craft. Looming over it is Hungry Hill (687m, 2,253 ft) with two rock-girt lakes which feed a cascade.

Use southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head for approaches to and the run-up Bantry Bay. Access to the entrance from Bantry Bay is unimpeded. The harbour is situated approximately 400 metres northeast of Bulliga Point on the west side and Pointamore on the east.

Favour the east side of the bay on entry as the channel leads to the east of Orthon’s Islet. Keep mid-channel between the islet and the east shore as unmarked foul ground extends 200 metres south of Orthon Island and likewise north-northeast and the east shore.

The preferred anchorage areas are to the east of Orthon Island or further to the north in the centre of the bay. Keep 200 metres north of the island to avoid off-lying northern outcrops and entirely avoid the area between the west side of the island and the bay’s western shore as it is completely obstructed. The northern shore of the harbour dries out.

Take best shelter from the current wind direction when anchoring, where the bottom in all cases is soft sand and mud offering excellent holding.

Eight seasonal visitor moorings are available in position 51 41.000N 09 43.000 W. The 15 tons rated moorings are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR. A daily charge of €7.50 may be levied.

There is a stone and concrete pier on the eastern shore directly across from Orthon’s Islet. The north side of the pier has the greater depth.

Why visit here?

Adrigole, (Irish: Eádargoil, meaning between two inlets) is a scattered village with a sparsely distributed population of about 450 people strung along the head of a lovely inlet.

It is loomed over by Hungry Hill (687m, 2,253 ft) which is the highest of the Caher range which forms the spine of the peninsula. Hungry Hill is the highest of the Caha range which forms the spine of the peninsula, and gave its name to Daphne du Maurier's novel about the local copper-mining barons of the 19th century. There is also Adrigole Mountain and the Healy Pass (334m) nearby.


The area is located in the county of Cork, with a border to County Kerry to the north. Its chief industries are farming and fishing, however much of the population is employed in other services and in state employment. As it is located on the main Cork to Castletownbere road, its infrastructure is relatively good.

This is one of the most beautiful anchorages on the west coast of Ireland and an excellent night stop. It is well protected in bad weather - however, if you are expecting very heavy southerly conditions, Lawrence’s Cove, just to the west, on Bear Island would be better.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities in this remote bay. It has a sparsely distributed population of about 450 people. The village has a shop known locally as "Peg's Shop" which also offers certain postal services, such as the purchase of stamps and mailing of letters, and there are also four pubs. A sea training school for sail and power boats operates from the pier on the east side of the Harbour.

These are all available on the road on the north side of the bay but that’s a dingy ride at high water and a short walk across the fields. Supplies can be obtained from the village of Drumlave ¾ of a kilometre to the east of the pier.

Adrigole is centred around the junction of the R572 regional road with the R574 on the main Cork to Castletownbere (approximately 15 kilometres) road. The proximity to the town of Castletownbere makes other services such as banking easily available. The nearest airport is Cork Airport.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Adrigole.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photography with thanks to Eileen Henderson, Phillip Halling and Andrew Wood.

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