White Strand Bay is a wide sandy horseshoe shaped inlet open to the south, situated to the east of Malin Beg Head and Malin Beg Bay, off the North Atlantic Ocean between Carrigan Head and Malin Beg Head, on the west coast of Ireland. It offers a temporary anchorage in pretty surroundings close to a superb sandy beach which is suitable for a dinghy landing.

Although more exposed than its western neighbour, White Strand Bay affords tolerable shelter in light offshore winds that have a northern quadrant, and the access is straightforward when unaffected by weather or tidal considerations.

It is advisable to use this anchorage only in fine settled weather conditions.

Keyfacts for White Strand Bay

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 39.742' N, 008° 46.548' W

this is the position at the anchorage in White Strand Bay.

What is the initial fix?

this is the position in the North Atlantic Ocean midway between Carrigan Head and Rathlin O'Birne Island.

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How to get in?

The 'Erris Head to Malin Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northeast bound sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southwest bound sequence; western approaches may use either description.

From Malin Beg Head to Carrigan Head, a distance of 4.5 miles southeast, the northern shore on the approach to Donegal Bay is bordered by cliffs with Slieve League mountains rising above them.

White Strand Bay known locally as The Silver Strand, Irish : Tra Ban, is entered between the east entrance point of its western neighbour Malin Beg Bay and Rossarrell Point, and is more exposed than Malin Beg Bay. Access is straightforward and it affords a tolerable temporary anchorage in about 5 metres depth in light offshore winds from the northwest through north to northeast. Anchor in very pretty surroundings in the middle of the bay east of the rock stack that might be covered at high tide.

Why visit here?

White Strand Bay is useful as a temporary anchorage for a lunch stop in picturesque surroundings on a coastal passage before entering the inner part of Donegal Bay or before rounding Malin Beg Head making for Gweebarra Bay and Aranmore Island, but it is advisable to only use it in really fine weather.

White Strand Bay is known locally as The Silver Strand, Irish : An Tra Ban, and is the next inlet situated to the east of Malin Beg Bay and is easily reached by descending hundreds of stone steps down the verdant cliffs from the nearby village of Malin Beg. The Silver Strand is a crescent shaped stretch of sandy beach which is considered to be one of the finest beaches in Ireland.

The small village of Malin Beg, Irish : Malainn Beag, is 0.25 mile up from the beach and has a mini supermarket food store, and under the same ownership a de-luxe Hostel used by many hill walkers and particularly by rock climbers who come to scale nearby Slieve League whose marine cliffs are the highest in Europe rising 600 metres above the Ocean. Killybegs, 12 miles along the coast to the east would be a better location if major restocking of provisions is required.

There are no facilities at this location, except for the shop in Malin Beg, but the head of the bay is suitable for swimming, and on a fine day the flat beach is great for a spot of sun bathing or games.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities at this location except for the shop at Malin Beg, and the opportunity for swimming in the bay or sun bathing on the beach.

A local community bus service runs return trips to Killbegs and Donegal Town three times a week that calls at Malin Beg, for details tel. no. 074 9738913

With thanks to:

inyourfootsteps.com site research.