Tourism

Our two great sea loughs, Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough, have produced great sea farers through the centuries and the maritime heritage still runs strong today.

These two sea inlets await the ocean going sailor and the inshore sailor, the long distance sailor and the weekend sailor - the Foyle, a sheltered haven on the Atlantic coast, and Carlingford Lough, offering refuge on the Irish Sea coast.

Chart of Lough Foyle

The sailor is invited to take time to relax and absorb the beauty of the landscape, gliding across these broad waters framed by mountains, woods, forests spreading over the hills, green pasture, golden grain at harvest, purple heather on the August hilltop, soft grey rocks, sand beach and textured shingle. Such is the beauty of these areas that they have received official recognition of their scenic quality, being within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For those seeking a city break while on their sailing holiday - the waters of each of our sea loughs lap at a city shore!

In Carlingford Lough the Victoria Lock provides access to the city of Newry from the sea by way of the ship canal, a scenic passage between high mountains as far as the quays of the Albert Basin in the centre of Newry.

In Lough Foyle the ancient walled city of Derry (or Londonderry) sits beside a deep-water quay, once the berth of ocean going vessels until operations moved down river. A floating visitor pontoon offers a safe city centre mooring for visiting boats.

The River Foyle is navigable with care upstream of the city centre and makes for a pleasant cruise! Navigation marks are not currently (2012) in place above the bridge. Do note that there are head room restrictions for craft and the river becomes shallow upstream of the city, although tidal as far as Strabane. 

Watch the Explore the Foyle video here.