Practical Guide

Introduction

This practical guide has been designed by local experts to help you make the most of your next trip on the East Coast Canoe Trail. The choices offered by this amazing 70 nautical mile trail can sometimes be overwhelming; you have so many places to explore in so little time. This inside knowledge will make your decision making so much easier.

Planning a Trip

Suitable For:

The East Coast Canoe Trail, approximately 70 nautical miles long, offers more adventure than the mainly low-lying shores and sheltered sea loughs might suggest. Negotiating choppy tide races to visit lighthouse islands and skirting hundreds of small reefs known as pladdies add spice to this journey.

The drama of chalk and basalt cliffs of the east County Antrim coast gives way to a low-lying rocky shore broken by numerous sandy beaches in County Down. The tidal range increases southwards to Strangford Lough. There are optional excursions (for the experienced paddler) out to islands such as the Maidens (County Antrim) and the Copelands (County Down) as well as the sheltered waters of Larne Lough, and the trail also takes you into and across Belfast Lough.

The starting point is at Waterfoot beach south of Cushendall and the route mirrors coastal roads most of the way to end at the turbulent narrows and the attractive village of Portaferry at the mouth of Strangford Lough. There is the choice to paddle the four sections in either direction, southwards as described here, or north. Thus the East Coast Trail offers stretches of relatively easy paddling for the less experienced canoeist and, for the more adventurous, challenging tide races, overfalls and windswept island circuits. Seals, seabirds, an almost 500 million geological time span and a varied human history linked to nearby Scotland add interest to this side of the North Channel and Irish Sea. There is a good range of slipway access points, beach haul-outs and picturesque resting spots.

For inexperienced paddlers wishing to explore this scenic coastline there are several local operators offering guided trips allowing you to enjoy the surroundings whilst the experts look after the rest.

Best for:

Wildlife spotting

You’ll be provided with countless opportunities for wildlife spotting throughout the length of this trail. Whether it be the soaring buzzards south of Glenarm, chance encounters with porpoise, the vast array of bird life at the Gobbins or the seals of the Copeland Islands and Strangford Lough.

The Gobbins

The rugged basalt cliffs between Portmuck and Whitehead are rated by many as the highlight of this trail. The Gobbins is home to a great population of cliff-nesting seabirds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and some puffins. The remains of an adventurous Victorian-built path can be seen along the base of part of these cliffs and it is hoped that this will be restored and re-opened again in the future. In calm conditions, there are also several sea caves worth exploring.

Tidal Information:

The following is a brief overview of the tidal information for the area of coastline covered in this guide. All information is given in relation to High Water Belfast (HWB). Paddlers must refer to the

Irish Coast Pilot, Tidal Stream Atlas or relevant Admiralty Chart for detailed tidal information when journey planning.

Belfast Tide Tables are available free of charge at Port of Belfast

News.bbc.co.uk/weather also provides tidal information with a free 6 day tide prediction service for all UK standard and secondary ports.

The main flood tide runs south through the North Channel along this stretch of the east coast of Northern Ireland

North of Belfast Lough

For the most part tidal streams set in the direction of the coast at a maximum Spring rate of 2 knots. Contrary eddies take effect on flood and/or ebb tides along much of the coastline as follows:

Between Cushendun Bay and Garron Point – during the north-going stream a south-going eddy begins, setting east along the northern shore of Garron Point headland. During the south-going stream a weaker north-going eddy sets in a reverse direction.
Between Garron Point and Ballygally Head - Contrary eddies take effect on both north and south-going tides.
South east of the Isle of Muck, during the greater part of the south-going stream an eddy sets north along the coast, resulting in the north going stream running for 10 ¾ hours. North west of the Isle of Muck an eddy sets south east during the second half of the main north-going stream. A strong tide race runs at the south east end of the island.
Tidal streams set across the entrance to Larne Lough between Skernaghan Point and Black Cave Head . Inside the Lough they set in approximately the direction of the channel. In the vicinity of The Maidens tidal streams are strong (4 kn Springs) and complex.

Belfast Lough

Tidal streams run strongly across the mouth of the Lough but rarely exceed 1 knot Springs within the Lough. Here tides run mainly in the direction of the Lough, however at the mid point, between
Kilroot Point and Grey Point, the stream is rotary in a clockwise direction. On the south shore, east of Grey Point, streams are weak and affected by eddies. Gales blowing into the Lough from the east or south east can be dangerous, resulting in heavy seas.

South of Belfast Lough

With the exception of the Copeland Islands, the tidal streams along the eastern shore of the Ards Peninsula are weak and follow the general direction of the coast. Contrary eddies form along the coastline as follows:

Between Donaghadee and Ballyferris Point an eddy sets north along the coast during the second half of the south-going stream, resulting in the north-going stream running for 9 hrs.
In Ballyhalbert bay a south-going eddy forms in the bay during the second half of the north-going stream. Tidal streams around the Copeland Islands are strong (4.5 knots in Springs) and complex, often producing violent overfalls and very challenging conditions. Two powerful tide races run in turn east and north of the islands, these are the Ram Race and the North Race.
Tidal streams are strong and complex at the entrance to Strangford Lough. Within the Narrows tidal streams begin nearly simultaneously and run at rates up to 7.5 knots in Springs creating boils, whirlpools and challenging paddling conditions.

Tidal Constants

Local HW times in relation to HW Belfast:

Red Bay +0Hr 06 mins

Larne +0Hr 04 mins

Bangor +0Hr 10 mins

Donaghadee +0hr 20 mins

Portavogie +0hr 15 mins

Strangford Quay +1hr 52 mins

Strangford Bar +0hr 16 mins

Itineraries

The CanoeNI team has combined their knowledge with that of many local experts to design a variety of canoeing itineraries to allow you make the most of your next short break or day trip to the East Coast Canoe Trail. These are our favourite itineraries however the glory of this 70 nautical mile trail is that they can be mixed and matched to create an almost infinite number of itineraries.

Useful Info

Visitor Information Centres:

Currency: County Down and County Antrim are in Northern Ireland where Pounds Sterling (GBP) is accepted everywhere in Northern Ireland.

Larne +44(0)28 2826 2945 www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Carrickfergus (Seasonal) +44(0)28 9335 8222 www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Bangor +44(0)28 9127 0069 www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

Newtownards +44(0)28 9182 6846 www.visitstrangfordlough.co.uk

Portaferry (Seasonal) +44(0)28 4272 9882 www.visitstrangfordlough.co.uk

Safety

General Safety

Canoeing is an adventure sport and as such should be treated with respect. If you are new to the sport, it is advisable to join an organised club or take some lessons with a canoeing provider, both options will offer expert coaching.

When participating in canoe sport note should be taken of the following safety advice:

Do not canoe without adequate buoyancy in the form of a personal life jacket or buoyancy aid. Canoe buoyancy should be sufficient to keep the canoe afloat if you capsize
It is recommended not to canoe alone – three boats is the minimum required for most rescues
Remember – a canoe may be difficult to see from a larger craft – carry a whistle
You do not need to be able to swim vast distances but you will need the water confidence to deal with a capsized boat and get ashore safely
Wear adequate clothing, prolonged immersion in cold water leads to hypothermia – hypothermia can kill.
Leave details of your journey with a responsible adult and / or the Coastguard
It is recommended that canoeists consult relevant Maps, Charts and Pilot and obtain up to date information on weather and tides before planning a trip on the sea.
Be aware of other water users such as sailing boats, ferries and commercial shipping. Canoeists should make allowance for the limitations and needs of larger craft that are less maneuverable and may be restricted to deep water channels.
Carry adequate basic safety equipment – spare clothes, extra food, warm drink, form of shelter, First Aid kit, means of communication (VHF Radio, mobile phone), flares, torch and whistle.

East Coast Sea Kayak Trail Specific

Fast ferries operate from Belfast Harbour and Larne Port. These approach very quickly and have a powerful wash. Paddlers should check ferry timetables before setting out and are advised to contact the relevant Port Control when operating within either Belfast Harbour or Port of Larne controlled waters.
Parts of the East Coast Trail, particularly The Maidens, Isle of Muck, Copeland Islands and Strangford, experience extremely powerful tidal currents and should only be tackled by appropriately experienced canoeists.
At busy harbours, canoeists should inform the Harbour Master of their approach.

Winds and Weather

The Shipping Forecast, Inshore Waters Forecast and Coastal Forecast can all be obtained from the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/weather. BBC Radio 4 broadcast a shipping forecast four times daily – 0048hrs, 0520hrs, 1201hrs, 1754hrs. Sea area ‘Irish Sea’

Non-emergency contacts

Police non-emergency (Northern Ireland) 101

Belfast Coastguard non-emergency +44 (0)28 9146 3933

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency - Dial 999 or 112 (from all phones, UK and ROI) to contact Coastguard, police and ambulance. Use VHF Radio Channel 16 to contact Coastguard

Harbour contact details

Carnlough Harbour +44(0)28 2884 1285

+44 (0)7703 60 6763

Larne Port +44(0)28 2887 2100 VHF Channel 14

Carrickfergus Harbour +44(0)28 9336 6666 VHF Channel 37

Belfast Harbour Port Control +44(0)28 9055 3015 VHF Channel12

Bangor Harbour +44(0)28 9145 3297 VHF Channel 37/80/11

Groomsport Harbour +44(0)28 9127 8040 VHF Channel 8

Donaghadee Harbour +44(0)28 9182 6846

Maps, charts and pilot Maps required

Maps required

OSNI Discoverer Map Series 1:50,000 Sheet 5 Ballycastle

OSNI Discoverer Map Series 1:50,000 Sheet 9 Larne

OSNI Discoverer Map Series 1:50,000 Sheet 15 Belfast

OSNI Discoverer Map Series 1:50,000 Sheet 21 Strangford Lough

Other useful maps

OSNI Glens of Antrim Activity Map 1:25,000

OSNI Strangford Lough Activity Map 1:25,000

Admiralty Charts required

No: 2198 North Channel - Southern part

No: 1753 Belfast Lough & Approaches

No: 2159 Strangford Narrows

Other useful Charts - No: 1237 Larne Lough & Approaches

Publications required - UKHO Irish Coast Pilot NP40,

NP218 Tidal Stream Atlas North Coast of Ireland and West Coast of Scotland

Irish Cruising Club: Sailing Directions East and North Coast of Ireland

Earning a welcome

Please be friendly and polite to local residents and other water users.
Drive with care and consideration and park sensibly.
Change clothing discreetly, preferably out of public view.
Gain permission before going on to private property.
Minimise your impact on the natural environment and use recognised access points. There are also many unofficial access points along the coastline, which may be used with the owner’s consent.
Be sensitive to wildlife and other users regarding the level of noise you create.
Observe wildlife from a distance and be aware of sensitive locations such as nesting birds, wintering flock concentrations, seal haul-outs, cetaceans and basking sharks – see www.wisescheme.org for more information.
CAAN supports the principles of Leave No Trace and encourages others to do the same when taking part in outdoor recreation. For more information please visit www.leavenotraceireland.org
Keep the numbers in your party consistent with safety, the nature of the water conditions and the impact on your surroundings.
Wild camping should be carried out discreetly, in small parties, and for overnight stays only.