Official tourism website for Northern Ireland
En

Down Cruising Club / Lightship

52 Ballydorn Road (near Sketrick Island), Whiterock, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6QB
The Lightship

Book Tickets Online

About

Ballydorn is located upon the northeast coast of Ireland, upon Strangford Lough’s western shore and to the west of Rainey Island. It is a beautiful and popular mooring ground with short stay pontoons attached to a permanently moored lightship that is a sailing club headquarters.

The Sound offers complete protection from all conditions. However it is somewhat exposed to strong northerly winds where it may be a little uncomfortable.

Normal navigation is required when traversing any of Lough’s eighty square nautical miles of shallow basin. The Lough is a completely enclosed waterway but there are a number of drying patches and shoals known as pladdies, some of which uncover whilst others never appear, throughout the Lough. When these are near a principal boating channel or route they are typically marked by poles or beacons. Currents are another complicating factor of the inner Lough. Although not as strong as in the ‘Narrows’ they do not run true in the Lough and tend to take a vessel off course. All of which necessitate some attention to navigation and detailed chart work in daylight.

The tides to the west and north of Rainey Island are exceptional, in fact not unlike ‘The Narrows’ further south. Currents reach speeds of 5 knots when forced through the locked channels between these drumlin islands and as such tidal planning should be central to any planned visit to Ballydorn.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Establishment Features

  • Showers
  • Toilets

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking

Add Down Cruising Club / Lightship to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel+44 (0) 28 9754 1663

Map & Directions

What's Nearby

  1. Sketrick Castle is located on Sketrick Island which is reached by a causeway on the west…

    0.36 miles away
  2. Nendrum is thought to have been set up by St Machaoi in the 5th Century and also has…

    0.68 miles away
  3. This ruined Tower House commands a position at the north end of Mahee Island in…

    0.85 miles away
  4. The Livingston Centre at Killinchy Parish Church is a local heritage centre. It tells the…

    1.35 miles away
  5. WWT Castle Espie is an extraordinary day out for the whole family. Escape the everyday,…

    3.22 miles away
  6. The Lookout is a wildlife interpretative centre, showcasing the wildlife around the…

    4.75 miles away
  7. Mount Stewart is a stunning estate in the beautiful scenic area of Strangford Lough. The…

    4.8 miles away
  8. Grey Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey church and its living quarters were founded in 1193 by…

    5.22 miles away
  9. Situated in The Square in Comber, it was erected in 1845 to commemorate the bravery of…

    5.5 miles away
  10. Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church was built on a site donated by James Andrews…

    5.68 miles away
  11. Discover how Echlinville Distillery captures the flavour, colour and mouthfeel of their…

    6.04 miles away
  12. The Centre consists of a small museum, numerous displays, a science education area, a…

    6.15 miles away
  13. The gallery seeks to promote quality Irish art in a relaxed atmosphere and displays a…

    6.48 miles away
  14. This charming park is situated around the upper slopes and top of Scrabo Hill, near the…

    6.51 miles away
  15. At the top of Scrabo Hill, overlooking Strangford Lough and the whole of North Down, is…

    6.69 miles away
  16. At the south east edge of Newtownards these substantial remains of a Dominican (Black)…

    7.15 miles away

Virtual Tour

Map & Directions

Back to Top

Tourism Northern Ireland

Don't Miss