The North Channel & Galloway cruise

Bangor/Carrickfergus - Portpatrick: 25 nm/28 nm
Portpatrick - Kirkcudbright: 52 nm
Kirkcudbright - Maryport: 25 nm
Maryport - Whitehaven: 12 nm
Whitehaven - Douglas: 44 nm
Douglas - Bangor: 74 nm / Carrickfergus (78nm)

The marina at Kirkcudbright and the harbour at Portpatrick on the Galloway coast provide the visitor with not only a place to visit and enjoy but also as a link for those wanting to cruise to and from the North West of England to Belfast Lough. In addition, there is the option to call en route to Douglas on the Isle of Man on the outward or return leg of a round-trip cruise.

Kirkcudbright
The town of Kirkcudbright dates to the 13th century and in the centre stands the ruins of MacLellan's Castle and the Stewartry Museum that traces local history. Known as 'The Artists' Town' there are galleries, craft-centres, cafes and restaurants on streets with pastel-coloured houses.Take a walk in the gardens of Broughton House which lead down to the banks of the River Dee where the marina is located. The 'Blue Flag' marina offers safe anchorage and is located upriver from the leading mark at Little Ross Lighthouse.The channel is well bouyed although caution should be taken of Frenchman and Sugarloaf rocks in Kirkcudbright Bay.When arriving or departing the pontoons, take heed of swift currents. Access is 3 hours either side of HW tide.The attractive estuary is lined by a wooded shoreline with pleasant coastal walks.

Portpatrick
On the Mull of Galloway, cradled at the foot of rocky cliffs is Portpatrick harbour, facing west across 22 miles of the North Channel. Until 1862, this picturesque old port was the main departure point for the ferry to Donaghadee in Northern Ireland. A chapel is dedicated to St. Patrick, or Padraig in Irish and the word 'port' is Scots Gaelic for harbour. Several festivals are held, one celebrating the saint in March. At the foot of a deep cleft lies the village which is entered through the cliffs giving access into the hills, to the ferry-port of Stranraer eight miles away and the rest of the peninsula. Pubs and restaurants line the harbour and above the village there are hotels with sea views. Up to 60 boats can berth at the small inner harbour, but note that services are somewhat limited.There is good shelter although the narrow entrance can be difficult in strong SW/NW winds and cross tides.

Maryport
With views of Criffel Mountain, Scotland and the Solway Firth, the town of Maryport on England's north-west coast has origins going back to the Hadrian Wall fort of Alauna housed 1,000 soldiers.Take a visit to the Stenhouse Roman Museum. By an act of parliament a harbour was completed in 1857 and the prosperity of the town grew. Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame and Thomas Ismay, founder of the White Star Line, lived in the town. Maryport Maritime Museum is worth a visit. In the Cumbrian town, there are shops, cafes, restaurants and a supermarket.There are rail and bus services to Carlisle and the Lake District which is seven miles away. The marina at the mouth of the River Ellen, is enclosed in an inner harbour at Senhouse Dock, sheltered from all wind directions and set back from the harbour entrance. Berths are on pontoons in the fully serviced marina which has a minimum water level of 1.5m above the gate sill and maintained by the tidal window 3 hours either side of HW.