Carnlough Bay Boat Tours

A small-boat trip along the Antrim coast

You sail aboard 'Curiosity', a converted ship's lifeboat skippered by local fisherman Davy Smyth, carrying a maximum of 12 passengers. The standard outing runs around 30-45 minutes across Carnlough Bay to the Black Rock, with views of the cliffs and the Glencloy and Glenarm valleys from the water. You may see dolphins, seals, porpoises and seabirds, and binoculars are provided, but sightings are never guaranteed. Longer charters head north past Tommy's Port to Ringfad, site of the 1827 shipwreck 'Enterprise of Lynn', while a four-hour trip reaches the Maidens islets and their working lighthouse when tides and weather allow. The skipper shares the story of Carnlough's fishermen as you go.

Skippered boat trip Leaves Carnlough Harbour ~30-45 min standard Mar-Sept, daily Seals & dolphins possible Book ahead

Good to know before you go:

Operators like this add charters, special and longer excursions through the season, but sailings are seasonal and weather- and tide-dependent, so check their own pages for current sailings, dates and prices.

What to bring

🧥Warm, windproof layersIt is always cooler and breezier out on the water — dress for it.

🧢A waterproofA bit of sea spray is all part of the adventure.

📷A cameraFor the wildlife, the coast and the castles seen from the sea.

🎫Your bookingMost trips need booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.

Everything before you go

Type

Skippered sightseeing boat trip (converted ship's lifeboat, max 12 passengers)

Departs from

Carnlough Harbour, Carnlough

Duration

Standard trip approx 30-45 min; longer charters and a four-hour Maidens excursion on request

What you may see

Possible dolphins, seals, porpoises and seabirds; Black Rock, Garron Point, Ringfad, the Maidens islets and lighthouse (wildlife never guaranteed)

Season

Daily approx March to September in daylight hours; weather- and tide-dependent

Booking

Recommended; online booking via the operator's site

Cost

Check current prices with the operator

Suitable for

Not confirmed - check young-child suitability and wheelchair access with the operator

Parking

Not confirmed - check with the operator (harbour-side parking in Carnlough village)

Address

Carnlough Harbour, Carnlough, County Antrim

Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?

Recommended; online booking via the operator's site

How much is it?

Check current prices with the operator

How long is the trip?

Standard trip approx 30-45 min; longer charters and a four-hour Maidens excursion on request

What might we see?

Possible dolphins, seals, porpoises and seabirds; Black Rock, Garron Point, Ringfad, the Maidens islets and lighthouse (wildlife never guaranteed)

When does it run?

Daily approx March to September in daylight hours; weather- and tide-dependent

Getting there

Carnlough Bay Boat Tours departs from Carnlough Harbour, Carnlough. Not confirmed - check with the operator (harbour-side parking in Carnlough village). Tap below for directions to the departure point.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around CarnloughSee what else is close by More boat trips across NISea, lough and river cruises

The story

About the trip

Carnlough Bay Boat Tours is run by local fisherman Davy Smyth aboard 'Curiosity', a converted ship's lifeboat fitted with lifejackets and binoculars. From the small County Antrim harbour at Carnlough you head out across the bay to the Black Rock, with the skipper sharing the past and present of the village's fishermen as you go.

Longer trips run north past Tommy's Port to Ringfad, where the West Indiaman 'Enterprise of Lynn' foundered in 1827 with a cargo of gold and silver said never to have been recovered, while a four-hour excursion reaches the Maidens islets and their working lighthouse when tides and weather permit.