Roundstone Bay
53°23.7'N 009°58.8'W · Roundstone (Connemara) (0.5nm)
2–5m
Depth
Good
Holding
75m
Alarm radius
Low
Crowd level
Roundstone is the quietest and most characterful anchorage in Connemara — a small, unspoiled fishing village on the south shore of a sheltered bay between Errisbeg mountain and the offshore Aran Islands. The village is renowned as home to the only traditional bodhran (Irish frame drum) maker in Ireland (Roundstone Musical Instruments, where Malachy Kearns has made bodhráns for 40 years) and has a small concentration of artist studios and excellent seafood restaurants. The Twelve Pins of Connemara rise dramatically to the north, and the view from the bay at sunset is one of the most beautiful in the west of Ireland. A perfect escape from the more visited anchorages.
Best Months
Anchor Zones
Roundstone Bay — inner harbour anchorage
Good2–5m · Alarm: 75m
Anchor in 2–4m (CD) in the sheltered inner bay off Roundstone village, clear of local moorings and the pier. Sand and mud — good holding. The Errisbeg mountain (300m) and the surrounding headlands give shelter from E through S. Exposed to the open Atlantic from W/NW — Atlantic swell enters in westerly conditions. Tidal range approximately 3.0–3.5m springs. A small, beautiful anchorage with excellent local character.
Setting Your Anchor Alarm
75m radius for the inner bay. With 3.5m tidal range at springs, HW depths reach 5.5–8.5m. The W/NW exposure means this anchorage is weather-dependent for overnight stays. In settled E or S conditions it is a superb overnight stop. Atlantic swell from the NW can enter even in light winds — monitor swell forecasts carefully.
Recommended radius: 75m
Hazards & Warnings
- !Atlantic swell from W/NW enters in westerly conditions — not suitable for overnight in sustained westerlies; monitor Windy.com swell layer
- !Rocks and shoals approaching from the W — approach only from the N or NE with large-scale chart (Admiralty 2096); do not approach from W without local knowledge
- !Tidal range 3.0–3.5m springs — drying areas near the shore at LW
- !Limited provisions — no fuel; basic food shop only; provision at Clifden (10nm N) before arriving
Skipper's Tips
- ✓Visit Roundstone Musical Instruments (the bodhran workshop) in the old Franciscan monastery — Malachy Kearns has been making traditional bodhráns here since the 1970s; absolutely unique
- ✓O'Dowd's Restaurant is one of the finest seafood experiences in the west of Ireland — book ahead in summer; the lobster and crab are exceptional
- ✓Walk to the summit of Errisbeg (300m, 1 hour return from the village) for outstanding views over the bay and the Twelve Pins
- ✓Clifden (10nm N by road, 7nm by sea) is the nearest full provisioning stop with fuel and a good supermarket
Facilities
Anchoring Rules
- Permit:
- Not required
- Fee:
- Free
- Restrictions:
- Clear of local fishing boat moorings and the pier approach. Respect the local fishing community. Special Area of Conservation — anchor on sand/mud only; avoid rocky reef areas.
Sleep Safely at Roundstone Bay
Set your anchor alarm to 75m. UK tidal ranges mean your boat swings — Safe Anchor Alarm keeps watch through the night.
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