TNC On Tour Summer 2007 Page 30

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Irish Summer Tour 2007

30 - Belleek to Enniskillen - River Erne, Lower Lough Erne, Kesh River, Upper Lough Erne.

Friday 20th July 2007

Neil set off solo at 07:15, on a dark dreary day. We were out at the big white marker on Crannoges at 08:30, from here we took the markered course (protecting many small islands and rocks) north to Eagle Island / Gubnole Point. We passed marker 61A protecting this point at 09:00, then headed west to Castlecaldwell Jetty, surely the least visited and out of the way jetty on the Lough Erne. The course took us between Buck (to the south) and Coghran's (to the north) Islands. The little jetty was right at the end of this arm (Bleanalung Bay). We stopped for a few minutes to take some pictures (09:30). Amazingly this jetty had a working high pressure water tap.
We were soon off again heading out of the markered channel to Eagle Island / Gubnole Point, then east towards Lusty Beg and Lusty More Islands. These islands are just offshore of another large island - Boa Island, there is no navigable channel behind this island for larger craft. Following the markered course we skirted Boa Island to the north and a series of small islands and rocks to the south before Lusty Beg Island was to the south.
There was a small vehicle chain ferry out to Lusty Beg and we had to wait for this to finish a transit (10:50). Once to the end of Lusty Beg, we followed the markers protecting rocks of the eastern end and rounded the island, keeping between Lusty Beg and Cruninish Island. From here we aimed our course at the visitor moorings on the bottom of Lusty Beg, but did not stop as they claimed to be for visitors to the restaurant. After a twirl in the bay we headed over to the public visitor pontoons on Lusty More Island for a quick stop (11:15 - 11:20).
Our course now took us between the markers protecting rocks of Lusty More and Cruninish Islands, south out into the main body of the lough, from here we headed north east, for the public Jetty at Muckros (12:10). After another of our lightning visits we headed off round Muckros Point, then east into the well markered route into Kesh River. This was a very meandery little river, after passing the small jetty outside town we winded just before the main town pontoons, utilising a small backwater. There was just about room to moor up, hanging over the end of the downstream pontoon, but it would have meant disturbing some fishing kids, so we just reversed back slowly a took our pictures (13:05). The Kesh moorings are just downstream of the town bridge, which had white water under it, so no further passage up there!
Exiting Kesh and heading south is pretty tortuous as there are many rocks off shore, owing to some confusion in marker numbering, we took the safe route out into the centre of the lake and came back into the east shore, by going round Gay Island. From here we headed back between Cleenishgarve Island to the north and Crevinishaughty Island to the south. We passed the visitor moorings on Crevinishaughty Island, then headed to Aghinver, passing and then rounding White Island on the south. The harbour at Aghinver is used by the Aghinver Boat Company, where they run their hire fleet. Further round this bay was the Tom's Island public jetty, opposite the White Island Jetty.
We kept close to the lake shore, then went round Davy's Island, which has a small public jetty. From here we rounded Rossmore Point, passing the large disused commercial jetty, then turned into the approach to Castle Archdale, flanked by a large white cairn marker on the opposite bank. Soon the narrow entrance opened out into the natural harbour of Castle Archdale, again there were private moorings and a few public ones that were full up. After a sweep round the harbour we headed back out at 15:00.
From here we skirted the markers protecting the shallow Dunross Bay, then rounded Dunross Point. Following the shore we passed on the inside of Gaffer Island, then back out close to Owl Island, to miss the shallow area at the entrance to Rossigh. Rossigh public jetty, with its facilities block was deserted. The ideally situated Waterfront restaurant overlooks the Rossigh moorings. We now kept in the channel between the shore and Inish Conra and Inish Davar.
The next jetty we passed was Rossclare, rather curious as markers protected rocks that were very close to the outer jetty. Again we kept close to the shore and entered Rossclare Bay, on the inside of Horse and Hay Islands. The next public harbour is at Inishclare, flanked by the moorings for the Inishclare Chinese restaurant. On the inside shore of Hay Island was the Manor House jetty, Manor House Marine hire base and private marina. Opposite this on Hay Island was the empty public jetty. From here we rounded Hay Island and Gublusk Point, heading back out to the centre of this part of Lower Lough Erne, passing close to Inish Free, Paris Big and Long Islands.
Looking back to the east shore we could see the moorings for the Lough Erne Yacht Club. Dead ahead was St Angelo's church, on the Ardy Beg peninsular, again we headed towards the centre of the lough to round this peninsular, then passed on the eastern inside of White, Ferny, car, Trasna and Devenish Islands. On the lake shore behind Devenish Island was the empty Trory public jetty. Rounding the bottom of Devenish we passed the other public jetty on the island, Devenish East. Finally we were back at the main exit from Lower Lough Erne, so we re-traced our steps back to Enniskillen, where we arrived on the Round "O" jetty at 17:40.
From here we walked into town and you guessed it, sniffed out the Wetherspoon's! Later, walking back from Wetherspoon's we went passed the Forum / Broadmeadow pontoon visitor moorings, amazingly there were a good few free, so after legging it back to the boat we left Round "O" moorings at 20:10 and went upstream to the Forum / Broadmeadow Moorings. We overshot the moorings and went for a twirl round the Erneside Shopping Centre moorings in the small lake, off to the south. We were back at the Forum / Broadmeadow Moorings and tied up at 20:40, for an early night.

Leaving Belleek Harbour.

Leaving Belleek Harbour, heading back up the Erne.

View back of the entrance into Belleek Harbour. River Erne.

River Erne.

A46 Road Bridge. River Erne.

Roscor Viaduct, A46 Road Bridge. River Erne.

Roscor Moorings. River Erne.

Lower Lough Erne. Markered channel round Muckinish. Lower Lough Erne.

Markers protecting rocks off Muckinish. Lower Lough Erne.

The White cairn marker off Rough Island and Crannoges. We take the markered route round to Castlecaldwell. Lower Lough Erne.

View across to The Cliffs Of Magho, rather bleak! Lower Lough Erne.

We keep well clear of the rocks as we go round Gubnagole Point "The Eagle". Lower Lough Erne.

Heading westwards again towards Castlecaldwell. The channel takes us dead ahead, between Buck and Coghran's Islands. Lower Lough Erne.

The channel takes us dead ahead, between Buck and Coghran's Islands. Lower Lough Erne.

Castlecaldwell...yep there is a jetty down there somewhere! Lower Lough Erne.

Castlecaldwell jetty...probably the most remote on Lower Loch Erne.

Castlecaldwell jetty, it has water! Lower Loch Erne.

We have now left Castlecaldwell and heading east along the top of Lower Lough Erne, we approach Boa Islands. This is a telephoto shot of the road bridge across to the island.

We aim for Lusty More and Lusty Beg Islands on the outside (south) of the large Boa Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Heading in between Boa Island and Lusty Beg / Lusty More Islands. Lower Loch Erne.

Telephoto shot of the chain ferry operating between Boa Island and Lusty Beg Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Looking at the un-navigable channel between Lusty Beg and Lusty More Islands. In the distance can be seen the visitor moorings on Lusty More Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Looking back at The Cliffs Of Magho over on the south shore of Lower Loch Erne.

The chain ferry operating between Boa Island and Lusty Beg Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Looking back at the chain ferry operating between Boa Island and Lusty Beg Island. Lower Loch Erne.

The moorings for the restaurant on Lusty Beg Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Heading away (east) from the moorings on Lusty Beg Island. Croninish Island ahead. Lower Loch Erne.

Looking back at the moorings on Lusty Beg Island. Lower Loch Erne.

The moorings on Lusty More Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Looking down the main body of Lower Lough Erne, south-east wards.

The moorings on Lusty More Island. Lower Loch Erne.

Heading eastwards, rounding Croninish Island and Screagan Island. Lower Lough Erne.

We head along the north of Lower Lough Erne and make for Muckros public jetty. Lakeland Marine to the left.

Heading into Kesh, up the markered channel to the Kesh River. Lower Lough Erne.

Looking back from the Kesh River.

Kesh River.

The out of town Kesh River moorings.

The moorings in Kesh.

Heading out, round the rocks to get into Aghinver. Lower Lough Erne.

We go round all the rocks, so come in round Gay Island (left / north). Lower Lough Erne.

The rocks off Gay Island. Lower Lough Erne.

Looking back at Gay Island. Lower Lough Erne.

Heading eastwards we pass Crevinishaughy jetty, on Crevinishaughy Island. Lower Lough Erne.

Aghinver. Lower Lough Erne.

Tom's Island jetty. Lower Lough Erne.

Moorings on White Island. Lower Lough Erne.

Heading round the back of Inishmore, or Davy's Island. Dead ahead are the slip way and dock associated with the World War 2 Castle Archdale Flying boat base. A Catalina flying boat from here spotted the Bismarck. Lough Erne.

Heading round the back of Inishmore, or Davy's Island. The barge is Fred Share's "galleon", the Newforge, formerly a sister ship of Brian Goggin's Knocknagow in the Dowleys fleet. The barge is moored beside the Castle Archdale Flying boat dock. Lower Lough Erne.

Heading round the back of Inishmore, or Davy's Island. Davy's Island moorings. Lower Lough Erne.

Heading round Davy's Island we aim for Castle Archdale Harbour. Disused pier on the left. Lower Lough Erne.

Entering Castle Archdale Harbour. Lower Lough Erne.

Castle Archdale moorings. Lower Lough Erne.

Leaving Castle Archdale. Lower Lough Erne.

Heading into Rossigh, round the markers protecting shallow water of the entrance. Looking back westwards to the Cliffs Of Magho. We went inside of Gaffer Island, the nearest one visible. Lower Lough Erne.