Red Bay: High water is 20 minutes after high water at Belfast
Carnlough: High water is 9 minutes after high water at Belfast
Off Balintoy and Sheep Island: The tidal streams are strong close to shore by the Harbour and to the north of Sheep Island.
Eddy south of Sheep Island: An eddy forms behind Ballintoy point on the east-going flow. The eddy runs strongly between Sheep Island and the mainland.
North west corner of Carrickarede: A race forms here. It can be avoided by paddling inshore of the island under the rope bridge - the passage being possible in all but the bottom third of the tide.
Carrickarade Island to Kinbane Head: The flow is likely continuously to the east along this section of coastline. Overfalls form off Kinbane head and around Carrickmannanon Rock
Rathlin Sound, between Kinbane Head and Church Bay: The east south-east going stream begins at 6 hours before high water at Belfast. The west north-west going stream begins at 30 minutes before high water at Belfast.
Ballycastle Bay: The flow between Fair Head and Kinbane Head is affected by eddies: An eddy forms here, with the following flows: The east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Belfast. The west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Belfast.
East of Fair Head: The north-east going stream begins at at high water at Belfast. The south-west going stream begins at 6 hours before high water at Belfast. Overfalls form at the head from 4 and half hours to 1 and a half hour before high water at Belfast and again from 2 and a half hours after to 4 and a half hours after high water at Belfast.
Rathlin Sound: Between Fair Head and Rue Point: The east going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The west going stream begins at 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The flow reaches a speed of 6 knots at springs. Overfalls form across the sound from 3 and half hours before to 1 and a half hour before high water at Belfast. The flows are complex, consult the tidal stream atlas from the UKHO or (bettter) in the yachting pilot.
Rathin Areas: The tidal streams around Rathlin are complex and run very quickly in places, causing overfalls. Consult a tidal stream atlas. One atlas is published by the UKHO, and available on the Visit My Harbour site. Another can be found in the yachting pilot 'East and North Coasts of Ireland Sailing Directions'.
Rathlin Church Bay: Within the Bay, around halfway between Rue Point and The Bull: The east south-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Belfast. The west north-west going stream begins at 2 hours before high water at Belfast. See tidal atlas for details
Rathlin Bull Point to Sroanderrig: The east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Belfast. The west going stream begins at 2 hours before high water at Belfast. A race forms at Bull Point around 2 hours before high water at Belfast.
North coast of Rathlin: From Bull Point to Altacarry Head: The flow runs continuously east. There is a brief period of slack around high water at Belfast.
Altacarry Head: The flow along the north coast of Rathlin runs east continuously, whilst the flow along the east coast runs continuously north. Where these meet at Altacarry Head, there is turbulence and overfalls - the Macdonnell Race. These are strong from 4 and a half hours before to half an hour before high water at Belfast and again from half an hour after to 5 and a half hours after high water at Belfast. It is best to pass the Head at slack water.
East coast of Rathlin: From Maddygalla to Altacarry Head: The flow is almost continuously north-going, with a period of slack around 6 hours after/before high water at Belfast. It is possible to paddle south against the tide, unlike on the north coast, making a clockwise circumnavigation of Rathlin the better option.
Inshore, close east of Rue Point: The flow is affected by eddies: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The south-west going stream begins at at high water at Belfast. See tidal atlas.
West of Rue Point: The east south-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Belfast. The west north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The flow is affected by eddies behind the point. The flow is slack around high water at Belfast. Overfalls form at the point between 5 and half hours before and 3 and a half hours before high water at Belfast and again from half an hour after high water at Belfast to 3 hours after. Flow at the point can be turbulent and a whirlpool 'Slough-na-more' forms south-west of the Point from 1 and a half hours to 2 and a half hours after high water at Belfast. See tidal stream atlas for more details.
Rathlin Harbour to Rue Point: The stream runs south from 1 hour after to 6 hours before high water at Belfast. Outside of these times, the stream along this coast is likely slack or slowly south-going.
Rathlin Harbour to Sroanderrig: The flow along the south facing cost of Rathin runs constantly to the west as far as Sroanderrig point.
East of Fair Head: The flow here runs continuously west due to eddies forming behind the Head on the east-going stream. The flow is slack from 6 hours after high water at Belfast to 5 hours before.
Between Torr Head and Far Head: An eddy forms here, with the following flows: The east south-east going stream begins at 6 hours and 10 minutes before high water at Belfast. The west north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Belfast. This eddy is weak when it starts flowing north-west, but it becomes stronger until by 1 hour and 45 minutes
before high water at Belfast, it extends across the east end of Rathlin Sound.
Eddy at Torr Head: Due to eddies on the south-east going flow, the tidal streams at Torr Head, and from Torr Head to Fair Head, run continuously to the north-west. Some reports suggest that the stream may run up to 9 knots. Overfalls form at Torr Head.
Off Torr Head: Around 1 mile off the Head: The south south-east going stream begins at 6 hours and 15 minutes before high water at Belfast. The north north-west going stream begins at 5 minutes before high water at Belfast. The south south-east going stream reaches a speed of 4.5 knots at springs. The north north-west going stream reaches a speed of 4.6 knots at springs.
Between Tornamoney Point and Runnabay Head.: The south going stream begins at 5 hours and 50 minutes after high water at Belfast. The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The south going stream reaches a speed of 3.3 knots at springs. The north going stream reaches a speed of 3.9 knots at springs. The few is affected by inshore eddies in Cushenden Bay.
Cushendun to Cushendall: An eddy forms here, with the following flows: The south going stream begins at 3 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Belfast. The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Belfast.
Between Garron Point and Cushendall: An eddy forms here, with the following flows: The south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Belfast. The north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Belfast. The flow runs across Red Bay from Limerick point, then flows east to Garron Point. There is little flow inshore of this within Red Bay, especially in depths of less than 10m. The north going flow is weaker than the south-going flow.
Garron Point: The south south-east going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Belfast. The north north-west going stream begins at at high water at Belfast. It is unclear how the flow at the Point is affected by the eddies that operate to the north and south.
Ballycastle: High water at Ballycastle occurs 4 hours and 40 minutes before Belfast at springs, 1 hour and 55 minutes before Belfast at neaps.
Rathlin: High water at Rathlin is 4 hours and 45 minutes before Belfast a springs, 2 hours before at neaps.
Carrickmore: A very quiet camping spot.
Ballintoy: (NR 224 032) g Harbour with two slipways and access to the beach to the west. Parking by the harbour, some of which is height restricted. Toilets. Can be busy in summer.
Ballycastle Harbour: (NW 303 985) g Plenty of parking in several car parks. Access likely easiest at the slip by Morton's fish and chip shop to keep out the way of the Rathlin Ferry. If in doubt, ask at the harbour office / visitor's centre - the staff here were very helpful.
Ballycastle beach: (NW 314 983) g Car parks with paths down to beach.
Murlough Bay: (NW 379 987) g Rocky landing close to a National Trust car park at the end of the public road. The road to the east of here is private, but at low water a beach forms by the cottages at the end, which might provide an easier landing, being careful not to disturb those that live there.
Torr Head: (NW 414 964) g There is a small parking area by a gate on top of the head. From here boats might be carried 250m down to a slipway by some cottages.
Cushendun: (NW 425 887) g Car park just to the north of the river mouth, at the south end of the beach. Access to both beach and harbour slipway.
Cushendall Beach: (NW 413 842) g Parking area near the road end by a play area, with a short carry to the beach.
Cushendall Dalrida: (NW 414 837) g Small harbour with slipway, near roadside parking.
Cushendall RNLI: (NW 414 832) g Car park near the lifeboat station and slipway. May be a charge, around £3, to launch.
Waterfoot beach north: (NW 410 817) g Large car parks with height barriers and toilets. 40m carry to the beach.
Waterfoot beach south: (NW 416 808) g Car park with height barrier by picnic areas and play park. Adjacent to beach.
Waterfoot 'Game of Thrones' layby: (NW 426 809) g Lay-by and picnic area, access to sea by a short scramble down a steep bank, no height barriers.
Garron Road lay-by: (NW 434 810) g Lay-by, east of Waterfoot, with access to the sea.
Carnlough harbour: (NW 450 739) g Parking area to north end of harbour, with slipway nearby. May be a small charge to launch.
Carnlough Beach: (NW 450 725) g Car park by beach with height barrier. Outside the height barrier there is a large lay-by.