Belfast Lough
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Belfast Lough (Loch Lao or Loch Laoigh in Irish) is a large, natural intertidal sea lough situated at the mouth of the River Lagan on the east coast of Northern Ireland. The inner part of the lough comprises a series of mudflats and lagoons. The outer lough is restricted to mainly rocky shores with some small sandy bays. Belfast Lough is the gateway for Belfast to the Irish Sea.
Belfast Lough is a long, wide and deep expanse of water, virtually free of strong tides, lying between Orlock Point and Blackhead, extending westwards to the Port of Belfast. It is ideal as a stopping-off point on Irish Sea passages. For racing sailors, this is a competitor's dream, giving 30 square miles (78 km²) of open water and enough coastline to make short inshore races day long affairs. Three main arteries serve the lough close to Belfast: the Herdman Channel on the County Antrim coast side; the Victoria Channel, the central and longest route; and the Musgrave Channel on the County Down side.
Coastal towns include Holywood, Bangor and Carrickfergus. Holywood and Bangor are situated on the southern side of the lough in Down, whilst Carrickfergus, which boasts a 12th-century Norman castle, is on the northern side in Antrim. On older maps of Ireland, made before Belfast grew to be a city, the lough was referred to as Carrickfergus Lough.
Popular for sailing, the lough has two marinas: one at Bangor, the other located in Carrickfegus. Belfast docks at the head of a lough contain the famous shipbuilder of the RMS Titanic fame, Harland & Wolff, now no longer a great shipbuilding company but one that has shed most of its workforce and diversified into repairing and refitting large tankers and oilrigs. Coastguard offices for the lough, although referred to as Belfast Coastguard, are located in the town of Bangor by the marina.
The lough hosts two Royal Yacht Clubs. One at Cultra just outside Holywood, The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, and the Royal Ulster based from Bangor. There are also several other clubs spread around the lough: Ballyholme Yacht Club, Carrickfergus Sailing Club, Cockle Island Boat Club, County Antrim Yacht Club, Donaghadee Sailing Club and Holywood Yacht Club
[edit] Belfast Lough Nature Reserve
The reserve is situated within the Belfast Harbour Estate on the shores of Belfast Lough. The RSPB manages some mudflats in Belfast Lough, together with an area of grassland with a pool and ditch complex near Belfast City Airport, and a lagoon with a hide and viewpoints. The mudflats are important feeding areas for a variety of wading birds and wildfowl. At high tide, flocks of wading birds, such as Redshank, Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits, can be seen from the hide and viewing points.
