Reviews of Drumaheglis Marina & Caravan Park, Ballymoney
Review by David Lynn on 17th February, 2009
Add your review Date visited: Resident
This is a nice little marina with lots of potential. It's just unfortunate that the managing borough council fail to exploit it.
It's the little things, such as closing the toilets during the 'winter' months, being unavailable to make general repairs and the lack of any cafe or restaurant that detracts from, what could be the best marina in the inland waterways system.
Having said that, the summer months are well managed and every penny of revenue is squeezed out of anyone who dares venture near the pontoons or tows a caravan near it. As a result most visiting boats bypass the marina and stay, either in the lock basins or continue to Coleraine marina.
Coleraine marina is expertly managed all year round and the Master there is extremely helpful, dedicated and generally outstanding at his job. It also has 24hr cover including, toilets, showers, bunkering station, lifting and cleaning and an engineering service available upon request.
As a boat owner my advice, in general, is to avoid bringing your boat into the non-tidal stretch of the River Bann unless you are familiar with the treacherous nature of its navigation. There are unpredictable shoals and many a submerged floater to damage your propellers. Any advice on the river navigation can be gained from Water Ways Ireland, but your best bet is to call the lock keepers directly as they are infinitely more knowledgeable than the office gimps in the WWI Enniskillen headquarters.
It is also worth checking the weather forecast if you intend to stay for longer than a couple of days. If it rains there is every chance the Rivers Agency will force the closure of navigation at Coleraine, effectively trapping you in the river. Not a good situation.
Any way....have fun.
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