Blackwater Tide Clock

Blackwater sits a little inland from the Wexford coast, close to long sandy strands that run from Ballyconnigar towards Curracloe and Raven Point. From the village, small roads and lanes lead out through fields and low hills to beaches backed by tall dunes, where soft sand, marram grass and changing light define the shoreline. To the south, the coast looks towards Curracloe and Ballinesker, famous for their wide, white strands and the filming of “Saving Private Ryan”, while to the north the dunes and low cliffs feel wilder and more exposed. Walking routes like the Blackwater forest trail link the village to sea views, giving glimpses of the coast before dropping down towards quieter stretches of beach.

This area draws walkers, swimmers, anglers and families who come for long, easy days on the sand and evenings in nearby Wexford town or the local villages. The coast also appeals to birdwatchers and nature lovers, with dunes, forest and farmland meeting along this part of the Irish Sea. The Blackwater Wexford tide clock brings this landscape together on its face, so each move of the hand mirrors the hidden pull of the tides along the beaches, dunes and headlands.

What is a tide clock?

A tide clock is a device that tells you if the tide is high or low, and how much time is left before it changes. It works by synchronising with the lunar cycle, which influences the tides. The tide clock has a single hand that rotates once every 12 hours and 25 minutes, which is the average time between two high tides or two low tides. The dial of the tide clock is divided into sections that indicate the state of the tide: high, low, rising, or falling. By looking at the position of the hand, you can tell what the tide is doing and how long it will take to change.

Why use a tide clock?

A tide clock can help you plan your activities around Blackwater, Wexford by letting you know when the water is high enough or low enough for your preferred activity. For example, if you want to swim, you might want to avoid low tide, when the water is shallow and cold, and the mudflats are exposed. If you want to fish, you might want to avoid high tide, when the water is deep and fast, and the fish are dispersed. Going sailing, surfing, or kayaking? You might want to choose a time when the tide is rising or falling, which creates more favourable conditions for these sports. If you want to walk along the shore, you might want to choose a time when the tide is low, which reveals more of the beach and the wildlife.

What is a marine chart?

A marine chart is a map of the sea and shoreline that shows water depths, hazards, and features you can use to understand the geography and infrastructure of a coastal location. It uses symbols and numbers to show how deep the water is at different places, where rocks, sandbanks, or wrecks are, and where channels are safer for boats. The chart marks landmarks on land—like lighthouses, piers, and headlands—so you can match what you see to the map.

What are the details of the Blackwater tide clock?

• 260 mm x 260 mm and 45mm deep. (10″ x 10″ x 1.75″)
  
• Heavy duty professionally printed canvas.
• Solid-wood frame. Select from either black or white.
• Real glass
  
• Delivered in a presentation box with “Who knows what the tide may bring” printed on it.

The Blackwater  tide clock contains full instructions on how to set and how to read a tide clock.

This is not a navigation device.