Maharees Tide Clock

Maharees is a long, low sandy spit that stretches out from the north side of the Dingle Peninsula, separating Brandon Bay from Tralee Bay. For most of its length it is made up of dunes and wide beaches, so the sea lies on both sides and the skyline feels open and wild. At the northern end, small settlements like Fahamore and Kilshannig gather around Scraggane Bay, with views out to Rough Point and the Seven Hogs (Magharee Islands) just offshore. Inland, Mount Brandon and the hills of the peninsula rise behind the sand, so you get a mix of ocean, mountains and big sky wherever you look.

This coastline is famous for water sports and long beach days. Surfers, windsurfers and kiteboarders come for the Atlantic swells, while families, swimmers and walkers enjoy miles of soft sand and more sheltered spots on calmer days. Local centres offer boards, wetsuits and lessons, and there are shore dives and boat dives around the Maharee Islands for scuba divers. The Maharees tide clock gathers this whole spit and its bays onto its face, so every move of the hand echoes the changing tide along Brandon Bay, Tralee Bay and the curve of sand between them.

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

This is not a navigation device.