Overview
Ferris Point stopped looking like a lighthouse in 1976, when its Victorian tower was replaced by a square, black-glass cabin that resembles an airport control tower more than a beacon. The light itself was switched off for good in 1994. The point stands at the entrance to Larne Lough on the Islandmagee side of the channel, near the Port of Larne, in County Antrim. Irish Lights records its links with the Maidens lighthouse station.
A History of Light & Navigation
The need for a navigational aid here was first raised by Larne shipowners around 1828, who petitioned for a light to safely guide vessels into the harbour. Construction began in 1838 on land donated by local landowner Thomas Ferris, and the original Larne Lough Lighthouse first exhibited its light on 1 February 1839. Keeper’s cottages followed shortly after, and the site quickly became a working buoy depot and storage facility for the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
Life on the station evolved over the decades. In the 1890s, keepers and their families were temporarily relocated to the nearby Maidens Lighthouse, with new double-storey houses erected at Ferris Point around 1900. By 1906, the Principal Keeper at Ferris Point also took charge of the Maidens station, with assistant keepers rotating between the two sites and the nearby Barr Point fog-signal. This shared-keeper arrangement continued until 1951.
The transition to modern navigation began in earnest in 1957, when the light was converted from oil to electricity. A major modernisation in 1976 replaced the original 19th-century tower with the present square, glass-enclosed control tower. Designed more like an air traffic control cabin, it became the regional operations centre for monitoring fog signals, buoys, the Maidens light, and the Chaine Tower across the lough.
By the early 1990s, advancements in harbour lighting and the installation of a directional light at Chaine Tower made the Ferris Point beacon redundant. The original tower’s lantern was removed in 1991, and the light was officially discontinued in 1994. Rather than being abandoned, the site was repurposed, continuing its long tradition of maritime support for the harbour at Larne.
What to See & Do
Be clear on what a visit is. Ferris Point sits within the harbour’s working area, so this is a place to learn about rather than a place to explore, and nothing here is open to visitors.
- Modern Control Tower: The 1976 tower is the distinctive feature of the point, a black-glass control room that looks nothing like a traditional lighthouse. It is not open to the public, and you should not go through gates or onto access roads to get closer.
- Coastal Walks: For a coastal walk on Islandmagee, use the council’s signed public access at Brown’s Bay rather than trying to reach the point. Check signs, tide and sea conditions, and keep away from exposed rocks.
- Ferry Watching: Ferries crossing to Cairnryan in Scotland use this stretch of water, so the entrance to the lough is a busy maritime route. Watch from public coastal access only.
Practical Information
Ferris Point is part of a working harbour area, not a visitor attraction, and there are no interior visits. Keep clear of the harbour’s working areas and access roads, and do not park where you could obstruct harbour or emergency vehicles. No parking or viewing arrangements for visitors are listed here, so plan your day around Brown’s Bay instead.
For a coastal stop, the council’s page on the coastline and beaches is the place to check current access. Take care with weather and tides on any coastal path.
Nearby Attractions
Ferris Point sits at the gateway to several other maritime and coastal places in the area:
- Maidens Lighthouse: The historic Maidens station, linked to Ferris Point through the shared keepers and the Irish Lights network.
- Chaine Tower: A memorial tower on the opposite side of the harbour entrance, part of the story of the directional light that made the Ferris Point beacon redundant.
- Antrim Coast and Glens: A designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that stretches south from Larne, featuring dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and world-famous geological formations.