The North Channel (known in Irish and Scottish Gaelic as Sruth na Maoile, in Scots as the Sheuch[1]) is the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland.

The narrowest part of the strait is between the Mull of Kintyre and Torr Head, where its width is 19 kilometres (12 mi; 10 nmi),[6] making it possible to see across in clear weather conditions.

The straits gave their name to Moyle District Council, a local government area in Northern Ireland, and are famed in Irish Celtic mythology through their association with the Children of Lir.

The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association (ILDSA) has provided authentication observers for swimmers attempting to cross the approximately 35-kilometre (22 mi) span between Northern Ireland and the Mull of Galloway.

[18] This route would require the bridge towers to be erected through Beaufort's Dyke, a 200–300 m (700–1,000 ft) deep trench, heavily contaminated by 'large quantities' of munitions ('small arms, high explosives and incendiary devices')[19][20] and nuclear waste that had been dumped until 1950s.