Canals
Kelpies Marina
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£273 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Cheapest moorings and marinas run by Scottish Canals
Every site here with a published price, cheapest first, worked out for the same boat so the figures compare.
31 sites · typical £3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£273–£8,633 across 31 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 31 sites: 29 on canals and 2 on the Broads, lakes and lochs.
- None has told us in the last six weeks that it has space.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £273 a year (Kelpies Marina) to £8,633 a year (Lochrin Basin); the middle of 31 is £3,352 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 45m (148ft) at Laggan Avenue.
- Of the 31, 26 have electric hook-up, 19 a pump-out and 10 diesel.
- 14 of the 31 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
Canals
Reddingmuirhead
Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk · Union Canal
£1,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
The Falkirk Wheel Linear
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,798 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Lock 16 Moorings
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,936 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Cadder Wharf
Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£2,389 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Panmure Wharf, Firhill
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£2,794 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Laggan Avenue
Laggan, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£1,705 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Kirkintilloch Linear
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,042 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
The Falkirk Wheel Basin
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Applecross Claypits
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Speirs Wharf
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Oakfield Bridge
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,185 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Applecross Wharf
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Braehead, Linlithgow
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Causewayend
Broxburn, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Temple Wharf - Lock 27
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,477 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Cairnbaan Lock 5
Cairnbaan, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,518 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Southbank Marina
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,595 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Linlithgow East
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ardrishaig Basin
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,761 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Gairlochy
Gairlochy, Highland · Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy
£2,207 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Dochgarroch East
Dochgarroch, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,181 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Banavie
Banavie, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,356 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£4,513 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,704 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Winchburgh Marina
Winchburgh, West Lothian · Union Canal
£4,895 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ratho Marina
Ratho, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£4,905 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Leamington Wharf East
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£5,898 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Viewforth Quay
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£7,450 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Lochrin Basin
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£8,633 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Per metre a year | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelpies Marina | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £273 | £15.70 | Not reported |
| Reddingmuirhead | Reddingmuirhead, Union Canal | £1,565 | £90.12 | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Linear | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,798 | £103.49 | Not reported |
| Lock 16 Moorings | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,936 | £111.45 | Not reported |
| Cadder Wharf | Bishopbriggs, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,389 | £137.52 | Not reported |
| Panmure Wharf, Firhill | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,794 | £160.85 | Not reported |
| Laggan Avenue | Laggan, Caledonian Canal | £2,962 | £170.52 | Not reported |
| Kirkintilloch Linear | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,042 | £175.14 | Not reported |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,054 | £175.80 | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Basin | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,054 | £175.80 | Not reported |
| Applecross Claypits | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | £178.70 | Not reported |
| Speirs Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | £178.70 | Not reported |
| Oakfield Bridge | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £3,185 | £183.36 | Not reported |
| Applecross Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,352 | £192.98 | Not reported |
| Braehead, Linlithgow | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,352 | £192.98 | Not reported |
| Causewayend | Broxburn, Union Canal | £3,352 | £192.98 | Not reported |
| Temple Wharf - Lock 27 | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,477 | £200.17 | Not reported |
| Cairnbaan Lock 5 | Cairnbaan, Crinan Canal | £3,518 | £202.51 | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,595 | £206.97 | Not reported |
| Linlithgow East | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,725 | £214.45 | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £3,761 | £216.53 | Not reported |
| Gairlochy | Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy | £3,833 | £220.67 | Not reported |
| Dochgarroch East | Dochgarroch, Caledonian Canal | £4,181 | £240.73 | Not reported |
| Banavie | Banavie, Caledonian Canal | £4,356 | £250.75 | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £4,513 | £259.83 | Not reported |
| Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | £4,704 | £270.82 | Not reported |
| Winchburgh Marina | Winchburgh, Union Canal | £4,895 | £281.81 | Not reported |
| Ratho Marina | Ratho, Union Canal | £4,905 | £282.38 | Not reported |
| Leamington Wharf East | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £5,898 | £339.55 | Not reported |
| Viewforth Quay | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £7,450 | £428.90 | Not reported |
| Lochrin Basin | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £8,633 | £497 | Not reported |
From each site's published tariff. "–" means the site doesn't say. Prices change; confirm with the site.
Questions
How much does a mooring for a 57ft narrowboat cost run by Scottish Canals?
Across the 31 cheapest moorings and marinas here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £273 a year at Kelpies Marina to £8,633 a year at Lochrin Basin. The middle figure is £3,352 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cheapest moorings and marinas run by Scottish Canals?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Kelpies Marina is cheapest at £273 a year in Falkirk.
Which cheapest moorings and marinas run by Scottish Canals have space now?
None of the 31 has told us in the last six weeks that it has space. We ask every site regularly; the list above updates as they reply.
Can you live aboard at cheapest moorings and marinas run by Scottish Canals?
14 of the 31 say you can: Kelpies Marina (liveaboards allowed), Panmure Wharf, Firhill (liveaboards allowed), Auchinstarry Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Applecross Claypits (residential moorings with planning consent), Speirs Wharf (residential moorings with planning consent), Applecross Wharf (residential moorings with planning consent), Braehead, Linlithgow (liveaboards allowed), Causewayend (liveaboards allowed) and 6 more. Living aboard can need planning consent and council tax; ask each site about its terms.
Do I need a licence as well as a mooring?
On top of the mooring fee: of these, 31 need a Scottish Canals licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cheapest moorings and marinas run by other groups
- Canal & River Trust 20
- Environment Agency 24
- MDL Marinas 17
- ABC Leisure Group 12
- Premier Marinas 11
- Tingdene Marinas 11
- Bristol City Council 6
- Yacht Havens 7
- Moray Council 4
- Cornwall Council 4
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 5
- Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority 4
- Premier Marinas Ltd 4
- Cyngor Gwynedd 3
- Western Marinas 3
- Essex Waterways 3
- Chichester Harbour Conservancy 3
- Associated British Ports 3
- Orkney Marinas Ltd 3
- Lee Valley Regional Park Authority 3
- Boatfolk 3
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