Canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m in Scotland

Marinas, basins and linear towpath moorings on the canal network: mostly narrowboats and widebeams, priced per foot or metre a year, with a navigation licence on top. Marinas and harbours that say they take boats over 12m (40ft): a stated maximum length, or a published price for a boat that size. Canal sites that only take narrowboats are left out; see 70ft narrowboat moorings for those.

18 sites · typical £2,541 a year for a 12m boat (£273–£5,964 across 16 published tariffs)

At a glance

Canals

Ardrishaig Basin

Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal

£3,761 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Auchinstarry Marina

Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal

£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Cadder Wharf

Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal

£2,389 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal

£4,704 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Kelpies Marina

Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal

£273 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Kirkintilloch Linear

Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal

£3,042 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Lochrin Basin

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal

£8,633 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Lock 16 Moorings

Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal

£1,936 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Ratho Marina

Ratho, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal

£4,905 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Reddingmuirhead

Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk · Union Canal

£1,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Southbank Marina

Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal

£3,595 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Speirs Wharf

Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal

£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Bellanoch Marina

Bellanoch, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal

Prices not published

Canals

Bowling Lower Basin

Bowling, West Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal

Prices not published

Canals

Harrison Park

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal

Prices not published

Canals

Seaport Marina

Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal

Prices not published

Liveaboard

Compared: prices for a 12m boat

SiteWhereA year, 12m boatLongest boatWidest beamDeepest draughtSpace
Ardrishaig BasinArdrishaig, Crinan Canal£2,59826.8m (88ft)––Not reported
Ardrishaig Basin Dummy LockArdrishaig, Crinan Canal£3,11826.8m (88ft)––Not reported
Auchinstarry MarinaKilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal£2,11019m (62ft)3.5m1.6mNot reported
Cadder WharfBishopbriggs, Forth & Clyde Canal£1,65019m (62ft)––Not reported
Fort AugustusFort Augustus, Caledonian Canal£3,25045m (148ft)––Not reported
Kelpies MarinaFalkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal£27319m (62ft)––Not reported
Kirkintilloch LinearKirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal£2,10219m (62ft)––Not reported
Lochrin BasinEdinburgh, Union Canal£5,96419m (62ft)––Not reported
Lock 16 MooringsFalkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal£1,33719m (62ft)––Not reported
Ratho MarinaRatho, Union Canal–19m (62ft)––Not reported
ReddingmuirheadReddingmuirhead, Union Canal£1,08119m (62ft)––Not reported
Southbank MarinaKirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal£2,48419m (62ft)––Not reported
Speirs WharfGlasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal£3,10419m (62ft)––Not reported
The Falkirk Wheel LinearFalkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal£1,24219m (62ft)––Not reported
Bellanoch MarinaBellanoch, Crinan Canal£2,64114m (46ft)3.5m–Not reported
Bowling Lower BasinBowling, Forth & Clyde Canal£3,41517m (56ft)––Not reported
Harrison ParkEdinburgh, Union Canal–19m (62ft)––Not reported
Seaport MarinaInverness, Caledonian Canal£3,24316m (52ft)4m–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 12m boat cost in Scotland?

Across the 16 canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m here that publish a price, a 12m boat costs from £273 a year at Kelpies Marina to £5,964 a year at Lochrin Basin. The middle figure is £2,541 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.

What are the cheapest canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m in Scotland?

For a 12m boat, Kelpies Marina is cheapest at £273 a year in Falkirk.

Which canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m in Scotland have space now?

None of the 18 has told us in the last six weeks that it has space. We ask every site regularly; the list above updates as they reply.

Where can I keep a boat over 12m (39ft) in Scotland?

All 18 say they take a boat that long. Stated maximums: Ardrishaig Basin (26.8m (88ft)), Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock (26.8m (88ft)), Auchinstarry Marina (19m (62ft)), Cadder Wharf (19m (62ft)), Fort Augustus (45m (148ft)), Kelpies Marina (19m (62ft)), Kirkintilloch Linear (19m (62ft)), Lochrin Basin (19m (62ft)) and 10 more. Check beam and draught too.

Can you live aboard at canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m in Scotland?

6 of the 18 say you can: Auchinstarry Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Kelpies Marina (liveaboards allowed), Lochrin Basin (residential moorings with planning consent), Southbank Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Speirs Wharf (residential moorings with planning consent) and Seaport Marina (residential moorings with planning consent). 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, 18 need a Scottish Canals licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.

Broader

Canal moorings and marinas for boats over 12m in other areas

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