Coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats in Scotland

Marinas and harbours on the open coast, from walk-ashore pontoons with lock gates or sills to harbour walls and fore-and-aft moorings. Places that take small boats. Dinghies, day boats and RIBs.

27 sites · 3 with a waiting list · typical £1,055 a year for a 6m boat (£45–£2,472 across 18 published tariffs)

At a glance

27 sites, all on the open coast.
None has told us in the last six weeks that it has space.
Keeping a waiting list: Ardoran Marine, Tobermory Harbour and Victoria Harbour.
For a 6m boat, published prices run from £45 a year (Lerwick Port Authority) to £2,472 a year (Lochaline Harbour); the middle of 18 is £1,055 a year.
Longest boat taken: 33.5m (110ft) at Helmsdale Harbour.
Of the 27, 14 have electric hook-up, 6 diesel, 4 a boat hoist and 11 visitor berths.
1 of the 27 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
Groups running more than one: Aberdeenshire Council (3), Dunbar Harbour Trust (2), Moray Council (2), Stornoway Port Authority (2) and Yacht Havens (2).

Coast & harbours Waiting list

Ardoran Marine

Oban, Argyll and Bute · Loch Feochan

£2,350 a year for a 10m yacht

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Coast & harbours Waiting list

Tobermory Harbour

Tobermory, Argyll and Bute · Tobermory Bay

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Coast & harbours Waiting list

Victoria Harbour

Dunbar, East Lothian · Firth of Forth

£580 a year for a 10m yacht

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Coast & harbours

Broad Haven (Dunbar Harbour)

Dunbar, East Lothian · North Sea, Dunbar Harbour

£580 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Cockenzie Harbour

Cockenzie, East Lothian · Firth of Forth

£480 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Dubh Thòb Pontoons

Kirkibost, Great Bernera, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Loch Roag

£650 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Girvan Harbour

Girvan, South Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde

£807 a year for a 10m yacht

Liveaboard

Coast & harbours

Holy Loch Marina

Dunoon, Argyll and Bute · Firth of Clyde

£4,440 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Kallin Harbour

Grimsay, Isle of North Uist, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Kallin Harbour

£413 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Kip Marina

Inverkip, Inverclyde · Firth of Clyde

£4,620 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Largs Yacht Haven

Largs, North Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde

£6,030 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Lerwick Port Authority

Lerwick, Shetland Islands · Lerwick Harbour

£78 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Lochaline Harbour

Lochaline, Highland · Sound of Mull

£2,472 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Lochboisdale Harbour

Lochboisdale, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Lochboisdale

£2,103 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Newton Marina

Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Stornoway Harbour

£1,918 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Stornoway Marina

Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Stornoway Harbour

£1,598 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Tarbert Harbour

Tarbert, Argyll and Bute · Loch Fyne

£1,680 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Troon Yacht Haven

Troon, South Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde

£4,730 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Ulva Ferry Pontoon

Ulva Ferry, Argyll and Bute · Sound of Ulva

£352 a year for a 10m yacht

Coast & harbours

Cellardyke Harbour (Skinfast Haven)

Cellardyke, Fife · Firth of Forth

Prices on request

Coast & harbours

Cullen Harbour

Cullen, Moray · Cullen Harbour

Prices not published

Coast & harbours

Findochty Harbour

Findochty, Moray · Moray Firth

Prices not published

Coast & harbours

Gourdon Harbour

Gourdon, Aberdeenshire · North Sea, Gourdon Harbour

Prices not published

Coast & harbours

Helmsdale Harbour

Helmsdale, Highland · Moray Firth

Prices on request

Coast & harbours

Johnshaven Harbour

Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire · North Sea, Johnshaven

Prices not published

Coast & harbours

Portree Harbour

Portree, Highland · Loch Portree

Prices not published

Coast & harbours

Rosehearty Harbour

Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire · North Sea

Prices not published

Compared: prices for a 6m boat

Site	Where	A year, 6m boat	Space
Ardoran Marine	Oban, Loch Feochan	£1,410	Waiting list
Tobermory Harbour	Tobermory, Tobermory Bay	–	Waiting list
Victoria Harbour	Dunbar, Firth of Forth	£348	Waiting list
Broad Haven (Dunbar Harbour)	Dunbar, North Sea, Dunbar Harbour	£348	Not reported
Cockenzie Harbour	Cockenzie, Firth of Forth	£288	Not reported
Dubh Thòb Pontoons	Kirkibost, Great Bernera, Loch Roag	£390	Not reported
Girvan Harbour	Girvan, Firth of Clyde	£484	Not reported
Holy Loch Marina	Dunoon, Firth of Clyde	£1,520	Not reported
Kallin Harbour	Grimsay, Isle of North Uist, Kallin Harbour	£336	Not reported
Kip Marina	Inverkip, Firth of Clyde	£1,920	Not reported
Largs Yacht Haven	Largs, Firth of Clyde	£1,848	Not reported
Lerwick Port Authority	Lerwick, Lerwick Harbour	£45	Not reported
Lochaline Harbour	Lochaline, Sound of Mull	£2,472	Not reported
Lochboisdale Harbour	Lochboisdale, Lochboisdale	£1,262	Not reported
Newton Marina	Stornoway, Stornoway Harbour	£1,151	Not reported
Stornoway Marina	Stornoway, Stornoway Harbour	£959	Not reported
Tarbert Harbour	Tarbert, Loch Fyne	£1,680	Not reported
Troon Yacht Haven	Troon, Firth of Clyde	£1,520	Not reported
Ulva Ferry Pontoon	Ulva Ferry, Sound of Ulva	£352	Not reported
Cellardyke Harbour (Skinfast Haven)	Cellardyke, Firth of Forth	On request	Not reported
Cullen Harbour	Cullen, Cullen Harbour	–	Not reported
Findochty Harbour	Findochty, Moray Firth	–	Not reported
Gourdon Harbour	Gourdon, North Sea, Gourdon Harbour	–	Not reported
Helmsdale Harbour	Helmsdale, Moray Firth	On request	Not reported
Johnshaven Harbour	Johnshaven, North Sea, Johnshaven	–	Not reported
Portree Harbour	Portree, Loch Portree	–	Not reported
Rosehearty Harbour	Rosehearty, North Sea	–	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 6m boat cost in Scotland?

Across the 18 coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats here that publish a price, a 6m boat costs from £45 a year at Lerwick Port Authority to £2,472 a year at Lochaline Harbour. The middle figure is £1,055 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.

What are the cheapest coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats in Scotland?

For a 6m boat, Lerwick Port Authority is cheapest at £45 a year.

Which coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats in Scotland have space now?

None of the 27 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 coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats in Scotland?

1 of the 27 say you can: Girvan Harbour (liveaboard by arrangement). 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, 2 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.

Broader

Coastal marinas and harbour moorings for small boats in other areas

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