Estuaries & tidal rivers
A few berths left
Dysart Harbour
Dysart, Fife · Firth of Forth
Prices not published
Small boat moorings in Scotland
Places that take small boats. Dinghies, day boats and RIBs.
34 sites · 2 with space now · 4 with a waiting list · typical £1,206 a year for a 6m boat (£45–£2,472 across 20 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 34 sites: 1 on a canal, 1 on the Broads or a lake, 5 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 27 on the open coast.
- 2 of the 34 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Dysart Harbour and Taymouth Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Ardoran Marine, Tayport Harbour, 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 20 is £1,206 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 45m (148ft) at Fort Augustus.
- Of the 34, 18 have electric hook-up, 1 a pump-out, 6 diesel, 4 a boat hoist and 15 visitor berths.
- 1 of the 34 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).
Broads, lakes & lochs
Berths available
Taymouth Marina
Kenmore, Perth and Kinross · Loch Tay
Prices on request
Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Ardoran Marine
Oban, Argyll and Bute · Loch Feochan
£2,350 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Waiting list
Tayport Harbour
Tayport, Fife · River Tay estuary
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Tobermory Harbour
Tobermory, Argyll and Bute · Tobermory Bay
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Victoria Harbour
Dunbar, East Lothian · Firth of Forth
£580 a year for a 10m yacht
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
Canals
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,704 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Girvan Harbour
Girvan, South Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde
£807 a year for a 10m yacht
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
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Port Edgar Marina
South Queensferry, City of Edinburgh · Firth of Forth
£3,156 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
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Aith Marina
Aith, Shetland Islands · Aith Voe
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Blackness Boat Club
Linlithgow, Falkirk · River Forth
Prices on request
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysart Harbour | Dysart, Firth of Forth | – | A few berths left |
| Taymouth Marina | Kenmore, Loch Tay | On request | Berths available |
| Ardoran Marine | Oban, Loch Feochan | £1,410 | Waiting list |
| Tayport Harbour | Tayport, River Tay estuary | – | 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 |
| Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | £1,625 | 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 |
| Port Edgar Marina | South Queensferry, Firth of Forth | £1,894 | 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 |
| Aith Marina | Aith, Aith Voe | – | Not reported |
| Blackness Boat Club | Linlithgow, River Forth | On request | 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 20 small boat moorings 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 £1,206 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest small boat moorings in Scotland?
For a 6m boat, Lerwick Port Authority is cheapest at £45 a year.
Which small boat moorings in Scotland have space now?
2 of the 34 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Dysart Harbour and Taymouth Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at small boat moorings in Scotland?
1 of the 34 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, 1 need a Scottish Canals licence, 1 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Small boat moorings in Scotland, by county
Small boat moorings in other areas
- England 178
- Northern Ireland 7
- Wales 21
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