Canals
Applecross Claypits
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Pontoon berths run by Scottish Canals
Walk-ashore berth alongside a floating pontoon, usually in a marina.
16 sites · typical £3,556 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£1,936–£4,905 across 12 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 16 sites: 15 on canals and 1 on the Broads or a lake.
- None has told us in the last six weeks that it has space.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £1,936 a year (Lock 16 Moorings) to £4,905 a year (Ratho Marina); the middle of 12 is £3,556 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 45m (148ft) at Fort Augustus.
- Of the 16, 14 have electric hook-up, 9 a pump-out, 6 diesel and 1 visitor berths.
- 4 of the 16 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
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
Canals
Cairnbaan Lock 5
Cairnbaan, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,518 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,704 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
Lock 16 Moorings
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,936 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Oakfield Bridge
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,185 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ratho Marina
Ratho, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£4,905 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Southbank Marina
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,595 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
Winchburgh Marina
Winchburgh, West Lothian · Union Canal
£4,895 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
Kytra
Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Berths | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applecross Claypits | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £3,761 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,054 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Not reported |
| Cairnbaan Lock 5 | Cairnbaan, Crinan Canal | £3,518 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | £4,704 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Gairlochy | Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy | £3,833 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Not reported |
| Lock 16 Moorings | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,936 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Oakfield Bridge | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £3,185 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Not reported |
| Ratho Marina | Ratho, Union Canal | £4,905 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,595 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Basin | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,054 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Winchburgh Marina | Winchburgh, Union Canal | £4,895 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Bellanoch Marina | Bellanoch, Crinan Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Bowling Lower Basin | Bowling, Forth & Clyde Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Kytra | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | – | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | 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 12 pontoon berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £1,936 a year at Lock 16 Moorings to £4,905 a year at Ratho Marina. The middle figure is £3,556 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest pontoon berths run by Scottish Canals?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Lock 16 Moorings is cheapest at £1,936 a year in Falkirk.
Which pontoon berths run by Scottish Canals have space now?
None of the 16 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 pontoon berths run by Scottish Canals?
4 of the 16 say you can: Applecross Claypits (residential moorings with planning consent), Auchinstarry Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Southbank Marina (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, 16 need a Scottish Canals licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Pontoon berths run by other groups
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