Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Ardoran Marine
Oban, Argyll and Bute · Loch Feochan
£2,350 a year for a 10m yacht
Cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in Scotland
Places that take cruisers. River and estuary motor cruisers. 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.
33 sites · 1 with a waiting list · typical £2,503 a year for a 12m boat (£78–£7,440 across 28 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 33 sites: 18 on canals, 2 on the Broads, lakes and lochs and 13 on the open coast.
- None has told us in the last six weeks that it has space.
- Keeping a waiting list: Ardoran Marine.
- For a 12m boat, published prices run from £78 a year (Lerwick Port Authority) to £7,440 a year (Kirkwall Marina); the middle of 28 is £2,503 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 45m (148ft) at Fort Augustus.
- Of the 33, 25 have electric hook-up, 12 a pump-out, 13 diesel, 1 a boat hoist and 7 visitor berths.
- 6 of the 33 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Aberdeenshire Council (2) and Scottish Canals (20).
Canals
Ardrishaig Basin
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,761 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
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
Broads, lakes & lochs
Gairlochy
Gairlochy, Highland · Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy
£2,207 a year for a 10m cruiser
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
Canals
Kelpies Marina
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£273 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Kerrera Marina
Oban, Argyll and Bute · Ardentrive Bay, Firth of Lorn
£3,740 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Kirkintilloch Linear
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,042 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Kirkwall Marina
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands · Kirkwall Harbour
£6,204 a year for a 10m yacht
Broads, lakes & lochs
Laggan Avenue
Laggan, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£1,705 a year for a 10m cruiser
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
Canals
Lochrin Basin
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£8,633 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Lock 16 Moorings
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,936 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Peterhead Bay Marina
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire · Peterhead Bay, North Sea
£1,500 a year for a 10m yacht
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
Canals
Speirs Wharf
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Tarbert Harbour
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute · Loch Fyne
£1,680 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
The Falkirk Wheel Linear
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,798 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
Coast & harbours
Castlebay Marina
Castlebay, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Castlebay Harbour
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Gourdon Harbour
Gourdon, Aberdeenshire · North Sea, Gourdon Harbour
Prices not published
Canals
Harrison Park
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Rosehearty Harbour
Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire · North Sea
Prices not published
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 12m boat
| Site | Where | A year, 12m boat | Longest boat | Widest beam | Deepest draught | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardoran Marine | Oban, Loch Feochan | £2,820 | 14m (46ft) | – | – | Waiting list |
| Ardrishaig Basin | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £2,598 | 26.8m (88ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £3,118 | 26.8m (88ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,110 | 19m (62ft) | 3.5m | 1.6m | Not reported |
| Cadder Wharf | Bishopbriggs, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,650 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | £3,250 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Gairlochy | Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy | £2,648 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Holy Loch Marina | Dunoon, Firth of Clyde | £5,328 | 13m (43ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Kallin Harbour | Grimsay, Isle of North Uist, Kallin Harbour | £652 | 14m (46ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Kelpies Marina | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £273 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Kerrera Marina | Oban, Ardentrive Bay, Firth of Lorn | £3,740 | 22m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Kirkintilloch Linear | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,102 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Kirkwall Marina | Kirkwall, Kirkwall Harbour | £7,440 | 20m (66ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Laggan Avenue | Laggan, Caledonian Canal | £2,046 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Lerwick Port Authority | Lerwick, Lerwick Harbour | £78 | 15m (49ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Lochaline Harbour | Lochaline, Sound of Mull | £2,472 | 15m (49ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Lochboisdale Harbour | Lochboisdale, Lochboisdale | £2,523 | 18m (59ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Lochrin Basin | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £5,964 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Lock 16 Moorings | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,337 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Peterhead Bay Marina | Peterhead, Peterhead Bay, North Sea | £1,800 | 22m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Ratho Marina | Ratho, Union Canal | – | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Reddingmuirhead | Reddingmuirhead, Union Canal | £1,081 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,484 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Speirs Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Tarbert Harbour | Tarbert, Loch Fyne | £1,680 | 30m (98ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Linear | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,242 | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Bellanoch Marina | Bellanoch, Crinan Canal | £2,641 | 14m (46ft) | 3.5m | – | Not reported |
| Bowling Lower Basin | Bowling, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,415 | 17m (56ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Castlebay Marina | Castlebay, Castlebay Harbour | – | 20m (66ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Gourdon Harbour | Gourdon, North Sea, Gourdon Harbour | – | 20m (66ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Harrison Park | Edinburgh, Union Canal | – | 19m (62ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Rosehearty Harbour | Rosehearty, North Sea | – | 20m (66ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | £3,243 | 16m (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 28 cruiser moorings for boats over 12m here that publish a price, a 12m boat costs from £78 a year at Lerwick Port Authority to £7,440 a year at Kirkwall Marina. The middle figure is £2,503 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in Scotland?
For a 12m boat, Lerwick Port Authority is cheapest at £78 a year.
Which cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in Scotland have space now?
None of the 33 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 33 say they take a boat that long. Stated maximums: Ardoran Marine (14m (46ft)), Ardrishaig Basin (26.8m (88ft)), Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock (26.8m (88ft)), Auchinstarry Marina (19m (62ft)), Cadder Wharf (19m (62ft)), Fort Augustus (45m (148ft)), Gairlochy (45m (148ft)), Holy Loch Marina (13m (43ft)) and 25 more. Check beam and draught too.
Can you live aboard at cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in Scotland?
6 of the 33 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, 20 need a Scottish Canals licence and 2 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in Scotland, by county
Cruiser moorings for boats over 12m in other areas
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