Canals
Applecross Claypits
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Inland moorings that allow liveaboards in Scotland
Canals, rivers, the Broads and lakes: fresh water, no tides, and a navigation licence from the authority that runs the water. Moorings where the site says you can live on board, outright or by arrangement. Residential moorings often need planning consent and pay council tax; we show the terms as each site states them.
15 sites · typical £3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£273–£8,633 across 14 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 15 sites, all on canals.
- None has told us in the last six weeks that it has space.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £273 a year (Kelpies Marina) to £8,633 a year (Lochrin Basin); the middle of 14 is £3,352 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 19m (62ft) at Applecross Claypits.
- Of the 15, 15 have electric hook-up, 13 a pump-out, 7 diesel and 1 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: Scottish Canals (15).
Canals
Applecross Wharf
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Braehead, Linlithgow
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Causewayend
Broxburn, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Kelpies Marina
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£273 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Leamington Wharf East
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£5,898 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Linlithgow East
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Lochrin Basin
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£8,633 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Panmure Wharf, Firhill
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£2,794 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
Canals
Temple Wharf - Lock 27
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,477 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Viewforth Quay
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£7,450 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applecross Claypits | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Applecross Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,352 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,054 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Braehead, Linlithgow | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,352 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Causewayend | Broxburn, Union Canal | £3,352 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Kelpies Marina | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £273 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Leamington Wharf East | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £5,898 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Linlithgow East | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,725 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Lochrin Basin | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £8,633 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Panmure Wharf, Firhill | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,794 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,595 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Speirs Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Temple Wharf - Lock 27 | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,477 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Viewforth Quay | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £7,450 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | 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 in Scotland?
Across the 14 inland moorings that allow liveaboards here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £273 a year at Kelpies Marina to £8,633 a year at Lochrin Basin. The middle figure is £3,352 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest inland moorings that allow liveaboards in Scotland?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Kelpies Marina is cheapest at £273 a year in Falkirk.
Which inland moorings that allow liveaboards in Scotland have space now?
None of the 15 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 inland moorings that allow liveaboards in Scotland?
All 15 say you can: Applecross Claypits (residential moorings with planning consent), Applecross Wharf (residential moorings with planning consent), Auchinstarry Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Braehead, Linlithgow (liveaboards allowed), Causewayend (liveaboards allowed), Kelpies Marina (liveaboards allowed), Leamington Wharf East (liveaboards allowed), Linlithgow East (residential moorings with planning consent) and 7 more. 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, 15 need a Scottish Canals licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Inland moorings that allow liveaboards in other areas
- England 92
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