Coast & harbours
Berths available
Kilmelford Yacht Haven
Kilmelford, Argyll and Bute · Loch Melfort
Prices not published
Walk-ashore berths with diesel in Scotland
Berths you step off onto a pontoon, quay or bank: no tender, no rowing out to a buoy. Easier for loading, for a dog, and for getting aboard after dark. Sites that sell diesel on site, at a fuel berth or from the boatyard.
33 sites · 1 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £2,990 a year for a 10m boat (£352–£7,450 across 24 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 33 sites: 11 on canals, 1 on the Broads or a lake, 5 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 16 on the open coast.
- 1 of the 33 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Kilmelford Yacht Haven.
- Keeping a waiting list: Tobermory Harbour.
- For a 10m boat, published prices run from £352 a year (Ulva Ferry Pontoon) to £7,450 a year (Viewforth Quay); the middle of 24 is £2,990 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 100m (328ft) at James Watt Marina.
- Of the 33, 30 have electric hook-up, 9 a pump-out, 10 a boat hoist and 10 visitor berths.
- 5 of the 33 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Scottish Canals (10).
Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Tobermory Harbour
Tobermory, Argyll and Bute · Tobermory Bay
Prices not published
Canals
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Caley Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£5,003 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Campbeltown Marina
Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute · Campbeltown Loch
£5,520 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Clyde Marina
Ardrossan, North Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde
£4,530 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Craobh Marina
Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute · Craobh Haven
£4,440 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Inverness Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal / Inverness Firth
£3,100 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
James Watt Marina
Greenock, Inverclyde · Firth of Clyde
£3,180 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Kerrera Marina
Oban, Argyll and Bute · Ardentrive Bay, Firth of Lorn
£3,740 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Kip Marina
Inverkip, Inverclyde · Firth of Clyde
£4,620 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
Canals
Leamington Wharf East
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£5,898 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Lochboisdale Harbour
Lochboisdale, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Lochboisdale
£2,103 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Lochmaddy Marina
Lochmaddy, Na h-Eileanan Siar · Lochmaddy
£750 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Mallaig Yachting Marina
Mallaig, Highland · Mallaig Harbour
£1,285 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Peterhead Bay Marina
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire · Peterhead Bay, North Sea
£1,500 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Rhu Marina
Rhu, Argyll and Bute · Firth of Clyde
£5,110 a year for a 10m yacht
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
The Falkirk Wheel Linear
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£1,798 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Ulva Ferry Pontoon
Ulva Ferry, Argyll and Bute · Sound of Ulva
£352 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Viewforth Quay
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£7,450 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Winchburgh Marina
Winchburgh, West Lothian · Union Canal
£4,895 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Bowling Lower Basin
Bowling, West Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Brae Marina
Brae, Shetland Islands · Busta Voe
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Crinan Boatyard
Crinan, Argyll and Bute · Loch Crinan
Prices not published
Coast & harbours
Dunstaffnage Marina
Oban, Argyll and Bute · Dunstaffnage Bay, Firth of Lorn
Prices on request
Coast & harbours
Fairlie Quay Marina
Fairlie, North Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde
Prices not published
Broads, lakes & lochs
Linnhe Marina
Appin, Argyll and Bute · Loch Linnhe
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Sandpoint Marina
Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire · River Leven
Prices not published
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 10m boat
| Site | Where | A year, 10m boat | Berths | Diesel | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilmelford Yacht Haven | Kilmelford, Loch Melfort | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Berths available |
| Tobermory Harbour | Tobermory, Tobermory Bay | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Waiting list |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,758 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Caley Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | £2,880 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Campbeltown Marina | Campbeltown, Campbeltown Loch | £5,520 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Clyde Marina | Ardrossan, Firth of Clyde | £4,530 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Craobh Marina | Lochgilphead, Craobh Haven | £4,440 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Inverness Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal / Inverness Firth | £3,100 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| James Watt Marina | Greenock, Firth of Clyde | £3,180 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Kerrera Marina | Oban, Ardentrive Bay, Firth of Lorn | £3,740 | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Kip Marina | Inverkip, Firth of Clyde | £4,620 | pontoon berths, hard standing | Yes | Not reported |
| Kirkintilloch Linear | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,751 | linear moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Kirkwall Marina | Kirkwall, Kirkwall Harbour | £6,204 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Leamington Wharf East | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £5,898 | linear moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Lochboisdale Harbour | Lochboisdale, Lochboisdale | £2,103 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Lochmaddy Marina | Lochmaddy, Lochmaddy | £750 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Mallaig Yachting Marina | Mallaig, Mallaig Harbour | £1,285 | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Peterhead Bay Marina | Peterhead, Peterhead Bay, North Sea | £1,500 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Rhu Marina | Rhu, Firth of Clyde | £5,110 | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,070 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Basin | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,758 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| The Falkirk Wheel Linear | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,035 | linear moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Ulva Ferry Pontoon | Ulva Ferry, Sound of Ulva | £352 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Viewforth Quay | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £7,450 | quay and harbour wall berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Winchburgh Marina | Winchburgh, Union Canal | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Bowling Lower Basin | Bowling, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,108 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Brae Marina | Brae, Busta Voe | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Crinan Boatyard | Crinan, Loch Crinan | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Dunstaffnage Marina | Oban, Dunstaffnage Bay, Firth of Lorn | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Fairlie Quay Marina | Fairlie, Firth of Clyde | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Linnhe Marina | Appin, Loch Linnhe | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Not reported |
| Sandpoint Marina | Dumbarton, River Leven | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | £2,702 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Yes | 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 10m boat cost in Scotland?
Across the 24 walk-ashore berths with diesel here that publish a price, a 10m boat costs from £352 a year at Ulva Ferry Pontoon to £7,450 a year at Viewforth Quay. The middle figure is £2,990 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest walk-ashore berths with diesel in Scotland?
For a 10m boat, Ulva Ferry Pontoon is cheapest at £352 a year.
Which walk-ashore berths with diesel in Scotland have space now?
1 of the 33 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Kilmelford Yacht Haven. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at walk-ashore berths with diesel in Scotland?
5 of the 33 say you can: Auchinstarry Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Leamington Wharf East (liveaboards allowed), Southbank Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Viewforth Quay (liveaboards allowed) 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, 12 need a Scottish Canals licence, 1 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it and 7 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Walk-ashore berths with diesel in other areas
- England 175
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