Walk-ashore berths on the Union Canal

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.

8 sites · typical £4,310 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£1,565–£7,450 across 8 published tariffs)

Licence: Scottish Canals. About licences

At a glance

8 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 £1,565 a year (Reddingmuirhead) to £7,450 a year (Viewforth Quay); the middle of 8 is £4,310 a year.
Longest boat taken: 19m (62ft) at Braehead, Linlithgow.
Of the 8, 7 have electric hook-up, 5 a pump-out and 3 diesel.
5 of the 8 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
Groups running more than one: Scottish Canals (8).

Canals

Braehead, Linlithgow

Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal

£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Causewayend

Broxburn, West Lothian · Union Canal

£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Leamington Wharf East

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal

£5,898 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Linlithgow East

Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal

£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

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

Viewforth Quay

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal

£7,450 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Liveaboard

Canals

Winchburgh Marina

Winchburgh, West Lothian · Union Canal

£4,895 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat

Site	Where	A year, 57ft narrowboat	Berths	Space
Braehead, Linlithgow	Linlithgow, Union Canal	£3,352	linear moorings	Not reported
Causewayend	Broxburn, Union Canal	£3,352	linear moorings	Not reported
Leamington Wharf East	Edinburgh, Union Canal	£5,898	linear moorings	Not reported
Linlithgow East	Linlithgow, Union Canal	£3,725	linear moorings	Not reported
Ratho Marina	Ratho, Union Canal	£4,905	pontoon berths	Not reported
Reddingmuirhead	Reddingmuirhead, Union Canal	£1,565	linear moorings	Not reported
Viewforth Quay	Edinburgh, Union Canal	£7,450	quay and harbour wall berths	Not reported
Winchburgh Marina	Winchburgh, Union Canal	£4,895	pontoon 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 on the Union Canal?

Across the 8 walk-ashore berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £1,565 a year at Reddingmuirhead to £7,450 a year at Viewforth Quay. The middle figure is £4,310 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.

What are the cheapest walk-ashore berths on the Union Canal?

For a 57ft narrowboat, Reddingmuirhead is cheapest at £1,565 a year.

Which walk-ashore berths on the Union Canal have space now?

None of the 8 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 walk-ashore berths on the Union Canal?

5 of the 8 say you can: Braehead, Linlithgow (liveaboards allowed), Causewayend (liveaboards allowed), Leamington Wharf East (liveaboards allowed), Linlithgow East (residential moorings with planning consent) and Viewforth Quay (liveaboards allowed). 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, 8 need a Scottish Canals licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.

Broader

Walk-ashore berths on other waterways

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