Moorings in West Highlands and Hebrides

This coastal area covers the west coast of Argyll and the Highlands, from Loch Craignish and the Sound of Jura north past Oban and Mull to Mallaig and Skye, and out to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. It is a coast of sea lochs, sounds and islands, and boats here are kept in marinas, community-run pontoons and swinging moorings in sheltered bays.

Oban is the main centre. The council runs short-stay transit pontoons at the North Pier, a marina lies across the bay in Ardantrive Bay on Kerrera, and visitor buoys sit on the south side of the bay. Dunstaffnage Marina, about two and a half miles north of Oban, can be entered at all states of the tide and has a wave break pontoon. To the south, Craobh Haven marina is tucked behind an island joined to the shore by breakwaters, and Ardfern Yacht Centre at the head of Loch Craignish has pontoon berths, moorings and a boatyard, with a service that brings boats in from their moorings for owners who keep them there long term.

On Mull, the Tobermory Harbour Association runs pontoon berths and visitor buoys in a harbour sheltered from almost all directions, though strong north-easterlies can make it uncomfortable. Mallaig Harbour Authority runs pontoons in its inner harbour, and at Portree on Skye the Portree Mooring Association manages visitor moorings in the bay. In the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway Port Authority runs a marina in the inner harbour and Newton Marina, completed in 2021 for longer stays.

Two canals reach this coast. The Crinan Canal comes out at Crinan on the Sound of Jura, a shortcut from the Firth of Clyde that avoids the Mull of Kintyre, and the Caledonian Canal enters the sea through the sea lock at Corpach near Fort William. Moorings in the West Highlands and Hebrides range from all-tide marinas near Oban to community pontoons and moorings in island harbours.