Mallaig Harbour Pontoons

[soreknees]

I made use of the Mallaig pontoons last week for first time. I needed to make a crew change and pick up some provisions, so a short stopover was the order of the day

Positives
Ian, the Marina Manager was very friendly and helpful. He almost apologetically informed me the short stay ( up to 4 hrs) was £12. I was aware of that before I went in and he seemed relieved that I wasn't going to moan or argue.

Got talking to other boaters and they seemed happy with the facilities and the fishing boats and ferries got on with their business with no "anti yachtyness".

Negatives
The outer pontoon was covered in bird **** and Ian apologised that he had not got round to the daily power wash challenge. Note to everyone - check crews shoes before they board

Weather nice and calm, so no bother. a couple of days later the wind was blowing F6 from N/NW and I heard from one of Knoydart ferryman ( i had decided to shelter in the lee of the Old Forge) that the harbour was "hellish" and commented that the pontoons were very bouncy. No surprise to anyone that knows how exposed Mallaig is to NW.

Anyway, happy to recommend the facility as long as the weather is right and your not fussed about the prices.

 

[NormanS]

For anyone who knows Mallaig, it is no surprise that it's not sheltered in a NWly. A problem can arise when the unknowing see in a guide that there are pontoons, or moorings at "x", and so decide to go there without any thought as to whether there will be shelter. Many of the pontoons and moorings on the West Coast are untenable in some wind directions. One can always find a sheltered anchorage though.

 

[Kelpie]

Do Mallaig have all of their facilities up and running now? We visited last year and were not terribly impressed by the price:facility ratio. It was the most expensive place we stayed in a three week cruise from Stornoway to Galway.

 

[Trop Cher]

I'll be there tomorrow night, so I'll let you know!

 

[iain789]

Do Mallaig have all of their facilities up and running now? We visited last year and were not terribly impressed by the price:facility ratio. It was the most expensive place we stayed in a three week cruise from Stornoway to Galway.

£24 for my boat with electricity at £3.60 per night is expensive compared for example with Port Ellen at £14 per night including electricity. No laundry facilities in the town, showers at the swimming pool a good half mile walk away, and the only toilets are the public ones in the town. Diesel has to be carried in cans another good walk away. Very poor value for money, IMHO. Armadale moorings sound a better bet, they advertise boat delivery of fuel and water.

 

[[70521]]

He almost apologetically informed me the short stay ( up to 4 hrs) was £12.

HOW MUCH!

 

[ffiill]

Not suprised at cost-typical of Highlands Council who once tried to charge a fisherman at head of Loch Duich £500 pa to use a half washed away old jetty!

 

[ctva]

Not suprised at cost-typical of Highlands Council who once tried to charge a fisherman at head of Loch Duich £500 pa to use a half washed away old jetty!

I'm not sure it's Highland Council as their facilities north of Kyle are good value, last year about £15 for two nights on a 10 m boat.

As to the price in Mallaig, huge rip off, possibly even more expensive than the pontoons in Tobermory!! With the plethora of superb anchorages within a stones throw, I do not understand why anyone would go there. In the first year the pontoons we were going to visit but took one look at the price and scored Mallaig off the list of places to visit.

 

[Quandary]

Mallaig Harbour has nothing to do with Highland Council but it is vastly overpriced for the facilities offered. A two night ticket from Highland Council is £1.55 a metre this year and you can use the second night at a different harbour. 7 quid a night for us. They charge £2 a night for leccy where they have it (Flowerdale) Loch Aline is a local association who got their funding from the same place as Mallaig (Malin Waters now Sail West) and have used it to put up an impressive shower/laundry block, pity that the mine is right on top of them and is working again so that you are up to your knees in silica sand.
The harbour authority at Mallaig claim that their facilities building is to be provided by the local laird (Cameron MacIntosh?) as his contribution to the development so it might be a long time coming. They were talking about a breakwater but that will never happen. The only reason to go in to Mallaig is to take on water and to buy cheap diesel from Johnstones but they shut at Sat. lunchtime so my water cost about 50p a litre, good night at Inverie though.
I am a fan of Highland Council, like Eilan Saar they do their best for yachties with pontoons and visitors moorings including providing diesel, all at fair rates, compare with Argyll and Bute who have abandoned all their moorings and have refused permission for more berths in the Crinan Canal and did their best to frustrate the efforts in Oban.