Pontoons on west side of Outer Hebrides

[AngusMcDoon]

Previously there was nothing out there, but now there is - a small facility on Great Bernera...

pontoons - Great Bernera

It's a wild woolly swelly place on the outer side of the Outers, and few go there. It's a long way from help if you need it. The nearest all weather lifeboat is 3 hours away by sea in Stornoway. I'd hoped to get to Great Bernera this year but the weather didn't play ball. Next year maybe.

 

[dunedin]

Interesting, is that in Kirkibost?

There has been a small pontoon at nearby Miavaig for a while- albeit mostly full of local boats, they found a space for me when there (like you, wasn’t this year due to weather).

 

[Sea Change]

Previously there was nothing out there, but now there is - a small facility on Great Bernera...

pontoons - Great Bernera

It's a wild woolly swelly place on the outer side of the Outers, and few go there. It's a long way from help if you need it. The nearest all weather lifeboat is 3 hours away by sea in Stornoway. I'd hoped to get to Great Bernera this year but the weather didn't play ball. Next year maybe.

If you're looking for a pontoon on the west side there's also Mariveg in Uig.

Edit- Dunedin beat me to it

 

[NormanS]

If you're looking for a pontoon on the west side there's also Mariveg in Uig.

Edit- Dunedin beat me to it

Just avoid confusion, it's Miavaig.

 

[ctva]

Thanks for sharing.

I think the weather didn't play ball for anyone this year.

 

[NormanS]

Both the Loch Roags, where these facilities are, (East and West) provide excellent cruising anchorages, but as Angus pointed out, they're quite a long way from anywhere else. Access is either by Gallan Head or the Butt of Lewis, both can be challenging, but in favourable conditions, - pussy cats. For extreme adventurers, there's also Little Loch Roag, but it's not very attractive.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Finally made it there. Only the third visiting boat this year.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Here's an update on what's available. The community have put years of effort in to get this going so they deserve a shout.

The pontoons have water and electricity. There's always depth on the outer ends for keelboats. Two berths are available for visitors. There is a new smart shower building with showers and toilets. Soon to come are washing machines. These facilities are shared with 4 camper van plots. Electric bike hire available. Diesel is managed by the council and currently needs a council tag but the community will be obtaining their own tag for visitors to use. There are 2 new lit buoys in the approach and one on the end of the pontoon so arriving at night will be possible with care. Shelter from swell here is perfect in all directions. It's a small enclosed loch and no swell gets in.

Callum who runs it all hopes that it will be a good launching point for trips to The Faeroes and Iceland. Setting out from here avoids the tidal shenanigans at the Butt of Lewis and is 15 miles shorter than from Stornoway.

 

[Concerto]

Well done. In a few years time I might try and visit.

 

[jlavery]

Here's an update on what's available. The community have put years of effort in to get this going so they deserve a shout.

The pontoons have water and electricity. There's always depth on the outer ends for keelboats. Two berths are available for visitors. There is a new smart shower building with showers and toilets. Soon to come are washing machines. These facilities are shared with 4 camper van plots. Electric bike hire available. Diesel is managed by the council and currently needs a council tag but the community will be obtaining their own tag for visitors to use. There are 2 new lit buoys in the approach and one on the end of the pontoon so arriving at night will be possible with care. Shelter from swell here is perfect in all directions. It's a small enclosed loch and no swell gets in.

Callum who runs it all hopes that it will be a good launching point for trips to The Faeroes and Iceland. Setting out from here avoids the tidal shenanigans at the Butt of Lewis and is 15 miles shorter.

Thanks - worth knowing. We're planning on the Faroes in 2027.

 

[ctva]

Finally made it there. Only the third visiting boat this year.

View attachment 196211

Next year,

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Next year,

The 2 new red buoys are too recent to appear on any chart yet - maybe next year they will. They are both Fl (1) R 5s, synchronized to flash together. The outer one can be seen below.


The old red pole mark is still there but its light extinguished and should be ignored. The green remains as before but there are rocks off it. Best approach is to stay close to the 2 new reds marks.