Scotland - Where should I aim to keep my boat?

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G12

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Hi Everyone,

I am looking to tap into the collective experience of Scottish waters. I am just about to move from West Cornwall to near Aberdeen for work reasons and at some point later this year my boat will be following me (with me at the helm hopefully!). My dilemma is where to try and put her. I will need somewhere that doesn't dry because she's a fin and I would prefer a marina really but if there is a great spot on a swinging mooring then so be it.
I know the West coast offers some amazing cruising ground but that's a fair old drive from Aberdeen. The east coast doesn't seem to have too much to offer - or does it?
I've tried Peterhead marina - they're full, Lossiemouth Marina won't answer the phone or emails and so I'm looking for suggestions/advice on where else I should be looking. I was thinking of putting her in Inverness marina if they had room but was advised that the sailing around there isn't up to all that much. What does everyone think?
Boat is 28ft and draws 5ft1in. She can stay in Falmouth until July which is when I was thinking of having a trip around Lands End and up North.

Thanks,

Geoff.

EDIT:- I am aware that any places suggested may be full but its good to have something to work towards.
 
Inverness wouldn't be a bad place to start, even if you subsequently get bored and move on.

Maybe try Stonehaven (can't remember what depth they have there, but accessible for Aberdeen)
 
What sort of trips do you prefer? Days out, overnights/weekends, longer cruises?

What sort of place do you want to be? Marina, harbour, swinging mooring?

The big problem, as you'll have seen, is the Grampians, which block any sort of quick route from Aberdeen to the west. Not necessarily a big problem if you can face driving to Fort William and back a couple of times for longer trips, but not if a quick weekend away on a good forecast is your thing.
 
In a similar situation living close to Aberdeen and I've gone for the Inverness option. I've always found I have enough places to go to keep me occupied. Admittedly not like the West, but some nice cruising ground all the same and very quiet. You have got a number of otpions for weekend trips (Lossie, Cromarty, Golspie, Helmsdale, Whitehills, Lybster, Nairn, Findhorn etc) longer period onboard you have got Wick, Orkney and Shetland as well as the option to go through the canal to the West. I guess in all things there is a wee bit of compromise. I didn't want the 4 - 4.5 hours drive across to the West so make do with what I have up here. I can get up to Inverness in around 2 hrs from the west of Aberdeen, which is probably on the limit of the amount of travelling I want to do to get to the boat.

Your probably best e-mailing Lossie at this time of year, you can get the e-mail addresses from their web page.

I know Inverness are very nearly full so if you are interested then best give David Findlay a ring.

cheers
 
I like all sorts of trips really but in reality I will be restricted to weekends and perhaps the odd week or two here and there. When I'm afloat I prefer to be where everyone else isn't, unless its blowing old boots. I tend to anchor pretty much everywhere in nice quiet spots. To me Marinas are like garages. You put the boat there when you've finished using her and want to keep her safe or when you want to work on her.
I think a marina would be best as there will be periods where the boat will be left unattended and it's good to have a heater and dehumidifier running in the winter.
As for distance, closer would be better but then if the drive is worth it to the West coast then so be it.

Doghousekeeper - Stonehaven would be good but it dries....
 
G12 said:
I like all sorts of trips really but in reality I will be restricted to weekends and perhaps the odd week or two here and there. When I'm afloat I prefer to be where everyone else isn't, unless its blowing old boots. I tend to anchor pretty much everywhere in nice quiet spots. To me Marinas are like garages. You put the boat there when you've finished using her and want to keep her safe or when you want to work on her.
I think a marina would be best as there will be periods where the boat will be left unattended and it's good to have a heater and dehumidifier running in the winter.
As for distance, closer would be better but then if the drive is worth it to the West coast then so be it.

Doghousekeeper - Stonehaven would be good but it dries....
Click to expand...

Limited anchorages on East Coast, and little protection.
Old Boots quotient quite high too.

Plenty of peaceful swinging mooring in lovely bays and a myriad of quiet anchorage potential.
 
FullCircle said:
Sign on at www.bluemoment.com and ask over there.
They have a few guys on the East Coast of Scotland.

My suggestion is moor on the West Coast and pay out for the petrol......
Click to expand...

Seconded. You can drive 180 miles in 4 hours or sail 20. Clyde or West Coast will offer endless opportunities. But if you are only into day sailing or weekends probably better sticking to east coast.
 
Whitehills. Great little marina just round the corner from Peterhead

I spent a couple of days sailing in the Moray Firth last year and was very impressed. It also has the advantage of only being a (long) days sail to Orkney and then another day to the Shetlands.

There's weeks of excellent cruising to be had in the Northern Isles.

The drive from Aberdeen to the West Coast is a killer. Cross country, great scenery, but very slow. I once did Western Ardnamurchan to Aberdeen and back in a day, never again.
 
.
If Lossie and Peterhead are full have you tried Whitehills? Inverness is a bit of a dead end and a long way from anywhere for weekend cruising, but OK for longer trips to Orkney etc. The big advantage is that it is only 2 days through the canal to the West.

It's a long drive to Oban but I reckon it's worth it, even for a weekend. Many others have come to the same conclusion.

- W
 
I'm at Banff http://www.banffmarina.com/ which is great but I think they're full. You could try Whitehills, that has 24 hour access. http://www.whitehillsharbour.co.uk/webcam-images.php

Most Moray Firth harbours either dry or have limited access. I know the marinas seem to fill up pretty quickly. Another option is Findochty http://www.fwsc.co.uk/

The west is great but it's a 4 hour drive to get anywhere. Abz to Inverness is 2 hrs plus on a good day. Depends on how much time you want to spend in the car really.

Give me a pm if you like.
 
Whitehills is a nice place. I went there last summer and the reception and facilities were superb. There looked like there were a few places left too.

Im from Wick, which has a lovely new Marina with 30 odd spaces left yet. All tide access and theres an airport with direct daily links to Aberdeen. You could be on the yacht within the hour from leaving home!!
 
Even Chance said:
Whitehills is a nice place. I went there last summer and the reception and facilities were superb. There looked like there were a few places left too.

Im from Wick, which has a lovely new Marina with 30 odd spaces left yet. All tide access and theres an airport with direct daily links to Aberdeen. You could be on the yacht within the hour from leaving home!!
Click to expand...

And several hundred pounds lighter when Eastern Air have squeezed you dry!!
 
Quite agree. I can do Whitehills by car from Inverurie Aberdeenshire in about 45mins. Great little harbour marina with excellent clean facilities and VERY reasonable prices! Nice people. Just for variety, I will however be summering this year at Portavadie Marina Loch Fyne (5 hours-ish drive) for a change of cruising grounds and wintering in Inverness Marina (2 hours drive) next winter (space booked). I have my eye on summering in Croabh Haven (5 hours drive) for the 2012 season, again just for variety. Transiting the canal/s I see as a pleasure and part of the whole experience.
Cheers
cdogg
 
Underwater CCTV

Talking of things we don't need: Just bought a Maplins under-water cctv kit http://www.maplin.co.uk/underwater-...em-223963?tabid=1&criteria=usb&c=so&u=strat15 Brilliant!! Tape it to a pole and stick it in the water and you get a full colour view of the bottom of the boat/prop/rudder everything clear as a bell, comes in a case with monitor and led lights on the camera.(£140)
Impaler said:
Doh! I forgot that, must get online and buy something I don't need!!
Click to expand...
 
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