Types of Mooring


Each mooring location is different; they range from urban locations to rural and village locations surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland. So, whether you are seeking the buzz of city living, the tranquillity of the woodlands and rolling countryside or the drama of the mountains we have it all. 

It is important to make sure that you choose a location that suits you and your vessel. 

  • Leisure Moorings
    Leisure Moorings are perfect for those who want to relax, unwind and travel the canals during their free time.
     
  • Winter Moorings
    Winter Moorings are available from the October to March. Berths are available across the network for a minimum of 3 months up to a maximum of 6 months.
      
  • Residential Moorings
    For those seeking a home on the water we have Residential Moorings on the Forth & Clyde Canal, Union Canal and at Seaport Marina on the Caledonian Canal.
     
  • Commercial Moorings
    If you want to run a business on the canals, we offer commercial moorings are on some waterways (subject to a Trading Agreement). 

Scottish Canals are always happy to discuss your requirements and ensure that we accommodate you at the most suitable location for you. 

 

Mooring allocation
 

We have waiting lists for some of our most popular moorings. If we don’t have a mooring available at your chosen location,  you can join the waiting list. When a suitable mooring becomes available, we will contact you. You then have 7 days to accept or refuse the offer. 

 

Mooring fees


Fees differ from location to location, the type of berth you are considering, whether it be residential, leisure or commercial and the type of boat you are buying. The moorings team will be able to give you an accurate breakdown of the fees for your berth and location. 
 

Navigation Licence fees


Your Navigation Licence allows you to navigate any of the Scottish Canals network for the term of your mooring. Your licence will detail the name of your boat, size of your boat, your mooring location and expiry date of the licence. 

The licence will be sent to you in the form of a paper disc that you need to display on both sides of your boat. This will 

When your licence is renewed, a new disc will be automatically sent to you. 

Regular boat checks will be undertaken throughout the year so please ensure your licence is prominently displayed on both sides of your boat so that it can be easily seen. 

If you do not receive your discs within 6 weeks of arriving on to the canal, please get in touch.

Enquire about a Location

Each location has different facilities and each mooring caters to different shapes and sizes of vessels. It is important to make sure that you pick a location that best suits you and your vessel. 

We have waiting lists for some of our most popular moorings. If we don’t have a mooring available at your chosen location,  you can join the waiting list. 

Submit your enquiry here

Licences and Moorings Terms and Conditions

Please refer to the Boating on Scotland's Canals Licences and Moorings Booklet for full Terms and Conditions.

Long-term licence

Boaters with a long-term mooring of three to twelve months also need a long-term Scottish Navigation Licence to keep and use the boat on our waterways. 

The licence is valid for the duration of your mooring permit, up to a maximum of twelve months, and covers our Highland Waterways (Crinan and Caledonian canals) and Lowland Waterways (Forth & Clyde and Union canals).

To apply for a licence you will need: 

  • Long Term mooring on the Canal network
  • A Boat Safety Certificate, MCA certificate of Declaration of Conformity for craft less than 4 years old. 
  • Insurance which covers third-party liabilities for at least two million pounds and costs of recovery if your vessel takes on water or sinks. 
half-circleicon-accessibleicon-adult-onlyicon-arrow-45icon-arrow-whiteicon-arrowicon-articon-boatingicon-campingicon-chandleryicon-charge-pointicon-checkmark-tickicon-chevron-thinicon-chevronicon-closedicon-closureicon-community-consultationicon-crossicon-cyclingicon-de-masting-craneicon-dog-friendlyicon-dog-walkingicon-downloadsicon-educationalicon-elsanicon-engineering-marvelicon-environmentalicon-eventsicon-facebookicon-family-friendly-pathicon-family-friendlyicon-fishingicon-food-drinkicon-fuelicon-grid-viewicon-hamburgericon-health-wellbeingicon-heritageicon-instagramicon-land-activitiesicon-landscaped-areaicon-laundryicon-linkedinicon-living-on-watericon-location-pinkicon-locationicon-menu-crossicon-navigation-affectedicon-nessieicon-newsicon-no-campingicon-no-swimmingicon-overnight-staysicon-paddlingicon-parkingicon-photo-pointicon-placemakingicon-playicon-plusicon-point-of-interesticon-pump-outicon-quotesicon-refuse-disposalicon-runningicon-safetyicon-searchicon-shoppingicon-showers-toiletsicon-storage-shedsicon-sustainabilityicon-swimmingicon-tickicon-ticketicon-toilets-neutralicon-toiletsicon-twittericon-volunteeringicon-walkingicon-warningicon-waste-oil-disposalicon-water-activitiesicon-water-supplyicon-wildlife-watchingicon-youtubelogo-bluelogo-white