Dunstaffnage & Loch Etive
At a Glance
Dunstaffnage Marina 01631 566555, VHF M
At first glance it would appear that this marina is a bit off the
beaten track..........from Crinan to Fort William but, in fact, to
stop off here if making for the Canal would only add a couple of
miles on to one's passage. Your only problem is one of timing;
Corpach Sea Lock closes at 1800, going against the ebb through the
Corran Point narrows is not an option and I would hesitate before
going through the northern end of the Lynne of Lorne in the dark;
but that's part of the fun of cruising these waters!
The marina is an isolated, self contained unit in a bay two and a
half miles north of Oban; the entrance is uncomplicated and,
although they generally have visitors berths, at the height of the
summer season it would be wise to ring ahead and book. Having
mentioned its isolated position it would be unfair not to mention
the fact that they have an impressive array of on-sight yachting
related services encompassing all areas of yacht
servicing/maintenance for all types of hull construction. For
complete coverage of what is available visit their website and
download their year book at:
We have been getting a disturbing number of adverse reports about this marina; there appears to be a general "shrug of the shoulders" attitude to failures in service and a lack of maintenance of equipment
For general notes on cruising in these waters we have compiled an article which you can find on this site at:
Dunstaffnage & Loch Etive
Approach
Dunstaffnage Bay & Marina. There is a new wave break pontoon and buoyage here
..... which can be seen in our Navigation Images up on the right
hand menu. This has necessitated a change in the buoyage and the
approach to the marina pontoons. It is doubtful if the UKHO charts
will show this change until later in 2017 or possibly even 2018.
Use the one supplied in our Images or the one on the Marina website
(where we got ours!!)
The approach to the marina is through a channel between Eilean
Mòr (Big island) and Rubha Garbh. Coming from the South
there are no problems, just stay at least a cable off shore and
turn in when the entrance begins to open. From the North be very
aware of the reef extending out from the north arm of Ardmucknish
bay and use the back bearing supplied on the Admiralty chart (mind
you, a good chart plotter helps a bit!) Once you are through the
gap turn to Starboard and leave the two new PHM buoys to port and
turn in to the marina between the PHM and the new SHM. They ask
that you don't cut through the trots. You can enter round the NE
side of Eilean Mòr and Eilean Beag but when you look at
the depths, overfalls and swirls it really is not too good an
idea.
Loch Etive
We have not been into Loch Etive and cannot give advice on that
passage. The CCC Pilot devotes two pages to the Loch and I wouldn't
consider entering without a copy of that in the cockpit; suffice it
to say that you can only really consider passing under the Connel
Bridge at HW or LW slack and even then expect to have to correct
for the heavy swirls and eddies. Easytide provides tidal
information for Dunstaffnage, Connel and Bonawe and we are told
that the Bonawe times are the best to use for passage under the
bridge. There is a local website giving a pile of info about the
falls and you can find it via this link
Once in, the Loch extends fifteen miles inland into the heartland of Argyllshire providing stunning scenery and many coves for anchoring. Be aware that there are power cables with a minimum clearance of 12m over the Loch at the narrows at Bonawe. The trout fishing is said to be good here with the added advantage that you don't need a fishing permit as it is a sea loch. It's the sort of place that, if you have a boat moored in the area, it would provide a lovely place to explore over a long weekend. It has a fearsome reputation for squally, fluky winds
£ GMT
Waypoint
Charts
Rules & Regs
Hazards
Tides
Berthing
Apart from the marina in Dunstaffnage Bay it is possible.....
..... to anchor in the East of bay clear of the moorings but you will be very close to the traffic entering and leaving the marina. Other than that there is room to anchor in Camas Bruaich Ruaidhe but the next bay along from there is full of permanent moorings. Ardmucknish Bay can provide a good anchorage except in onshore conditions, as does Nathais Bay.
The marina asks that they be contacted in advance if you intend stopping there for a visit so that they can allocate a pontoon for you. It is also imperative that they be contacted if arrival will be "out of hours" (Reception closes at 1930 in the summer) because you will need to make arrangements to obtain a key fob for access to the amenities building (probably at the Wide Mouthed Frog). We have included a berthing plan in our gallery
Charges here (2022) are £3.00 per metre, per night.
Facilities
Whilst it provides all the services that you would expect of a
marina (and more) there is little else here. There are no services
inland from the marina although there is a village boasting a
village shop twenty minutes walk away, for anything else you will
have to travel to Oban for that (last bus back is at half
ten)
The marina has a chandlery which supplies most things including
both Calor and Camping Gaz (907s). Water and shore power is
available on all berths (power is £3.50 extra per night), they have
a diesel refuelling berth but no petrol (the nearest petrol station
is a good 3/4 of a mile away, which, with cans, is a good long
hike). There is the usual amenities block providing showers,
toilets and a laundrette.
Chandlers
Dunstaffnage Marina Ltd
Dunbeg
Argyll
PA37 1PX
What to Do
There is a restaurant franchise at the marina called the "Wide Mouthed Frog" (don't ask) which has a bar, bistro and hotel bedrooms. The village does not appear to have an hostelry. For anything else you would either have to bus or taxi to Oban. The bus is fairly regular, takes about fifteen minutes and the last one back is just after half ten.
Basically you get the same here as you would at Oban Marina on
Kerrera Island except that the ferry there is free and the mooring
fee at Oban is marginally cheaper. But you get what you pays for -
Dunstaffnage is just that little bit more "swep up" than Oban
marina in most areas.
History
Local Business
Sailmakers-Repair-and-Covers
Owen Sails
Tralee Bay
Benderloch
Benderloch
PA37 1QR
This West Coast company is renowned in North and West Scotland and is the go to place for all aspects of sail-care and rigging. They also make all the boat covers, biminis, dodgers etc associated with yachting.
Uncategorised
Owen Sails
Tralee Bay
Benderloch
Benderloch
PA37 1QR
This West Coast company is renowned in North and West Scotland and is the go to place for all aspects of sail-care and rigging. They also make all the boat covers, biminis, dodgers etc associated with yachting.
Dunstaffnage Marina Ltd
Dunbeg
Argyll
PA37 1PX
Tide Information for dunstaffnage
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