Macduff

If arriving from the East, remain a good half mile off the coast....

.... opposite Macduff due to the Collie Rocks.NB those rocks are a popular spot for divers as it is littered with wrecks!!

We have included a view of Banff Bay when approaching from the East. If you can identify the small lighthouse on Banff pierhead and hold a course outside the line through that and the arch in the building above it you will remain clear of the Collie rocks. You may be tempted to cut inside the rocks, especially if you see a local yacht doing so but, be warned, some of the local yachties have their own individual lead in marks in Banff which they swear by and others never go inside them as a matter of course so as a visitor you would be advised to take passage outside!

The "inside" passage will save you five minutes at most and one doesn't have to rush to make "Last Orders" on Sunday lunchtime anymore, so it's not worth it. Just keep well off the coast and come round into the bay, lay a course towards the middle of Banff when clear of the Collies and when Macduff harbour entrance opens you can turn in towards it. When approaching Macduff, remember that the white lighthouse is on the port side and, as you can see from our photo, the harbour wall behind it is whitewashed; it is very easy to be confused at distance and set up a course towards the outside harbour wall to the left of the lighthouse.

From the West the approach is clear of dangers; you'll probably pick up the "Temple of Venus" on the hillside to the South of the harbour fairly early on in your approach (it'll be identifiable as you pass Whitehills) and as long as you haven't cut too close to Knock Head you can shape a course for this until the lighthouse on the pier becomes obvious.

The pierhead lighthouse is a sector light RWR and the white sector keeps you clear of the Collie Rocks and the shallows off Banff. The lead in marks up on the hillside behind the harbour are not immediately obvious; they have orange triangular topmarks and flash red at night; they are useful by night but difficult to pick out of the street lighting; by day, if you can see the lead in marks you'll probably have the harbour entrance in clear view and with a normal yacht draft you won't need to use them.

The photo of the entrance in our gallery has been taken from the right of the recommended approach line.

There does not have to be a very strong northerly set to the sea for there to be quite significant surf in this bay. In those conditions and from half tide that set can affect the harbour entrances of both Macduff and Banff (see our photo with a Force 5 to 6 blowing) – and in really strong conditions it can be almost impossible to get in without broaching. It may be best to drop your sails early in deep water rather than hang on to them until close in where you may be affected by the swell/surf.

At night you will have to rely on the sector light atop the east pierhead of Macduff to gain the harbour entrance as just about all the other lights are difficult to identify in amongst the street lights.