By Sea

Entrance to Dunstaffnage Bay from the Firth of Lorne is the passage leaving Dunstaffnage Castle on starboard and the island Eilean Mor to port. Navigation Lights are fixed on both Castle and island foreshores.

Entrance to Marina is by following the fairway in a direction of 150 degrees leaving green marker buoys to starboard. After second buoy, the Marina Fairway should be apparent on a course of 270 degrees.

Strong currents exist in the bay due to the effect of tidal flow in Loch Etive. The prevailing current follows the shores of the Bay in an anti-clockwise direction.

Please do not attempt to cut through the Moorings on your approach to the Marina and please show consideration to other users by not exceeding 4 knots within the anchorage and bay.

We are located on the shores of Dunstaffnage Bay overlooking Dunstaffnage Castle at the entrance to Loch Etive. The prefix dun in the name Dunsaffnage means “fort” in Gaelic, while the rest of the name derives from Norse stafr-nis, “headland of the staff” meaning masts. Dunstaffnage Bay offered safe anchorage and a beach for galleys for hundreds of years; today we like to think we provide a unique range of extra services too.

Just 3 miles from Oban, the gateway to the Western Isles, Dunstaffnage is easily accessible by road, rail and ferry or by private aircraft to and from Oban Airport at North Connel just 2 miles away.

The Marina has excellent facilities with 180 fully serviced berths able to accommodate yachts or motor vessels up to 25 metres by prior arrangement. We have winter storage ashore for up to 170 vessels, up to a maximum of 18 tons.

All Marina Services are ISO 9001 accredited and our workshops facilities enable us to project manage your servicing & maintenance requirements. All work is carried out by our dedicated team of employees and includes engineering both mechanical and electrical also varnishing, polishing and refinishing. Our approved sub contractors are available to enhance the service we provide our customers.

The on site Restaurant, Bistro and Bar is the “Wide Mouthed Frog” know affectionately as The Frog is the meeting place for many wishing to have either a pre-cruise or end of cruise calibration. The Frog has a reputation for innovative and creative cuisine by using the very best of local Scottish produce, including Beef, Lamb and Seafood with Vegetarian Options to suit all.

Bookings for meals or accommodation can be taken whether you are afloat or ashore.
We hope this website will help you to enjoy your stay at Dunstaffnage and that you will wish to return to us in the near future.

Dunstaffnage Marina is the best location on the West Coast of Scotland due to its geographic position close to Oban, communication links and tidal conditions that allow access to the North and West at all times.

Berthing

We have year round berths available for yachts up to 20 mtrs LOA. Visitor berths are always available and with prior booking can offer short term berthing for craft up to 25 mtrs LOA Weather permitting. The majority of berths are suitable at all states of the tide with fresh water and electricity supply. We supply only D grade Marine Diesel which is Bio-fuel free and is dispensed from the fuel berth on hammerhead “D” throughout the working day.

Winter Ashore

Our yard accommodates approximately 170 boats either on cradles or on shores. Our policy is to store boats with their masts removed although recently we have considered vessels stored in cradles can be permitted to keep their masts up. Water and electricity pick ups are available throughout the storage area.

Winter Afloat

Winter berthing is also provided on the pontoons between 1st October and 31st March at reduced rates within the area protected by the outer breakwater pontoons.

Lifting Facilities

We have a comprehensive lifting facility and can operate several hours each side of high water depending on draft. Our new Wise Slipway Hoist has a lifting capacity of 40 tonne with a maximum beam of 6.2 mtrs, and our older machine has a lifting capacity of 18 tonne and will take boats with up to a 4 metre beam. We have fixed derrick which is used for mast removal and stepping.

Yacht Services

Service and Repairs

We regularly carry out:

• Engine renewals and repairs
• Hull repairs in wood, steel and grp
• Stainless steel fabrication
• Painting and interior refurbishment
• Day to day servicing and repairs

Our workshop and repair facilities are second to none, we are an ISO 9001 accredited business able to project manage all types of work no job is too large or small. Over the past few years we have developed our workshop facilities, with investment in training of personnel to City and Guild level, also in plant and machinery including our 40tonne hoist which has changed the business enabling us handle larger leisure craft, catamarans and working vessels.

Chandlery 
We have an onsite chandlery Shop @ West Coast within the marina reception, we stock most items you may require, from Dubarry footwear, Douglas Gill clothing, brass and bronze engine room fittings, oils, paints and varnishes. If it’s not in stock we can get it usually by the next day.

Diving Services

Oban is a premier UK diving location, with thousands of visiting divers using the area each year to exploring the many different wrecks, reefs, drop-offs and drift dives that can be found amongst the islands of the Firth Lorn and the Sound of Mull.

We offer the ideal base for diving groups with:

• Onsite accommodation
• Restaurant and bar facilities
• Slipway facilities
• Pontoon berthing
• Laundry and drying facilities
• Parking facilities
• Sheltered waters for training if required
• Dive charter boat facilities

Air and Nitrox are readily available from local dive business in the Oban, where diving courses can be arranged to enhance your skills and new equipment is offered for sale for divers wishing to upgrade or replace worn gear.