This page provides information on the local facilities available at each harbour along the Forth Estuary. This page should not be referred to for navigation purposes, always use official charts for this purpose.
Aberdour Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal access. Can be entered 2 hours either side of HW (56°03.0’N, 03°17.3’W)
Approach:
Approach from South through to East has no problems. From SW come between Little Craig and shore, keeping within 25 yds off Little Craig
Anchorages & Moorings:
Moorings available & can tie up alongside pier in HW
Facilities:
Power; adjacent to the harbour there are shops, pubs and restaurants
Local restaurants:
Room with a View
The Woodside Hotel
The Aberdour Hotel
Photo Gallery:
Anstruther Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 hours either side of HW (56°13.1’N, 02°41.6’W)
Approach:
Approach from East round to SW, keep eye out for lobster pots and rocks to West of entrance
Anchorages & Moorings:
Visitor berths are available, please phone ahead to Harbourmaster
Facilities:
Power, toilets & showers, restaurant & pub
Skipper’s note:
Our catamaran (1.15M draft) can get to the inner hammer head with 3.5M of water. Half tide but no later!
Local restaurants:
Anstruther Fish Bar
The Cellar
The Rockies Restaurant
The Waterfront
The Anstruther Boathouse
The Dreel Tavern
Photo Gallery:
Blackness Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2 hours either side of HW (56°00’N, 03°31’W)
Approach:
Approach pier from North, be aware of reef to NW of pier, covered at HW
Anchorages & Moorings:
Berthing alongside pier usable 2 hours either side of HW
Facilities:
Water, telephone, dinghy park & slip; pub & shop in adjacent village
Photo Gallery:
Boness Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 hours either side of HW (56°01.4’N, 03°36.4’W)
Approach:
Approach from North/NE, be aware of submerged obstructions beyond end of West Pier
Anchorages & Moorings:
Berth just inside East Pier
Facilities:
Shops & restaurants nearby in town centre
Local restaurants:
Photo Gallery:
Burntisland Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°03.2’N, 03°14.1’W)
Approach:
Approach from SE round to West
Anchorages & Moorings:
Inner docks closed to visitors. Yacht moorings at sailing club are restricted to members. Temporary berthing available alongside inner face of East breakwater at ladders
Facilities:
Water at sailing club, telephone at station, full range of pubs & shops in town
Local restaurants:
Photo Gallery:
Cellardyke Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 hours either side of HW (56°13.3’N, 02°40.6’W)
Approach:
Enter West of North, keeping about 30m off East breakwater
Anchorages & Moorings:
Pier for mooring
Facilities:
Telephone, pub & restaurant beside harbour
Charlestown Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 hours either side of HW (56°02.0’N, 03°30.1’W)
Approach:
The approach from the main channel from SE round to SW is completely free of dangers
Anchorages & Moorings:
Inner harbour is badly silted and contains many old houseboats, and is not recommended for visiting yachts. A more secure berth is against the inner face of the West breakwater
Facilities:
Telephone, water, shop & hotel in village
Photo Gallery:
Crail Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 3 hours either side of HW (56°15.3’N, 02°37.4’W)
Approach:
Approach via narrow channel on leading line – leading marks are white painted stone beacons on steep grassy slope above harbour
Anchorages & Moorings:
Against quay as directed by Harbourmaster. Good fenders required for rough stone walls
Facilities:
Pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
Golf Hotel
Reilly Shellfish
East Neuk Hotel Bar and Restaurant
Cramond Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted (55°59’N, 03°18’W)
Approach:
Approach via the bed of the River Almond to the west of Cramond Island. Follow poles 1-7 up the river and then enter mid channel between the lines of moored yachts.
Anchorages & Moorings:
Lie alongside the quay on the east side of the river, or arrange temporary mooring with Cramond Boat Club
Facilities:
Showers, payphone, slipway and dinghy park. Restaurant and bar located at the Cramond Inn
Local Restaurants:
The Cramond Inn
Dalgety Bay Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted (56°02’N, 03°20’W)
Approach:
Avoid Haystack and Thanks Rocks
Anchorages & Moorings:
Mooring alongside Braefoot Pier, anchorage behind Braefoot Point, anchorage and guest moorings off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club
Facilities:
Water, toilets, showers, bar, slip & dinghy park; telephone, pub & shops in adjacent town
Local restaurants:
Marrone’s
Louie Brown’s
Photo Gallery:
Elie Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 either side of HW (56°11.2’N, 02°49.2’W)
Approach:
From the West keep clear of the West Vows and head for the Granary. From the East keep approximately 100m outside Elie Ness and the Apple Rock from which the pier rises
Anchorages & Moorings:
There is an anchorage in the bay off the pier. There are visitor berths by the granary quay
Facilities:
Showers and catering facilities are available at the Clubhouse. There is a slip, water, and electric points at the Granary. Shops, restaurants, pubs and B&B’s are located in the adjacent village.
Local restaurants:
The Ship Inn
The 19th Hole Earlsferry
Photo Gallery:
Granton Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (55°59.3’N, 03°13.2’W)
Approach:
Approach from North. Look out for boats concealed behind breakwater
Anchorages & Moorings:
Visitor berths in East Harbour, moorings in West Harbour
Facilities:
Toilets & showers, water, diesel, dinghy launch, chandlery
Photo Gallery:
Hawes Pier
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (55°59’N, 03°23’W)
Approach:
Approach from North to avoid shallows on West side of pier
Anchorages & Moorings:
Berthing alongside pier
Facilities:
Shops, pubs & restaurants, fuel and telephone all available adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
The Railbridge Bistro
Harry Ramsden’s
Photo Gallery:
Inchcolm Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access
Approach:
From the SE approach between Carr Craig and Inchcolm, keeping clear of the reef extending off East point. From NW head for, and pass very close to, Swallow Craig before turning into piers
Anchorages & Moorings:
Two piers – one only suitable at high tide as is meant for the ferry
Facilities:
Historic Scotland 12th Century abbey, toilets, emergency telephone at custodian’s house
Photo Gallery:
Inchkeith Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°01.8’N, 03°08.4’W)
Approach:
Approach from West. Be careful of rocks extending seaward to North and South
Anchorages & Moorings:
Anchorage on East side, abandoned pier on other side of island
Facilities:
N/A. This island is abandoned, if exercising your right to roam, be aware of the dangers
Photo Gallery:
Inverkeithing Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°01.3’N, 03°22.2’W)
Approach:
From St David’s Beacon head West, then turn into harbour towards white pub
Anchorages & Moorings:
Anchorage only
Facilities:
Shops & restaurants in nearby town centre
Isle of May
Accessibility:
Full tidal access. Landings restricted to between 10:00 and 17:00 due to being a nature reserve (56°11’N, 02°33’W)
Approach:
Can be approached close-to except off the North Ness and between the Maiden Hair Rock and the South Ness where there are rocks
Anchorages & Moorings:
Anchorages off Altarstanes Landing or in East Tarbert Bay. There are two landings: one at Altarstanes Rock and one at Kirkhaven. Landing elsewhere must be avoided at all times to prevent disturbance to wildlife
Facilities:
N/A
Photo Gallery:
Kinghorn Bay
Accessibility:
Full tidal access
Approach:
Approach from SSW keeping about 75m off cliffs on West side to avoid Hummel Rocks on East
Anchorages & Moorings:
Temporary anchorage but not suitable for overnight stay
Facilities:
N/A
Local restaurants:
Photo Gallery:
Kirkcaldy Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 4 hours either side of HW (56°06.7’N, 03°08.7’W)
Approach:
From East round to South, beware of sewer and beacon to SSE of East Pierhead
Anchorages & Moorings:
Berth at moorings in inner harbour, quay walls have ladders
Facilities:
Shops, pubs & restaurants nearby in town
Local restaurants:
The Waterfront Restaurant
La Gondala Restaurant
Photo Gallery:
Limekilns Capernaum Pier
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 3 hours before HW until 2 hours after HW (56°01.5’N, 03°28.8’W)
Approach:
Approach from South, be aware of reefs lying to East and West of pier
Anchorages & Moorings:
Moorings, limited space for berthing at two pontoons
Facilities:
Water, electricity, pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Photo Gallery:
Limekilns Town Pier
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2 hours either side of HW (56°02’N, 03°29’W)
Approach:
Approach from S to SW, be aware of the reef to the South and East of the pier
Anchorages & Moorings:
Moorings only
Facilities:
Pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
The Ship Inn
Limekilns Hotel and Bistro
Photo Gallery:
Newhaven Harbour
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 3 hours either side of HW (55°59’N, 03°12’W)
Approach:
Approach from NW to N. Be careful of breakwaters in strong North-Westerley winds
Anchorages and Moorings:
Moorings & anchorage, temporary berthing against slipway. Must contact Harbourmaster to secure permission to moor
Facilities:
Telephone and water; shops, pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
The Fishmarket
Loch Fyne Restaurant & Bar
North Queensferry
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2 hours either side of HW (56°00’N, 03°23’W)
Approach:
No unmarked off-lying dangers on approach
Anchorages & Moorings:
Can berth along East side of Town Pier but be prepared to move when commercial boats call
Facilities:
Pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
The Wee Restaurant
The Shore
Ferrybridge Hotel
Photo Gallery:
Pettycur Bay
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 1.5 hours either side of HW (56°04’N, 03°10’W)
Approach:
From South give pierhead 30m berth to avoid patch of stones at end
Anchorages & Moorings:
Harbour not advised for yachts drawing more than 1m. Berthing difficult due to local boats and moorings
Facilities:
Toilet & tap at pier head; all other facilities in adjacent village of Kinghorn
Pittenweem Harbour
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°12.4’N, 02°43.6’W)
Approach:
The leading marks are an 8m high red and white lit pole at NE end of inner harbourand a 3m high ditto at end of middle pier. Line of beacons mark rocks on West side of channel
Anchorages & Moorings:
Yachts must consult Harbourmaster before berthing at West end of inner harbour
Facilities:
Pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
The Dory Bistro and Gallery
The Larachmhor Tavern
Photo Gallery:
Port Edgar Marina
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°00.0’N, 03°24.5’W)
Approach:
From North into harbour, avoid extending piers and the floating breakwater
Anchorages & Moorings:
Visitor berths
Facilities:
Fuel, power, water, laundry, toilets & showers, cafe, chandlery
Local restaurants:
Photo Gallery:
South Queensferry
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 3.5/4 hours either side of HW (55°59’N, 03°24’W)
Approach:
Approach is free of obstruction, although make sure to avoid the rocks to the West of the entrance
Anchorages & Moorings:
Lie alongside the quay
Facilities:
Water, telephone; shops, pubs & restaurants adjacent to the harbour
Local restaurants:
St David’s (Dalgety Bay)
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 3.5 hours either side of HW
Approach:
From St David’s Beacon approach due North to harbour entrance
Anchorages & Moorings:
Anchorage only
Facilities:
N/A
St Monans
Accessibility:
Tidal so access is restricted. Can be entered 2.5 hours either side of HW (56°12.1’N, 02°45.8’W)
Approach:
The harbour is approached from SSW and entry is midway between West Outer Beacon and outer East breakwater
Anchorages & Moorings:
Visitor berths are at South Quay East Harbour but consult Harbourmaster before berthing
Facilities:
Telephone, toilets, and fuel at harbour; shops, pubs & hotel in village
Local restaurants:
Photo Gallery:
West Wemyss
Accessibility:
Full tidal access (56°08’N, 03°05’W)
Approach:
Approach pierhead from SW to avoid sunken training wall (marked by beacon). Keep close to end of pierhead, avoiding end of semi-submerged North breakwater (marked by pole).
Anchorages & Moorings:
Berthing may be available near steps or ladders on inner face of pier
Facilities:
Telephone & hotel in nearby village