Coming by boat
Practical info for visitors arriving on their own boat — moorings, facilities, and what to expect.
Honest note before you arrive
Cumbrae has very limited dedicated boating infrastructure — there's no proper visitor marina on the island. Most visiting sailors berth at Largs Yacht Haven on the mainland (full marina facilities) and take the ferry across. Information below is for those wanting to spend time at anchor in Millport Bay or use the small Cumbrae facilities directly.
All info on this page should be verified against the latest Imray or Reeds Almanac before you sail. Use this as a starting point, not navigation.
Anchoring
Millport Bay (south coast of the island) is the traditional anchorage. Reasonably sheltered from north and west winds. Exposed to southerlies — head to a proper berth at Largs Yacht Haven if a southerly is forecast.
The bottom is mostly sand and mud — generally good holding. Avoid the area immediately off the pier where there's reportedly some weed.
⚠️ Approximate guidance only. Consult chart 2491 (Firth of Clyde) and your almanac.
Visitor moorings
A small number of visitor mooring buoys are sometimes available in Millport Bay — colour-coded for visitors. Numbers and availability vary year to year. Contact the Millport Sailing Club ahead of arrival for current details and fees.
Confirmed for 2026 season: contact details and current mooring availability to follow. We're working with the local sailing community to keep this accurate.
Dinghy ashore
Old Pier (Newton Pier area)— the easiest landing point for a tender. Steps down to water level on the east side. Don't leave a dinghy tied to the pier itself for long periods at low water — risk of grounding.
Sand beach at Kames Bay — wheel a dinghy up the beach above high water.
Onshore facilities
- Public toilets
- Millport seafront, near Garrison House. Open through the day in season.
- Fresh water
- Standpipe at the seafront — confirm availability with the sailing club.
- Showers
- Limited on Cumbrae itself. Most visiting boats use Largs Yacht Haven facilities.
- Provisioning
- Co-op on Glasgow Street, plus the seafront shops. Pubs and cafés along the seafront.
- Fuel
- Not available on Cumbrae for boats. Nearest fuel berth: Largs Yacht Haven.
- Refuse
- Bins along Millport seafront.
Largs Yacht Haven (full marina, 5 minutes by ferry)
Most visiting yachts berth at Largs Yacht Haven on the mainland and take the CalMac ferry across to Cumbrae as foot passengers — gives you all the facilities of a proper marina (showers, laundry, fuel, repair) plus easy day-access to the island.
Largs Yacht Haven →Local sailor? Help us get this right.
We're building this page in partnership with the Cumbrae sailing community. If something here is out of date or wrong, please email keithtrmurray@gmail.com and we'll update it immediately.