Moorings on the Firth of Clyde

The Firth of Clyde is one of the world's great natural cruising grounds — a vast sheltered sea loch system on Scotland's west coast, stretching some 100 kilometres from Glasgow's docklands out past Greenock and Dunoon to the open Atlantic at the Mull of Kintyre, encompassing the islands of Bute, Arran, Cumbrae and the Holy Loch. Managed by Clyde Port and a network of harbour authorities, the Firth offers an extraordinary concentration of marinas, yacht harbours and swinging moorings catering to one of the UK's strongest sailing communities. For boat owners, the long-stay choices are exceptional: Largs Yacht Haven (one of Europe's largest marinas), Inverkip Marina, Holy Loch Marina, Rhu Marina near Helensburgh, Troon Yacht Haven, Ardrossan Marina, Portavadie Marina on Loch Fyne and many more. The cruising waters are world-class — the Cumbraes, Arran, Bute, Kintyre, the Crinan Canal connection at Ardrishaig opening the Inner Hebrides, and onward passage to Mull, Skye and the Western Isles. Liveaboards thrive on the Clyde, with full marina amenity, vibrant sailing communities, excellent infrastructure and surprisingly good rail connectivity from Greenock, Helensburgh, Largs and Ardrossan back into Glasgow. Strong tides, occasional gales off the Atlantic and serious winter weather demand competence — but for any sea-going boat owner, the Firth of Clyde is a truly first-class home cruising ground.