Moorings on the River Tay

The River Tay is Scotland's longest river, draining an enormous catchment from Loch Tay in the Highlands through Aberfeldy, Dunkeld and Perth before broadening into the Tay Estuary at Dundee and out into the North Sea. The navigable section is essentially the lower river and estuary — sea-going vessels can reach Perth at high water on a careful passage, and the estuary itself offers cruising waters between Dundee and the open sea. For boat owners, the Tay is sea-going Scottish water at its most evocative: huge skies, salmon leaping at Stanley, the silvery Tay broadening past Dundee's V&A waterfront and out toward the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Long-stay moorings are available at Perth Harbour and at Tay Street Quay (limited facilities), with serviced berths more readily found at Dundee's Royal Tay Yacht Club, Broughty Ferry and at marinas on the Forth to the south. The Tay suits sailing yachts, motor cruisers and capable river boats with the right experience for tidal Scottish waters — currents around the Tay Bridges are formidable, and bar conditions at the estuary mouth need care. Liveaboards based at Perth combine river-side living with the Highland gateway, mainline rail to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, and proximity to the Cairngorms and Loch Tay's inland cruising. A wild, large-scale Scottish waterway for the prepared boater.