Lochboisdale and Notes on Castlebay (Barra)
At a Glance
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Contacts
Lochboisdale Port Manager Donald Currie 07586 787678 VHF
80
Caste Bay Marina +44( 0)7932 748
077 or
+44(0)1871810925 VHF
#80
Lochboisdale and Castle Bay Marina are harbours in the Outer
Hebrides which have risen to the opportunity offered by the
cruising sailor. All Pilot Books and charts, published prior to
2015 are out of date and could be misleading.
Castle Bay is on the South end of Barra. Scroll down to the Further Berthing and Anchoring section for details.
Lochboisdale at the Southern tip of South Uist
facing East is a deep water loch which is also the terminus of the
Mallaig to Lochboisdale ferry. This, basically, was its raison
d'être; there were a few visitors buoys and sheltered
anchorages within the loch and precious little ashore in the way of
provisioning or bunkering.
In the last couple of years they have built a causeway between
Rubha Bhuailt and Gasay via Cap Rock and built two protecting
breakwaters forming a sheltered marina with an entrance facing
North into the loch. The green SHM inside the Sgeir Rock remains
in place. They've flattened the west end of Gasay to form a
service area for the marina which is being developed and at the
same time piled the spoil from that on the East end of Gasay
providing even more shelter from Easterlies. Those in the know
have already purchased long term berths here because, with a ferry
link directly to Oban, it has suddenly become a desirable place to
base one's boat for exploring the West Coast especially as there
are plans for a boatyard here as well.
The marina opened in 2015 and is still under development. Basic
services are already in place and they are working on things like
provisioning as it is nearly three quarters of a mile walk (no
public transport) to the nearest shop round the bay (which does
very, very basic provisions) and a £10 return journey to the local
"super-market".
It's an ambitious project but already the equal of any marina on
the English Channel.
There are plans to replace the existing ferry terminal and this
will involve new building work on the South side of Gasay which
they hope to be completed by 2023. This should not affect the
marina but I would imagine there will be a fair amount of
construction traffic on the road from the village
Their website can be found at www.lochboisdaleharbour.com
Lochboisdale and Notes on Castlebay (Barra)
Approach
Approach to LochBoisdale
The Channel to the North of Gasay Island has been declared as Rule 9 and vessels over 20m in length or 3m draft should be considered as "constrained by their draft". This includes all the Calmac ferries to and fro the Roro jetty. All vessels to which Rule 9 applies will broadcast their intentions on #16 and smaller vessels should give way to them. In addition the PHM on the marina breakwater has been augmented with Red traffic lights. When these are at red no vessel may leave the marina.
An approach from our waypoint on 265°M will keep you clear of
any hazards until you can see the Calmac pier which you can then
head towards until the marina opens to port. The SHM (Fl.G.3s) is
very prominent and a good aiming point if you can pick it up. You
will have the usual problem in this part of the world of
distinguishing the "openings" and islets against the background of
towering hills. There is a sector light in the vicinity of the
Ro-ro pier which may be of help.
You will not be able to see the masts of yachts in the marina
during the approach until they start appearing around the North
side of Gasay in the final part of your approach and you can run in
from the SHM. Ignore the 1.5m sounding off the marina entrance on
old charts - that's now part of the marina breakwater!!
Further out if you are coming from the North lay a course well
outside Stuley Island to avoid the off lying dragons (I know
there's a lovely 16m high sector light on Calvay Island, but in
broad daylight the edge of that island is indistinguishable from
the background until you are well past Stuley) but, in good
visibility there's no reason you can't hug the coast whilst at the
same time making sure you miss that little rock and it's tail
called Tripach.
From the South, unless you are absolutely convinced by your
electronics, lay a course for the waypoint we have provided. If
you are coming up from somewhere like Castle Bay on Barra you will
have been aware of the off-lying dangers and the difficulty of
identifying the various bits of rock on that littered bit of coast
(especially if it is drizzling as it often does!!) where there are
any amount of lumps to tickle your keel. Once you have identified
McKenzie rock and Calvay (with its 16m lighthouse) there's no
reason you can't go between the two and cut the corner, but do be
careful of the rocks in the bay to the north of Rubha na
h-Ordaig
£ GMT
Waypoint
Charts
Rules & Regs
Hazards
Tides
Berthing
That's simple, there's a marina!! Berths here will cost £2.86 per metre per night with reductions for two days.
CASTLEBAY MARINA
(BARRA)
Contact Marina Office
+44( 0)7932 748 077 or +44(0)1871810925 VHF
#80
Castlebay has long been
known to a few of the more adventurous cruisers as a place on their
bucket list. In 2018 (the summer before Covid hit) they put in a
pontoon here and since then they have increased the berths to today
when they can take up to 16 visitors with a maximum draft of 2.5
metres (more on the outer attenuator)
Approach Way Point 56
55.68N 007 23.01W The passage in to Castlebay is well buoyed for
the Calmac ferry but, if you look outside the buoyage,
you'll see that the depths and rocks close to are just as
much of a hazard to the leisure yacht as the hulking great
ferry.
From the East and SE there are no hazards to worry
about, but from the NE we suggest that unless you
are very certain of the positions of those rocks awash etc inside
the 20m contour you should stay a good couple of miles clear to the
East of Barra until you have identified the SCM on Bo Vich Chuan.
If coming from the West you'll have to go
down round Vatersay and through the Sound of Sandray (keeping an
eye out for those rocks at the Eastern end of the Sound). We would
suggest that old and wise would probably elect to go around the
outside of Muldoanich - it's an extra mile but the
scattering of shallows and rocks between it and Creag Mhor could
hide dragons. Alternatively, you can come through the Sound of
Barra. This has a marked route for deep draft vessels but there may
be shorter routes through depending on your craft's draft -
but remember it's a fairly low tidal range here and at LWS
there may be only an extra metre to add on to charted depths. Also,
search as I might, I can find no records for the tidal streams
here.
Wherever you start from pick up the 283(T) line to head between the
two lateral marks at Castlebay South. As you pass between these
marks alter to 270(T) and track towards the sector light on the
"Channel Rock" To the South West of this rock, towards Vatersay,
there is a ship graveyard of rocks and shallows; and to the North
of it is the SHM on Sgeir Dubh. At this stage look to the NW
towards the south coast of Barra and identify the orange and white
lead in marks with blue flashing lights on top (the higher one is
the rear mark). These two marks are very distinctive white
structures with orange boards facing SSE towards you. When you have
identified them head toards them on a heading of 295(T)
You'll then pass between the third set of Lateral marks and
be able to see the Marina due North of you to the left of the
Kismul (MacNeil's) Castle in the
Bay which is leased by Historic Enviroment Scotland from the
MacNeil of Barra
Berthing and Anchoring
When you first look at the UKHO charts
you'll see an lovely, inviting anchor between the RoRo pier
and the marina; If you anchor your pride and joy here you will a)
be very unpopular and b) have an extremely uncomfortable stay
because the Calmac on it's arrival swings round to PORT and
then manoeuvres astern into it's berth (and with any wind those
beasts are a blighter to steer astern.) If you click on our
thumbnail it will expand into a readable chartlet with a diagram of
the pontoon layout. There are no longer any visitors'
buoys and any buoys left in the bay are privately owned and
serviced.
Facilities
They have gone to town here; there is water and shore power (16 and
32 amp) on the pontoons with an amenities building ashore which
has showers toilets and a laundry. The Marina also has electric
bikes for hire at £30 a day!! There is a Co-op store and other
local shops close by and a local bus-stop (during the summer there
is a four times a day programme which circuits the island.) Calor
Gas refills can be obtained locally. There is, of course, the
legendary beach airport (The fare is about £85 each way to Glasgow
but you need to book well in advance)
The Marina website is a mine of info - click on this
link
Marina | Castlebay Marina | Castlebay Isle of Barra ( Opens in a new window)
The prices are in line with the rest of the West Coast.
Marinas and Mooring
Lochboisdale Harbour
Oifis Storas, Lochboisdale, Daliburgh, Outer Hebrides. HS8 5SS
Facilities
The marinas have all the facilities expected of them; there is
shore power and water to all the pontoons and an amenities blocks
which include laundrettes. Supplies will be the main problem at
Lochboisdale as they are still adapting to and improving what was
available whilst Castle Bay has a Co-op within carrying distance..
There are diesel tanks at Lochboisdale At the moment Lochboisdale
has no Gas or Gaz refills but Calor (not Caz) can be obtained
locally at Castle Bay
There is now a small cafe with a few basic supplies at Lochboisdale
but the only way to get serious stores there is to
hire a taxi (about £10)
What to Do
There's only a hotel at Lochboisdale. Barra has at least one bar/hotel and an Indian restaurant near the ferry terminal
THE 10 BEST Restaurants & Places to Eat in Isle of Barra Tripadvisor