BLUE500 - Scotland's Great Loop
Explore the Loop / Leg D

Port Appin

Small, scenic Loch Linnhe destination with seven seasonal visitor moorings at The Pierhouse Hotel and a working council ferry pier for the foot-passenger Lismore service.

CORE STOPMain LoopDesktop researched · field verification pending

Why this stop matters

BLUE500 view

Small, scenic Loch Linnhe destination with seven seasonal visitor moorings at The Pierhouse Hotel and a working council ferry pier for the foot-passenger Lismore service. Port Appin is strong as a BLUE500 destination stop for scenery, food and island access rather than as a full-service marina. Nearby Linnhe Marine is the important service, layover, storage and launching facility for this area.

The Pierhouse currently advertises seven visitor moorings from April to October, first come first served, minimum 3m at low water and 20t maximum capacity, at £15/night. Port Appin Pier is a council ferry facility serving Lismore. Appin’s local visitor information highlights Port Appin Stores, food/accommodation and trips to Lismore. Nearby Linnhe Marine has 100 resident/visitor moorings, deep-water pontoon, diesel, water, showers/toilets, slipway/hoist, car parking, boat storage and trailer storage; its current site states a travel hoist for boats up to 26ft/4t.

At a glance

What a cruiser needs to know

Visitor berthingSeven Pierhouse visitor moorings April-October, first come first served, currently £15/night. Visitor moorings; anchoring arrangements not assessed.
LayoverPort Appin/Pierhouse does not currently advertise a formal transient long-stay product. Nearby Linnhe Marine clearly offers seasonal moorings and boat storage and is the stronger layover candidate. Port Appin moorings: seasonal visitor use; formal long-stay not published. Nearby Linnhe Marine: weekly/seasonal moorings and storage. Afloat or ashore nearby at Linnhe Marine FIELD CHECK at both Pierhouse and Linnhe Marine.
FuelDiesel available nearby at Linnhe Marine rather than Port Appin moorings.
Water & powerWater at Linnhe Marine deep-water pontoon. No shore power identified at Port Appin visitor moorings.
Launch / liftNearby Linnhe Marine has slipway and hoist; current site states travel hoist max LOA 26ft / 4t. Port Appin ferry pier itself is not being treated as a leisure launching facility. Nearby Linnhe Marine slipway. Current Linnhe Marine site: travel hoist max LOA 26ft / 4t.
Repairs / boatyardLinnhe Marine provides basic marina/service support; detailed repair capability to confirm.
AshoreSmall working ferry village with strong Loch Linnhe views and a very distinct west-coast atmosphere. Lismore day trip, Castle Stalker area, Appin scenery and local crafts. Pierhouse restaurant is the obvious destination meal; other local food options in Appin.
Transport / accessFoot-passenger ferry to Lismore; road/bus access in Appin to be checked for crew changes.

Field verification still required

MOORINGS / LANDING: confirm current Pierhouse mooring condition, pickup arrangements, dinghy landing and interaction with the working Lismore ferry pier.

SHELTER: identify problem wind directions and whether the seven visitor moorings remain comfortable in exposed conditions.

LONG-TERM LAYOVER: Port Appin itself does not publish a current transient long-stay product. Confirm whether Pierhouse would consider weekly/monthly use; separately assess Linnhe Marine as the area's recommended layover base.

LAUNCH/RECOVERY: confirm there is no suitable leisure launch at the Port Appin ferry pier itself; inspect nearby Linnhe Marine slipway, hoist, trailer access and parking/storage.

BLUE500 EXPERIENCE: evaluate Port Appin Stores, Pierhouse, Lismore day-trip potential, Castle Stalker viewpoints and whether this is one of Leg D's signature scenic stops.

Primary source

Check current official information

BLUE500 organises the route, but operational and navigation-critical information must remain current.

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