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

Oban Transit Marina

Town-centre short-stay pontoon facility at Oban North Pier, operated by Argyll & Bute Council. This is a very strong BLUE500 destination berth because it puts crews directly into Oban, but it is deliberately not a long-term layover marina: stays are capped at three nights and…

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Why this stop matters

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Town-centre short-stay pontoon facility at Oban North Pier, operated by Argyll & Bute Council. This is a very strong BLUE500 destination berth because it puts crews directly into Oban, but it is deliberately not a long-term layover marina: stays are capped at three nights and berths are first come, first served.

North Pier Pontoons has 39 fully serviced finger berths for boats up to 12m, with the breakwater able to accommodate larger vessels up to 30m/127GT depending on specification. Maximum stay is three nights; no bookings. Facilities include secure-gate access, 24-hour CCTV, showers/toilets, 16A/32A electricity, water, waste/recycling and lockers. No fuelling is permitted on the pontoons. The operating guide warns of strong winds/waves particularly from west and south-west and the Harbour Master can close the facility in severe weather. Oban has excellent shops, restaurants, attractions and rail/bus/ferry connections.

At a glance

What a cruiser needs to know

Visitor berthing39 finger berths for boats up to 12m; larger craft may use breakwater subject to specification. First come first served, no booking, max 3 nights. NPP is pontoon berthing; other Oban Bay visitor moorings/anchorages exist but are separate facilities.
LayoverMaximum single visit is three nights. Explicitly not a long-stay facility. Maximum 3 nights. Not suitable for long-term layover Secure gate and 24-hour CCTV .
FuelNo fuelling on pontoons. Diesel/gas available elsewhere in Oban/Kerrera.
Water & powerWater and 240V 16A/32A electricity on pontoons, subject to fair-use policy.
Launch / liftNo NPP launch facility. Oban Times Slipway is a separate manned leisure/recreation facility nearby; practical BLUE500 suitability FIELD CHECK. No NPP slipway. Nearby Oban Times Slipway requires field verification. Unknown - FIELD CHECK.
Repairs / boatyardOban has marine services but not at NPP itself; use Dunstaffnage/Kerrera for major repairs.
AshoreBusy West Coast ferry town and 'Gateway to the Isles'; likely one of BLUE500's most obviously rewarding shore stops. Oban Distillery, McCaig's Tower, War & Peace Museum, Dunollie Castle and more. Major strength: restaurants, pubs, cafés and seafood immediately ashore.
Transport / accessTrain, bus and ferries make Oban excellent for crew changes and joining/leaving the route.

Field verification still required

ARRIVAL: observe first-come allocation in practice, rafting/breakwater use, check-in procedure and how busy it becomes in peak periods.

WEATHER: understand when the pontoons become uncomfortable or are closed in W/SW conditions and where staff recommend relocating.

LONG-TERM LAYOVER: record as NOT SUITABLE beyond three nights. Confirm which nearby marina staff recommend for an unattended BLUE500 boat.

LAUNCH/RECOVERY: NPP itself has no launch facility. Argyll & Bute lists the nearby Oban Times Slipway as a manned leisure/recreation facility; inspect access, vessel/trailer limits, charges and parking.

DESTINATION: document direct access to shops, railway/bus station, food, Oban Distillery, War & Peace Museum, McCaig's Tower and ferries.

Primary source

Check current official information

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

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