Moorings at Carsethorn

Moorings are immediately available. Our local professional mooring laying team can install a new mooring in a suitable location for you particular type of boat .

For further information contact Roy Kerr via one of the means listed on the contacts page.

Visitor mooring

Heavy visitor moorings available for visitors. Afloat at all times in 2 meters of water.  The visitor mooring is a large red buoy located off the ruined pier in front of the village.  This mooring can be used freely at the skippers own risk.

About Carsethorn

Carsethorn is at the mouth of the Nith Estuary. Access over the bar approx 4 ½ hours either side of high tide. Carsethorn offers the greatest access window of any of the Solway ports. Good shelter from all wind directions except East and North East, and that is only exposed at high tide. The banks offer shelter when the tide has ebbed a bit. The Ebb current is quite strong through the Gut, (the name for this particular deep channel in front of the village).

In Carsethorn you can get access to fresh water and public toilets near the pub and bus stop.  There is a great pub called the Steamboat Inn which serves bar lunches and evening meals.  Further information about the pub and the history of Carsethorn can be found on the Steamboat Inn's website.  There is a regular bus service that will take you to Dumfries.  You get ashore by tender onto a reasonably clean beach.  There are plans to possibly rebuild the ruined pier in the future.

Happy cat and Antilles on the moorings at Carsethorn

Berths at Kingholm Quay

At the moment there is a number of berths available in Kingholm quay harbour.  The harbour offers protection from wind in all directions.  The harbour dries out at low tide and can be as deep as 6 meters during high tide.  At present there are only berths on the harbour wall, however within the next couple of weeks the Port of Dumfries Development group will be installing a set of floating pontoons at the top end of the harbour in order that we can accommodate more craft.  However! spaces are limited so if you are interested please register your interest with a phone call or an email to the details on the contacts page.

Wharfage on the outer harbour wall.

Wintering at Kingholm quay

Kingholm Quay at Dumfries offers a variety of wintering options for all sizes of pleasure craft, and small commercial vessels as well. The harbour was built in 1747 out of massive sandstone blocks. It will probably still be here in another 250 years!

Boats can be craned out and stored on the quayside, or moored alongside the dock wall. A number of boats have been successfully wintered here for the last five years. This winter, two catamarans,a bilge keel yacht, and a long keel ketch are here, also two power boats, and a trawler.

96ft Dutch barge, Darcy Leigh wintering at Kingholm( built in 1904 and still working)

Cheaper insurance is almost guaranteed in the Port of Dumfries, especially if you take up a summer mooring at Carsethorne. (Read more about Carsethorne moorings above).The excellent insurance track record of boat owners in the Nith estuary, meant a 10% reduction in premium for theowner of the ketch Antilles compared to other Solway ports.

Convenience is an understatement, especially if you live around Dumfries.  Look at the time and petrol saved, compared to driving to Kippford or Kirkcudbright to get a couple of hours work done on the boat. So handy if you just to go and check your boat as well.  Besides we all look out for each others boats, share phone numbers, so in the event of any problem, it wont be ages before you find out!

Fresh water and pressure washing is available too.  In fact if you want any kind of repair done, antifouling in the spring time, GRP repairs, engines, electrics... all can be arranged for you.

Security is not a problem. There is at least one live aboard boat berthed at the harbour just now. Very little gets past this hardy skipper!

Electric power is not available yet, although we are working on it. However we will always help out with a generator if needed, to get a job done.

How much does it cost? Should be in the frequently asked questions section, but we haven't got one yet. At the moment, everyone makes a contribution to the funds, for harbour and channel improvements, and it is an unbelievably reasonable amount.  Harbour dues may be introduced in the years ahead, if a harbour revision order is carried out, to modernise the trust status of the port.  All payments are receipted.

Want to know more? contact Roy Kerr by one of the means listed on the contacts page.

30ft Nantucket Clipper , Antilles a regular in the winter months.