Galmisdale is the point of access for the island of Eigg, located between the Isle of Skye to the north and the Ardnamurchan peninsula to the south.
Yachts can moor in the bay or use the yacht wall on the main pier and use the old slipway to access Eigg’s visitor facilities.
Donations to use the community-owned old slipway pier are welcome.
Kayakers can wild camp on Eigg or there is a campsite in Cleadale.
Ferries operate from Mallaig and use the ferry terminal at the end of the causeway across the bay. This pier and causeway is owned and managed by the Highland Council Harbours Authority.
The old slipway is owned by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, the community-owned charity which owns and manages Eigg on behalf of its residents and visitors. The slipway is used by the passenger ferry operated by Arisaig Marine and other commercial vessels. A suggested donation of £5 helps maintain the slipway and supports the community. Please lift dinghies ashore rather than tied up alongside and unattended
There is a 50 metre vertical wall on the inside face of the main causeway pier designed specifically for yachtsmen. This has a firm smooth bottom for drying out, mooring bollards, access ladders, lighting etc. The wall is used by a couple of local boats, but there’s still space available
Approach from the north east leaving the new slipway to port, and pass between the smaller perches to come up to the wall. The depth gauge on the side of the new slipway shows the water depth above chart datum. The depth between the inner perches and at the yacht wall is 1 metre less than this, having been dredged to one metre above datum.
The main anchorage for yachts is to the north-east of the pier at Galmisdale Point. There is always depth in the channel but the bay to the west mostly dries at spring low tide. There are a few private moorings which leaves limited space for anchoring so a tripping line is not a bad idea. The spring tide sets quite strongly through this channel.
When approaching from the north-east, approach between the two lit perches, and keep open water between Castle Island and Galmisdale Point ahead. This will keep you in the deepest part of the channel, which is at its shallowest just south of the port hand perch. If you are coming from south, keep clear of the south shore of Castle island, as the reef extends some way offshore. If the wind is in the north to east sector, it is quite safe to anchor in the south bay behind the old pier point.
In calm weather it possible to anchor in Laig Bay on the west side of the island. Access to what has become the inner harbour, which dries completely at springs, is by a marked passage to the north-west of the new ferry slipway.
