We included Arbroath in the itinerary as a convenient place to meet some long lost family members and friends living in the area. Otherwise we might have cracked on to Eyemouth, but Arbroath is a pleasant and interesting place worth a visit in its own right. After an early departure from Peterhead we enjoyed an uneventful passage along the Aberdeenshire coast with spells of both motoring and sailing, arriving at Arbroath shortly after18.00 hours, in time for the inner basin on the evening high water. The harbour is tidal and entrance must be within three hours each side of high water. The marina is within the locked inner basin and the gate times are also three hours before to three hours after high water.
This the pilot will tell you; what it does not say is that the harbour master goes home at seven thirty in the evening and closes the gate when he goes whatever the state of the tide. In other words, if high water is at 8 pm shall we say, then the gates will open at five (HW – 3hr) but close at half seven, when the harbour master goes home, not at eleven (HW +3 hours), so the window for arrival is narrower than might be otherwise supposed. It is probably best on the whole to telephone ahead and advise of your intended arrival and the harbour master will then tell you the gate times for the day in question.
18: Peterhead to Arbroath, 4th August
Shipping forecast, 4th August, 05.20: Cromarty, Forth, W or NW 4 or 5, becoming variable for a time; rain or showers; moderate or good.
They say you should not leave Arbroath without sampling the famous smokies. We didn’t; didn’t much care for the look of them, but perhaps we should have as they are said to be delicious.
Approaching Arbroath
the late afternoon sun
does not provide ideal
lighting conditions but
once on the correct line
the leading marks are
clearly visible in the
harbour entrance
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
