Joint agents Shepherd Chartered Surveyors and Strutt & Parker have been instructed to market Arisaig Marina, a highly profitable trading marina business located in a stunning location of the Western Highlands, for sale.
Located on the northwest coast of the Highlands, in an area renowned for its unspoilt beauty and white sandy beaches, the scenic village of Arisaig offers a good range of day-to-day amenities including a well-stocked village store, Post Office, hotel, churches, restaurants, a public house, visitor centre with museum, marina, golf course and popular primary school.
Despite its scenic location, transport links are excellent. Arisaig Marina enjoys easy access to the A82 Glasgow to Inverness road and to Inverness Airport which offers a wide selection of domestic and European flights, while the village benefits from a passenger ferry to the small isles of Eigg, Muck and Rhum, a daily bus service to Fort William and surrounding areas and a station offering regular services to Fort William and on to Glasgow Central, with its onward connections to major regional and national centres.
The quality of sailing off the west highland coast and Inner Hebrides is of world renown and after leaving the Loch nan Ceall channel, there is open water to the North, South and West with the Inner Hebridean Islands of Eigg, Muck, Rhum, Canna and Skye close by.
To the south lies the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and the Isle of Mull, Coll and Tiree. Arisaig Marina is therefore perfectly placed for sailing enthusiasts to explore much of the west coast.
Arisaig Marina lies on Loch nan Ceall and extends from Arisaig village public road entrance to the breakwater and pier/jetty at the far end. It is extremely popular with return seasonal sailors and those looking to moor their vessel securely short or long term to break up their sailing voyage.
The marina is well sheltered from all north, south and west prevailing winds and, located at the head of Loch nan Ceall, provides an ideal safe and secure location for mooring and berthing.
There are adequate parking facilities for customers and ferry passengers during the peak season and in the winter months the area is used for storage of motorboats and yachts.
The takeaway café and gift shop are popular with yacht owners, local trade and tourist visitors to the area. The marina trades extremely well benefitting from a range of profitable income streams with further development potential still possible.
Arisaig Marina has 45 seasonal moorings, and 25 additional moorings available for short to medium terms stays within the bay at Loch nan Ceall. The moorings are suitable for yachts and motor vessels up to 20 tonnes.
They are available for returning seasonal vessels and new clients each year wishing to base their vessel in Arisaig and discover the spectacular sailing ground along the Northwest Highland coastline.
Arisaig Marina
There is a jetty located at the end of the causeway for vessels to load and unload crew/luggage and three slipways located around the pier, where the marine diesel tank is located, and yachts can berth to fuel direct into the vessel.
The hardstanding area can accommodate up to 70 yachts during off peak season but also provides adequate parking for small boats and trailers during peak seasonal months. 39 metered power points and water taps are located throughout the hardstanding area.
There is a modern industrial/storage building on-site configured to provide a large clear span section used for boat repairs/storage. Two internal stores to the rear of the boatshed currently house outboard storage for mooring holders and workshop space for carrying out minor repairs. A further store can be accessed externally which currently accommodates freezers for café produce.
A large mezzanine section above the rear stores provides an office, tearoom and open storage. A self-contained lean-to store is attached to the rear of the main building.
Located at the west side of the site is the open plan café and gift shop with seating for 15- 20 customers at present but with capacity to seat 30 indoors. Outdoors to the side of the property is seating for an additional 20-30 customers in good weather.
The servery counter duplicates as the ticket office and location for boat trip enquiries. There is a well-equipped commercial kitchen to the rear together with storage and office space. This building houses two shower rooms, male and female toilets for customers and external access to laundry facilities for mooring holders.
The café is open Monday – Friday from 9-4pm and from 9am – 3pm on Saturday and Sundays offering a selection of snacks and light lunches together with hot and cold drinks.
The marina provides fuel sales, and the company is a registered controlled Dealer of Oils. Freshwater can be accessed on the jetty permitting vessels to fill directly into the boat. Both services are invaluable for visiting yachts and motorboats before they continue with onward voyages.
Neil Calder, partner at Shepherd Chartered Surveyors in Inverness, said: “Included in the sale of the business are the boats MV Sheerwater and MV Briscoe which provide transport for foot passengers to and from the spectacular small isles of Eigg and Muck with additional sailings to Rhum, Canna and Loch Coruisk on select Sundays throughout the summer months.
“Day trippers to these incredible islands have plenty of time on the island of their choice to explore the landscape, observe wildlife or just soak up the atmosphere of island life. The vessels Sheerwater and Briscoe are also available for private charter all year round.”
MV Sheerwater is a purpose-built passenger vessel with capacity of 80 passengers and offers a spacious seating area both indoors and outdoors. It operates seven days a week in peak season and 2-5 days per week in low season.
MV Briscoe is approved to carry 10 passengers and two crew and can facilitate private charters along the stunning local coastline to accommodate fishing trips, paddleboards or just leisurely cruising around the small isles.
Nauticat 38 – ‘Pennylopez’ – currently under restoration, this is a further boat which is included in the sale of the business. This yacht is a beautiful vessel with berthing accommodation for four on board and has charter potential.
Euan MacCrimmon, Director at Strutt & Parker, added: “The shoreside land is held under absolute ownership/heritable title while a lease covering the moorings area is held between Arisaig Marine and the Crown estate from 2021 for 25 years.
“The annual rent is £3500 and mooring returns are submitted annually with each mooring laid having a rent payable of £60 each. Vacant possession will be given on completion.”
The property and business are for sale as a trading going concern. Offers in excess of £1,250,000 are invited for the entire share capital of Arisaig Marine Ltd. Offers will also be looked at on an asset sale basis.
Interested parties should contact Neil Calder at Shepherd on tel 01463 712239 or Euan MacCrimmon on 01463 723593.