Unique leisure and holiday business opportunity: Yacht marina for sale on Scotland’s West Coast


The West Coast is renowned for its spectacular and unspoiled scenery and coastline.
Just off the mainland is the famous archipelago – the Hebrides - where each island has its own character and unique offering to visitors. And all along this coast are sheltered natural harbours and bays which make it an idyllic place for sailing enthusiasts.
Crafts large and small, from ocean-going yachts to day sailers, cruising yachts to motor boats, enjoy the challenge of the cool and clear Atlantic waters and the beauty of the coastline, the island hopping and the opportunity to test their skills navigating the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool off the north coast of Jura.
Craobh Marina, on the north shore of the Craignish peninsula in Argyll, midway between Lochgilphead and Oban is the perfect base for exploring these waters – and now it’s come onto the market after being with the same owners for 30 years.
Gavin McDonagh, Managing Director of Holt Leisure Group, GreenockThis is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is a deep water harbour which is accessible in all states of weather and all tides and is in a stunning location, which is the gateway to the Isles
On the market for £10million
With its £10 million price tag the marina will not be on many people’s shopping lists, but for a sailing enthusiast or anyone looking to purchase a thriving business that is a little out of the ordinary, this ticks a lot of boxes. And with a turnover last year of around £1.5m it will also appeal to the shrewd investor or anyone looking for a solid business.
Gavin said with its international appeal, the eventual buyer could come from anywhere in the world, and that there were a range of different possible profiles for the next owner, not necessarily anyone with a marine background.
“It might be a lifestyle purchaser, someone who might have an equity partnership and wanted to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, or it could be more of a corporate investor who would want to add this to their portfolio of marinas.”
He said the West Coast and Isles was ideal for those wanting to find peace and quiet. The rich and famous, and even Royalty, could experience an anonymity not always achievable elsewhere, he said.
Gavin McDonaghWe get yachts from all over the world, including superyachts and we have a number of high profile customers including actors and rock stars to oligarchs


About the marina
There are over 200 fully-serviced pontoon berths with the potential to expand, six holiday cottages, a three-bedroom house and a staff flat. There is a boatyard, workshops and a 30ft hoist. The marina itself is in a beautiful natural harbour and the site includes over 125 acres of freehold land and 15.6 acres of development land (mixed use for housing and open space).
It is an all-service marina, which is used for leisure and for commercial clients all year round. Those staying have the use of a number of facilities including showers and toilets and a laundry. There is a chandlery and from this summer a small café and bar too.
This coast has some of the world’s finest sailing waters with access to islands such as Islay, Ghia, Jura, Rhum, Eigg, Mull and Skye making it open to a wide range of sailors and craft.
It is 100 miles from Glasgow (150 from Edinburgh) and the village of Craobh Haven (pronounced ‘croove haven’) is about a mile from the main A816 Lochgilphead to Oban road.
The village itself was established at the same time as the marina was developed, in the 1980s, and includes a coffee and gift shop, and pub and restaurant.
It was bought by the privately owned Holt Leisure Group in 1993 and a number of holiday cottages were acquired in 2011.


The founder of Holt Leisure Derek Holt came from Bury in Lancashire, where he delivered milk. With the money from selling this profitable dairy business he and his family were able to move to Scotland and buy a caravan business, and thus he switched to the leisure industry.
A love of fishing led him to buy a boat and, eventually, to purchase land to build the UK’s very first marina – Kip Marina at Inverkip, which is still owned by Holt group today.
Derek’s other notable acquisitions over the years have included the island of Ghia and Skibo Castle.


Find out more
Craobh Marina is offered for sale exclusively through Crosthwaites, Leisure Property Specialists. To read more about the site and the sale download the brochure here