Loch Roag
58°14.0'N 006°52.0'W · Stornoway (Lewis) (22nm)
4–9m
Depth
Good
Holding
90m
Alarm radius
Low
Crowd level
Loch Roag is one of the finest and most complex sea lochs on the west coast of Lewis — a vast, island-dotted waterway with the Callanish Standing Stones visible just 2nm from the loch head. The stones (4,000 years old, one of the most important prehistoric monuments in Europe) give Loch Roag an almost mystical quality as an anchorage destination. Great Bernera (the largest island in the loch, connected to Lewis by a bridge) has a small community museum. The loch is a significant salmon and sea trout fishing area — numerous fish farms operate throughout. A remote and rewarding destination for those who have provisioned at Stornoway.
Best Months
Anchor Zones
East Loch Roag — main anchorage off Bernera
Good4–9m · Alarm: 90m
Anchor in 4–8m (CD) in the wide outer bay of East Loch Roag, off the island of Great Bernera. Mud and sand — good holding. The loch complex provides good shelter from most directions but Atlantic swell from W/NW can penetrate the wider outer bay. The inner channels of the loch are more sheltered. Tidal range approximately 4.0–4.5m springs. Navigate the inner loch only with large-scale chart (Admiralty 3422) — numerous islets and rocks throughout.
Setting Your Anchor Alarm
90m radius for the outer bay. With 4.5m tidal range at springs, HW depths reach 8.5–13.5m; ensure adequate scope. The inner loch channels provide better shelter in W/NW conditions but require careful navigation. The outer bay is excellent in settled conditions.
Recommended radius: 90m
Hazards & Warnings
- !Numerous fish farms throughout the loch — approach carefully in daylight; farm infrastructure can be difficult to see in poor visibility
- !Atlantic swell penetrates the outer bay in W/NW conditions — use inner loch for better shelter
- !Complex navigation — large-scale chart (Admiralty 3422) essential; GPS alone insufficient for inner loch
- !Tidal range 4.0–4.5m springs — extensive shoaling in the inner loch at LW
- !Very remote — no facilities of any kind; carry all provisions from Stornoway
Skipper's Tips
- ✓Callanish Standing Stones (2nm from the loch head) are one of the most important prehistoric monuments in Europe — a bus or taxi from the loch head, or dinghy if conditions allow a dinghy landing
- ✓Great Bernera Community Museum in Breaclete tells the story of the island's remarkable crofting history (including the 1874 Bernera Riot — the first crofters' uprising in Scotland)
- ✓Provision fully at Stornoway (22nm) before heading to Loch Roag — there is nothing in the loch
- ✓The inner loch channels (behind Great Bernera) provide outstanding shelter in W/NW conditions — explore by dinghy for the quietest anchorages
Facilities
Anchoring Rules
- Permit:
- Not required
- Fee:
- Free
- Restrictions:
- Numerous fish farms throughout the loch — keep clear of all farm infrastructure (buoys, nets, feeding pipes). Navigate inner channels in daylight only with large-scale chart. Scottish right to anchor applies.
Sleep Safely at Loch Roag
Set your anchor alarm to 90m. UK tidal ranges mean your boat swings — Safe Anchor Alarm keeps watch through the night.
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