Falmouth Harbour Mooring Fees: Moorings and Cost Guide
Finding the right place to keep your boat in Falmouth often starts with understanding the fees involved. Falmouth Harbour mooring fees can vary considerably, with the price influenced by the size of your boat, where you choose to stay and the time of year.
This guide explains how the different berthing options around Falmouth are priced. At Mylor Mooring Services, we provide professional mooring installation, inspection and maintenance for boat owners across the area, helping to keep their moorings safe and in good condition.
How Much Are Falmouth Harbour Mooring Fees?
Falmouth is a large natural harbour and a popular destination during the summer, so the cost of keeping a boat here depends on the type of berth you choose and how long you plan to visit.
The harbour has three marinas for berthing. Rates vary between providers and the type of berth, so the figures below are intended as a general guide:
Falmouth Haven visitor marina: £4.60 per metre per night for monohull vessels. Pay for six nights and get the seventh free, excluding July and August. Multihulls incur a 50% surcharge.
Falmouth Haven mooring buoy: £3.20 per metre per night. Pay for five nights and get two free, excluding July and August. Shore facilities are included.
Town Anchorage: Around £2 per metre per night, charged as harbour dues. Boats must be attended, so overnight stays on unattended vessels are not permitted.
Port Pendennis Marina: £4.70 per metre per day for vessels under 25 metres and £7.50 per metre for vessels over 25 metres. Overnight charges apply after 4:00 PM, with boats required to leave by noon.
Short-stay berthing: £20 flat fee for boats up to 12 metres, with a maximum stay of three hours, subject to availability.
Falmouth Marina: Rates vary by season, with visitor berthing charged per metre per day and an 8-metre minimum charge. Free Wi-Fi and £5–£10 of electricity are included.
These figures are intended as a useful starting point rather than an exact price list. Always check the latest tariff and availability directly before making a booking.
What Mooring Options Are Available in Falmouth Harbour?
Choosing where to keep your vessel depends on how you plan to use it. The range of mooring options in Falmouth means more flexibility, although availability can become tighter during the high season. Here is what to know about the main arrangements around the harbour.
Swinging Moorings
Falmouth Harbour has approximately 600 deep-water swinging moorings, with options available for craft up to 22m LOA. As a result, they can be a practical choice for longer-term use, particularly for owners who do not need daily access to shore-side facilities.
When choosing this, the condition of the ground tackle is also worth considering. Regular inspection of the chain and associated equipment can help identify wear and ensure the setup remains suitable for the craft using it.
Marina Berths
Several marinas around Falmouth provide alongside berthing for craft up to 16m LOA. For owners who visit regularly, an annual berth can be useful as it provides a consistent place to leave their boat between trips. Mylor Yacht Harbour is one option in the area, with facilities for resident berth holders and visiting yachts.
Location can be another consideration. Many of these facilities are situated close to the town, giving visitors convenient access to local amenities and the docks. At the same time, the benefits will vary between providers, so check what is included in the advertised rate beforehand.
Visitor Berths
Visitor berthing offers a flexible option for those staying in Falmouth for a day or a few nights. Generally, charges are based on the length of the visit, with availability potentially more limited during the high season.
If you have a specific arrival or departure date in mind, booking in advance can give you greater choice. This is particularly useful during busy periods, when leaving arrangements until short notice may mean fewer options are available.
Anchoring
Anchoring offers another way to stay in Falmouth without taking a managed berth. For shorter visits, it can be an ideal option, provided your chosen location is suitable and anchoring is permitted there.
However, a nightly charge applies, so check the latest rates before you leave for Falmouth. You should also be aware of local restrictions and environmental requirements, including rules around waste discharge.
What Affects the Cost of a Falmouth Mooring?
Several factors explain why one boat owner might pay considerably more than another for what looks like a similar spot:
Boat size: Almost every fee structure here is priced per metre of LOA, so a longer vessel pays more across marina berths, swinging moorings, anchoring and visitor pontoons alike.
Location: A berth close to the Custom House Quay or within a marina with full amenities costs more than a swinging berth further up the River Fal.
Season: Summer runs from 1 April to 31 October, and winter from 1 November to 31 March. Rates are noticeably higher in the warmer months, particularly in July, when demand from visiting boats peaks.
Facilities: Marinas with water, electricity, pump-out facilities and launch access are pricier than a basic swinging berth or anchoring spot, which offer no shore services at all.
Commercial use: A 10% surcharge is applicable to commercial operations at Falmouth Harbour.
Do You Have to Pay Harbour Dues in Falmouth?
Falmouth has been a statutory port since 1870 and operates as a Trust Port. The Falmouth Harbour Commissioners oversee its management, including navigation, safety and the charges that apply to users.
Harbour dues form part of the fees of using the port. Under the current tariff, they are calculated according to gross tonnage, so the amount payable depends on the size and type of boat.
For leisure users, the due may already be included in the advertised price. Falmouth Haven, for example, states that its annual marina and pontoon rates include the applicable charge, while separate rules apply to visiting yachts.
This is worth checking when comparing prices, as two similar-looking rates may not cover the same charges. The applicable tariff can change from year to year, so checking the latest information before arrival will give you a clearer idea of what you are likely to pay.
Get Local Advice from Mylor Mooring Services
Choosing where to keep your vessel involves more than comparing prices. What works well for one owner may not be suitable for another, particularly when access and how you use your boat come into consideration.
At Mylor Mooring Services, we help boat owners across the area find an arrangement that works for them. We can also handle installation and ongoing inspections, so you can have greater confidence in your setup throughout the year. To know more, you can contact us for advice on mooring options, inspections and maintenance.
01326 373 777
07743 926429
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