Port Erroll Harbour

Port Erroll Harbour is a historic working harbour located in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Situated at the mouth of the Water of Cruden, it was constructed between 1875 and 1880 by William Hay, the 18th Earl of Erroll, to support the fishing community he had established in the 1840s. The harbour features two L-shaped piers enclosing a basin, subdivided by two straight piers to form a main and a stilling basin. Notably, it is an early example of concrete construction in harbour works.

Despite its construction during the herring boom, the harbour’s tidal nature limited the size of vessels it could accommodate, leading the local fishing industry to focus on white fish and shellfish. Today, Port Erroll Harbour remains in use on a small scale for both commercial fishing and leisure boating.

Historically, the harbour also housed the Port Erroll Lifeboat Station, established by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1877. The station operated until its closure in 1921, with a brief hiatus in 1914. The lifeboat station played a crucial role in maritime rescue operations along this stretch of the Scottish coast.

In the late 19th century, the arrival of the railway and the construction of the Cruden Bay Hotel transformed the area into a seaside resort. The Great North of Scotland Railway Company built the hotel and a golf course to attract tourists, further integrating Port Erroll into the broader development of Cruden Bay.

Today, Port Erroll Harbour is managed by a corporate trust and continues to serve both the local community and visitors. The harbour relies on volunteers and contributions for maintenance and welcomes leisure boaters and motorhome visitors, though camping is not permitted.