Leaving Scottish waters

We departed from Tobermory with the planned destination of West Loch Tarbert on the Island of Jura. The weather reports from Met office and xcweather said that the wind would be variable and uncertain velocity, so departing North of Mull or down the Sound of Mull were both options. When we awoke at 05.00 on Thursday morning there was a mild South Easterly wind and this determined that we should head North West around mull and then South to Jura. As we rounded Ardmore Point the wind picked up to force 4 to 5 but started to be a problem because it would be on our bow during the approaches to Jura.

Spur of the moment decision to head directly South was taken. Tides checked, then off we sailed for 111 nautical miles to Rathlin Island in Norther Ireland. Wind was pretty constant ( force 4-5) and we made good time sailing at between 6 and 10 Knots all the way past the West side of Islay across the North Channel, out of sight of land, close to a passing tanker and arrived at Rathlin at 21.20 hours. Total sailing time 15 hours and distance covered 111 miles. We considered this our first long distance proving cruise, ready for the big trip we have planned. The yacht performed well staying very steady and balanced as the chine cut through the moderately rough seas. We noticed that the use of electric winches depletes the batteries quite fast, so in the long run we would need solar energy or a wind generator to sustain such a trip.

From early morning Tobermory

 .....to Rathlin Island Church Bay 15 hours later

Supplies stop in Tobermory

We had planned to go to the island of Coll but decided instead that food, water and laundry was about due and Tobers has a Co-op supermarket and a very good seafood restaurant.

On the gentle sail past Island of Muck we saw some Minke Wales. Fantastic!

Minke Whale. Small dorsal fin with long back that appears to be forward of the fin.

Tobermory marina

Tobermory bay

calm moorings

This is the famous Tobermory cat

 

Arderlarnish Isle of Mull Weavers
We stayed an extra day and rented a car to cross the island to Arderlarnish Isle of Mull Weavers. Here  we bought some wool (lots of it !) and a blanket.
We also got a guided tour of the weaving machines and were enthralled by the charming and knowledgeable lady who was attending the shop and premises. Our appreciation to her (we didn't ask her name..)

 

 

The shop with products of the farm industry. Mostly woven in house using wool from a variety of different sheep.

Kinloch bay on the Island of Rum

To complete our visits to the Small Isles, we sailed from Canna to the Island of Rum and anchored for the night. It is a magnificent island managed by the Scottish Trust. An old volcano that in fact created many of the other islands in the area.

Another day in Canna

Heather meets very gentle and kind chicken.

We have been invited to a musical concert this evening at the restored church on the headland. Two guitarists will play some acoustic folk music.

Guitar concert

the villagers all turned up for the concert

looking over the bay of Canna from the gardens of the main house

Sail to our favourite island of Canna

We left Dunvegan at 03.30 to catch the south going tide down the Little Minch towards Canna. Unfortunately it was overcast and zero wind so we had to motor the whole way. However two hours shy of Canna we were visited by a large pod of Dolphin. We felt very privileged!

In Canna we moored and did our washing then madam made smoked salmon pasta. mmmm.

Common dolphin sighted close to Canna

view of Canna shop and restaurant

Long cruise North of Skye

Leaving Gairloch we headed West in very calm seas round the North of the island of Skye and down the West coast to Stein where one finds the oldest pub in Skye. We stayed the night and went walking the next morning, then motored round to Dunvegan in the afternoon. In Dunvegan we anchored off the castle. A bit of a disappointing area. Bland and grey.

the north corner of Skye

Cloud haze above Skye

The oldest pub in Skye

nice house near Stein

Stein bay with our yacht moored

local thatched cottage in Stein

Badacrow in Gairloch

Just North of Loch Torridon there is a small Loch called Gairloch. Here we anchored overnight in the congested bay of Badachron and watched a 5 metre tide changed the scenery. One minute you are deep in a hollow then six hours later you are floating beside verdant isles. We stayed on the boat because the shore looked uninviting..

very calm anchorage

Shieldaig

After Plockton we sailed up the Inner Chanel to Shieldaig in Loch Torriden. This was a bit of an open exposed anchorage but bearable and the trip ashore was nice. We bought smoked salmon and had fish and chips at the pub. Saw some crazy swimmers in and around the bay.. What kind of nut wants to swim in this murky jellyfish infested sea.? Each to their own..

This is the village of Shieldaig

Beautiful little Plockton

After a complicated rock strewn entrance we moored in the bay of Plockton. Had a few days ashore and took a magnificent train journey across Scotland to Inverness and back.
Plockton was created by the lord of the manor in the 19th century in order to relocate the crofters from the land to the little bay in order to create a fishing industry. As a result many of the houses dated back to 1890 and a small and made of stones.
There are beautiful walking paths created by the locals for the pleasure of tourists and visitors.

Little cottages huddle around a dried out bay

old stone cottages in the main street

This is the main pontoon (at low tide)

Duncraig manor

Walking paths

The beach front

This is the local brewery

These photos are from our trip to Inverness on the train. One of the nicest train rides we have experienced, and apparently it has appeared on TV with Michael Palin.

Plockton railway station

 

mountain views from our carriage

A fresh morning (bit of rain..)

Inverness town hall

wee Jimmy with his pipes.. och the nuu

interesting placard..

view of a Loch