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

North through the tidal channel called Kyle Rhea

After leaving Inverie we sailed up the Sound of Sleat and through the Kyle Rhea, into Loch Alsh then under the Skye bridge through Kyle Achin. Our mast height is 20m and the space under the bridge was 24m. Tight squeeze and brown pants but we managed to get through into Skye Inner Sound and on to Plockton.

The remotest pub in Britain. Inverie

In Loch Nevis there is a place called Inverie where one finds the remotest pub in uk... So they say.

We sailed from the Island of Eigg north east past the port of Malaig, then turned East into Loch Nevis. Wind was constant SE except for in the Loch itself where it veered to NW so we motored the final mile and picked a mooring outside the pub. We were in time for fichnchips lunch !. We departed the next morning early for our epic journey through the Kyle Rhea.

Island of Eigg

After leaving Loch Drambui we headed North towards Skye, all of a sudden we diverted to Eigg because the weather allowed it. Interesting island presently owned by the inhabitants. It's supposed to be self sufficient in power and electricity. We noted the latter day hippies living rough...

There is a steep ridge running along the island from NE to SW. It consists of GLASS in fact silicon stone, and is left over from a volcanic lava flow.

From Tobermory and beyond

Sailing up the Sound of Mull was beautiful as ever, and we spent several days in Tober doing our washing, organising the boat, getting supplies, and of course visiting our favourite restaurant Cafe Fish.

After Tober we took a short cruise across the Sound to Loch Drambui. Here we stayed overnight in an oval lagoon surrounded by forest and hills. The sound of the Cuckoo bird clear and loud.

There is an abundance of seaweed and creatures in the waters.
Sometimes we have plenty of salad on our anchor.!