Loch Spelve

Kylora

Kylora

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 Feb 2005
Messages
700
Location
Tarbert Harbour, East Loch Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Sco
Visit site
I don't want to hijack the Crinan Canal thread.

JumbleDuck and Geoff have both mentioned using Loch Spelve as an anchorage, so maybe could provide advice / information.

I've recently completed a clockwise circumnavigation of Isle of Mull from Oban to Oban.

I fancied using Loch Spelve as the first overnight, but then someone suggested that entry and exit was fairly restricted both in terms of tidal flow and height of tide.

Neither were ideal, so decided to use Carsaig Bay instead, and anchored behind the reef in fairly calm conditions.

I would still like to try Loch Spelve in the future so any anecdotes would be useful.

I'm fairly cautious when it comes to anchoring. ( I have an older generation Scottish built anchor, but that is another discussion, LoL )

Tia

Ash
 
Been there, done it. Went in on the flood, out on the start of the ebb - "interesting" bit, about 100m wide, doesn't last long with the tide under you. Inside, fish farms in some places you might want to anchor and most is too deep.
 
Its easy to get and out of, compared to say going into Ardinamir Bay, if you need context. I have been in once, found a nice spot, anchored and went ashore for a bonfire and BBQ, overnight and then up and away the next day. I have no idea why folks would think it is not a nice place, as anchorages go it is rather lovely. Its very deep, at 5.6m above chart datum if you keep to the North shore, which is shoals steeply and deep close in. The southern shore shoals and has a spit about 20 meters from the northern shore that you could ground on. There is a 3m high perch light that you can take clearing bearings, or just use the depth sounder and stay above the 5m contour. There are slight cliffs on the northern shore and these are opposite the shoals protruding from the south shore.
 
awol said:
Been there, done it. Went in on the flood, out on the start of the ebb - "interesting" bit, about 100m wide, doesn't last long with the tide under you. Inside, fish farms in some places you might want to anchor and most is too deep.
Click to expand...

There are several places with good anchoring depths and no mussel farms, but most are a long way from the entrance. Probably best is the west corner of the north end but it's close to the mussel farm base. The east side of the north end has several possibilities round the island and elsewhere.

It's a bit bleak for my taste but the far west end is also good for anchoring.

There's also a recommended place to the south near the entrance but I've never tried it; it feels quite exposed to me.

Derek
 
Watch out for the mushroom if you go in! Anchorages in Loch Spelve are moderate depth (6m LAT) to deep (11m LAT) for small boats. Loch Don next to it is shallower & not so far in. You can anchor in the outer bit in 4m, or go right in, minimum depth 1.5m in the channel, deeper inside.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Its easy to get and out of, compared to say going into Ardinamir Bay, if you need context. I have been in once, found a nice spot, anchored and went ashore for a bonfire and BBQ, overnight and then up and away the next day. I have no idea why folks would think it is not a nice place, as anchorages go it is rather lovely.
Click to expand...

As I said, we went in to shelter from bad weather and perhaps nowhere looks nice when you are more or less land-locked with low cloud and driving rain for two days. Even though I hate mussles (those horrible orange frilly bits ...) I have been encouraged by this thread to give it another go.
 
JumbleDuck said:
As I said, we went in to shelter from bad weather and perhaps nowhere looks nice when you are more or less land-locked with low cloud and driving rain for two days. Even though I hate mussles (those horrible orange frilly bits ...) I have been encouraged by this thread to give it another go.
Click to expand...

Or try Loch Don for a change of scenery if you've not Done Don.
 
Been in many times, good sheltered anchorage with plenty of room in the northern arm.
Entrance is easy enough with CCC guide. Can seem fast with spring flow until get used to it.

Seen eagles a few times especially,just north of entrance
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Or try Loch Don for a change of scenery if you've not Done Don.
Click to expand...
Loch Don seems to have a lot of green when I look at the chart !!

I have the disadvantage of a lump of cast iron dangling below the hull.

Slight thread drift ( which might not be a good thing when discussing anchoring ) What range of depths would you consider for anchoring?

I anchored in the SE corner of Loch Aline the other night. I was between the moorings and the shore, and still in a depth of 13m.

Ash
 
Kylora said:
Loch Don seems to have a lot of green when I look at the chart !!

I have the disadvantage of a lump of cast iron dangling below the hull.

Slight thread drift ( which might not be a good thing when discussing anchoring ) What range of depths would you consider for anchoring?

I anchored in the SE corner of Loch Aline the other night. I was between the moorings and the shore, and still in a depth of 13m.
Click to expand...

Admiralty charts show a lot of green & not much depth in the blue. Antares charts give a lot more detail & depth. Shallow over the bar, but once in plenty of water to potter about & anchor, 6m in places. Also before the bar is ok with no east in the wind in 3m. It's not a mainstream place, but they're often the best.

I anchor using warp so with a scope of 6:1 8m is about my maximum depth at high tide. Low tide 1m is enough for me if the bottom is friendly, otherwise 2m.

13m is too much for me. I can find less water in bits of Lochaline. It's quite shallow opposite the marina.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Admiralty charts show a lot of green & not much depth in the blue. Antares charts give a lot more detail & depth. Shallow over the bar, but once in plenty of water to potter about & anchor, 6m in places. Also before the bar is ok with no east in the wind in 3m. It's not a mainstream place, but they're often the best.

I anchor using warp so with a scope of 6:1 8m is about my maximum depth at high tide. Low tide 1m is enough for me if the bottom is friendly, otherwise 2m.

13m is too much for me. I can find less water in bits of Lochaline. It's quite shallow opposite the marina.
Click to expand...
There were already boats anchored in the bit opposite the marina. The wind was forecast to be from the south, but mainly died away and I was more influenced by the tidal flow around the bay.

I had 45 m of chain out to the water line, and the anchor plus 5 m of chain came up well covered in mud.

Ash
 
We were in Loch Aline last night, and anchored just before the moorings at the top of the Loch in 6metres at high tide. Tons of places to tuck in at very reasonable depths a smallish Nicholson Ketch was anchored out in the middle of the Loch in the 10 metre pool. Wanted to be alone I suppose. You found the mud then :encouragement:

Donald
 
wully1 said:
So, how was the Tummy-tum-tum after the mussels? :-)
Click to expand...

Nothing to joke about, when our son was growing up he was required to accompany us on a cruising holiday on the boat, he was always being sick year after year which we attributed to not having any resistance to motion sickness, we thought he should grow out of it, he was about 17 when we discovered he had a severe allergy to shellfish, scallops, mussels all the stuff you eat on the West of Scotland and nowhere else. He is still sailing regularly nowadays without problems.
I have only gone in to Loch Spelve twice and like JD it was in poor weather and we did not like the look of it, retreating across the Firth to pull Dora N.
 
Word of warning: Admiralty Leisure Chart Folio SC5611.9B incorrectly shows the green beacon in the entrance as being at the south edge of the rock shelf.

In fact, as BA2387 clearly shows, the shelf runs SE from the beacon.

We'd been in and out of Spelve several times without incident using the proper full size BA charts, but scraped the keel the first time we used the Leisure Folio.

This was using the 3rd edition SC5611 dated 2009. Don't know whether the error has been carried into later editions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top