A Clyde cruising Alternative?

Not sure it is the same place as your photo - so many pretty little bays down the West side of Bute and the mainland north from Ardlamont it is tricky to be sure where your photo was, but closer to Asgog Bay suggested earlier?
I thought it was Asgog Bay! lol
 
It is a mistake to mentally compare the Firth of Clyde cruising grounds to the Solent. The Clyde area is massively bigger and much more varied than the Solent:
- At a rough estimate the Solent, including all harbours, has a "sailable coastline" of about 75nm, and one major island.
- The entire sailing waters from Selsey Bill to Portland Bill increases this to about 200nm and two major islands.
- The full Firth of Clyde area has perhaps 450nm sailable coastline, and 8 major islands.
Clearly the Solent has other attractions, and much more racing due to proximity to London and the SE.
But the Firth of Clyde is a massive cruising ground - as witnessed by the CCC pilot book for the area needing 150 pages to cover the many places to visit.
Aaah, but there are midges, gales and perpetual rain.
We do not want the Southerners to know about isolated Anchorages, beautiful scenery and warm welcomes at low cost.
Keep quiet.
 
Aaah, but there are midges, gales and perpetual rain.
We do not want the Southerners to know about isolated Anchorages, beautiful scenery and warm welcomes at low cost.
Keep quiet.
No one told me it rains. Im a fair weather sailor and dont do rain. Midges surely not.

Steveeasy
 
Not sure why having lots of boats is an issue. Personally I prefer it.

It might not be for you, but not everyone is you. Being a miserable unsociable single handed loner I much prefer the sea to myself and an empty bay to anchor in. I get in a huff when another boat rocks up, and get a dose of the vapours if anyone pops over in their dinghy to say hello. Keep away if you really have to anchor in sight of me. And I don't give two hoots for the availability or cost of beer, because being a puritan teetotaller I never frequent pubs and bars. Needless to say, the Solent is not for me and never will be.
 
It might not be for you, but not everyone is you. Being a miserable unsociable single handed loner I much prefer the sea to myself and an empty bay to anchor in. I get in a huff when another boat rocks up, and get a dose of the vapours if anyone pops over in their dinghy to say hello. Keep away if you really have to anchor in sight of me. And I don't give two hoots for the availability or cost of beer, because being a puritan teetotaller I never frequent pubs and bars. Needless to say, the Solent is not for me and never will be.
Each to their own. All good fun then!!
Happy days
Steveeasy:)
 
It might not be for you, but not everyone is you. Being a miserable unsociable single handed loner I much prefer the sea to myself and an empty bay to anchor in. I get in a huff when another boat rocks up, and get a dose of the vapours if anyone pops over in their dinghy to say hello. Keep away if you really have to anchor in sight of me. And I don't give two hoots for the availability or cost of beer, because being a puritan teetotaller I never frequent pubs and bars. Needless to say, the Solent is not for me and never will be.
Ooh er. Now I feel very bad. I have been over to speak to you at least twice, and even managed to evade your defence systems and get on board your three hulled den. I hope you don’t have a wax effigy of me with pins emanating !
 
Ooh er. Now I feel very bad. I have been over to speak to you at least twice, and even managed to evade your defence systems and get on board your three hulled den. I hope you don’t have a wax effigy of me with pins emanating !

I have moments when I can just about tolerate a bit of contact with other humanity as long as it's at least a fortnight after the previous encounter, but mostly I prefer the company of cats. You must have hit a lucky day, and will eventually be forgiven. :)
 
seafox - if 7 hrs on the road to the clyde doesn't appeal (presumably 10 to oban will not either), is it viable to jump on a flight? I appreciate its not very eco - but then even with a hybrid neither is driving... if you are close to a large airport you could quite feasibly be in the baltic, the Netherlands, etc. (Med would also be possible but a bit different to the Clyde!). Can't comment on costs but I expect they are cheaper than Falmouth which someone else suggested.
 
Steve
I live exactly half way between the Hamble and the Clyde. The Yacht has been on the Clyde for 12 years now and it is staying there for all the reasons you said in the original post and so I go north.

Steve, you do not say what your sailing regime is, in terms of how many times you sail and for how long each time and who travels. This can obviously have an impact on your choice. Have you looked at getting yourself organised and using public transport. You can fly to Glasgow from East Midlands and Stansted and bus/taxi to JWD from the airport. Just occasionally we actually have a train service to Scotland and Bogston station is close to JWD and you can work on the train. Food deliveries from Tesco, laundrette at the marina. The cost of public transport may actually be cheaper than the car fuel cost and could be offset against higher marina costs elsewhere.

Troon used to have a few owners who travelled up from Stansted.
 
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I live on the south coast (minutes from Brighton; hour and half from Hamble where I used to have a river mooring) yet for more than 20 years I've kept my boat on N/NW coast of Scotland.

With organisation (the overnight train from London to Inverness/Fort William is invaluable) and I have no wish to return to the Solent. Cruising area is unmatchable.
 
It might not be for you, but not everyone is you. Being a miserable unsociable single handed loner I much prefer the sea to myself and an empty bay to anchor in. I get in a huff when another boat rocks up, and get a dose of the vapours if anyone pops over in their dinghy to say hello. Keep away if you really have to anchor in sight of me. And I don't give two hoots for the availability or cost of beer, because being a puritan teetotaller I never frequent pubs and bars. Needless to say, the Solent is not for me and never will be.
How about this place?
 
I used to fly (cheaply) to Inverness from Belfast, bus to Ullapool and then kept an old banger in the car park there to get to the boat. And I was working at the time. You don’t need to drive everywhere. 10 hours to Oban? Surely there are other ways.
 
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