After Tobamory

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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So if I make it as far as Oban and then tobamory thi summer, which way should I go next> North to Eigg and Muck, west to Coll, or head south outside Mull?
 
PabloPicasso said:
So if I make it as far as Oban and then tobamory thi summer, which way should I go next> North to Eigg and Muck, west to Coll, or head south outside Mull?
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Not sure where Tobamory is but if you get to Tobermory then as you leave turn left and head North and keep going round Ardnamurchan and head for Skye and the Kyles of Lochalsh then under the bridge and turn right and keep heading north.
 
scottie said:
Depends on the wind!
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+1

If it's quiet from the W & SW then head south round the outside of Mull.

South of Ardnamurchan will give you the opportunity for plenty of short sheltered sails between anchorages.
North of Ardnamurchan is more exposed with longer distances, but more dramatic scenery.


Some photos and anchorages here: http://sailing.agurney.com/
 
Last year I had a very nice 2 weeks between Crinan, Fort William Oban twice and Tobermory at Easter/Royal Wedding/Mayday and missed loads out to do next time and many times after that. I was in a 20 footer so didn't go outside Mull or Jura, that's another time and maybe another boat.
You could spend a couple of years on the CCC Kintyre to Ardnamuchan directions, or more. Why rush?
 
So many choices! Loch Moidart, North Channel is quiet lovely.
 
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PabloPicasso said:
So if I make it as far as Oban and then tobamory thi summer, which way should I go next> North to Eigg and Muck, west to Coll, or head south outside Mull?
Click to expand...

Don't stay in Tobermory or Oban its expensive and truly there is nothing there, use them as stops for fuel or provisions then leave.

After Oban a lovely stop is Loch Aline, go to the end of the loch and anchor its free and has a nice small landing and great walks.
After Tobermory a beautiful stop is Loch Drumbuie, just turn right instead of left to Ardnamuchin. The loch is secluded and has nice beaches and landing places, so quiet...
Not used by many as everyone is in a hurry to go North/South or into Tobermory for some reason.

Heading North, Loch Torriden, Loch Nedd, Loch Beag all great places most people miss.

We did all of that last year, leaving Inverness we did, Wick, Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland, cape Wrath, West Coast, including all of the above, Kyle of Loch Alsh, Goat Island, Isle of Bute and Ireland. Lots of places to go and see, with free anchorages, all easy passages.

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/boatingdreams/
 
Agree that Oban isn't much cop but Tobermory worth a stop. The only problem with Tobermory is that every other bugger wants to stop there too!
We spent a few days there in Easter when the shops/restaurants were just starting to open but the hoardes hadn't arrived yet. It was great, and the marina only charged us a tenner a night. Got quite a shock when we stopped there in the summer...
 
Good luck, once chartered Sigma 38 with my mate and friends for 2 weeks from Oban area in late May June with another yacht with idea of going to St Kilda.


Only had one day of F5 and sun which was the day we sailed from Tobermory to Canna via Rhum. Rest of the fortnight was 6/7/8 with driving rain. Remember holeing up in outer Hebridies and walking to Atlantic coast and getting face burnt with sand wipped up by wind.
Girl Friend got food poisoning and local hospital had to send her to mainland - we were airlifted off beach in Barra. My mate carried on but spent most of remaining week in harbour.

Other yacht lost its gearbox somewhere around Mallaig.

Happy days - never been back.

Brian
 
brianhumber said:
Good luck, once chartered Sigma 38 with my mate and friends for 2 weeks from Oban area in late May June with another yacht with idea of going to St Kilda.


Only had one day of F5 and sun which was the day we sailed from Tobermory to Canna via Rhum. Rest of the fortnight was 6/7/8 with driving rain. Remember holeing up in outer Hebridies and walking to Atlantic coast and getting face burnt with sand wipped up by wind.
Girl Friend got food poisoning and local hospital had to send her to mainland - we were airlifted off beach in Barra. My mate carried on but spent most of remaining week in harbour.

Other yacht lost its gearbox somewhere around Mallaig.

Happy days - never been back.

Brian
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Sounds like a nightmare trip. Of course your other 2 week cruises in the south have all had faultless weather?

The best chance of reasonable weather in Scotland is early season, but you can be unlucky, as you can anywhere.
 
Our July cruise last year, circumnavigation of Skye (and Mull).
Crinan to David Balfours bay for a walk on one of the UKs best beaches, round to the Bull Hole overnight.
Bull Hole out to Coll for a walk and dinner in the Coll Hotel, (awkward mooring there when it is windy, better to anchor?).
Coll to Canna, local rabbit casserole in the wee restaurant there, next day, walk across the isthmus to Sanday at low tide and up the hill to sit all day watching the young puffins practising flying by diving off the cliff edge and the added new excitement of being attacked by a pair of dive bombing bonxies on the headland (be sure to take a stick or brolly)
Next day round to Rum, ashore for a shower at the campsite, lunch with the locals in the community centre then a tour of the castle full of amazing artefacts including the worlds biggest working orchestrion playing Sousa marches, (missed the one sitting dinner in the Castle restaurant) .
Next day over to Scavaig for a fantastic walk around Loch Coruisk under the shadow of the Black Cuillin.
North to Loch Bay, Loch Dunvegan, spectacular scenery and great grub in the Stein Inn.
Round the top of Skye and up Gairloch to Flowerdale Pier, alongside berth with short walk to the Old Inn one way and the fantastic Gairloch Beach the other. Topped up with cheap diesel and spent another night there.
South to Portree, Rona is a nicer stop but we skipped it this time for a bit of shopping.
South to Kyle of Lochalsh, alongside berth inside pontoon.
Up early to sluice through Kyle Rhea on the tide, skipped Inverie to try the new pontoons in Mallaig (mistake?)
Mallaig over to Eigg but decide to go to Muck for a change.
Next day back to Tobermory for two nights then home to Crinan on the tide.
Not one stop we would have missed with great wee sails in between, it would take us at least five years to do one of those circumnavigations of the UK.
 
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Quandary- I like your style. Most of the Skye anchorages are within a day sail of me but I haven't explored them at all yet.
Oh and nice to see someone who isn't afraid to treat a cruise as a holiday and actually inject some money into the rural economy.
 
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