Davo_e
New member
Anyone have suggestions on the best route from the Medway to Crinan on the west coast of Scotland? South about past Lands End, or up the East coast and through the Caledonian canal????
Best route to Crinan?
- Thread starter Davo_e
- Start date
maris
New member
Iv'e sailed from Hartlepool to Inverness and thought the landscape was boring. I can highly recomend the Caledonian Canal, beuatiful scienery and long lochs for sailing.
Iv'e sailed from Kyle of Lochalsh to Dublin and was thrilled by the landscape.
I realise you probably want more technical info but if you want to please the eye and the wind is sutable go for west. You can enjoy a sail north to Fort William and the Cally from Crinnan,
Iv'e sailed from Kyle of Lochalsh to Dublin and was thrilled by the landscape.
I realise you probably want more technical info but if you want to please the eye and the wind is sutable go for west. You can enjoy a sail north to Fort William and the Cally from Crinnan,
Jcorstorphine
Well-known member
Forth and Clyde canal is now open but you will need to drop the mast to get through. This will bring you out at Bowling where you can restep the mast at the basin before the sea lock. From Bowling it a relatively easy run to Loch Fyne to Ardrishaig and your are in the Crinan canal. Alternative is to miss out on the Crinan canal and take the longer haul round the Mull of Kyntyre up to Crinan on the West Coast.
JimMcMillan
New member
Why Crinan?I would think the west coast route the best.
extravert
New member
The East coast is long and mostly dull, there are few places to stop, some of those that there are aren't very pleasant (ie Grimsby, Peterhead) or convenient (ie Whitby) and the Caledonian canal is expensive.
Going the other way you get many places to stop along the South coast, much better scenery (West country, Bristol Channel, Pembrokeshire, Cardigan Bay, Lleyn peninsular, Galloway coast, Clyde Estuary) and you can divert to other places of interest if time allows (Lundy, Isle of Man, Ireland).
Having been round Britain I have seen the coast of both routes you suggest, and would choose the South coast / West coast route. See www.xrayted.freeserve.co.uk for more information.
Going the other way you get many places to stop along the South coast, much better scenery (West country, Bristol Channel, Pembrokeshire, Cardigan Bay, Lleyn peninsular, Galloway coast, Clyde Estuary) and you can divert to other places of interest if time allows (Lundy, Isle of Man, Ireland).
Having been round Britain I have seen the coast of both routes you suggest, and would choose the South coast / West coast route. See www.xrayted.freeserve.co.uk for more information.
Bergman
New member
Don't entirely agree,
Certainly a dull bit from Suffolk to Bridlington, but then quite good, Flamboro cliffs, Whitby, Nthumbrlan coast, Farne Islands etc.
Caledonian Canal is expensive but well worth money
Also worth thinking about wind. From Dover to Lands End is a long way and is likely to be nearly all to windward.
If you do go west probably from Lands End the best route is to go to Ireland and up the East coast. Strong tides top and bottom but not bad in middle bit. Certainly better than around N Wales and Isle of Man.
From Belfast Lough or Carnlough you can sail to either end of canal without too much to fear from Mull of Kintyre.
Certainly a dull bit from Suffolk to Bridlington, but then quite good, Flamboro cliffs, Whitby, Nthumbrlan coast, Farne Islands etc.
Caledonian Canal is expensive but well worth money
Also worth thinking about wind. From Dover to Lands End is a long way and is likely to be nearly all to windward.
If you do go west probably from Lands End the best route is to go to Ireland and up the East coast. Strong tides top and bottom but not bad in middle bit. Certainly better than around N Wales and Isle of Man.
From Belfast Lough or Carnlough you can sail to either end of canal without too much to fear from Mull of Kintyre.
claymore
Well-known member
Agree with that - perhaps it would be best to ease over to the Irish side instead of Portpatrick as you can get a real shove up past Kintyre and miss the lumpy bits there. Really nice sail from Red Bay, Ballycastle or Rathlin to Gigha then another day to Crinan.
regards
Claymore
regards
Claymore
[448]
...
Total agreement with Claymore. Having done both the Irish side and the Scottish side many times, stick to the Irish side. Larne is a good spot to stop off, if you don't mind the ferries and the power station. Youv'e then got a 50 mile trip mostly in open Atlantic, to Gigha, so watch the weather! Rathlin and Sanda are possible bolt holes. This way you can keep several miles off KINTYRE without losing ground. This bit would probably be the hardest part of your trip. if you go the Scottish side , don't under estimate the Mull of Galloway!
Cheers, Dave
Cheers, Dave