Cruising from Oban for a week.

Magaz97

Magaz97

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I have a week of cruising on the cards, in August. We are sailing out of Oban in a 40ft boat.

I have sailed in the Clyde area on a number of occasions, but I do not know the waters around Oban. I would appreciate some recommendations on where to visit or avoid. bearing in mind this is a week long holiday and I would like to keep things at a relaxed pace.

I like anchorages and dont mind harbours or marinas. I like beer and whisky!

Thanks
 
'So much to do, so little time....'

There will be lots of recommendations for heading North, North-West, South-West and South.... not so may will suggest East. I'd encourage you to head south down through the Sound of Luing and the length of the Sound of Jura as far as Port Ellen, then across to the Isle of Gigha, then back north. There are scores of good anchorages wherever you look, villages with distilleries to visit, some marinas in the lochs on the east side, and scenery you'll never forget.... provided you can see it, of course! :rolleyes:

Should you get a couple of 'wild' days, then sail behind the islands which act as a barrier to Atlantic fetch. Be wary, however, of wind-over-tide in places such as the 'lumpy bits' shown on the charts. See appended....


SoundofJura.jpg



Be wary also of territorial Argyllshire 'warmistas' who tend to be found sitting on rocks, near Easedale, at sunset gazing out to see and intoning in reedy voices "It's heating up. Ye'll all die, I tell ye, all die." ;)
 
Where does one start!
I would go South on a first trip, more anchorages and interesting navigation with leisurely day sails anywhere you want to go.
Only thing to get right is the tidal gates at Cuan, luing and Dorus Mor but they are all well worth seeing.

You have choices then of Pull-whatsit (Lake of the otter) that's North of Cuan Sound and a lovely place to wait for the tide to go through Cuan or the Sound of Luing.
After that, well if you can get a copy of the CCC sailing directions just take your pick.
I wouldn't personally overnight on a bouy in Craighouse Isle of Jura as it's always been very roly there for me but just North in Lowlandsmans bay is fine.
One of my favourites is Loch Na Cille, North of the Island of Danna at the entrance to Loch Sween, very peaceful and with the ruins of an old chapel with a barn that houses old tomb slabs and a celtic cross from the 11th century as I remember.
Another favourite is lagavulin Bay if you get that far South.
Absolutely stunning and with the royal king of whisky just a dinghy ride away :)

The alternative of Going North very much depends on the weather as once past Tobermory you're at the mercy of the Atlantic and a trip down the West of Mull can be less than relaxing.
Some beautiful anchorages on the South coast of Mull that I've not managed to get into yet as they're all very exposed to any wind that hasn't got North in it.

See Agurney's (of this forum) site for a comprehensive list, he'll probably be along soon to offer more advice :)
http://sailing.agurney.com/list-of-anchorages

All the best and enjoy, lucky beggar.
 
Here is my tuppence worth. Unless you are a real whisky nut ( in which case just sail around Islay ) I would do the following, I am assuming that its a reasonably fast , modern 40 footer:
Day 1: oban to coll - good sail up sound of mull , out past Ardnamurchan over to coll. Good moorings and plenty of anchoring space in arinagour. Good food and beer /whisky in hotel ( also showers) usually basking sharks around coll.
Day2: North - for a short hop stop at canna, or head on up to Loch harport, Tallisker distillery, stunning cuillin backdrop. Dramatic entrance to loch. Anchor or moor
Day3: South to Rum - great walking, or over to Loch nevis and visit the old forge, great pub, food and atmosphere - also good walking. Anchor or moor
Day4: South to Loch Drumbuie ( stunning natural harbour and anchor) or to tobermory fleshpots - mishnish, cafe fish etc. Pontoons, moorings and anchoring
Day5: back to oban.
I have left a couple of days non-sailing - coll has stunning beaches ( hire bikes at the post office), tallisker the distillery, rum or Knoydart is worth packing walking boots. Tobermory - well its a nice place to do tourist stuff. Take your pick .
 
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oldbilbo said:
Be wary also of territorial Argyllshire 'warmistas' who tend to be found sitting on rocks, near Easedale, at sunset gazing out to see and intoning in reedy voices "It's heating up. Ye'll all die, I tell ye, all die." ;)
Click to expand...

Fear not, he is more than balanced by the right wing hippie at the end of Loch Melfort, who is likely to offer passing friends, tea, cake and good rock music.

Once through Cuan, there is a lovely sheltered sail right down to Gigha, heaps of scenery and wildlife.

Lochs Melfort, Craignish and Sween are well worth a visit. Mac Cormick Isles are a must.

Harbours.........Kilmelford is very friendly and reasonable, Croahb haven is a bit more expensive but classy, Ardfern is expensive and snooty, Tayvallich is very sheltered and cheap but very limited fascilities.

Can not advise re beer and whisky as I do not like either........but there is plenty of both about.......ask others.

Hope that you have a great trip.........a week will not even scrath the surface! mikej
 
Puilladobhran on Seil is a must.

Stop off for lunch at Easdale island. Visit the Puffer bar and walk around this tiny slate island.

Go through Cuan Sound with the tide in your favour.

Then there are so many anchorages pick according to the weather. Kinuachdrachd Harbour on the north end of Jura is one. It has fond memories for me.
 
TQA said:
Kinuachdrachd Harbour on the north end of Jura is one. It has fond memories for me.
Click to expand...
Had some crew go ashore there last September.
It appeared from the boat as though they'd all suddenly contracted severe epilepsy :)
Turned out to be just personal helmets of 20 million midges each :0

Lovely views across the Sound though.
 
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CFarr said:
Had some crew go ashore there last September.
It appeared from the boat as though they'd all suddenly contracted severe epilepsy :)
Turned out to be just personal helmets of 20 million midges each :0

Lovely views across the Sound though.
Click to expand...

Ah tis not for nothing that the midge is called 'the curse of Scotland' can get you anywhere sheltered from the wind I am afraid.

It was blowing a full gale the time I was there and we were glad of the shelter. The walk over to see the Corryvreckan was worth while and we sat and marveled at the spectacle. It seemed that the earth moved at times.
 
mikej said:
Harbours.........Kilmelford is very friendly and reasonable, Croahb haven is a bit more expensive but classy, Ardfern is expensive and snooty, Tayvallich is very sheltered and cheap but very limited fascilities.
Click to expand...

Classy Craobh and snooty Ardfern? What colour is the sky on your planet?? :-)

For a week you'll be spoilt for choice..as has been said if it's a bit rough the Sound Of Mull and Loch Sunart wil keep you happy and if it's nice turn left past Tobermory , visit Coll then continue round Mull, down to West Loch Tarbert on Jura, through the Sound of Islay then back via Craighouse ( and its sometimes rolly anchorage if you stop down by Craighouse)

You'll need to tailor your trip to the tides if you head south.
 
uxb said:
Classy Craobh and snooty Ardfern? What colour is the sky on your planet?? :-)
Click to expand...

Light blue, with not a cloud in sight, winds 2 to 3 or less, sea state calm, not another boat in sight, throttles wide open and GPS reading 30 knots +............


I thought that was a fair comparative summary of the marinas, by local standards. How would you rate them?
 
mikej said:
Light blue, with not a cloud in sight, winds 2 to 3 or less, sea state calm, not another boat in sight, throttles wide open and GPS reading 30 knots +............


I thought that was a fair comparative summary of the marinas, by local standards. How would you rate them?
Click to expand...

Nice weather, we've got cold wind and pissing rain just now.

Craobh - nice, exposedto the wind but not much damage to boats in storms over the past two winters so good shelter, good pub, good staff, ok chandlery, bit of a naff fake village slowly getting better, no cafe.

Ardfern- better shelter except in strong easterly, c r ap pub now saved by very good barman, excellent staff,superb chandlery,the best village store on the west coast by far,good cafe,if you need yer boatie fixed it is the place to go.

Dunno where the ' snooty' bit came from?
 
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The OP mentioned a fondness for beer and whisky. I'll limit my comments to beer. As a bitter drinker I haven't always been bowled over by what's available in W. Scotland but two that do stick in my memory are the Jarl at the Tigh an Truish at Clachan near Puilladobhrain Anchorage and the Avalanche at the Ardsheil Hotel at Campbelltown. No doubt there are others now as the situation does seem to be improving.
 
Yes, the decent beer scene in Scotland has improved markedly in the last 20 or so years. Even pubs that don't have the throughput to get barrels in often have a range of very acceptable local bottled beers.
 
Reading down this thread, and finally get to the end and dunedin has stolen my comment!! :(

Two things will dictate where you go. Weather and the times of the tides in your chosen week to avoid early rises or late finishes or just plain uncomfortable trips!!

Pick half a dozen places north and south then see what happens in between. For my money and we're based in Crinan, the marinas are best avoided as they kind of defeat the reasons for going to the west coast. So make your mind up on the day as the conditions can often be wildly different from the forecasts.

South - Black Isles for the sunsets
Craighouse for the Isle of Jura distillery (not if the wind's in the east though)
Tinkers Hole for the remoteness
IMGP1151.jpg


North - Gott Bay on Tiree for the beaches
Aros Bay, Tobermory for the pubs (and distillery)
Loch Moidart for complete isolation and atmosphere

IMGP0823.jpg


If the weather is really pants, another fantastic option is the Caledonian Canal with some great pubs and places to visit along the way. The Corpach enterance is only about 20miles from Oban.

If you come to Crinan, worth a visit anyway, give us a shout!
 
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