Has anybody sailed up the east coast to Cape Wrath ?

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Two additional points. From the Medway I think you will find Lowestoft to Spurn, or Grimsby, your longest haul-not direct either-unless you go non stop to say the Tyne.
The Harbourmaster at Wick advised me to go direct from Wick to Kirkwall and avoid the Pentland Firth. If I remember correctly was advised to go at about 45 degrees from Wick across the tide and you just about entered the passage up to Kirkwall before the tide turned. From Kirkwall plenty of cruising grounds and you leave for Cape Wrath through the Sound of Hoy.

 

[Bilgediver]

What's the problem at Pentland?

Just google and enjoy reading about others....Even the skippers of cargo ships were wary of the tides and weather in days gone by when ships were low powered and slow.

 

[Fascadale]

Great pub at the end of Stonehaven harbour
Peterhead, a bit of a trek to the pub but a really excellent fish and chip shop.
Wick, I thought the Indian mediocre

If going to the west coast then definately through Scapa: Stromness is worth a long stopover, then down to Loch Eriboll, round Cape Wrath and you are on the west coast. It sounds easy but the tides are well worth a watch

 

[VO5]

Just google and enjoy reading about others....Even the skippers of cargo ships were wary of the tides and weather in days gone by when ships were low powered and slow.

From memory the tide at Pentland is the fastest for the whole of The British Isles.

Up to 22 knots in Springs. Is that correct or not ?

 

[Ariadne]

Don't worry about Pentland, just plan and amend as needed your ETA to work WITH the tide. If you don't you'll understand it reputation! Been through it many times, just got the tide right and no problem.

The west coast is great sailing, but midges like small sparrows!

 

[Ludd]

Two additional points. From the Medway I think you will find Lowestoft to Spurn, or Grimsby, your longest haul-not direct either-unless you go non stop to say the Tyne.
The Harbourmaster at Wick advised me to go direct from Wick to Kirkwall and avoid the Pentland Firth. If I remember correctly was advised to go at about 45 degrees from Wick across the tide and you just about entered the passage up to Kirkwall before the tide turned. From Kirkwall plenty of cruising grounds and you leave for Cape Wrath through the Sound of Hoy.

AHEM! Lowestoft to Whitby= 159nm

A little matter of 26hours, last time I did it(he says modestly

 

[boathead]

Tidal Stream

From memory the tide at Pentland is the fastest for the whole of The British Isles.

Up to 22 knots in Springs. Is that correct or not ?

Usually you will have no more than 9/10 knots on spring tide, but if you chose to go west by the Pentland Skerries then upto 16 knots at spring tide is possible.

Quick note to 'Fascadale' . . . . . . Kyle of Tongue is really very beautiful if you anchor by Talmine. You can eat and drink ashore in company & lovely beaches like Coldbackie, Eriboll can be a wee bit gloomy if you have folks with you (though it is beautiful) so as it's no distance between the two I'd take Kyle of Tongue for the fun, sun & beaches.

Lastly the Indian in Wick. It's recently changed hands, we don't have a lot up here, we kind a make do, I know when we go the 110 miles to Inverness there's a lot of choice, but here...... well. So maybe it's a good Indian because it's the only one for 110miles ..... not counting the takeaway in Halkirk.......... the one in Castletown burned down...... we make do.

 

[Fascadale]

Lastly the Indian in Wick. It's recently changed hands, we don't have a lot up here, we kind a make do, I know when we go the 110 miles to Inverness there's a lot of choice, but here...... well. So maybe it's a good Indian because it's the only one for 110miles ..... not counting the takeaway in Halkirk.......... the one in Castletown burned down...... we make do.

No complaints about Wick.

Good harbour with great showers, found a pub with good beer up by the pedestrianised bit of bit of the High(?)St and the Indian was OK. I particularly liked Pultneytown. Unfortunately I did not make it to the distillery, Old Pultney being one of my top 10 drams


I may be passing that way again at the end of the coming season so Talmine might be a better option than Eriboll, it looks good on Google Earth, and perhaps visit Eilean nan Ron.

Talking of Indian restaurants, I'm not too impressed with the one in Tobermory either but the fish and chip van there is very very good.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

AHEM! Lowestoft to Whitby= 159nm

A little matter of 26hours, last time I did it(he says modestly

Against a fierce wind too, I gather!

 

[Ludd]

Against a fierce wind too, I gather!

Yeah,well,windward work keeps the decks clean!

 

[jpcarter30]

Any hotels on that northern tip opposite the Pentland Firth?

Looking for accommodation there also.

 

[Impaler]

This is excellent but you'll need a taxi or summat to get there...

http://www.forsshousehotel.co.uk/index.htm

 

[Rowana]

Don't know much about the first part of your trip. I haven't been in the Medway since I was on BP Tankers in the Isle of Grain in the early 70's. They tell me that the Cat's Knackers pub in Grain village is no more! Sad!

Here's my take on the northern bit -

Eyemouth - Nice place, narrow entrance down a "canyon", showers were nice and town close by. Watch out for some rocks on the way in - the NCM is quite small, and I mistook it for a fishing float until I was fairly close!

Arbroath - Make sure you arrive close to HW, and during the day. There is a gate on the inner harbour which is only open a couple of hours either side of HW, and the HM goes home about 8pm and shuts the gate before he goes! Showers are absolutely the pits, or at least they were 3 years ago when I was last there. I even sent a snotty email to the local councilor to complain. Shops/pub/fish and chips all close by.

Stonehaven - As already stated, inner harbour dries, but you can lie alongside the outer wall, but subject to swell in easterlies. Have a good fender board. Shops/pub close by. Showers not up to much.

Aberdeen - Really a very busy commercial port, and yachts have to go to the fish market. City centre close by.

Peterhead - Again a busy commercial port, but with a nice marina. It is close to the supply base for the North Sea supply boats, but not really a concern. Quite a walk into town, but if I happen to be around, I can take you to Morrisons/Asda etc. Showers are clean and well maintained. Remember, you MUST call the harbour on ch 14 to get permission to enter.

Fraserburgh - Buisy fishing port with no real facilities for yachts.

You can go straight across to Wick, but the Moray Firth is a lovely place to sail.

Whitehills - Nice place. David, the harbourmaster is a really nice helpful guy. Showers are good. Pub ner by, but only one small shop. Quite a narrow entrance, and rocks to Stbd as you go in. http://www.whitehillsharbour.co.uk/

Lossiemouth - Nice place. Again, the HM is a really nice guy. Showers good, Pub/cafe on the harbour side.
http://www.lossiemouthmarina.com/

Inverness - New marina opened last year. Showers were in a portacabin. New building may be open this year. Quite a walk to town/shops.

Cromarty - A couple of visitors buoys. I didn't go ashore here, but it looks nice.

Helmsdale - Nice pontoon in a small harbour. Pubs/shops close by.

Lybster - A few years since I was here, but I remember it was quite a steep walk up the hill to the pub.

Wick - New pontoons installed this year, and I haven't been there since. Pubs & shops near by.

Have a look here -
http://marinas.com/browse/marina/GB/SC/
http://www.caithness.org/pentlandfirth/tides.htm

Send me a PM with your contact details, and if I'm around Peterhead when you come, we can have a beer.

Cheers
Jim

 

[jpcarter30]

Thanks very much for your kind words and offer, Jim. Certainly look you up providing we make it up there! (I don't like tempting fate).
Impaler, the hotel I was looking at was more of a family hotel rather than something the royal family might stay in! Cheers anyway. I've been recommended Mackay in Wick and most people seem to agree its very good, know anything about it? Its just that the wife will fly into the area , or even get a train, but not sail!!