Hebrides.....advice

[chockswahay]

I have 3 weeks off and intend to sail around the Hebrides. Our boat is based in the Clyde and I would prefer not to use the Crinan if possible. Now then, we have sailed between Gigha, Oban and Plockton but not to the Outer Hebrides. For some strange reason we really fancy going to St Kilda and also the Shiants, but also want to see the Small isles and the West side of Skye (not too much then!)

Does anyone have any advice/tips/suggestions please?

Many thanks

Chox
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[dunedin]

Lots of great places to go - but really depends on the weather. DONT plan a fixed schedule but see what the weather allows and flex the plans.

We bought the new Admiralty chart for Sound of Harris, just in case a weather window ever opens up for St Kilda. Didnt expect to use it this year, and that was the case. But would not want to be out there without the detailed chart (chart plotters do go down, as we experienced earlier this year).

We did achieve our loose objective (after buying the book Sea Room) - a glorious day of blue sky and sunshine at the Shiants. And great stopping off and return point at Acarseid Mor on Rona.

Enjoy

 

[thedoc]

We did this earlier in the year (May) . largs/mullof kintyre/port ellen/oronsay then straight to Barra through Gunna sound between Tiree and Coll (overnight). We kept to the eastern side of the Islands, Barra, Lochboisdale and the 'wizard pool' loch skipport. The latter is a fantastic anchorage. we were blessed with clear skies for a week....I couldnt convince the crew to go to St Kilda. Enjoy yourself.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I have 3 weeks off and intend to sail around the Hebrides.
Does anyone have any advice/tips/suggestions please?

Get as far as you can in the first week. If you are willing to consider leaving the boat at, say, Arisaig or Oban at the end of your 3 weeks and then deliver her back to the clyde over a couple of weekends, you will get a lot further.

When you leave Castlebay on a beautiful summer afternoon on passage for St K have a really good pilotage plan for the Sound of Barra. The lowering sun on a summer evening makes the pilotage quite challenging.

Overall a very feasible project if you get the right weather for your 3 weeks.