Hebrides and St Kilda

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chockswahay

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I'm not sure where to post this but having been a live aboard I do know that you lot are adventurous and likely to have useful information.

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
 
I was on St Kilda in 1996 (although not in a sailing capacity) and no special permission was required to land, you just had to find the Warden of the island and obey the rules that apply for the time of year that you are there regarding the wildlife etc. Things may have changed over the years but if you can get there it is definitely worth a visit, one of my favourite places.
 
Was on St Kilda 2005. No advance permisson required: you just check in at the Scottish National Trust office on landing. It was no prob. Haven't heard of any changes since but I'm sure you can Google Scot Nat Trust and ask 'em.

One change since '96 (And hello Norna. Can guess why you were there. Hope all well with you two) is that the pub for the missile tracking installation is now off-limits to visitors. Evidently some suit in Basingstoke decided he didn't want the "liability issues". I ask you: the remotest place in UK and you get this nonsense!

Getting there: utterly weather dependent. A big issue, too, is whether village bay, the only tenable anchorage, will be...er. tenable...when you're there. Even if the sea isn't coming directly in, it can be hideously rolly.

Note also that western end of the northern of the two passages through the outers is very shallow (Sound of Lewis?...my chart is 2000 miles away): you do not want to be using it with a big sea/swell pounding in. I presume you'd be getting appropriate pilot books.

I've met sailors who've tried to get to St Kilda half a dozen times and the conditions have always been against them. But if you can get there, it's worth it. Truly magnificent.
 
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I live in sound of Harris loads of yachts go there every year
you can stop the night here at the pier...unfortunately its not a harbor given the winds round here sometimes!
 
St Kilda

We went there in June.

It is 42 miles from the East end of the Sound of Harris. Lochmaddy is a fairly convenient departure point, but you an also leave from Barra via the Sound of Barra or - if you want to avoid all dangers - body-swerve the Outer Hebrides completely by going Southabout round Barra Head.

(We actually left from Taransay, the BBC 'Castaways' island NW of the Sound of Harris - a very handy departure point with a great anchorage if the wind is anywhere between W through N to E)

Sound of Harris is easy enough - we went out through Cope Passage and back through the Stanton Channel. Cope Passage should only be used when there is not a big swell running as the bar South of Berneray is very shallow. Make sure you have the new chart as the buoyage changed last year. A plotter is very handy!

Village Bay is the only real anchorage. It is subject to swell anyway, but is likely to be completely untenable in winds between ENE and SSW. If you get there and get anchored it is best to go ashore ASAP as if conditions change you may have to bail out. In a Westerly gale there are no safe havens within 60 miles - either stay at sea or go round Barra Head, don't attempt the Sound of Harris in very bad weather.

Anchor between the pier and the beach in the NW corner in about 5 metres. It can be a bit squally in strong winds coming over the hills.

You don't need permission to land but you should introduce yourself to the National Trust warden when you go ashore.

Things to do:

~ Visit the village (of course) - walk up Main Street, visit the church and schoolroom.

~ Climb Conochair - fabulous views from the top over to Boreray, but take a stick to hold over your head so the bonxies don't get you (dive-bombinbg greatr skuas)

~ Have a shower - free, new and wonderful, the best we have had on the W. Coast

~ Make sure you sail round Stac Lee and past Boreray on the way back.

You can see some photos of our trip HERE

Hope you make it, it is well worth the effort.

- W
 
No problems to any of your queries, just set out and go. You may decide not to set out for St Kilda when in the Outer Hebrides at this late time of the year with lows piling up in the Atlantic but the rest of your plan is perfectly feasible provided that you don't mind a few days here or there waiting for weather in a remote anchorage with no outside communications. Even Stornoway Coastguard weather forecasts can be a hit or miss affair in many anchorages depending on the wind and tide setting you in or out of a radio shadow.
I sailed down the Minch in April and back up in June this year, and have done so a number of times since the 1970's, always around the Mull of Kintyre - just work the tides and watch the weather.

Have not been to St Kilda since the 1980's when two trips with charter crews went to timetable.

Go for it and have fun.
 
Just to wrap this one up.....................

Firstly thanks to everyone for advice and suggestions.

We managed to get from the Clyde to Mull, then to be honest we had just about had enough of wind and rain and wind and rain........blah blah blah.............

So we returned home early. I have come to the conclusion that sailing is just as hard work when not doing it full time. There is the constant worry that one might not get back in time to start work. And sitting out a blow in a small corner somewhere takes on a different meaning when each day eats into your valuable holiday time.

As for 'sailing' don't get me started!...............75% motoring if you want/need to go in a certain direction at a certain time.

Still, such fun eh?

Cheers

Chox
 
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