Moorings or berth on the West Coast of Scotland

[GaryE]

In a moment of weakness, SWMBO has agreed that the holiday this year will be sailing our own boat up in the Western Isles, rather than trips to Florida etc.
So, the plan is for the "boys" to spend a week taking the boat up there, for about 16th July. Leave the boat there until 12th to 26 August, when we can cruise around. Leave the boat again until 16th September, when the delivery crew can sail back.

Does anybody have any ideas or suggstions for moorings, or indeed recomendations for places to visit. I've just had the "Sail Scotland" booklet through the post, plenty of contact numbers etc there.

Boat is a 30ft long keel job, so is happy enough on a swinging mooring.

All sugestions gratefully received!

 

[Slow_boat]

Visit Millport. It's like stepping back in time to the 60s.

Kyles of Bute are a must.

The seafood in the Anchor at Tarbert is out of this world but they have no idea what will be on the menu until the boats come in.

Everyone I met in the area, even the local hoodies, are very welcoming and polite.

I met a guy in Campbelltown who as no home port but is constantly on the move for weekends and holidays. He was leaving his boat, a YM 27 I think, on a mooring there for a month until his next 'leg'.

Oh, and the Rothsay toilets are worth a look.

 

[jimbaerselman]

There are a couple of useful links on my website, hidden among the text on 'Sailing Areas' - W Scotland.

 

[Spyro]

Have a look HERE

 

[cameronke]

Anyone want to bet whether Gary's boat finds a new home port?

Cameron /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ulava]

Why not try Plockton, http://www.plockton.com/ . The contact is G. Webster 01599544283 for booking moorings,and is a bit nearer to the Western Isles than say Millport,If you want more info PM me .
A

 

[webcraft]

For leaving the boat for that period of time I would suggest you get a quote from Dunstaffnage marina (4 miles from Oban) - they are very reasonable and you are right in the middle of one of the best cruising grounds in Europe. Just a bit further up Loch Linnhe you could try Barcaldine Marine or Linnhe Marine for a swinging mooring, or a bit further South Mike Mcsweeney at Balvicar Boatyard may have a mooring free for the period you need it.

Sail Scotland are a pay to join organisation, so the info you have there tends to refer to members and may not be as complete as information from other sources on the web.

- Nick

 

[Searush]

Are you travelling regularly? Getting to/ from your home port will probably be the biggest issue!
We used Rothesay Inner Harbour as it was reasonably priced & easy to get to (passenger ferry from Wemys - leaving the car there). If cost is less of a problem Kip/ Largs are relatively easy to get to. The Clyde is a magnificent cruising area and nearer/ less stressful than Western Isles. If you want Western Isles then Oban (train service) and Dunstaffnage (beach airport nearby) are well placed. Or rent a cottage at Croabh Haven for the season.

 

[1114C]

go west I would say, Clyde is great but definitely better further west

loch linnhe moorings are good - was there today (not on the boat) and the weather was not too bad at all. photo taken today from just up the hill from the moorings

 

[sona]

How was the soup in the Castle Stalker tea room ?

 

[1114C]

place was not up to the usual standards - great pannini but dodgy coffee

still a good place though

 

[GaryE]

Thanks very much for all that, plenty to go on.
'Tis a veritable mine of info is this forum!

 

[Hugh Foulis]

Visit Scotland. Its like stepping back in time to the '60s /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Sgeir]

I agree - we use Linnhe marine in the summer -

 

[vyv_cox]

Not sure if you are tied to school holidays but you will almost certainly get better weather if you go earlier. Winter is under way in Scotland by late August. Midges will be in season in September.

Fabulous cruising though. Plenty of good suggestions already, but I would recommend the area around Islay. Anchor at the Ardmore Islands in the SE corner, we have seen deer coming down to the water there, then sail the sound between Islay and Jura up to Colonsay, berth at the wooden jetty and walk Colonsay and Oronsay. Don't miss Gigha, just across the water to the south-east. Magic places.

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
Winter is under way in Scotland by late August. Midges will be in season in September.

[/ QUOTE ] Sorry - I have to beg to differ. We live there, and Autumns have been getting warmer and better for the past few years. Some years Summer doesn't get going until the kids have gone back to school mid-August. Late August through to mid-September can be a great time to cruise the W.Coast.

- N

 

[rhumlady]

July can be disapointing but as said August and September can be very good. I used to berth at Oban Yachts which has now become Oban Marina. I have had good reports of it's new people and facilities. The nice thing is that Oban is just across the bay for shopping etc and also that Oban is across the bay so you get peace. There are no real tidal gates when going over to the Sound of Mull and beyond and you have a better choice of destinations than say Loch Craigneish or Shuna.

 

[claymore]

Kilmelford
beats all on service and price.

 

[skyemark]

We can can offer a mooring with easy connections to public transport.

www.skyeyachts.co.uk

 

[rhumlady]

I have to say that MarkEnt's moorings in Armadale on Skye are a very good place to base a boat as you have probobly the best area to cruise all around you. The moorings can be a bit rolly and exposed but we have stayed overnight on the visitors moorings on many occasions. Arisaig is an hours sail while the Small Isles are about the same There are lochs all around where you may not see another boat. Get the tide times right and go through Kylerhea and you have the Inner Sound Beefore you with Plockton, Portree, Loch Torridon and many more within a day sail of your moorings. I have to agree with an earlier post that once up here you may have trouble getting to take the boat back. The main drawback is the travel to get there, but it is well worth it.