North Rona and Sula Sgeir

[extravert]

I have seen plenty of magazine articles about St Kilda, but does anyone know anything about these Scottish islands way off the north coast and west of the Orkneys? Has anyone been there or even seen them from a distance? Is it possible to land (weather permitting, which it probable wouldn't be)? Are there any restrictions because of their valuable status as breeding colonies? Anyone want to go?

 

[Ohdrat]

You can land on both.. tho' the right weather and calm sea are essential There are peeps who go island bagging (like Munro bagging) bit of an anorak way of sailing up here..

Never seen either.. or landed.. Rona used to be inhabited like St Kilda and self sufficient.. now only sheep from Lewis inhabit.. The island is named after St Ronan.

There is no recognised anchorage or landing place.. it's dependant on weather and sea state tho' generally the eatern edge will be better as it will have more protection from Atlantic swell.. You need permission from Barvas Estates Ltd North Lewis.

Sula Sgeir is nature reserve and used to be used as grazing for Lewis sheep which were rowed 40 miles! Again no anchorage or landing and even less shelter than on Rona.. Its now a Nature Reserve.. Gannetry .. permission to land from Scottish National Heritage Inverness.

Last summer I heard a Mayday from a yacht near (I think too near) N Rona... they were about to abanndon to their liferaft..

 

[Alistair]

Plenty info in sailing directions and Admiraly Pilot. Landing on N. Rona is possible in most summer weather. Two landing places dependant on weather/swell. I landed in 1985 at tail end of F 9 NW wind. Tricky! Used landing place on east side. Anchored in 20 metres.
Sula Sgeir landing on east side.

 

[Danthegorrila]

I'd love to go but Sarah's not keen, she definatley does 't want to be an anorak and share's that view about island bagging.

I've wanted to go for a few years- want some crew?

Eric Haswell's book on the Scottish Islands is a well of information about all the islands and has sections about these including some stuff about achoring and going ashore. Poor holding he say's always leave your boat crewed.

PB

 

[extravert]

Good grief! Is there any remote corner of the world people on this forum have not been to?

Are there any remains of habitation on Rona like on St Kilda?

 

[extravert]

Do you have any more information on Haswell's book, ie its title?

I'm considering going to the Shetlands and back next summer because I have never been there. Seems like North Rona, Sula Sgeir and Sula Skerrie are all roughly on the way coming from the West Coast. It depends on being able to get another summer off from work. (If I keep on asking for this they are going to get fed up with me eventually).

 

[Budgie]

I am a retired airline pilot and some years ago I flew a charter for fisherman from Stornoway to Vagaar. On the way back the clouds parted and we were blessed with a rare view of Rona and Sula Sgeir.

A few years later I was operating a press launch flight from Glasgow to New York. One of the passengers who was a councillor from Stornoway and who knew of the Vagaar charter came up to the cockpit, talked about the islands, and subsequently sent me a book on each.

The Sula book is called "Sula, The seabird hunters of Lewis", by John Beatty published by Michael Joseph Ltd/Penguin Group ISBN 0 7181 3634 9. It pictures the landing at the bay called Geodha a Phuill Bhain.

The Rona book is called "Rona, The Distant Island" by Michael Robson, published by Acair Ltd, Unit 8A, 7 James St. Stornoway. ISBN 0 86152 867 0 (hardback) and ISBN 0 86152 823 9 (paperback).

 

[Ohdrat]

Rona has a Church / Chapel .. St Ronans..

THE book on Scottish Islands (inc the Orkneys ... which are wonderful sailing..) The Scottish Islands by Hamish Haswell Smith.. ISBN 0 86241 579 9 It's not a pilot but it does list anchorages and give some advice on where to land but it's primarliy a guide book come history/geological survey/natural history of all the Islands..

 

[Alistair]

There are remains of dwellings only. Best book on the subject is Fraser Darling's Island Years in which he describes a lengthy period that he spent on the Island.
Book may be out of print now but any library should be able to get a copy.

 

[extravert]

Thanks to everyone for your replies, I shall now get to the library and see if any of the books can be found.

Of course what I should have originally asked about as well was the third Island in those parts, which if I can remeber correctly is called Sula Skerry, and is more on the direct route from Cape Wrath to the Shetlands.

So anyone know of any information about that one as well?

I presume that as all 3 of these islands have lights on them they must all be visited occasionally by Trinity House people. I guess they fly there though as they might have a long wait to land safely by boat.

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Obscure Scottish Rocks

Most of the locals try and avoid Sula Skerry!! Last time I was in it's vicinity I was paranoid about not finding it lol There isn't much of it so in a big swell it's not that easy to spot! You might want to check out the Flannans too?

All three have lights.. as I remember..no charts/pilots to hand.. oh and it aint Trinity House up here.. its the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.nlb.org.uk/>Northern Lighthouses Board</A>

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Sea States

pleeeeease 'scuse th e typing jush back from the pub....... these sites are invaluble if sailing northern waters.. Icelandic Maritime Site