Orkney Islands

[Dockhead]

This year's summer cruise officially starts on Monday (although I'm already on board trying to get ready).

My boat will be taken out of the English Channel for the first time in her 13 year life, as far as I know. And for me, what is beyond the Dover Straits is also mare icognitum. Orkney Islands is the chosen destination this year.

So maybe those of you who know these waters might give some passage planning tips? One idea is to skip the mud coast altogether and sail nonstop to the Orkneys in order to have more time up there (and a long passage at sea with a good crew is also a joy in itself). Or are there not-to-be-missed stopovers along the way? How would you do it? All suggestions gratefully received. We have a month. Starting from the Hamble, and not necessarily returning at the end of the month (I can bring the boat back down later).

 

[Boatman]

Sounds like a great trip if a bit cold as I am much further south. To answer the Q depends totally on what sort of sailing you like.......

I love long passage making taking time to settle in and enjoy the music of the water etc, I also enjoy visiting new places & having adventures small & large. It all depends on mood.

Enjoy

 

[dovekie]

I can't answer for 'not to be missed stopovers' but the Orkneys are great, perhaps unique. Good sailing, scenic, fascinating history from many eras. You must treat the tidal races with great respect of course. So if the weather suits I would suggest the long passage.

 

[Fascadale]

Eyemouth, Stonehaven and perhaps Wick are worth a stop once you get past East Anglia. Whitby has its admirers.

Wick is not a bad place to stop if you need to time the tide.

Orkney is wonderful. Great history, good food, very friendly people. Stromness is a must, very good little museum there, Lyness naval museum is also worth a visit.

I would want to maximise my time in the north.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

It's a long way! I've done it, but only from Ipswich. Just a thought. Why not consider breaking the journey at Ijmuiden? If wind is SW or NW when passing Kentish Knock should be a fast passage. (need a taxi for the Supermarket though).Then in any thing other than a NW a good slant outside the banks up to Stonehaven or further North, such as Wick. My advice would be to avoid going via Thames Estuary, Lowestoft, Hull and Scarborough-too much bank dodging. Royal Quays at Newcastle is a convenient Marina near a Metro station for Newcastle centre. RNYC at Blythe and Amble are fine if you do decide to look at more Northern parts of England! Bikes would be a great help.
Have a great trip!

 

[edsailing]

Don't forget your thermal underwear!

I did the Orkneys some years ago on a charter boat out of Ullapool at this time of year and the temperature never got over 14 degrees C. I really regretted assuming that if it was summer it would be warm

Really loved Papa Westray. Good sailing and great sea food - enjoy!

 

[Dockhead]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the great advice.

I guess I'm leaning towards the long nonstop passage if the weather serves. It's amazing how fast a month of time just evaporates, and I would hate to arrive up there just when it's time to start thinking about leaving.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Correct. It is a long way. Equivalent to crossing Biscay and some more!

Wow, thanks everyone for all the great advice.

I guess I'm leaning towards the long nonstop passage if the weather serves. It's amazing how fast a month of time just evaporates, and I would hate to arrive up there just when it's time to start thinking about leaving.

 

[snooks]

To those above calling them the Orkneys, It's not "the Orkneys", it is Orkney or the Orkney islands/archipelago

Get there, stay a week on the Orkney mainland get a two week pass which pays for all marinas and Orkney visitor buoys for your stay. Hire a car £30/day and see everything the islands have to offer. Skara Brae, broch of gurness, brough of bursay any archeological digs going on etc, find out when the guided tours are and visit at those times. We also went to pierowall where the harbourmaster is the ferry man

We also visited Hoy, walked to the Old man and back, about 13 miles IIRC but you can get a bus that saves around 8 miles.

 

[snooks]

Forgot to say, here are the lat/long of the visitors moorings

 

[2nd_apprentice]

I'm currently on my way home from there:

Hull - Bridlington - Hartlepool - Blyth - Eyemouth - Arbroath - Peterhead - Whitehills - Wick - Kirkwall - Stromness - Loch Eriboll - Kinlochbervie - Ullapool - Gairloch - Kyle of Lochalsch - Malleigh - Tobermory - Fort William - Fort Augustus - Clachnaharry - Whitehills - Peterhead - Stonehaven - Anstruther - Eyemouth - Blyth - Hartlepool - Scarborough

Next time I'd probably give some places a miss though and spend more time north.

 

[Rowana]

To the OP - If you do happen to come into Peterhead and I'm about, do come over to Rowana for a brew. The supermarkets, Morrisons & Asda, are a wee bit away, but I can take you up in the car. There is a Tesco's in Wick, but it's a bit away. You can get a bus there and back.

Have a great trip.

 

[Dockhead]

To the OP - If you do happen to come into Peterhead and I'm about, do come over to Rowana for a brew. The supermarkets, Morrisons & Asda, are a wee bit away, but I can take you up in the car. There is a Tesco's in Wick, but it's a bit away. You can get a bus there and back.

Have a great trip.

Thank you, very kind! I will definitely look you up if we stop in there.

 

[westhinder]

Do not forget the Farne Islands and Holy Island/Lindisfarne. They are certainly worth a stop, whether on the way north or south.