recommendation for scotland trip

[Larida]

I am just starting to plan my next sailing trips and would like to explore the NW-part of Scotland, e.g. to the Hebrides, maybe also more to the north, Orkneys...

Since I've never been there before: can anyone recommend some sailing school or so where I could rent a berth for a 1-2 weeks cruise?
I found a lot of them on the web in the regions of Largs or Oban, but would appreciate some recommendation. No whiskey-drinking-trip, much sailing (still need some miles), not too many people on board and the starting harbour good to reach by plane - that would be ideal.


I really would like to go already in Feb/March, otherwise it might first be in late summer I can go...

 

[Spyro]

I am just starting to plan my next sailing trips and would like to explore the NW-part of Scotland, e.g. to the Hebrides, maybe also more to the north, Orkneys...

Since I've never been there before: can anyone recommend some sailing school or so where I could rent a berth for a 1-2 weeks cruise?
I found a lot of them on the web in the regions of Largs or Oban, but would appreciate some recommendation. No whiskey-drinking-trip, much sailing (still need some miles), not too many people on board and the starting harbour good to reach by plane - that would be ideal.


I really would like to go already in Feb/March, otherwise it might first be in late summer I can go...

Best advice I could give is don't go Feb or March and I would doubt very much if you will find what you are looking for at that time of year anyway.
You could try this
http://www.alba-sailing.co.uk/ out of Oban

or here http://www.cruise-ecosse.co.uk/ but looking at this year's itinery they don't start until mid April.

 

[Larida]

Best advice I could give is don't go Feb or March and I would doubt very much if you will find what you are looking for at that time of year anyway.

Why do you think so?

I found several cruises in march, but just thought somebody could have been in this region before and knows a good skipper or a good starting point...

 

[Evadne]

It's a lovely part of the world but the weather can be a tad fierce in February, I'd go in the summer. We chartered a boat a few years ago from Alba sailing out of Oban, not sure if they do tuition as well but they are friendly and well run.
Oban is great, plenty of scenic, sheltered water but a bit of a pain to get to unless you are driving.

 

[Spyro]

Why do you think so?

I found several cruises in march, but just thought somebody could have been in this region before and knows a good skipper or a good starting point...

Because It's very cold and unpredictably rough at that time of year and North West Scotland is not a good place to be. It wouldn't be enjoyable.

 

[Evadne]

Because It's very cold and unpredictably rough at that time of year and North West Scotland is not a good place to be. It wouldn't be enjoyable.

I might add that the days are much shorter as well.

 

[awol]

Oban is great, plenty of scenic, sheltered water but a bit of a pain to get to unless you are driving.

Aye, it's a dreadful place to get to - only served by road, rail, airport and a seaplane service, (never mind the ferries). Tried to get to London recently?

 

[Evadne]

Aye, it's a dreadful place to get to - only served by road, rail, airport and a seaplane service, (never mind the ferries). Tried to get to London recently?

True, the seaplane service to London is dreadful!
I think it's stretching the truth though, to suggest that Oban has an airport. Glasgow is a long bus ride away, or you can catch the train (at least one change) or hire a car. Flying anywhere restricts your baggage, especially if you've waterproofs and bedding and clothes for a week to carry, as does crossing London on the underground. Wherever I want go in Britain by train, it always seems I have to pass through London... and it's quicker to get to the south of France by train from Southampton than it is to get to Oban!
It's still a lovely place, though, and we'll be going back again, one day.

 

[Larida]

Seems you do not really like this region. However, at least on photos the scenery looks fantastic. So maybe later in summer - hard for me to get vacation after easter holidays due to teaching... but I will try.

No other ideas, how to get on a sailing cruise towards the Hebrides? I do not want to charter.

 

[awol]

True, the seaplane service to London is dreadful!
I think it's stretching the truth though, to suggest that Oban has an airport. Glasgow is a long bus ride away, or you can catch the train (at least one change) or hire a car. Flying anywhere restricts your baggage, especially if you've waterproofs and bedding and clothes for a week to carry, as does crossing London on the underground. Wherever I want go in Britain by train, it always seems I have to pass through London... and it's quicker to get to the south of France by train from Southampton than it is to get to Oban!
It's still a lovely place, though, and we'll be going back again, one day.

Your problem is that you're starting from the wrong place! You need to move closer to civilisation. For me, Oban is one bus journey away which takes about half an hour longer than the car journey, means I can come back from somewhere else, can carry as much gear as I can carry to the bus stop, and 'cos I've paid my debt to society, is completely free - actually not true, the bus is so busy I tend to invest a whole 50p on booking.

As for Feb/Mar, yes there can be superb days but I wouldn't plan on any. Temperature probably not too low but windchill could be something else. May can be nice.

 

[Larida]

OK, might be too early in the year.... I understood ;-)

Aren't there any other starting harbours than Oban - maybe closer to the Hebrides or easier to reach?

 

[Evadne]

There are more sailing schools and charterers on the outer Clyde than around Oban. I think there's a couple up near Skye, though. Have you looked at the "Sail Scotland" web site? http://www.sailscotland.co.uk/. They are pretty much all on there.

 

[snooks]

Try Muir at Flamingo Yacht Charters they have a base in Croabh, but they manage a lot of owners boats who might be able to leave the boat somewhere further north for you to take it on from there with a skipper.

Failing that, there is a list of charter companies on the YM Plus section

Bear in mind that while the trip your planning is possible in two weeks, the weather will be the deciding factor how far you get. We were holed up on Gairloch for 7 days due to Gales and Storms and this was in the summer! We took 6 weeks to get from Islay to Orkney and we could do it again without visiting the same places twice.

There are also a few companies who sail around the UK, so you could get a berth with them for the Scottish part.

Finally, it's whisky...not whiskey, Whiskey is Irish or American

 

[Larida]

Try Muir at
Failing that, there is a list of charter companies on the [URL="http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/plus/521824/cruising-scotland"]YM Plus section

Bear in mind that while the trip your planning is possible in two weeks, the weather will be the deciding factor how far you get. We were holed up on Gairloch for 7 days due to Gales and Storms and this was in the summer! We took 6 weeks to get from Islay to Orkney and we could do it again without visiting the same places twice.

There are also a few companies who sail around the UK, so you could get a berth with them for the Scottish part.

Finally, it's whisky...not whiskey, Whiskey is Irish or American

Thanks, that looks promising - I will skip through the list... and sorry for the whisk(e)y - so you see it is not my favorite drink ;-)

 

[Ceejay]

Have a look at this site

http://www.northernwanderer.co.uk/

I know David Leaver and what you see on his site, I would think, is what you would get.
I wish I could find time to book a cruise with him myself, he's a great sailing instructor and naturalist.
CJ

 

[dimdav]

he's a great sailing instructor and naturist.
CJ

LOL naturalist surely! especially at that time of year!

 

[[32511]]

Have a look at this site

http://www.northernwanderer.co.uk/

I know David Leaver and what you see on his site, I would thin,k is what you would get.
I wish I could find time to book a cruise with him myself, he's a great sailing instructor and naturist.
CJ

Skippers in the nuddy, eh?
I presume "naturalist"!

 

[[32511]]

Back to being serious, April this year was great- hardly any rain, and beautiful warm days at the end. May? rained every bloomin' day!
Could be the exact opposite next year of course.

 

[Seajet]

Larida,

I'm sure those with reservations about Scottish waters in what's basically winter have a good point.

One thing though, I discovered more or less by accident that winter is the best time to do a sailing course ( Solent / West & Channel in my case ); you only get the best instructors, and other students will be serious, not just out for a sun tan !

Good luck & have fun whenever you go, seems to me you're approaching this with the right attitude...

 

[Ceejay]

Apologies to David Leaver

David, sorry I always confuse the two words, naturalist and the other one.