Sailing to Scotland

[sailorgirl]

Planning a trip up north this year and fancy going east about our islands, weather permitting, as have sailed nothing north of the Thames estuary on the east side. Hoping to leave the south coast in May - any suggestions on places to visit, anchorages, other hints and tips welcome. Our ultimate destination is West Highland Yachting Week at the end of July.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Don't miss out Grimsby. It's a gem.

 

[Fascadale]

How are you planning to get through to the West?

If you are going through the Forth Clyde canal,(mast down, max draught 1.8m) then your choices are limited. If you go through the Caledonian canal (mast up) then the south coast of the Moray Firth has some lovely harbours and villages and if you are going round the top then you will miss the Moray Firth but will be rewarded by the Orkney Islands, worth a summer themselves.

On the east coast, Wick, Stonehaven, Dunbar and Eyemouth are worth a visit. The Farne Islands are said to be very pleasant, Hartlepool is useful and Grimsby is a unique cultural event.

It depends too on your boat. A bilge keeler would be well suited to many of the east coast's drying harbours.

Whitby is often recommended and I believe there are now pontoons in Scarborough

 

[snowleopard]

Don't miss out Grimsby. It's a gem.

+1

Stopped there for a week for repairs and was surprised. The club in the docks is run-down but very friendly, the fishing museum is worth at least one visit, if only for the depth-charging experience, and the modern shopping centre is surprising for a town many think of as a wasteland.

Call in at Bridlington, if you can squeeze in among the fishing boats but don't stop unless you can take the ground.

Peterhead is also a good stop though it's a bit of a hike from marina to town.

The Caledonian Canal is an experience in its own right.

 

[snooks]

Wick worth a visit? Not for the showers!?! My over riding memory of Wick was Camborne-on-sea

It's a handy kicking off point for Orkney, but I wouldn't choose to go there if it wasn't

 

[Robert Wilson]

And if you go round the top and down The Minch, try calling-in at Lochinver; Ullapool; here with me (a dram awaits) or next door in Loch Ewe; Gairloch; Plockton; Kyle of Lochalsh; Isle Oronsay; etc etc. Or The Hebrides, west coast of Skye, The Small Isles, Tobermoray on Mull, and on and on and on. Some of the very best sailing anywhere around Britain.
Keep in touch - visitors welcome.

 

[Fascadale]

Wick worth a visit? Not for the showers!?!

Sorry about this but it the new system does not seem to make links

Maybe not for the showers but what about this . A very good pint of the most excellent Deuchars at was to be had here , and this place was OK. I really like this boat and thought Argyle Square in Putneytown an interesting example of early town planning.

All in all not bad for a one night stay, and as you say, a good departure point for Orkney

 

[ProDave]

if you are going round the top then you will miss the Moray Firth

Only if you are in a hurry. Do you just want to "do the circuit" or do you want to enjoy it and see as much as possible?

 

[mainsail1]

Planning a trip up north this year and fancy going east about our islands, weather permitting, as have sailed nothing north of the Thames estuary on the east side. Hoping to leave the south coast in May - any suggestions on places to visit, anchorages, other hints and tips welcome. Our ultimate destination is West Highland Yachting Week at the end of July.

My humble opinion is that most of the East coast is dull places and miserable sailing, particularly when you get North of The Wash. The only ray of sunshine would be going through the Caledonian Canal from Inverness but don't expect many rays of sunshine there either!
Go West!

 

[sailorgirl]

Don't miss out Grimsby. It's a gem.

Initially I thought you were joking, as a child I recall the only thing good about the town was the fish (well according to my parents who once took us there by car on a wet bank holiday or some such) but reading further down Grimsby gets another plug so looks like it could become a destination on our voyage!

 

[sailorgirl]

Probably via the Caledonian Canal - we draw 2.1m and definitely won't be taking the mast down. Anchoring rather than marinas will fit our planned budget.

 

[dylanwinter]

dull

My humble opinion is that most of the East coast is dull places and miserable sailing, particularly when you get North of The Wash. The only ray of sunshine would be going through the Caledonian Canal from Inverness but don't expect many rays of sunshine there either!
Go West!

really really dull place the Humber

terrrible light, cold winds, no birds, horrid weird locals

I am absolutely overwhelmed by the dullness that lies ahead of me up the East Coast - Whitby, Lindisfarne, Murray Firth

just dulled out thinking about it

 

[snooks]

Sorry about this but it the new system does not seem to make links

They had really tried hard with the marina, which was new and in great condition, the showers on the other hand are best forgotten.

Old Pulteney was closed which was the only reason we were going to stay longer than we had to. We found the Wetherspoons was a hole that lacked atmosphere. We couldn't find anywhere decent to eat, which is how we know the Wetherspoons was a hole.

We were only there for one night, a Saturday, which might have explained why some of the residents in the Wetherspoons were the worst for wear.

My view of Wick might be tainted because that we had just spent two weeks in gorgeous Orkney, and then we found ourselves in a barren fishing harbour.

 

[EdWingfield]

My humble opinion is that most of the East coast is dull places and miserable sailing, particularly when you get North of The Wash. The only ray of sunshine would be going through the Caledonian Canal from Inverness but don't expect many rays of sunshine there either!
Go West!

Wow, Toon and Edinburgh are dull! Are you real?

 

[snooks]

Probably via the Caledonian Canal - we draw 2.1m and definitely won't be taking the mast down. Anchoring rather than marinas will fit our planned budget.

If you go through the Caley and head south again you'll miss the best Scotland has to offer...Places like this:

 

[westhinder]

Planning a trip up north this year and fancy going east about our islands, weather permitting, as have sailed nothing north of the Thames estuary on the east side. Hoping to leave the south coast in May - any suggestions on places to visit, anchorages, other hints and tips welcome. Our ultimate destination is West Highland Yachting Week at the end of July.

We might cross tacks, as I'm planning to go round clockwise. Enjoy the trip!

 

[EdWingfield]

Planning a trip up north this year and fancy going east about our islands, weather permitting, as have sailed nothing north of the Thames estuary on the east side. Hoping to leave the south coast in May - any suggestions on places to visit, anchorages, other hints and tips welcome. Our ultimate destination is West Highland Yachting Week at the end of July.

Anchor in the Farne Islands archipelgo if you get the chance. Holy Island natural harbour gives a wonderful stopover. There are loadsa places in the Firth of Forth to take shelter with excellent shore visits

 

[Daydream believer]

Initially I thought you were joking, as a child I recall the only thing good about the town was the fish (well according to my parents who once took us there by car on a wet bank holiday or some such) but reading further down Grimsby gets another plug so looks like it could become a destination on our voyage!

Whoever put the "Grim" in grimsby knew what they were doing.
the lock keepers normally ignore yachsmen & it can be time consuming getting through as the work boats get first choice
the harbour is a wreck
the locals in the yachtclub are really welcoming & the " Bombadier" £ 1-50 per pint
It takes ages to walk through the slum areas to the supermarket & on the way I saw 2 blokes squaring up for a fight, A couple arguing & the bloke thew the shopping in the road & told the woman to carry it herself, Then having crossed the 60's footbridge out of something like " Billy Liar" I saw 2 foreigners arguing. Most people looked miserable & well they should
If I can post my 2 photos from the marina you will get the feeling, Just look at the state of the quay

View attachment 27431
View attachment 27432
Take my advice forget the east coast until north of the scotish border then Eyemouth onwards are proper cruising desinations

 

[Daydream believer]

In case someone starts arguing about how scenic Grimsby it --here is another one

View attachment 27433

 

[mainsail1]

really really dull place the Humber

terrrible light, cold winds, no birds, horrid weird locals

I am absolutely overwhelmed by the dullness that lies ahead of me up the East Coast - Whitby, Lindisfarne, Murray Firth

just dulled out thinking about it

So you should be! Maybe that's why you seem to have stopped where you are? Ha ha.