JumbleDuck
Well-known member
Tae think again?
Scotland jitters
- Thread starter dom
- Start date
Tae think again?
Skylark
Well-known member
Yeah, you'll need to take care with this wind. We northerners sailing St Georges Channel heading towards The Clyde would be thinking about dropping the kite any time soon.
westhinder
Well-known member
O
By all means do it. But don't rush back in the same season. If at all possible, leave the boat there so you have the time to explore.
I did a round Britain in 2013 mainly because I wanted to cruise the West coast of Scotland. I spent six weeks on the West coast, just under half of the time I spent circumnavigating, and it left me with the feeling that I had barely scratched the surface. There were so many places I really wanted to visit that I had to skip, that I know I could easily spend another six weeks and still not feel like I had enough.
In fact, ever since I finished my trip I have been considering how I could get enough time off work to go back to Scotland. I feel I am going to do one long bash up the North Sea to the Orkneys and then potter down the West coast, back through the Calley Canal and another long slog home. Two months would be a minimum, three would be better.
By all means do it. But don't rush back in the same season. If at all possible, leave the boat there so you have the time to explore.
I did a round Britain in 2013 mainly because I wanted to cruise the West coast of Scotland. I spent six weeks on the West coast, just under half of the time I spent circumnavigating, and it left me with the feeling that I had barely scratched the surface. There were so many places I really wanted to visit that I had to skip, that I know I could easily spend another six weeks and still not feel like I had enough.
In fact, ever since I finished my trip I have been considering how I could get enough time off work to go back to Scotland. I feel I am going to do one long bash up the North Sea to the Orkneys and then potter down the West coast, back through the Calley Canal and another long slog home. Two months would be a minimum, three would be better.
NormanS
Well-known member
Very well said.
Fascadale
Well-known member
Total nonsense.
And you believe what politicians say? (not that I think any politician said what you claim )
awol
Well-known member
At last, vindication of my campaign to keep our uncrowded waters just that way. If it has come across as anti-English, I apologise - some of my best friends hail from englandshire though none are paranoid xenophobes. The only boats that some of us would like to get rid of are the big black yins together with the contents of the Coulport caves.
Fascadale
Well-known member
Mighty Maricsa of the Minch, only a fool would ever have taken you to be anti-English. You are the voice of the wilderness.
Your long running campaign has more in common with a public service broadcast. You have always been correct in pointing out the dangers of our waters, strong tides, rocks, persistent rain, little sun, insects that would feast on you, a sad lack of facilities and little of the camaraderie and intimacy to be found when rafted up in a busy harbour or anchorage. You are right, sailing our coasts is not for the solent hearted.
I often think you should include the suggestion that visitors should whitewash their windows: a sure protection against the contents of the Coulport caves.
I do think though that you should add to your litany that those from the south who do make it to the north are always made most welcome.
dom
Well-known member
The consensus seems to be that the Western Isles take time and should not be rushed. I started fiddling around with my C-Map iPad app at about 5am this morning and was amazed at the distances: c. 160m from the Clyde to the Isle of Skye, which is another 100m to circumnavigate. I never knew the Hebrides were so close or that they are another 200m to circumnavigate ...and that’s not including Mull, Tiree, Coll, Rum, Eigg, Canna, or of course any of the fjords.
Next I took a look at the region on Google Earth and thought OMG, that’s where “westhinder” is coming from, that’s what the Scots love so much and that’s why they can post stunning photo after stunning photo ad infinitum!
Tks again for the advice, which is more than very much appreciated. But before I take a look at Snook’s blog can I say something about the Scottish friendliness thing. I come from Dublin and in many ways I think Glasgow and Dublin are like twin sisters. Both have some, far too many to be fair, of Seajet’s “drug crazed zombies” walking the streets and if any of you are going to Dublin I’ll tell you where to go and where NOT to go.
But that’s not the point, both of these cities and dare I say it both of these countries have a heart of gold, which occasionally leaves you stopped dead in your tracks. Just before Christmas I was in Edinburgh on business, where I took a client out for a meal in great restaurant; not the type of place with twirling and whirling poe faced waiters, just lovely food (steak is to die for actually) served by lovely people in a beautiful warm old fashioned restaurant, the kind of place where window drafts are excluded by heavy curtains that look like they’ve been there forever. Including a nice bottle of wine and couple of whiskies the bill came to £140 for three, approx 40% of what you’d pay in London.
I know I’m waffling now so apols; but the next morning, with a freezing sleet sweeping the streets, I walked down the steps towards Waverly Station. On the way I came across an old man sitting in a doorstep with a sign “I have just lost my job and am hungry and cold”. As I stepped around him an old woman came out of the shop and offered him shelter and a hot coffee. Something deep inside of me was aroused; so I stood and watched as an unrelated young girl brought hot soup and a sandwich and brought it into the shop. For sure these are not the streets of London, they’re a lesson to us all, and three weeks ago to this day they helped me remember who I really am.
Next I took a look at the region on Google Earth and thought OMG, that’s where “westhinder” is coming from, that’s what the Scots love so much and that’s why they can post stunning photo after stunning photo ad infinitum!
Tks again for the advice, which is more than very much appreciated. But before I take a look at Snook’s blog can I say something about the Scottish friendliness thing. I come from Dublin and in many ways I think Glasgow and Dublin are like twin sisters. Both have some, far too many to be fair, of Seajet’s “drug crazed zombies” walking the streets and if any of you are going to Dublin I’ll tell you where to go and where NOT to go.
But that’s not the point, both of these cities and dare I say it both of these countries have a heart of gold, which occasionally leaves you stopped dead in your tracks. Just before Christmas I was in Edinburgh on business, where I took a client out for a meal in great restaurant; not the type of place with twirling and whirling poe faced waiters, just lovely food (steak is to die for actually) served by lovely people in a beautiful warm old fashioned restaurant, the kind of place where window drafts are excluded by heavy curtains that look like they’ve been there forever. Including a nice bottle of wine and couple of whiskies the bill came to £140 for three, approx 40% of what you’d pay in London.
I know I’m waffling now so apols; but the next morning, with a freezing sleet sweeping the streets, I walked down the steps towards Waverly Station. On the way I came across an old man sitting in a doorstep with a sign “I have just lost my job and am hungry and cold”. As I stepped around him an old woman came out of the shop and offered him shelter and a hot coffee. Something deep inside of me was aroused; so I stood and watched as an unrelated young girl brought hot soup and a sandwich and brought it into the shop. For sure these are not the streets of London, they’re a lesson to us all, and three weeks ago to this day they helped me remember who I really am.
lw395
Well-known member
You may find a lot of the people you meet are the bloody English anyway...
Most remote place I've ever stayed in Scotland, the landlady used to live about 4 miles from my mum in Bristol.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
We have ~10,000 miles of coast here, of which by far the largest part is on the west. You can cruise the Clyde for a month without repeating yourself and once you get "outside", yes, it just goes on and on and on. A busy day south of Ardnamurchan is when you can see ten other yachts; a busy day north is when you can see one.
I'm hoping to circumnavigate Skye from the Clyde this summer.
jimi
Well-known member
However in order to enjoy the , you've got to see it ;-) I've had a few days up there when all I've seen is a wet grey curtain
Fascadale
Well-known member
dom
Well-known member
Just to put you in the mood
Now that's a bit special, more than a bit in fact ...only thing is awol is going to go nuts if images like these attract dozens of us southerners to head north next summer
In the meantime I wish this winter would hurry up; there's sailing to be done!
awol
Well-known member
Fascadale is, of course, being a tad disingenuous by posting pictures of his peregrinations. You may notice the absence of wind, other boats, signs of habitation, handy marinas, pubs, birds, mammals, in fact of anything except a few barren rocks and the temperature is probably close to freezing.
AngusMcDoon
Well-known member
AngusMcDoon
Well-known member
AngusMcDoon
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AngusMcDoon
Well-known member
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robmcg
Well-known member
There must be something in the air, or in the water but we are off up to the west coast this season too. I know a few people now who are thinking of going.:encouragement:
