Scottish coast Pilots

[alanwilson]

The Clyde Cruising Club and Martin Lawrence both do a series of sailing directions/pilots for the whole of the Scottish Coast: the descriptions seem to indicate their coverage is very similar.
Anyone got a recommendation as to which is better?

 

[machurley22]

Both are good. Both is better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Fascadale]

I'll second both that and that

Few replies probably indicate difficulty in recommending one rather than the other

 

[Bodach na mara]

Yes, both are good and have different slants. I have both and keep them aboard.

 

[alan_d]

Another vote for both.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I use the CCC guide and find it good, but have one quibble, and this is, when reading the guide or pilotage for a specific area I feel that place should be shown and named on the accompanying chart or diagram, when most of the time it is not.

 

[alanwilson]

If you live there so use the pilots all the time, I can understand keeping both: but if visiting, the cost of buying both seems a bit overkill! To put you all on the spot, if you were sailing round the UK, which would you choose for Scotland & the islands?

 

[RMA]

I recently spent two seasons on the west coast. I bought both sets of pilots, but found I used the Lawrence ones far more than the CCC. At the end of the day, however, its down to personal preference.

 

[starboard]

CCC..... the modern versions come in a waterproof paper that is handy up here!!!

Paul.

 

[stevepick]

I would also go with CCC, but only if forced! Both sets of books cover areas in slightly different ways( and neither is "comprehensive" - they can't be for such a long coastline), but I think the CCC cover slightly more per book ( and I think have more chartlets). The CCC will also lie flat because of the spiral binding, which is slightly more handy in the cockpit.

Be warned, if you expect to sail round the UK and "pass through " the scottish west coast, you may find you need to revise your plans ( and buy whichever set of pilots you didn't buy first) its that kind of place.

Steve

 

[daveanmucker]

I have both on board and I use the Martin Lawrence most but there are times when I have been glad of that bit of different information in the CCC. However if I was strapped for cash and sailing around the UK I would go for Martin Lawrence.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I suppose I could wear my mean Scotsman hat and say the cheapest, however I have no idea of the prices anyway. I was brought up on the Clyde Cruising club Sailing Directions and actually still carry the old hardback version that covers the whole of the west coast from Galloway to Cape Wrath as well as the two more modern books. In total I carry five pilots as both Martin Lawrence and the CCC have split their coverage between Clyde and Islands.

OK enough waffle, if I had to buy from one series, it would be Martin Lawrence, as the photographs have it over the sketch plans. I will qualify this advice by admitting that I cannot actually look at the books just now as they are still in the chart table on the boat. My memory is that Lawrence is easier to refer to, but CCC is possibly more complete and covers alternative anchorages.

Final thought, I also have copies of Hamish Haswell-Smith's two books; The Scottish Islands and An Island Odyssey. Both are great for background reading.