Sound of Harris

[FairMaid]

I'm planning to visit the west side of Lewis Harris this summer - any advice for going through Sound of Harris.

 

[NormanS]

There is quite a choice. The Cope passage is the southern passage, and was originally put in as a buoyed channel by the MOD for their landing craft etc going out to St Kilda. The northwest end of the passage is over shallow, and at times, shifting sand, so has to be treated with some caution, particularly below half tide. It is popular with boats going to St Kilda, as, if coming from the south, e.g. Loch Maddy, it is the most direct route.

The main buoyed channel now, is the Stanton Channel, where new buoys have been laid by the NLB.

Personally, I prefer the route through, going first past Leverburgh, and then keeping about one cable off the Harris shore out to Ru an Temple. This is a passage traditionally used bu fishermen for generations, and does not rely on any artificial aids to navigation.

Have fun, and enjoy. I'll be there in a week or two.

 

[Cardinal]

Before you turn North, once through, take a trip down to the Monach Isles,
which are a magically unspoilt set of islands with great beaches (especially if you like beachcombing) and impressive lighthouse.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

The most important thging is probably to ensure that you know which way is north on the chart; I'm not being patronising or making a joke, have a look at the chart and you will see why it's important. The Stanton passage is reasonably straightforward so long as you correctly identify the various marks. Going E-W the far mark for the last-but-one transit is quite some distance away and difficult to spot (a ruined church). You probably have one of those new fangled GPS things though don't you ?

 

[NormanS]

The new edition of Chart No 2642, Sound of Harris, is north-up. It certainly makes it much easier than before, but the chart itself is bigger than a standard chart in both directions. You could probably make do with Chart No 2841, at 1:50,000, if using the Stanton Channel, but if you want to explore and really experience this wonderful Sound, then 2642 is needed.

There is talk of the NLB removing the buoys from the Cope Passage completely. I remember years ago, when there were about 17 or 18 buoys, but over the years they have gradually been done away with. There is a feeling that there has been some silting at the north end of Berneray, since the causeway was built, and if there is any swell, the NW end of the Cope Passage can be a scary place.

With careful use of the large scale 2642, all sorts of ways can be found through the Sound, some of them more suitable for dinghies or kayaks. The tides can be quite strong, and (almost) invariably going the wrong way!

 

[webcraft]

.
The Cope Passage is no problem unless there is a significant swell. The depths at the Western end are scary for West Coast sailors but our East Coast brethren would not flinch.

- W

 

[peterb]

There is talk of the NLB removing the buoys from the Cope Passage completely. I remember years ago, when there were about 17 or 18 buoys, but over the years they have gradually been done away with. There is a feeling that there has been some silting at the north end of Berneray, since the causeway was built, and if there is any swell, the NW end of the Cope Passage can be a scary place.

The current proposals are on page 31 of the the AtN review at http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/pdfs/aton_review_2010-2015.pdf