Suggestions for trip from Oban

[daibachsail]

After 40 years of sailing the Channel and West coast of France, this year we're planning a two week charter trip out of Oban as our first experience of the Western Isles. Any advice on how best to use this time would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[RunAgroundHard]

That depends on how much you want to sail: day sails, overnight passages. 14 days allows for a lot to be seen, day sails, faffing about, passage sailing or a mix. Also, what are the limits on area placed by the charter company, if any.

 

[scottie]

Go in may for best chance of weather and ask charter company for suggestions
big Tesco in Oban makes provisioning easier
tidal gates do matter and worth getting CCC guide soon and allow for weather delays perhaps avoid going up long lochs just to come back the other direction
take anti midge prevention
enjoy it

 

[dunedin]

Should be great.
RULE 1 - Research places you might like to visit, but don’t try to impose a fixed route / schedule. Keep flexible and go with what the weather suits.
2. Put the Clyde Cruising Club sailing directions on your Santa list. A great fireside read and essential to find the best places
3. Put Memory Map and Antares Charts on you tablet and/or phone - these give detailed charts of selected anchorages, unavailable from conventional Navionics etc
4. If head north round Ardnamurchan, check the forecasts and ensure have a window to get back round without getting a pasting in strong SW winds

There are so many brilliant places to visit that it is impossible to be definitive, but a handful include
South of Ardnamurchan
- Tobermory
- Salen or various anchorages in Loch Sunart
- Coll
- Gunna
- Treshnish Isles
- Iona
(Personally I am not a fan of Puiladobrain and Tinkers Hole but others are)
If breezy head south to
- Croabh
- Ardfern
- Crinan
- Tayvallich
Further south but lovely
- Gigha
- possibly Jura
North of Ardnamurchan
- Muck
- Canna
- Loch Moidart
- Mallaig
and a 100 other great places

If like doing miles all of the Outer Hebrides and even St Kilda are possible. But if weather not ideal can be a degree of self punishment that means your crew never return with you.

RULE 5. Don’t have a fixed plan or try to go too far. Be flexible and go where the weather suits.

 

[daibachsail]

That depends on how much you want to sail: day sails, overnight passages. 14 days allows for a lot to be seen, day sails, faffing about, passage sailing or a mix. Also, what are the limits on area placed by the charter company, if any.

Day sails certainly, not yet aware of a limit on area, may be only visit to the area so would like to cover quite a lot of ground

 

[Sandy]

After 40 years of sailing the Channel and West coast of France, this year we're planning a two week charter trip out of Oban as our first experience of the Western Isles. Any advice on how best to use this time would be appreciated.
Thanks

You will need to consult the weather gods, Freyr, Njord and Thor.

 

[jamie N]

With my Folkboat, I find the West pretty well planned for day sails between great places. Oban to Tobermory, then to Canna, then to Loch Boisdale, Maddy, Tarbert, Stornoway and then cross to the mainland and south using the many places which are great.
As others have said, the weather's the most important variable, but even with a plan, your 1st choice might not be available, but the other choices are pretty good as well!
I think that a fortnight will leave you slightly frustrated though, but do understand.

 

[bikedaft]

We could spend a month on the W coast of Mull alone..

Antares/CCC.

Go with the wind - enjoy

 

[scottie]

What size of boat
.?

 

[mm42]

I worked a season on a 24 metre cruise ship out of Oban, it's a brilliant bit of the world to explore, but, like others before me have said, you'll be dependent on the weather.

Mull is of course worth a visit, Tobermory for the pubs and distillery, the beach at Calgary, fresh mussels from the honesty box at Loch Spelve, watching the sea eagles at Bloody Bay etc.

I'd recommend having a mooch around the small isles, Rum, Canna, Eigg, Muck. Each has their own character. Each has nice anchorages, and things to explore ashore. Canna for example has a brilliant little shop for provisions.

If you've got weather on your side you could cross to the outer islands, again each one is different. My preference is for the southern area, Vatersay, Eriskay etc. Some absolutely world class beaches, which wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.

If you've really lucked out on a period of calm, St Kilda is an amazing place. I'll be honest I wasn't too bothered about visiting till I got there for the first time, it really is unique.

Back to the mainland you've got places like Loch Nevis, which can give you a good shelter from easterlies and westerlies, anchor at Tarbert at the southern end and there are interesting hikes. Mallaig for provisions and water, Ardnamurchan for more amazing beaches such as Sanna and Loch Ceann Traigh.

Skye of course is well worth a trip, Loch Scavaig is, in my opinion, one of the most dramatic anchorages in the UK. You can run ashore and hike up to Loch Coruisk.

Heading back home you could do Tobermory again, but there are nice anchorages at Loch na Droma Buidhe, Fishnish, Ardtornish etc depending on wind. Similarly a lot of people just motor past Lismore and Kerrera but all the guests I put ashore on both said they were glad they'd not missed them out.

 

[Concerto]

Defintely plenty of places to choose from with somewhere different every day. The advice above is very good and I would certainly follow Dunedin as he is the Cruising Association expert for the western isles. Do follow the weather and choose harbours or anchorages accordingly. So create a list of 30 plus places you would like to visit and choose from them on the day. You certainly will not be able to do everything in a fortnight.

Last year I sailed through the area on my Round Britain trip and stopped, at starting from the north, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Stornaway, Scalpay, Lochboisdale, Tobermory, Oban, Ardfern and Gigha. The first few might be too far, but I really enjoyed Scalpay, Lochboisdale, Ardfern and Gigha. This short videos show what this area is like and the places mentioned above. Start watching about 5 mins in on the first video.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

If you have an interest in geological scenery the raised beaches on the west coast of Jura and around Jura's Loch Tarbert are amongst the best examples in the world. There are not many geological things that the UK has some of the world's biggest and best examples of, but raised beaches on Jura is one of them.

 

[Seven Spades]

On of my favourite places is Erriad Sound.

 

[ctva]

As others have said, stock up at Tesco, get the CCC pilots and Antares charts.

Then plan where you are going each morning with the weather and tide.

We’ve been cruising the area for too many decades and still find new good places.

And it’s usually wet here. I can say that as we‘re sitting in Corran Halls (Oban) car park just now and it’s wet. Going to see Skipinnish in an hour.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

.... Going to see Skipinnish in an hour.

Excellent, wish I was going.

 

[steveeasy]

Dont go out in the middle of a storm around Ardnamurchan Point unless you have a death wish. other than that prepare

As others have said, stock up at Tesco, get the CCC pilots and Antares charts.

Then plan where you are going each morning with the weather and tide.

We’ve been cruising the area for too many decades and still find new good places.

And it’s usually wet here. I can say that as we‘re sitting in Corran Halls (Oban) car park just now and it’s wet. Going to see Skipinnish in an hour.

But whats it like in the morning ?. ill be heading to Weatherspoon's for my breakfast on route to my boat.

Steveeasy

 

[steveeasy]

Avoid the rocks, id say!!

Steveeasy

 

[boomerangben]

When you say Western Isles, do you mean Outer Hebrides or all of Hebrides? As others have said, flexibility is key so don’t get too focused on a single plan. I don’t think it matters where you end up, you’ll have a great time. Loads of places already mentioned. I would add the Shiant Isles, Mingalay, although perhaps not over night, Helisay, Vatasay, Lock Bhalamus, Loch Moidart….

Pack for all seasons, not unusual to wear a woolly hat and suncream and plan for a couple of days being weather bound

 

[daibachsail]

What size of boat
.?

35 foot sailing yacht

 

[daibachsail]

When you say Western Isles, do you mean Outer Hebrides or all of Hebrides? As others have said, flexibility is key so don’t get too focused on a single plan. I don’t think it matters where you end up, you’ll have a great time. Loads of places already mentioned. I would add the Shiant Isles, Mingalay, although perhaps not over night, Helisay, Vatasay, Lock Bhalamus, Loch Moidart….

Pack for all seasons, not unusual to wear a woolly hat and suncream and plan for a couple of days being weather bound

All Hebrides