Ulva, Colonsay and Gigha report

[JumbleDuck]

A few quick notes and impressions while I wait for the tide at Gigha ...

Ulva

Now has wifi, but it's supplied by EE and a bit erratic. No longer a flat rate £20, but £2.30 per metre. The Boathouse (lunches) and Ballygown (dinners) as wonderful as ever. Only one resident boat, and we were on our own for two of the four nights (two pairs) we spent there. The community bus did a special run to Tobermory (Highland Games) for us. Quoted £28 each way, paid a bit less. Not a bus fare, but beats a taxi. Ten quid for a return trip to Ballygown is very reasonable.

Colonsay

The two old HIDB yacht berths are still on the pier and in reasonable nick. However, they date from an era (1988, I think) when a Centaur was a standard yacht, so good luck getting two modern boats on them. Added to that, the pier juts out immediately behind the outer one, so it would be a bit of a challenge to get into. Plenty of anchoring in the bay and Loch Staosnaig next door.

The toilets in the ferry terminal are open 24/7 - go round the back to find the door. The Pantry tearoom opens at 11am (or maybe 10am - definitely not the 12 noon on their website) and does a darn good breakfast. The shop is well stocked and does petrol and diesel, though you need your own cans. Rumour has it that the harbourmaster may be able to lend them.

All in all a nice place and I am sorry that my first visit in 30 years had to be just an overnight and morning.

Gigha

No major changes. Rumour has it that they are saving up for a second pontoon. Lots and lots of campers around the Boathouse, so the toilets and shower are busy. The toilet paper had run out by late afternoon (take your own!) and the shower floor was a sea of mud from late morning onwards. The inshore end of the pontoon is a good place to look if you don't draw much - only about 1.5m at LWS so most people steer clear. Plenty of moorings, plenty of anchoring room.

Update: Following some discussions here last year I tried leaving Gigha at HWD+3 for the Mull. aiming to be at the lighthouse for LW Greenock. It worked very nicely so I shall use that as my standard from now on, iinstead of my previous HWD+4.

 

[Quandary]

Sounds like a good trip, you will have put on weight, I see you have just rounded the Mull, 8kts. with a tight formation of Dutchmen in hot pursuit.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sounds like a good trip, you will have put on weight, I see you have just rounded the Mull, 8kts. with a tight formation of Dutchmen in hot pursuit.

Touched eleven knots off the lighthouse. Now rafted in a distant corner of Campbeltown as the Dutch boats come with a party reputation ...

 

[pagoda]

A few quick notes and impressions while I wait for the tide at Gigha ...

Ulva

Now has wifi, but it's supplied by EE and a bit erratic. No longer a flat rate £20, but £2.30 per metre. The Boathouse (lunches) and Ballygown (dinners) as wonderful as ever. Only one resident boat, and we were on our own for two of the four nights (two pairs) we spent there. The community bus did a special run to Tobermory (Highland Games) for us. Quoted £28 each way, paid a bit less. Not a bus fare, but beats a taxi. Ten quid for a return trip to Ballygown is very reasonable.

Colonsay

The two old HIDB yacht berths are still on the pier and in reasonable nick. However, they date from an era (1988, I think) when a Centaur was a standard yacht, so good luck getting two modern boats on them. Added to that, the pier juts out immediately behind the outer one, so it would be a bit of a challenge to get into. Plenty of anchoring in the bay and Loch Staosnaig next door.

The toilets in the ferry terminal are open 24/7 - go round the back to find the door. The Pantry tearoom opens at 11am (or maybe 10am - definitely not the 12 noon on their website) and does a darn good breakfast. The shop is well stocked and does petrol and diesel, though you need your own cans. Rumour has it that the harbourmaster may be able to lend them.

All in all a nice place and I am sorry that my first visit in 30 years had to be just an overnight and morning.

Gigha

No major changes. Rumour has it that they are saving up for a second pontoon. Lots and lots of campers around the Boathouse, so the toilets and shower are busy. The toilet paper had run out by late afternoon (take your own!) and the shower floor was a sea of mud from late morning onwards. The inshore end of the pontoon is a good place to look if you don't draw much - only about 1.5m at LWS so most people steer clear. Plenty of moorings, plenty of anchoring room.

Update: Following some discussions here last year I tried leaving Gigha at HWD+3 for the Mull. aiming to be at the lighthouse for LW Greenock. It worked very nicely so I shall use that as my standard from now on, iinstead of my previous HWD+4.

I'd agree on the Colonsay comments. The old Calmac wooden wall berth is still OK, though it is not up to more than one 40 footer, though rafting would work. There isn't a huge amount of water at the inside end either. The lower edge of the wood work is decidedly worm eaten and weedy.
The moorings on the north side of the pier are private, though look "visitor"-ish.
Anchoring is perfectly viable as long as you're aware of the rock perch and swinging room. The Pantry is excellent!

 

[ctva]

Stopped at Ulva yesterday and agree the Boathouse mussels were lovely. Didn’t use the pontoon as we arrived at low water so anchored in the entrance... then couldn’t be bothered moving. 4G with BT so no need for Wi-fi.

We’re sitting in Carsaig bay by Loch Buie on Mull, a very occasional anchorage as open completely to the SW but it is stunning. Great beach and views over the Garvellachs, Jura and Colonsay. It’s hot and sunny too...very un-Scottish!

 

[Kelpie]

We'd like to spend a bit more time on Colonsay- not an easy place to visit.
First time we went there we had a very swelly night on the wave screen, surging back and forth enough to ruin one of our warps overnight. The next day we moved down to Oronsay but too much swell running into the bay to think about leaving the boat at anchor.

Then a couple of months ago we had another go, and having had several days of easterly winds thought we would try our luck round at Kiloran bay on the west side.

It's an absolutely stunning place- a beautiful sweep of golden sand and hundreds of mewling Kittiwakes made for a very atmospheric feeling. The sunset over the Atlantic was one of the best I have ever seen. A perfect place to spend the night, but dangerous to go ashore (I tried... and very nearly didn't get back off the beach...).
Worth considering if the wind is in the east and you don't plan to go ashore. It must take exceptional conditions for the swell to subside to safe levels.

 

[JumbleDuck]

We'd like to spend a bit more time on Colonsay- not an easy place to visit.
First time we went there we had a very swelly night on the wave screen, surging back and forth enough to ruin one of our warps overnight. The next day we moved down to Oronsay but too much swell running into the bay to think about leaving the boat at anchor.

I have a note in my CCC book from 1989 saying, of Scalasaig, "Completely untenable in easterlies". Bitter experience, that was.

Kiloran Bay on the NW would appear to offer some possibilities in easterlies, but I wouldn't fancy it with an Atlantic swell running.

 

[dunedin]

I have a note in my CCC book from 1989 saying, of Scalasaig, "Completely untenable in easterlies". Bitter experience, that was.

Kiloran Bay on the NW would appear to offer some possibilities in easterlies, but I wouldn't fancy it with an Atlantic swell running.

Yes one look at the chart would show Scalasaig is not suitable in any Easterlies. In these conditions it is a short hop to Loch Tarbert Jura for a peaceful night.
In settled conditions the anchorage at Oronsay is stunning, much prettier than Scalasaig and allows the option of walk over to Colonsay.