West coast of Scotland safe harbours

[Xscapiste]

I was wondering if anyone might be able to share some local knowledge. We are currently stormbound in Lochinver trying to get to Arisaig. We are not sure that there are enough weather windows before next Wednesday for us to make it all the way, two questions, firstly - is there anywhere you can leave a yacht unattended between Loch Inver and Arisaig for three weeks, secondly - which would be the best harbour if we found a small weather window to weather out a storm between the two (doubt we would make it further than Loch Gairloch in the windows that might appear), we would rather not anchor in the big storms coming through so really seeking a harbour with a pontoon or mooring buoy. Thanks. Ps we are trying to avoid going all the way into ullapool.

 

[Kelpie]

There are visitor moorings in Ullapool, you would have check that they are definitely in service this year and suitable for an unattended stay. Good transport links but a bit of a detour in terms of sea miles.
Loch Ewe or Torridon don't really have anywhere suitable that comes to mind.
Gairloch would be a good option, if you can get space on the pontoon you could buy a cruising pass from Highland Council which would be quite economical.
If you make it further than that, Portree Sailing Club have visitor buoys although again phone ahead to check whether they'd be OK with a boat being left there.
Kyleakin is another Highland Council facility, economical but tends to be tight for space and you would be in a raft with fishing boats etc. The pontoons opposite at Kyle of Lochalsh would not really be suitable IMHO as they are quite exposed (but I'm sure some people would disagree with me on that).
Plockton may have options, worth getting in touch.

And if you get totally stuck, I have a spare mooring on the west side of Skye but that's a heck of a long way for you.

 

[Xscapiste]

There are visitor moorings in Ullapool, you would have check that they are definitely in service this year and suitable for an unattended stay. Good transport links but a bit of a detour in terms of sea miles.
Loch Ewe or Torridon don't really have anywhere suitable that comes to mind.
Gairloch would be a good option, if you can get space on the pontoon you could buy a cruising pass from Highland Council which would be quite economical.
If you make it further than that, Portree Sailing Club have visitor buoys although again phone ahead to check whether they'd be OK with a boat being left there.
Kyleakin is another Highland Council facility, economical but tends to be tight for space and you would be in a raft with fishing boats etc. The pontoons opposite at Kyle of Lochalsh would not really be suitable IMHO as they are quite exposed (but I'm sure some people would disagree with me on that).
Plockton may have options, worth getting in touch.

And if you get totally stuck, I have a spare mooring on the west side of Skye but that's a heck of a long way for you.

Thank you, all very helpful. Very kind offer on the mooring, not sure we want to go around the west coast of Skye in the current weather, but kind of you to suggest.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The pontoon in Loch Gairloch is very small & usually full. However, there are also some secure moorings run by the harbour in Loch Shieldaig. These are used by fishing boats in the winter & are hefty & well maintained. A Highland Council cruising pass can be used for them. You can leave a dinghy ashore & walk into Gairloch for public transport. The HM at Flowerdale Bay is the contact for them.

 

[dunedin]

Actually you are probably already in one of the best places to leave a boat for 3 weeks - Lochinver itself. Nice sheltered pontoon, and bust to Ullapool then Inverness to connect with trains. Stornoway is another very sheltered harbour. I certainly wouldn’t choose Ullapool moorings, which are rather exposed, over Lochinver.
I don’t think Mallaig allow to leave for that long.
Possibly a mooring at Plockton, as noted above, but check availability. Pretty busy already

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Actually you are probably already in one of the best places to leave a boat for 3 weeks - Lochinver itself. Nice sheltered pontoon, and bust to Ullapool then Inverness to connect with trains.

A note on public transport south from Lochinver. The first stage is the bus from the shiny new bus stop opposite the Culag Hotel. Buy a ticket from the driver on the day. From Ullapool it isn't a bus, it's a coach. You need to buy a ticket in advance, either on-line or from the tourist information office in Ullapool. It's best to get it in advance as it is sometimes fully booked.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

The boat which lives on the swinging mooring next to me is currently hunkered down on Rona. Looks like we might not be seeing him for a while yet then….

 

[biscuit]

There was no pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh when we passed a couple of weeks ago.

 

[dunedin]

There was no pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh when we passed a couple of weeks ago.

It’s was too exposed to leave a boat unattended for 3 weeks, even when it was there. But yes no sign of it at all this year. Shame because it was good for a short stopover - and with big supermarket right beside it.

 

[Quandary]

Unfortunately the provision of the pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh has been uncertain ever since Highland Council allowed a local community group to take it over, various reasons, one year they could not recruit someone to manage it. I suspect that the locals that pressured the council to take it over lost interest after the first year or two. It is a pity, 15 years ago or so the former harbourmaster put a lot of energy in to its provision and development and while the council was running it after his premature death many of us regarded it as a memorial to his efforts to encourage visitors.
This is not the only place where a community group have obtained grants to develop facilities but then have lost interest or or had a fallout after a year or two. Unlike the crowded harbour at Kyleakin the pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh becomes untenable in strong westerlies.

 

[Xscapiste]

Thanks all, I think we will have to hunker down here and only leave when we can see two weather windows for moving to Arisaig with a stop at Gairloch. So many lovely places tucked away up here and no other cruising sailors on Lochinver at the moment to seek local knowledge.

 

[Bilgediver]

Thanks all, I think we will have to hunker down here and only leave when we can see two weather windows for moving to Arisaig with a stop at Gairloch. So many lovely places tucked away up here and no other cruising sailors on Lochinver at the moment to seek local knowledge.

Make sure you have a note of The Harbour office at Ullapool open 24 hrs Phone... 01854 612081 .

Never know when you might need it,

 

[dunedin]

Thanks all, I think we will have to hunker down here and only leave when we can see two weather windows for moving to Arisaig with a stop at Gairloch. So many lovely places tucked away up here and no other cruising sailors on Lochinver at the moment to seek local knowledge.

Once you make it into the Inner Sound you will get shelter from Atlantic swell (if not from wind chop), and most of the way down to Mallaig. Need to get tides right at Kyle Rhea, though I came through fine against neap tides using a bit of tide avoidance strategy.
If not been to Arisaig before, then whilst waiting download Antares Charts and use that for entry into Arisaig, which could be a bit daunting otherwise. It is definitely better done not at LWS (too shallow) or with big onshore winds, unless and until certain of navigation.

 

[fifer]

Thanks all, I think we will have to hunker down here and only leave when we can see two weather windows for moving to Arisaig with a stop at Gairloch. So many lovely places tucked away up here and no other cruising sailors on Lochinver at the moment to seek local knowledge.

The forum member minchsailor has plenty of experience of the Lochinver area. You could maybe try a message to them for advice if they've not already seen this post.

 

[Minchsailor]

The forum member minchsailor has plenty of experience of the Lochinver area. You could maybe try a message to them for advice if they've not already seen this post.

Thanks.

I'm at Kyle of Lochalsh/Kyleakin working my way north. Agree with all that has been posted so far - there is not much between Lochinver and Arisaig. Loch Sheildaig and Plockton are possibilities. There are 4 mooring buoys at Kyle that visitors can use (I am on one!). No pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh (and not likely to be this season) and no room at Kyleakin.

Will investigate Plockton tonight.

 

[Kelpie]

Thanks all, I think we will have to hunker down here and only leave when we can see two weather windows for moving to Arisaig with a stop at Gairloch. So many lovely places tucked away up here and no other cruising sailors on Lochinver at the moment to seek local knowledge.

If you're not leaving the boat, I wouldn't rely bother with Gairloch. There are many more scenic places to stop along that coast.

 

[Minchsailor]

Plockton - plenty of visitor's mooring (max 15T).

 

[Xscapiste]

Thanks.

I'm at Kyle of Lochalsh/Kyleakin working my way north. Agree with all that has been posted so far - there is not much between Lochinver and Arisaig. Loch Sheildaig and Plockton are possibilities. There are 4 mooring buoys at Kyle that visitors can use (I am on one!). No pontoon at Kyle of Lochalsh (and not likely to be this season) and no room at Kyleakin.

Will investigate Plockton tonight.

Thanks for the Intel. Do you mean Loch Sheildag on loch Torridon or Gairloch? Wondering if Torridon is a better bet tomorrow than Gairloch. Someone else mentioned Gairloch not that spectacular, however forecast is showing 40knots for Wednesday on Torridon, assume we can expect some shelter on the south side for this and the 40knots is not because it whistles through valleys into this loch?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thanks for the Intel. Do you mean Loch Sheildag on loch Torridon or Gairloch? Wondering if Torridon is a better bet tomorrow than Gairloch. Someone else mentioned Gairloch not that spectacular, however forecast is showing 40knots for Wednesday on Torridon, assume we can expect some shelter on the south side for this and the 40knots is not because it whistles through valleys into this loch?

Loch Shieldaig in Gairloch is where the visitor moorings are. It's very sheltered. There's nowt much in the Torridonian one.

 

[ctva]

There is also the option of moorings at Kintail Hotet at the end of Loch Duich. Free to patrons and the food is good.