Scottish West Coast

[DIVER2454]

Hi has anyone launched out of a Clyde marina and been up through the Crinan canal to Mull as a trip. Looking for some ideas around camping spots refueling issues and any other advise or references to have a look at

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by DIVER2454

Hi has anyone launched out of a Clyde marina and been up through the Crinan canal to Mull as a trip. Looking for some ideas around camping spots refueling issues and any other advise or references to have a look at

Largs would be the obvious start point, easy launch & space to leave car & trailer in the marina yard. Fuel wise if its petrol then you wont get fuel dockside after largs, only possibly portavadie (im not sure though) but presumably you'd just carry on to the crinnan and get it in cans at ardrishaig. Once out of the crinnan then your looking at carrying petrol, afaik theres little or nowhere north of crinnan sells petrol at the waterside. If your diesel its a different matter as theres plenty of options for diesel

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[DIVER2454]

Hi
Thanks for that , it's petrol but I have have 100lts internal and 2 x 25lt tanks so probably able to top off at the crinian end.
.

[Poly]

You can get dockside petrol at portavadie. I guess it’s not that much further than Largs, but could be good for a top up or if you go the long way round the kyles.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by DIVER2454

Hi
Thanks for that , it's petrol but I have have 100lts internal and 2 x 25lt tanks so probably able to top off at the crinian end.
.

With that fuel capacity you could probably make oban without refuelling (depending on range) its only about 80 miles total but you'd need cans to fuel in oban & its quite a hike to the nearest filling station. On the otherhand if you topped up with cans at ardrishaig or portavadie then you may have the range to make tobermoray where the filling station is only a short walk. theres not a huge difference between filling at portavadie or ardrishaig as theres only a short hop between & your passing portavadie anyway probably cheaper at ardrishaig but more convenient at portavadie if its dockside

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[DIVER2454]

Hi

Thanks this is useful for planning purposes as I can top off internal tank at that point. The crinin looks to be a bit of a non starter as it is effectively a day passing each way and looks expensive.. Now thinking of a 2 location launch one to to Clyde estuary and then up to Oban area.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by DIVER2454

Hi

Thanks this is useful for planning purposes as I can top off internal tank at that point. The crinin looks to be a bit of a non starter as it is effectively a day passing each way and looks expensive.. Now thinking of a 2 location launch one to to Clyde estuary and then up to Oban area.

Yeh canal is a day each way but you could camp either end if your camping. we tend to motor round the mull most times as its quicker and costs the same in fuel as transit licences but we're a bigger boat.
If your not bothered about the canal experience then probably best just to head to the other side of the mull & go from somewhere that side more to see & do than around the clyde side of the mull

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[DIVER2454]

Hi

Any pointers to overnight areas to moor and camp.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by DIVER2454

Hi

Any pointers to overnight areas to moor and camp.

We sleep on board so cant say from experience regarding camping. We had friends camp either end of the crinnan before & after transiting but I'm sure theres no camping signs around the basins but our pals just pitched after the lock guys left & took tents down early next morning. We camped years ago at the campsite above puffin divers in oban & left the boat on one of their moorings but they have a reputation for not being the most helpful. If I was making a trip up that direction, I'd look at Ardoran marine in loch feochan they have rental lodges & Colin is pretty helpful & would probably find you somewhere to pitch if you ask him. Pontoons in lock Aline & probably a reasonable pitch within walking distance, tobermoray may be difficult to find a quiet place to pitch but probably an essential fuel stop. Pontoons at Salen might be close to a pitch & the pontoon at ulva ferry has a small camp site close by iirc. Pontoon at port appin in loch linnhe probably close to somewhere to camp. I've never camped at any of those places , only stayed aboard but it gives you a start for places to enquire about. A lot depends on how "wild"you want to camp but all those places I've mentioned have baisic facilities, water & toilets & some have showers


Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[GuyC]

I tend to use Bing Maps to look at potential anchoring / camping sites as it has satellite views and an OS map.

If you are thinking of anchoring in a bay and then wild camping, you'll need a method of getting ashore and you'll need to trust your anchor.

I've included a link to the access code for Scotland.

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.s...de-all/camping

Hopefully the weather gods will be with you.

[roger dodge]

Not forgetting that there is a automated 24 hour petrol pump at Lochaline , 1 minute walk from the cafe ( next to ferry terminal).

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by roger dodge

Not forgetting that there is a automated 24 hour petrol pump at Lochaline , 1 minute walk from the cafe ( next to ferry terminal).

If it works! We tried to get fuel for our tender, wasnt working

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[roger dodge]

I live there occasionally after a power cut it fails but 99% of the time it is working.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by roger dodge

I live there occasionally after a power cut it fails but 99% of the time it is working.

We must have caught it on a bad day, wasn't an issue as we were staying overnight, just went back the next day.

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app