Barra and Coll.

[xp640ralph]

Hi,

I'm planning a trip in our rib-x xp640 (a 6.5m boat with 150hp honda engine). We normally use this for whizzing around and day trips, never venturing much further than Tobermory.

Is it unreasonable to plan a week-long trip from Appin (near Oban) to Barra (via Tobermory to top up the tank (200l).

Is it reasonable to expect a mooring in Castlebay in August?
Is it possible to beach the boat at North bay to pick someone off the Barra airplane? Or is there a jetty nearby?
Is it possible to Anchor / stern Anchor at a quiet bay in the south of Barra?
Is there petrol within walking distace of Castlebay (we keep a mini tender to row ashore if on mooring)?

Looking for advice before embarking on a big voyage basically. I understand a nice day is needed for the 45mile dash from the Sound of Mull to Barra.

Is my boat totally unsuitable?

best,

Ralph.

[Brian]

I can answer one question and that is you cant moor up in Castlebay harbour itself, you must moor to some buoys to the right of the harbour entrance. You can, however, unload next to the launching ramp in the inner harbour (if the ferry isnt in) and then go and moor up outside.

Send you some photos of the harbour area and castle if you wish.

My guess at some of the other questions is:
Mooring shouldnt be a problem even in August.
Barra beach I would have thought dodgy since the airplane actually lands on it! Hence it is shallow by nature. Whether there is a tying up/mooring somewhere else in the bay????
Your boat is suitable, given good weather -both ways !!

[codprawn]

Please it's aeroplane or aircraft unless you happen to be a Yank!!!

A RIB that size should be easily capable of a 45 mile crossing if the weather conditions aren't too bad.

[willk]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Please it's aeroplane or aircraft

That depends on what humor one is in.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by willk

That depends on what humor one is in.

Very good!!!

[xp640ralph]

Thank you for all of your replies. I have spoken to some friends too.

We are planning a trip in August. We are thinking of being very adventurous indeed.

Appin - Tobermory - Knoydart - Small Isles - Barra (and surrounding) - Coll/Tiree - Colonsay (via Staffa/Treshnish) - Jura - Lochgilphead - Appin.

We will presume two nights per destination, but allow 3 for bad weather, with the view to cutting short or missing out bits if time or weather isn't on our side.

The boat has a 200l petrol capacity. Usually I carry 2 or 3 gerry tines. Sometimes empty for refuelling.

Can anyone suggest suitable moorings at these destinations?

Any advice on where to obtain fuel? Petrol that is. I reckon that with wiggles, maybe some watersports or beach trips that 600 miles might be what we cover.

Mallaig?
Barra? - I understand there is a filling station near to a visit Scotland jetty.
Coll?
Colonsay?

Lochgilphead is friends so very easy for us (and I think they'd offer us fuel for the last leg home.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by xp640ralph

Thank you for all of your replies. I have spoken to some friends too.

We are planning a trip in August. We are thinking of being very adventurous indeed.

Appin - Tobermory - Knoydart - Small Isles - Barra (and surrounding) - Coll/Tiree - Colonsay (via Staffa/Treshnish) - Jura - Lochgilphead - Appin.

We will presume two nights per destination, but allow 3 for bad weather, with the view to cutting short or missing out bits if time or weather isn't on our side.

The boat has a 200l petrol capacity. Usually I carry 2 or 3 gerry tines. Sometimes empty for refuelling.

Can anyone suggest suitable moorings at these destinations?

Any advice on where to obtain fuel? Petrol that is. I reckon that with wiggles, maybe some watersports or beach trips that 600 miles might be what we cover.

Mallaig?
Barra? - I understand there is a filling station near to a visit Scotland jetty.
Coll?
Colonsay?

Lochgilphead is friends so very easy for us (and I think they'd offer us fuel for the last leg home.

Sounds like a great trip! Have fun

[9D280]

One trick I;ve discovered (not an infallable method) is to use Geograph.co.uk, home in on the places you could come ashore (piers etc) and look through the surrounding photos for petrol stations! Only down side is if nobody has pointed their camera at it..... and let's face it round the islands there are plenty of epic views,whereas petrol staions aren't usually seen as particualrly Photogenic! Worth a try tho' - I've found numeous potential emergency fills like that.

I know it's probably a bit close, but is there not a garage at Tobermory a short walk form the pier?

[xp640ralph]

Yes I have used the Tobermory garage in the past. Trouble is the only time i'll pass it i'll have only used 35l out of a total 260l. Not a big refill.

[codprawn]

Just use Google

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/UnitedKingdom/Mallaig

Colonsay does have a petrol pump.

Here it is!!!

[jambo]

Originally Posted by xp640ralph

Yes I have used the Tobermory garage in the past. Trouble is the only time i'll pass it i'll have only used 35l out of a total 260l. Not a big refill.

Hi as someone who boats out of tayvallich I cannot understand your last leg. You say you are going to Lochgilhead for fuel. If you could advise when exactly you would be in the area I maybe there and could have fuel for you at tayvallich or Carsaig the latter would save you coming up Loch Sween.

J

[9D280]

Originally Posted by xp640ralph

Yes I have used the Tobermory garage in the past. Trouble is the only time i'll pass it i'll have only used 35l out of a total 260l. Not a big refill.

True, but it may also sell you the 35L you need to get back......

Except I've just realised another lap of Mull would be a touch pointless....... time for a strong coffee methinks!

[G.Mac]

Sounds like a cracking trip your planning, just remember to take some Avon Skin so Soft with you to try keep the midges away!

Graeme

[xp640ralph]

Originally Posted by jambo

Hi as someone who boats out of tayvallich I cannot understand your last leg. You say you are going to Lochgilhead for fuel. If you could advise when exactly you would be in the area I maybe there and could have fuel for you at tayvallich or Carsaig the latter would save you coming up Loch Sween.

J

That's a very kind offer. Thank you.

We would visit Jura, and then visit friends in Lochgilphead. So we plan to stay there a night or so and perhaps they might offer to drive us to the nearest pump to fill some tins!

Hope that makes sense.

ps I used to go on Holiday to Tayvallich..

[xp640ralph]

I read the address as by Lochgilphead.

What I actually mean is Loch Caolisport. der. my fault.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by G.Mac

Sounds like a cracking trip your planning, just remember to take some Avon Skin so Soft with you to try keep the midges away!

Graeme

I have heard that before - does it actually work???

Tends to tarnish the reputation of your typical Scotsman though - so that's what you keep in your sporrans.............

[al40]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have heard that before - does it actually work???

Tends to tarnish the reputation of your typical Scotsman though - so that's what you keep in your sporrans.............

It certainly does work - apparently one of the biggest customers is the Army! Does smell a little bit feminine but it's a small price to pay to stop the midges....

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by al40

It certainly does work - apparently one of the biggest customers is the Army! Does smell a little bit feminine but it's a small price to pay to stop the midges....

Aye but dont tell codders which variety works .. only one does we dont want to be over run with taffs any more than midges

[DonMacN]

"picking someone up of the aeroplane?" Not so easy on the beach itself, but couple of easy options very close by. Either go NW and you can use the slip for the new car ferry to Eriskay, or the old jetty that used to be for the less recent passenger ferry to Sth Uist. (Keep an eye on the plotter/sounder through there though - pretty shallow, with large random 'lumps' of rock)

Or you can go south back towards Castlebay and pick someone up in/around Northbay (advantage there is that it's in the direction the bus from the 'airport' would go anyway).

Fuel available in Tiree if that helps. You can tie up to the ferry pier (Gott Bay?) and it's a short walk to the pump. We found an old shopping trolley on the pier which made it easier getting the cans back and forward.

[willk]

Originally Posted by DonMacN

the bus from the 'airport' would go anyway).

Here, should that not be "Aeroport" then?



(sry, just coddin')