West Coast Scotland info

[tom_20000]

Hey all, I have an upcoming trip to Scotland later this year, we've been planning for some time and we'll hopefully have 11days on the water, we'll be wild camping most nights and hopefully moving on most days to the next location weather permitting! Maybe a night or two in a B&B.
We've got lots of POI plotted and will be putting together the proposed route over the coming weeks. I'm hoping some who know the area better might be able to offer some insight into the following;
1) Is there anywhere where with a complete list of fuel availability (Petrol) be it in port or walkable petrol station. I've reached out to Scotland anchorages for a hard copy of their brochure but no response yet.
2) Any POI we shouldn't miss out on? Landmarks/Ruins/Walks etc
3) Boat will need to be left at anchor most nights so of anyone is willing to share known "safe havens" with camping spots that would be amazing although appreciate many of these are closely guarded secrets Being 400miles away we only get up this far once a year so most searching is on Google earth!

P.S We're launching and recovering near Port Appin and roughly expecting to explore West and then North upto around the top of Skye and the Isles there about.

Boat is a 6m Rib for reference.

Thanks in advance to any insight that can be offered.

Tom

[Maximus]

Go on YouTube and take in some of the Gurnards Videos/Adventures Both Sea and on Land...Plenty to choose from! should give you some really good options/ideas... A smart TV makes them even better
You could Leave the Boat at Puffin divers on a mooring and drive to Oban each day...Andorran Marine is also an option...there is a smallish Boat Yard nearer to Appin you may be able to work out a deal with ...or the Marina near the Wide mouth Frog might suit.
A camp at Balfours bay on Mull would be a Bonus and pretty sheltered in most conditions..we also camped at Arisaig where the Harbour Master was most helpful.

Round Mull is a must taking in Iona and Staffa ect if the weather is good.
Same goes for a Sky run...but again you want decent conditions....with plenty of shorter and more sheltered alternatives if the weather is not playing ball.
Petrol can be a Bugbear and you will defiantly be filling cans on a (Very) regular basis! I'm not absolutely sure if Appin has fuel or not...But Oban and will be you're main Fueling Station I'd imagine ...and a Tesco card may be worth getting!
We usually re-fuel each evening and the "Fuel run" soon becomes part of the routine.
The Seafood Shack at the END of Oban Pier is a must visit...if you like Seafood...just make sure you pass the others enroute!
Tobermory is a good Fuel Top up point for going further towards Sky ect...but it will have to transported from the Garage (we use the trolleys at the Pontoons) but is not far.
A large diameter siphon tube (jiggle pipe) will be a boon for decanting,if you don't have one already....Get one.
Have a great time and stay safe...I hope the weather Gods are benevolent!
If you've not been before...you're in for a Treat!

[Poly]

Linnhe Marine at Appin does claim to provide petrol but I think the typical customer is looking for 5L for the tender. There is a garage about 3 miles away and Paul is very helpful so I am sure arrangements could be negotiated - but it sounds like the OP might not be going back to Linnhe each night.

There’s not a definitive list of where is close for fueling and be aware even if somewhere is an option it won’t necessarily be open 24/7 or potentially at all on a Sunday.

Fuel possible with some effort / a trolley at Craighouse on Jura, Dumstaffnage, Tobermory, Malaig, Fort William, Gott Bay (Tiree). I’m out of date with Skye.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Linnhe Marine at Appin does claim to provide petrol but I think the typical customer is looking for 5L for the tender. There is a garage about 3 miles away and Paul is very helpful so I am sure arrangements could be negotiated - but it sounds like the OP might not be going back to Linnhe each night.

There’s not a definitive list of where is close for fueling and be aware even if somewhere is an option it won’t necessarily be open 24/7 or potentially at all on a Sunday.

Fuel possible with some effort / a trolley at Craighouse on Jura, Dumstaffnage, Tobermory, Malaig, Fort William, Gott Bay (Tiree). I’m out of date with Skye.

You're right about Linniie Marina P...tender moments only
With planning a decent Fuel tank...and a Few Cans he should be fine.

[tom_20000]

Thanks all for the responses, yeah we're going to launch with Paul near Appin, i've been up twice before but only explored between the bottom of Mull and Fort William due to weather, but we were there in Oct and camped on Lismore before.


Fuel wise i'll have 230litres onboard giving me a range of c.200-250miles unless conditions are torid! We'll be taking a fuel trolley and 100L of cans so a walk to the local station isnt a problem. Got me a jiggle pipe, brilliant bit of kit :-)


We'll be taking plenty of precautions, all have drysuits, PLB, 3 DSC radio's etc and importantly will be staying on land if the winds blowing hard! We've budgetted a few days at the end incase we cant get back to Appin due to weather on our planning recovery date.


I'll take a look at all the places mentioned above, thanks again, in the process of sticking a rather large printed chart on the wall to help pick a route before transfering to the proper chart ahaha. Ideally we'd like to get away from the big towns and try get set-up somewhere remote at night, we've just agreed two nights on a mooring somewhere and a B&B to keep the ladies happy , they werent fond of a loch bath for some reason!

[neil.mccrirrick]

I’d consider splitting your trip in two. Use puffin and oban caravan park as a base you can easily go round mull Jura colonsay etc and get back to showers and petrol. Then pack up and go to mallaig. Use the marina and camp at invercaimbe or Portnadoran. You have fuel there and you can easily do Skye and the small Isles etc. It will take the stress out

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

I’d consider splitting your trip in two. Use puffin and oban caravan park as a base you can easily go round mull Jura colonsay etc and get back to showers and petrol. Then pack up and go to mallaig. Use the marina and camp at invercaimbe or Portnadoran. You have fuel there and you can easily do Skye and the small Isles etc. It will take the stress out

[emoji106] and you don’t keep covering the same ground as you venture further.

[The Gurnard]

Originally Posted by tom_20000

we'll be wild camping most nights and hopefully moving on most days to the next location weather permitting!

Hi Tom .... Thats what I would do.. but if the weather was iffy..then would consider two bases as suggested by Neil and PD.

Too much info for me to give details but may possibly be able to assist with specific areas once you put a proposed route together.

This web site should assist with the planning stops etc..but not fuel

Home - Scottish Anchorages

For info only ... I have just returned from taking a couple . almost in their 60’s ... and new to boats ... round the bests parts of Mull .. Ardnamurchan to Mallaig and some of Skye ..in their 3.5m Honwave SIB and myself in a 2.75 F Rib ..they thought it was the best experience in their life.
Their wish list before we left .. was to Wild Camp on the prettiest beach I know ..to see a sea eagle .. to see dolphins ... to see a whale .. and to catch a decent size fish.

They saw many stunning beaches .. fours sea eagles .. two common dolphins teaching their young calf to hunt fish in a small rocky cove .. I couldn’t find a whale but took them to a place where I knew minke whale vertebrae were still on the beach so they got a bone instead ..and they then caught a spur dog around 12lb in weight along with dozens of mackerel.

However what amazed them most ... was clambering about in the dark..in the best cave in the west of Scotland..and no..its not Fingals cave..its Spar Cave on Skye ..a truly amazing sight

You have to clamber up this limestone staircase which has excellent foot grip despite it looking slippery.



Then you reach the cathedral .. sadly in vicorian times it had many visitors who took parts of the stalagmites ..but the magic is still there.



The photos from the cave are from this site which gives more info ..but they dont really do it justice..it has to be seen to believe.

https://www.theskyeguide.com/see-and...e-cave-on-skye

I will have video footage of the couple’s adventure once I get time to assemble it..but its in a long waiting list of other adventures from this year.

You wont get into the cave entrance with a Rib..but a tender will get you there. Im only mentioning it to show only one of many hidden gems that tourists don't see. Enjoy your adventure.

[Last Tango]

In for a treat.

We just did a quick run today Stein (Skye) to Loch Maddy (North Uist) to Loch Boisdale (South Uist) and back. Blowing pretty hard but still some shelter to be had "in close". Another cave on today's trip.......
Attachment 129941

Inside the cave...5 meters under the keel and big enough to turn the boat.

If you let us know your proposed route we can give you some advice on where you'll get fuel. (high tide makes life easier in a few places.)

[Phbailey]

Nearest fuel station to Linnhe marine is Gunns garage at Appin, or failing that it’s bsck towards Oban, with the small filling station at Bendrerloch only open a few hours a day or the Esso station near Dunstaffnage marina,

[Alithewelt]

Obviously I'm a bit biased but you should stop in for a night on the Isle of Raasay (just east of Skye).

There is decent anchorage near the ferry pier and - wind dependent - you could come in on the high tide alongside the "wee pier" and tie up and the boat will dry out in a sheltered spot on sand.

Wild camping right next to that bit, 150m walk to the pub/hotel/restaurant. It's an absolutely stunning part of the world, never mind the west coast! Distillery tour of the very new distillery is good value too (another 150m walk past the hotel).

Fuel in Portree but a fair walk from harbour - same in Broadford.

Rona - just north of Raasay - is an absolutely fantastic place to visit on a decent day - brilliant anchorage and a pontoon (pay the man called Bill for use of pontoon https://isleofronalog.com/ ).

Here's my mate and colleague Paul's blog too (give you an idea of the north of the Raasay https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/ )

Feel free to drop me a line on here if you decide to stop in and want more accurate information.

Ali Macinnes
SR5.4

[Last Tango]

<<< Fuel in Portree but a fair walk from harbour - same in Broadford.>>>

But both of them you can save a bit of a hike at high tide by "beaching".

Loch Portree.....bottom of the car park and Broadford (cheapest, £1.23) at the back of the Co-op...

[tom_20000]

Lots of great info, cheers guys, those caves look epic! and we're taking a little tender so maybe they're an option.

I think we'll plan two main options; a fall back weather dependent which is basing our-self from Oban and Mallaig, and the preferred option which is to hop about in what can hopefully be a circular trip. We're up the 9th until the 19th of August so maybe see some of you about, and hopefully the weather will play ball! Whales btw are definitely on the list!

I'll drop an update once we've plotted a more firm route. Thanks again.

[The Gurnard]

The Island of Eigg is a good place to go if you are wild camping and want a base for a day or two. A sheltered harbour area where you can pitch your tent ...(to the left hand side of the harbour bay. )They had a rough toilet facility but it was just a hole in the ground with a board over it and last time I was there the walls had blown down..so I dont even know if it still exists.

A two hour walk will get you to the top of the Sgurr which is well worth the effort. The massacre cave is a definite too. You can see the harbour and camp place plus the sights in this video. So plenty to do if storm bound a day or two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNV_nY7aP6E

The harbour dries out to soft sand / mud at low tide so that may or may not bother you. A decent cafe with wifi on the harbour too.

Canna is my favourite of the small isles and has yacht mooring facilities , cafe with Wifi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV9vlrJK6kE

Rum has no sheltered areas for mooring but lovely to see on your journey.

If you are like me ... Planning it is part of the fun too

[Last Tango]

There was a pontoon at Canna when we went at Easter. It's a bit dilapidated and belongs to Mowi the fish farm people but they had no issue with us tying up for a few hours.
The old harbour further in dries to a sand bottom and I doubt there would be any issues there either.
We're back up in Oban the 10th of August for a week so might see you about.

[Jampot]

My trip last week
https://vimeo.com/345451319

[Jampot]

I have very similar tanks and carry two x 33ltr hulk tanks and didn’t find fuel a problem at all.
I use a water separating fuel funnel, which has stopped water contamination.
Agree with the post about Mallaig. There is also Glenuig. There is a filling station about 250 yards from the pontoon at Glencoe boat club (wee donation expected).

[69cmw]

Looks good Jampot. [emoji108]

[Phil and Jane]

Originally Posted by Alithewelt

Obviously I'm a bit biased but you should stop in for a night on the Isle of Raasay (just east of Skye).

There is decent anchorage near the ferry pier and - wind dependent - you could come in on the high tide alongside the "wee pier" and tie up and the boat will dry out in a sheltered spot on sand.

Wild camping right next to that bit, 150m walk to the pub/hotel/restaurant. It's an absolutely stunning part of the world, never mind the west coast! Distillery tour of the very new distillery is good value too (another 150m walk past the hotel).

Fuel in Portree but a fair walk from harbour - same in Broadford.

Rona - just north of Raasay - is an absolutely fantastic place to visit on a decent day - brilliant anchorage and a pontoon (pay the man called Bill for use of pontoon https://isleofronalog.com/ ).

Here's my mate and colleague Paul's blog too (give you an idea of the north of the Raasay https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/ )

Feel free to drop me a line on here if you decide to stop in and want more accurate information.

Ali Macinnes
SR5.4

Contact number for Bill - Harbourmaster at Rona mentioned by Ali Maxine’s is :07831 293963 - Bill and Lorraine, great people, sell fresh venison and seafood from their lodge.

[Last Tango]

Sunday's trip round the North West Coast of Skye.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dUMpRWWF5Q