Oban & South West Scotland

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Explore West Coast of Scotland under Sail

For Voyages starting in Oban you only need to walk away from the station a few metres and you are amongst the fisherman’s stalls selling fresh prawns, langostines and scallops. Western Scotland is a rich marine ecosystem which offers fantastic seafood and wildlife watching from the sea eagles of Mull to the dolphins and whales that cruise the deep waters between the Inner & Outer Hebrides.

After safety briefings and training you have plenty of open water in the Firth of Lorne to get your sea legs and dramatic scenery from Duart Castle guarding the Sound of Mull to the mountains of Mull as you head south. There are some lovely anchorages on route like Puilladobhrain (home of the otter) which is a narrow perfectly sheltered inlet south of Oban, but you may aim further afield on the first night.

Western Mull & Iona

There any many interesting anchorages in the South or west of Mull if the weather is settled. Close to  Iona is a famous anchorage called Tinkers Hole. It has a small tight entrance and more than one boat would make it crowded but if you get lucky you many enjoy it all to yourselves.

Iona is a pilgrimage for many and famous for its Monastery and some fast tides over shallow sand banks which both make for an interesting voyage.

Once beyond Iona you can either head out towards Tiree and Coll or explore the Atlantic facing side of Mull with its long headlands and the little islands inbetween like Inch Kenneth, Little Colonsay, Lunga and Ulva where there are many magical bays and anchorages.

Islay, Jura & Colonsay

Depending on the wind direction and strength your  voyage might make the best of the sailing grounds around Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Islay and Jura, sailing through the Sound of Islay and down around the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula. This is the long way around. Back in home waters you could enjoy a last anchorage off Arran or perhaps Ailsa Craig before heading for Largs.

Alternatively you might seek a more sheltered route via Cuan Sound or Sound of Luing where there are a couple of narrow channels to negotiate, tides to get right, and the famous whirlpools of Corryvrecken to avoid, and then Lizzie May reaches The Sound of Jura. Well protected from the swell of the Atlantic Ocean by the large island of Jura this has been a major routeway to and from the Western Isles for Centuries.

The Crinan Canal – ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’

Chosing this route you can take advantage of the Crinan Canal – ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’ – an option not available in Viking times ! You would be hard pressed to find a more attractive stretch in inland water between two spectacularly different coastal sailing grounds. At just 9 miles long the Crinan Canal links The Sound of Jura with Loch Fyne at Ardrishaig. For Clyde based boats or those travelling northwards the Crinan Canal offers a shorter ‘Gateway to the Western Isles’ and Hebrides than sailing the long miles south and around the Mull of Kintyre. It still requires some effort with 15 locks to negotiate.

It is quite strange to be crew on a good looking gaff cutter and have towpath cyclists chatting to you as you navigate the canal, and there is plenty of classic Scottish scenery to enjoy from a slightly more pastoral setting than the first part of the voyage.