This morning’s walk took us a short distance along the tow path to where there are entrances to a network of under canal passages. We met up with a bird watcher who gave us lots of information on what to look out for. In the opposite direction at the foot of Neptune’s Staircase was aContinue reading “Thursday 13th August 2020 – Banavie (Neptune’s Staircase) to Fort Augustus – 23nm”
Category Archives: Personal sailing travel blog
Wednesday 12 August 2020 – Oban to Fort William – 28 nm – 5 hrs Neptune’s Staircase 2 nm – 5 hrs
Despite the marina being in the heart of town it was a very quiet undisturbed night. After the sun had set McCaigs Tower, built in the 1900s to look similar to Rome’s Colosseum, was lit up red; we could see the top third from Talavera but we didn’t walk in that direction as favoured theContinue reading “Wednesday 12 August 2020 – Oban to Fort William – 28 nm – 5 hrs Neptune’s Staircase 2 nm – 5 hrs”
Tuesday 11 August 2020 – Tinkers Hole to Tobermory (Isle of Mull) – 32nm – 5hrsto Oban – 24nm – 4hrs
Sitting up on deck last night we were treated to a breathtaking sunset. This morning the weather reverted to dark skies, poor visibility and more rain. However it cleared up considerably during the afternoon to the extent that we even managed to lose our fleeces and at times wet weather gear. Between 07:00 and 07:30Continue reading “Tuesday 11 August 2020 – Tinkers Hole to Tobermory (Isle of Mull) – 32nm – 5hrsto Oban – 24nm – 4hrs”
Monday 10th August 2020 – Loch Tarbert to Iona, to Tinkers Hole
A golden sunrise greeted us this morning for our early departure to the island of Iona. Sailing past Mull on our starboard side and Scalasaig to port we saw several puffins displaying their unmistakeable oversized bright orange/red bills and matching large feet.For a couple of minutes we switched the engine on to dodge the submergedContinue reading “Monday 10th August 2020 – Loch Tarbert to Iona, to Tinkers Hole”
Sunday 9th August 2020 – Port Ellen (Islay) to Loch Tarbert (Jura) – 34 nm – 5 hrs
The winds were too strong to leave the pontoon this morning and although we had bright skies we didn’t get our share of the heatwave those at home were experiencing.We watched a fishing boat offload its catch but apart from people adjusting their warps, and pondering over the wind strength and lack of sustained direction,Continue reading “Sunday 9th August 2020 – Port Ellen (Islay) to Loch Tarbert (Jura) – 34 nm – 5 hrs”
Saturday 8th August 2020 – Campbeltown to Port Ellen (Islay) – 46 nm – 6hrs
This morning the skies were blue with a hint of sunshine. We left the anchorage after breakfast and went alongside at Campbeltown marina for a couple of hours to shop and refill our water tanks, then started our passage around the Mull of Kintyre to Port Ellen. We had our passage and timings planned, butContinue reading “Saturday 8th August 2020 – Campbeltown to Port Ellen (Islay) – 46 nm – 6hrs”
Friday 7th August 2020 – Burnt Island (Bute) to S.Newton (Loch Ranza) 15 nm – 3hrs to Campbeltown (Kintyre) 21 nm – 3hrs
‘We’ve cling ons on the starboard bow……’ One very small starfish was hanging on for dear life to the anchor and its friend to the chain. Both safely returned to the water we left Burnt Island and headed off, in the rain, for Newton (Loch Ranza) north of Arran. While slowly drifting past a forestryContinue reading “Friday 7th August 2020 – Burnt Island (Bute) to S.Newton (Loch Ranza) 15 nm – 3hrs to Campbeltown (Kintyre) 21 nm – 3hrs”
Thursday 6th August 2020 – Rhu (Helensburgh) to Burnt Island (Bute) – 21nm – 4hr
What a great start to the day, it was actually dry with even an occasional blue hue in the sky. Visibility was enough to enjoy the magnificent mountains lining our passage from Helensburgh to Burnt Island (Bute). With very little wind we slowly sailed, sometimes forwards, and took in the stunning scenery. Upon arrival atContinue reading “Thursday 6th August 2020 – Rhu (Helensburgh) to Burnt Island (Bute) – 21nm – 4hr”
Wednesday 5th August 2020 – Alongside at Rhu Marina, Helensburgh
It was blowing an hooley last night and a few houses in Rhu have flooded, but the good news is our parcel arrived so we can move on tomorrow. There was a brief interlude from the rain so we made a dash to the bus stop and travelled as far as it would take us,Continue reading “Wednesday 5th August 2020 – Alongside at Rhu Marina, Helensburgh”
Tuesday 4th August 2020 – Alongside at Rhu Marina, Helensburgh
It rained all night, it rained all day. The rain ran like rivers along the deck and were above window level as we sat in the salon of Talavera. It rained so hard we could hardly hear each other speak so Tim sat with his headphones on recording his podcast and Row sat with herContinue reading “Tuesday 4th August 2020 – Alongside at Rhu Marina, Helensburgh”
The Tim Heale Website 