Day 41 Oban to Tayvallich in Loch Sweeny

Tuesday dawns dry and cloudy. we set of down the channel between Kerrara, Jura and the mainland. We left at a suitable time to ensure we have a south going tide in the Sound of Luing were tide can be particularly strong and as you can see from the photo this proved to be the case, at one stage propelling us along at 7 knots above our boat speed. (One quickly learns on a sailing boat that speeds normal in a car have no meaning!)

The top end of Loch Sweeney

Tayvallich in the foreground and Carsaig in the background ( Courtesy of the Clyde Cruising Guide)

The Loch north of Tayvallich and the Fairy Islands

Loch Sweeny is a beautiful loch, unveiling its hidden treasures as we sail north towards Tayvallich. The entry to the bay encompassing Tayvallich is well hidden until you are almost on top of it and then, whow, a spectacularly narrow entrance opens into a classic basin surrounded by trees and a small community of houses. There are 3 visitors buoys and we have the choice of all three and take up the most westerly of the three.

Tayvallich is on the opposite side of the peninsular from Carsaig, just half a mile distant.

Tayvallich at low tide

The Tayvallich Inn ( Egon Ronay and Michelin recommended) offers a sumptuous repas and we retire to the boat replete and comfortable in our glorious surroundings.

A few days in Oban

Bloodhound moored on the inside pontoon at Oban

At last some 3G coverage so I can pair my phone to my laptop. This is being done as we are 3 miles of the Larne coast on the way to Peel in the Isle of Man

Domestic chores and a delightful exploration of the island of Kerrara occupy a couple of day.

Bloodhound, Prince Philip's old yacht, now owned by the Britannia Trust, is in Oban touting for charters during July and August

The marina on Kerrara with Oban in the background

David Storer left on Sunday Morning and Richard Wall arrived in the evening. The afternoon weather on Sunday turned very wet and windy.The first time I have experience the two together! The weather continued into Monday and gave us the excuse to visit the Oban whisky distillery. After visiting the Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall I had not expected there to be any difference in the method of producing the final product but I was interested to hear that Oban as subtle differences in whisky stills and method that distinguish it. It will be equally interesting to see if Lagavulin on Isaly have also their own differentiating methods.

Day 40 - A brief trip to Oban.

The Firth of Lorn

A Razor Bill

Another sunny day, we leave Port Appin with a following tide and no wind. As we venture south we get a brief, but enormous surge in the tide, so much so the size of the tidal arrow on the chart plotter completely obscures our position. It occurs as we pass an artificial reef created for a marine project.  We also get a glimpse of Razor Bills close to the boat. Previously these have only been visible at distance.

Oban Marina on arrival.

We arrive in Oban Marina on the Island of Kerrara in beautiful sunshine and I look forward to a cycle tour of the island. We hear later that this is the start of Highland Week, which explains why, shortly after our arrival, the marina is full and turning away hopeful clients. We were fortunate in getting one of the two or three berths available. i had though about going for a sail later when the wind increased but within the prospect of loosing our berth we will stay put until Richard Wall arrives on Sunday evening and davis leaves on Sunday morning.

Photos below are all Kerrara.

It seems the cows like seaweed.

The very welcome tea rooms at the southern most tip of the island

A herd of local goats are a change from the normal sheep.

Mull in the background.

Day 39 - Goodbye to the canal and hallo Loch Linnie.

No its not Scotland, but it does look nice! Andrew and Philip will remember it - jelly fish!

The pontoons at the top of the lock as we wait for it to open.

Entering the lock.

Ben Nevis clear of cloud.

The day starts well. Glorious unexpected sunshine and we enter "Neptune's Staircase" two locks behind the Lord of the Glens and follow her in "double lock" mode, for the next 2 hours until we exit the sea loch at Corpach and enter Loch Linnie. Our destination is Port Appin some 20 miles away on the east coast of the loch opposite the island of Lismore. It turns out to be a delightful spot, especially so in the warm sunshine. The mooring is free provided we eat at the restaurant in the Pier House. No real contest really as we both have excellent meals. The evening light is very special and let's me take some interesting photos.

Just to prove we do use the sails occasionally, even if there is little wind.

Approaching Port Appin

Just a dinghy ride away from our restaurant.

Soleis in her natural surroundings

A glorious sunset.

Later

Day 39 - Corpach and wait for the sea lock.

Moy manual swing bridge

A wet afternoon above "Neptune's Staircase"

Rain all night and still with us throughout the day. We arrive at "Neptune's staircase" at Balvanie to hear that the Lord of the Glen will arrive later in the day and there is no room to moor in Corpach Basin, so we decide to stay above the flight of 8 locks until the morning and follow the Lord of the Glen in a "double locking" process.

The Lord of the Glens arrives

Passing a moored Soleis

Squeazing into a space to await the availability of the lock

Day 38 - Loch Lochy and Gairlochy

Ben Nevis in the distance

Weather is not great but predominantly dry. We were advise last evening that there is a pair of ospreys net Achnacarry at the base of the loch so we went to investigate. Sure enough as we approach we see and osprey in the distance, but too far for the camera. However it does give us an idea where they are nesting. Hawk-eye David spots the nest and we anchor at a non-intrusive distance but close enough to see with binoculars. We wait in hope that she (we have been told that the male has already left her to look after her offspring) will leave her nest and fly around bit for the camera, but no she sits tight on her nest.

Click on it and you can see the Osprey sitting in her nest

A few Canada Geese

Along with a heron

Geese again

There is not a lot at Gairlochy but it gives me an opportunity to take out the bike for a ride. The Cameron Estate is not too far away, including a Clan museum. The house is well hidden and can only be glimpsed through the trees. This is the place were the first commandos were trained. Beside the road is a remnant of a mock-up of a landing craft that was used to prepare for beach landings.

Details of landing craft

All that is left now.

Day 37 - A short jaunt to Laggan.

The alternate way to do the canal

We thought it was Ben Nevis but it turned out to be Ben Tee.

Still tranquility

Proud parents

Practising his "crash stop"

Life as a lock keeper's mate is hard!

Summer is back. The day gradually improved as we ventured further along the canal, through Loch Oich, the highest part of the route and at Laggan descended into Loch Lochy. Loch Lochy has lost a metre of water in recent weeks and we could not find a mooring on the pontoons with sufficient depth so we return through the lock to a mooring above.

Fingal - A dutch hotel barge

Some different wildlife at last.

The cost of getting to close to the shore!

Entering the lock and preparing for our first descent

At the bottom of the lock

Moorings at Laggan Locks

The "beach" below Laggan Locks

Loch Lochy looking towards the Laggan Locks and pontoons