Loch Moidart to Arisaig to Rum to Loch Scaraig to Loch Harport to Dunvegan to Rona to Portree to Isle Ornsay

Possibly rather a long title?

Hello again Dear Reader(s), have you missed me?

Anyway  .. we are in Scotland  … roughly …

Loch Moidart

Initially windy and wet, later windy and wet.

On our second day we had a really good walk  … along the coast over the mountain, around the lake, down to the sea and back to the boat  … wonderful!

We slept well.

2^nd August 2012

Off to Arisaig.

Quite challenging to get into.

If you follow the obvious transit on the hill, you feel very reassured until you realise that the transit actually consists of two Vodafone aerials on a post halfway up the mountain.  These are, of course, always in line from all directions.

We were allocated a mooring and went ashore to the launderette.

Arisaig is nice  (BSA>>12.7).

The tourist centre is excellent.

The Spar Shop sells everything.

We are happy.

3^rd August

We greet Martin at the station and flubber him aboard.

Off to Rum. (aka Rhum).

(Martin: “Crowded, there was another boat in the bay”)

Night in Rum. 

4^th  August

Ashore in the morning.

Today is the official “Rum Midge Fest”  .. ruined by a lack of Midges.

We walked up to the castle and watched a couple of horses having it off in the field. Apparently Edward VIII enjoyed himself here as well.

Next stop Loch Scalaig for lunch

The Most Beautiful Anchorage in Europe.

Scalaig

Off to Loch Harport for the night  (home caught mackerel and chicken stew).

Anchored outside the Talisker distillery.

5^th August

Epic beat to Dunvegan (full of carnivores).

Dinner aboard.

6^th August

Walk to castle

Walk to MacLeod’s finger (erected 2000, vandalised 2001)

MacLeod’s finger

Walk to shop  .. Martin walked to the bakery.

Nice meal (F & C) at Dunvegan Hotel. Pleasant English landlady.

7^th August

Epic trip to Rona  (not a real Epic, but Martin dictated this bit).

Rona  .. deserted but for 7 boat in the anchorage.

No road vehicles except 2 quad bikes and a JCB.

Nice walk to the cave chapel where Martin found a fossilised Ichthyosaur (rabbit bones).

Night at anchor.

8^th August

Awesome spinnaker beat to Portree

spinnaker

Decided to sell spinnaker when we get home (if we ever do).

Arrived Portree

Highland Games Week in Portree. 

Lots of Highland Games going on.

Ate out for lunch then had circular walk (obviously).

Delicious supper aboard.

9^th August

Off to Kyle of Lochalsh. Decided not to stop as K o L was a bit of a dump.

We witnessed a dramatic rescue ... reader(s) of nervous disposition should look away now .. anyway,  let me take you to the scene ..

“Stornoway Coastguard, Stornoway Coastguard, Stornoway Coastguard, this is Yacht Mule, Yacht Mule, Yacht Mule, we are becalmed, on flat water, in no danger whatsoever and the engine is b*gg*red, help! Over”

The rest of this story is probably too frightening for my reader(s) but rest assured Dear Reader(s) no animals were harmed in the reconstruction of this event.

But  .. we saw a huge pod of dolphins  whilst listening to unfolding events.

Dolphin jumping

Under the Bridge of Skye (complete absence of bunnies).

Next stop Ornsay (from where I write).