Coll, Iona, Staffa and Ulva.

From Oban we cruised to Tobermory for our first night. We then went on to Arinagour on Coll where we bought a bag of scallops from a local fishing boat. After an early start we had breakfast in the Sound of Iona and had time to clean the scallops before going ashore.

The view up the Sound of Iona, with the Cathedral on the left, showing how clear the waters are in this part of the Hebrides.

Our next overnight anchorage was at Cragaig Bay on Ulva. On the way we stopped at Staffa to admire at Fingal's Cave.

From there it was back to Tobermory for a walk at Aros Park, then on to Lochaline for our final night.

Black Isles, Colonsay and Jura

We had a bit of time spare in June so took a run down from Oban to the Black Ises, Eilean Dubh Beag (little) and Mor (big).

The vegetation is short and the ground dry so very pleasant to explore. The Common Spotted Orchid lived up to its name, with a limestone outcrop behind that looks almost like marble.

From there we went down to Loch Staosnaig on Colonsay for the night and then on to adjoining Oronsay before crossing back to the remote Loch Tarbert on Jura. Then up to the Bay of Pigs, an anchorage at the entrance to the Corryvreckan,

which would be better named The Bay of Goats, for they outnumbered even the Red Deer which make up the bulk of Jura's population.