Round the Isle of Mull and Iona

We took advantage of a settled spell of weather to cruise round Mull, starting out along the rugged south coast past the Carsaig Arch and cliffs formed from the old lava flows that cover most of the island.

Our first night was at Ardalanish on the Ross of Mull, famous for its pink granite used to build the Albert Memorial in London, then on to Iona, with a view over the Cathedral and Iona Sound.

We spent our next night in Loch Scridain off the old settlement at Tavool. Ruins like this are a common sight, crofts abandoned in the late 19th C as potato blight, failure of the kelp industry and the notorious clearances emptied the population from the west coast.

Cragaig Bay, off the small island of Ulva, was our next stop.

Carpets of Bluebells were covering the areas once cultivated by the crofters.

The island of Inchkenneth, at the entrance to Loch na Keal, was second only to Iona in importance as a monastic centre in the 6th C, and the ruins of a later chapel contain this beautifully carved burial slab of a Maclean chieftain.

After another stop in Loch Tuath we sailed past the Treshnish Isles and stopped at Tobermory.

Sound of Jura, sun and dolphins.

Starting from Crinan Sea Lock we cruised to the Fairy Isles at the head of Loch Sween for the first night, then over to Craighouse on Jura for the day before coming back up in glorious sunshine.

As we passed the entrance to the Corryvreckan on our way to the Sound of Luing we were joined by about 15 dolphins riding our bow wave.

It's a sight that you can never tire of as they roll on their sides and look up at you.

The next day we had a quick visit to the Garvellachs before catching the tide back down the Sound of Luing  to Loch Melford and on to Loch Craignish for the last night. 

Clyde Cruise

A 3 night trip down to Rothesay, the Kyles of Bute and St. Ninian's Bay on the west side of Bute. It wasn't exactly warm but but our new steamers were popular.

Except for Tom, who discovered that he really should have been a sea captain, and spent 3 days at the helm.

Others took it a little easier

First trip for 2014

A late start this year with poor March weather delaying outside jobs, but Chico is now smartened up with freshly painted topsides, a new rear canopy, and new upholstery in the saloon.

We started the season with a family day trip to Carrick Castle, with music and games and a good lunch.

Inverary and Loch Fyne

Starting at Inverary, we awoke to an early morning mist like a glacier flowing from upper Loch Fyne.

The sun soon burned through and we set about catching dinner.

Mackerel fillets ready for the smoker.

Followed by a gentle cruise down Loch Fyne past the ruins of old Castle Lachlan, which is undergoing some preservation.

To our overnight anchorage in Loch Gair.

September sun

We had a 2 night cruise to Port Ramsay at the north end of Lismore, and then to the pontoon at Lochaline.
After a bit of drizzle on the first day the sun appeared, and the youngest of our 3 generations on board led the way with an energetic leap off the pontoon.

Not to be shown up, the older generation indulged.

But the oldest generation upstaged them all. Who needs a wetsuit!

Caledonian Canal

We picked up our guests at Corpach Basin, just inside the sea lock, with 5 days to get into Loch Ness and back. The mass of  Ben Nevis dominates the view.

After a short section of canal the first serious ascent is the nine consecutive locks of Neptune's Staircase.

The canal is full of variety, but one of our favourite bits is the picturesque Laggan Avenue.

leading to the shallow Loch Oich, where red and green marks indicate the channel.

From there it is downhill all the way through Cullochy and Kytra locks. Locking down is much easier than locking up, but you still need to keep a careful eye on the warps to control the boat.

The descent to Loch Ness is the flight of 6 locks at Fort Augustus, which doubles as the main street of the town. A little shower didn't put off the spectators.

One night at Foyers in Loch Ness and then it was time to head back. As with Crinan Canal, the friendly efficiency of all the lock-keepers made the passage easy, and all went smoothly thanks to the first mate's directions from the foredeck.