Loch Drumbuie, Tobermory and Loch Aline

A 2-day trip up the Sound of Mull

Brothers Arthur and Ronnie enjoying the early-morning sun in Loch Aline

Ronnie, Arthur and daughter Jennifer in Oban Bay at the end of a very happy cruise.

Jura and Luing

A 3-day cruise south to Jura, one of our favourite cruise destinations.

Looking west on Luing with Fladda Lighthouse, The Garvellachs and Mull in the distance

At Barnhill on Jura where George Orwell wrote 1984

Jura and Islay

A four-day cruise from Oban with visits to Lunga, Jura, Islay and Knapdale.

On the way from Lunga to Jura

Book club on the after deck.

Ready to go ashore at Carsaig Bay.

Mull, Muck and Moidart

Three generations of one family joined us for a week's cruise from Oban. The passage round Ardnamurchan was a little bouncy but well worth it for our visit to the picturesque Loch Moidart,

with the ruin of Somerled's 14th century Castle Tioram dominating its surroundings.

West Highland Yachting Week 2015

We participated once again in this famous Scottish regatta as one of the committee boats, mostly acting as start boat.

The weather for the week was mixed, from this dramatic sky to near gale conditions.

But the race team managed the event with the usual mixture of fun and professionalism.

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.