Scotland

August 3-10, 2024

Note: Every day it rained, sometimes heavier than others.  But almost every day, the sun came out as well!  Thankfully, we were prepared with the proper clothing. This was a very exciting trip in many ways!

Itinerary

Saturday, August 3:

Arrived in Largs and boarded our new charter company’s Bavaria 44 boat, Moonsong, in the afternoon. Took the other family who was supposed to charter a boat for a fantastic sail. Came back to the Largs Yacht Haven marina for the night and ate dinner onboard.

Sunday, August 4:

Departed for Colintraive, passing Rothesay along the way - in 30 knot winds. The very first attempt at picking up the mooring line broke the hook on our pole. Thankfully two onlookers came to our rescue. One of them encouraged us to go to Tarbert in instead of Portavadie (for which we were very thankful). Ate dinner on board.

Monday, August 5:

Departed for Tarbert via the Kyles of Bute. Tabert’s harbor front is very pretty, and is best appreciated from Robert the Bruce's 14th century castle above the town. Only the ivy-strewn ruins of the keep remain, though the view from the overgrown rubble makes the stroll up here worthwhile. There are steps up to the castle and a red waymarked path from the harbor front. The shortest stroll of all is to the far end of Pier Road, where there is a tiny, but very lovely shell beach. The shoreline in town is a World Heritage Site and is not allowed to even build a guard rail!

Had a surf and turf dinner at a new seafood restaurant, the Red Herring.

Tuesday, August 6:

Leisurely breakfast and lunch in Tarbert. Shortly after lunch, departed for Lochranza on the Isle of Arran in 40 knot winds. Lochranza is a village on the Isle of Arran and boasts a dramatic castle, a distillery and plenty of wildlife. Needed to drop anchor two feet below water surface to avoid fraying the mooring lines. Beautiful views of the shoreline as the sun was setting.

Ate dinner on board then played a few rounds of the Catch Phrase game.

Wednesday, August 7:

The next morning we visited the distillery. Had to move the boat to the dinghy dock as our outboard motor died. Left early afternoon for Campbeltown.

After docking, the crew checked out the town (including the garden dedicated to Linda McCartney) then met for dinner at the Argyll Hotel.

Thursday, August 8:

Breakfast was at a charming coffee shop. Departed Campbeltown around noon for Brodick. Passed Lamlash, the Holy Isle. Pretty rainy the entire time, but we were still smiling!

Entered Brodick for another mooring adventure as there were concerns again with chaffing of the mooring lines from the anchor. The crew came up with many ideas to attach a second to the mooring line and ended up “threading the needle”. Mission accomplished with perseverance and many laughs. Got to meet weird sea creatures on the mooring line.

Friday, August 09:

Tried to dock in Port Bannatyne but unfortunately the wind did not cooperate. Roving fenders came in very handy. Headed back to Largs with gusts to 38 knots. Reached speed of 8.8kn with only the Genoa headsail.

Fueled up the boat - again very tricky due to the wind. Had to use a stern spring line.

Dinner on board to use up our leftovers. Took showers and did laundry, then had a final game of Farkle.

Saturday, August 10:

Disembarked by 10:00 am. Everyone met up at the Largs train station for our adventures on land to continue. The Military Tatoo at the Edinburgh Castle was the most amazing!