PLAN 4: HEADING SOUTH [Fingal's Cave on Staffa - Day 3]

DAY 1 Armadale - no reason to dash off, so eat and shower ashore as on previous pages. If the tide is right and time permits you could head for Arisaig where there are moorings and shoreside facilities.

DAY 2 Coll - a refreshing blast down the 35 miles to Coll will make an invigorating start to your holiday. The Community moorings can be quite rolly here (and impossible if the wind is in the South or Southeast) so it can help to anchor further inshore. This is a small island with a small population so the facilities are limited but during the last few years food at the hotel has been excellent.

DAY 3 Staffa in the morning, afternoon visit to Iona. A day of culture, weather permitting. Best thing is to leave early and arrive at Staffa before the tourist boats get there. The anchoring here is poor so it is likely that at least one person will have to stay on board while the others go ashore. Fingals Cave is well worth a visit as is Iona Abbey, however, as neither of these sites boast overnight anchorages you will need to adjourn to either Bull Hole or Tinkers Hole for the night. Bull Hole is within walking distance of Fionnphort (Fin-a-fort) and shoreside food - they have been speaking about having moorings here for years but as far as we are aware they have not yet materialised

DAY 4 If you would like a longer passage and the weather is appropriate head for Castle Bay, Barra. Barra is well worth a visit and can offer most of the services you might require in miniature. Moorings are available in Castlebay. (If the weather weren’t suitable then a perfectly acceptable route North would be via Tobermory, exploring the Small Isles, Soay and/or Loch Scavaig).

DAY 5 Eriskay for lunch, Loch Boisdale, South Uist for the night. Once you pick up a mooring at Eriskay you may decide to stay the night. If you take the walk across the island to Am Politician the only pub on the island, you are unlikely to leave the same evening! Remember that a Causeway now closes off the Sound of Eriskay and Eriskay is an "Island" no more. Lochboisdale also provides HIE moorings with the hotel close by. The ferry has a habit of arriving and/or leaving in the middle of the night.

DAY 6 Canna, Rum for lunch. Both Canna and Rum have scenic attractions although they are completely different. Canna provides the more secure anchorage and now has cafe offering dinner. Rum sports a small shop and Kinloch Castle, which, is worth looking at. The opening hours for Kinloch Castle seem to have settled down to 14.00 most afternoons but if you really want to view the inside it be as well to phone them in advance.

DAY 7 Loch Nevis or Armadale or Doune as above for your final night

[Shown right is Barra - day 4]