The waters vary from the relatively sheltered passages around Oban and the Inner Hebrides to very remote and challenging areas like St Kilda and parts of the Outer Hebrides. There are modern full-service marinas in the busier areas, but over most of the area you must expect facilities to be few and far between and you will often be anchoring – the reward is fantastic scenery, anchorages to yourself and ‘busy’ means the next-door berth may be occupied!

The permitted cruising area is limited to 20 nautical miles from a safe haven, which is more than enough to explore the Western Isles of Scotland.

The following is based on information from the Sail Scotland website: https://www.sailscotland.co.uk/explore/

A trip to Argyll and the islands is a voyage through history, with reminders of the ancient past never far away. Sheltered waters can always be found for a pleasant day’s sailing among the many beautiful islands, while longer passages are an option for those seeking more of a challenge.

Argyll has been described as Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscape and cradle of the Scottish nation, and this unrivalled heritage is a constant backdrop for visiting sailors. They will find a magnificent choice of sheltered anchorages throughout Argyll and the Islands together with many moorings, harbours and marinas. There have been significant improvements with the installation of several pontoon systems and associated facilities in some remote lochs and harbours.

From Crinan, where Kadore is based, it is a short passage across the Sound of Jura to make make landfall at Islay, Jura or Gigha. All three have mooring facilities for the visiting sailor, while Islay also boasts pontoon facilities at Port Ellen. Jura has relatively new pontoons at Craighouse and has 16 moorings in the bay. Both Islay and Jura are well known for their distilleries; the former has eight and latter has one, most of which have their own moorings or small pontoons for visiting boats. Gigha has a reputation for fine sandy beaches and has also upgraded facilities for visiting sailors in recent years with a large number of serviced moorings and a short-stay pontoon with fine seafood available.

For those seeking a quiet anchorage for the night, Lowlandman’s Bay on the east of Jura offers shelter from most wind directions, while Loch Tarbert on the west side is a favourite with many local sailors. Seclusion is usually guaranteed, together with stunning sunsets and the opportunity to see the deer come down to the water’s edge in the evening, as well as otters hunting along the rocky shoreline.

Sailors remaining within the Sound of Jura have the option of venturing up West Loch Tarbert or lochs Sween and/or Caolisport on the eastern (mainland) side of the sound. West Loch Tarbert extends deep into the Kintyre peninsula, with the head of the loch being less than a mile from the harbour of Tarbert on the peninsula’s eastern side. There are a number of anchorages within the loch and an old pier at the eastern limit.

At the head of Loch Sween the village of Tayvallich offers a small shop, a café and a lively inn which hosts traditional music sessions. The village bay gives superb shelter from all wind directions and has three visitors’ moorings along with a few pontoons. If conditions are stable then an alternative anchorage can be found at the Fairy Isles, a short distance from the village.

Further north, the Sound of Jura leads into the wonderful sailing areas of lochs Craignish, Shuna and Melfort. Excellent marina facilities can be found toward the head of Loch Craignish at Ardfern Yacht Centre and at Craobh Marina on Loch Shuna.

For those who prefer anchorages, there are numerous options in the area. These include up the east side of Loch Craignish, where shelter is again available from every wind angle, or the west side where you will also find the loch known locally as ‘The Lagoon’ which, thanks to the Craignish Lagoon Mooring Association, features a clean-bottom anchoring area defined between red and green buoys.

The Dorus Mor lies at the south end of the Craignish peninsula and forms the first of the important tidal gates in this area. A general comment is that, while the tides may be strong at times, they are predictable, and providing the visiting sailor can read a tide table and tidal stream atlas they should present no real difficulties.

Travelling north via one of the tidal gates of the Sound of Luing, Cuan Sound or the Gulf of Corryvreckan brings the sailor to the Firth of Lorne. After passing the islands of Easdale and Luing, many boats will stop at the popular anchorage of Puilladobhrain (Pool of the Otter) from where a pleasant evening walk over the hill takes you to the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’ and the local inn. A short distance further north, it is possible with the use of local sailing directions to follow the buoyed and tide-dependent channel into Loch Feochan which has a mooring in its north-west corner at Ardoran Marine.

Oban, the principal town and port of the area, has most major facilities and is the focal point for many sailing events during the season. As part of an evolving harbour management strategy, the Oban Bay Management Group has introduced a new code of practice which visiting vessels should be aware of. There is a landing pontoon and 16 visitor moorings located at the north end of Carding Mill Bay, while summer 2017 saw the opening of the new transit marina. Installed at the North Pier, the new facility allows visiting vessels to berth centrally and step ashore in the heart of Oban. Additional berthing and marina services are provided by Oban Marina on the nearby island of Kerrera. Here, the restaurant offers evening meals, and during the summer months the marina operates an hourly ferry service to and from the mainland, landing at Oban’s North Pier. Bookings are necessary, and arrangements can also be made for out-of-hours and private water-taxi services. A short distance north of Oban there is another serviced marina at Dunstaffnage, also with an on-site bar and restaurant.

Sailors venturing west will head up the Sound of Mull, passing Duart Castle as they enter. This is the final tidal gate in the area and west of here the tides are typically less than one knot. Lochaline lies a short distance up the sound on the north shore and, while very sheltered, required anchoring overnight in deep water in the past. However, pontoons and step-ashore facilities are now provided, including showers, toilets, a laundrette and Wi-Fi access on the west side of the loch, with the village within easy walking distance. Entrance in and out of the loch usually requires a favourable tide, which is the case with many west coast lochs.

Tobermory is the main town on Mull and a popular tourist destination. A useful refuelling point for vessels and crew, it also has many famous watering holes as well as a distillery. Tobermory has benefited from improvements to its pontoons and a modern shower block and toilets for visiting sailors in the harbour association building. The mooring facilities have also been upgraded and, apart from in the busiest of weeks, it is now usually possible to avoid having to anchor in the bay.

There are a number of route choices for those venturing west from Tobermory out of the Sound of Mull. If time permits then the northern option will take you around Ardnamurchan and into the waters around Skye, while heading west across the Sea of the Hebrides will lead to the islands of Barra, Harris and Uist.

For those on a limited timescale, it is probable that these destinations will have to wait for another trip, and instead the choice will either be to head west for the islands of Coll and Tiree or turn southwards along the western side of Mull. Both routes involve open-water sailing and are often rewarded with a wealth of wildlife. Sea eagles are a regular sight around Mull, while whales, basking sharks, dolphins and porpoise can also be seen.

The Isle of Coll has one very sheltered bay at Arinagour, the main village on the island, where there are a limited number of moorings and plenty of suitable anchorages. The neighbouring island of Tiree, famous for its high sunshine hours, sandy beaches and windsurfing, is better suited to a daytime anchorage as most of the bays are more exposed. As well as hosting the Wave Classic windsurfing event, Tiree boasts an award-winning traditional music festival held each summer beside the stunning Crossapol Bay beach.

The west side of Mull has a number of sheltered anchorages, mostly around the island of Ulva. The newly installed visitor pontoons located at the Ulva Ferry can accommodate eight boats up to 16m in length, and restaurants and other amenities can be reached via the community bus. Sailing along this western coastline allows a visit to the Treshnish Isles and Staffa – home of Fingal’s Cave. It is possible to anchor and view the cave from either the island or a tender during settled weather. Further south lies the island of Iona and its world-famous abbey.

The main village on the Ross of Mull is Bunessan, where it is possible to anchor in a number of bays. Visitors are advised to anchor clear of the fairway to the main pier which is used by fishing boats all year round. The peninsula also contains many fine anchorages, including Tinker’s Hole and Carsaig, from where the visiting sailor can choose to return home by either heading east through the Torran Rocks or south to Colonsay and then through the Sound of Islay and the Sound of Jura.