Our furthest north (until tomorrow) Tobermory to Plockton 24 May 2024


The start of the day was good for wildlife.  Whilst having my early morning cup of tea on the flybridge, I spotted a Red Deer on the slope behind the seafront houses and below the houses on the next road up - right in the middle of the town.  It was obviously perfectly at home. The picture below is bit fuzzy because it was taken with my phone from the boat.

Then there was a heron at the mouth of the river that runs beside the distillery into the harbour.  Maybe it is the quality control manager.

And then, not long after we had set off, and before we reached Ardnamurchan Point, a pod of about 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins joined us, albeit briefly.  Wonderful.


Before leaving Tobermory we refuelled on the main commercial pontoon - at a price that is £0.22/ltr less than in Bangor - but which still hurt the bank balance because our tanks were at the lowest they have been since we acquired Lazaway. 

We set off at about 10.30 in fantastically calm weather, and remarkably it stayed that way all day.  We had high hopes of seeing more cetaceans, but only managed to spot one group of Harbour Porpoises.

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse with the island of Eigg in the background.

The island of Rhum wearing its clouds well.

Our journey was to take us on the inside of Skye - a narrow channel with a very strong tidal race in places, and under the Skye Bridge.  This was all new to all of us, and quite exciting as a result.

Skye just at the entrance to the narrowest channel separating it from the mainland - Kyle Rhea. The swirling tidal currents gave us an extra 6 knots of speed - but only briefly.  In no time at all we were through, and then we were to go under the Skye Bridge.

The approach to the Skye Bridge took us past castle Eilean Donan, used in many films, and then past Kyle of Lochalsh (not inspiring when seen from the sea).  We had a little trepidation about negotiating the Bridge but it was wee buns.  No problem.

Half an hour round the corner took us the beautiful village of Plockton - used for filming Hamish Macbeth (no, I also don’t know anything about this series). We’re on a visitor mooring, it’s very calm, and the location is outstanding.  A pint in the hotel, a take away fish and chips, and then a quick retreat to the boat to escape the plethora of midges.

The waterfront in Plockton.

Plockton plunder.

The boat bird list was a reasonable 26 species 

Today’s route 
















































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