Inside Kintyre. Bangor to Campbeltown Loch 23 July 2024

 

The Gobbins were looking splendid as we passed.

At 12.30 today we set off on a trip to explore bits of the waters on the inside of the Mull of Kintyre, some of which we have explored before and some we haven’t. We have no fixed agenda, so we’ll see where the notion takes us.

Excitement from the start!  Our departure from Bangor was delayed by a Bangor lifeboat call-out.  Just before we were about to leave, the lifeboat raced out of the harbour, and in no time at all they called in asking for the fire brigade to come to the North Pier.  Within a few minutes the lifeboat was back with a motor boat in tow, and we could hear sirens as the fire engine came through the town.

There was a lot of action around this rescued motorboat (a Bangor berth holder) but no smoke.

A lively sea as as we motored north meant that we had a lively journey.  Lunch was delicious - the bits that we got in our mouths.  Afternoon coffee was delayed until we got into the lee of Sanda Island.

En route we were accompanied by Storm Petrels - elusive gems that flicker through the waves, disappearing as they change direction, reappearing momentarily before being gone forever. Guillemots and Razorbills in pairs - father and child pairs.  These species have just one young each year, which jumps off the cliff at a very early age, and then swims away with the dad who looks after it for a few weeks. Meanwhile the mum takes a recuperative rest. And Gannets plunging to catch their lunch.  One young Gannet took a liking to us, flying to and fro across our bows.

A young Gannet befriends us.

On several occasions we were joined very briefly by Common Dolphins - just in ones or twos. The spray was coming over our bows and so these were the best two pictures I could get from the flybridge.

Our route took us past Sanda Island:

And for those of you that have a little cash to spare, the island (453 acres) and its house, holiday homes, and pub, are all for sale, for a miserly £2.5m.  Rather good value to my mind (wish I had the problem of deciding how to spend my £2.5m!). Check out knightfrank.com  

The journey north felt quite long but we arrived at Campbeltown at 18.30, still with a brisk westerly wind blowing, and the marina very busy.  They said we could raft up against another boat, but not many boats would be happy having us rafting up to them (we are a bit oversized and heavy) so we decided to anchor instead.  We’ve got a lovely spot - very happy.

The entrance to Campbeltown Loch.

Boat bird list was a slim 16.  

Our route:





































































































































































































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