Posts in Foosty

We woke to another glorious day for our trip back down Upper Loch Fyne to Portavadie. On the way down we had thought of stopping at Otterferry and picking up a mooring so we could have lunch but decided not to so that Alan and Lynda could spend more time in the Spa at Portavadie. Otterferry is a fairly sheltered mooring that we have used before heading for the Crinan Canal. It is not named after the sea-mammal but from the Gaelic "oitir", meaning "spit of land" which you have to make sure you avoid arriving and departing. There was once a ferry from here. We arrived in Portavadie in good time and took a mooring on the pontoons. Alan had booked a table for evening meal in the restaurant.

We have visited Otterferry at the head of Loch Fyne, many times, but never ventured further in Upper Loch Fyne -which forms the longest sea-loch in Scotland. Over the last couple of years quite a few new moorings have been laid and there's a single pontoon at Strachur (no good in heavy weather). I have visited and driven through Inveraray dozens of times over the years but this would be the first time arriving from the sea. It turned out that Upper Loch Fyne is lovely, very reminiscent of Loch Sunart on the way to Salen Jetty. It was great to see familiar places of Minard, Furnace, and Strachur but from a different perspective. The weather was stunning for our gentle motor up the loch. There are four moorings opposite the old pier at Inveraray and one was free (turned out that all four were available after day trips had departed), there is also a sheltered anchorage beside them. We had to fouter about at the mooring as it seemed to have wrapped around itself but an extra length of rope sorted that out and it was a beautifully calm evening.

Our next leg would take us north through Kilbrannan Sound between Arran and Kintyre to the fishing port and marina at Tarbert - or East Loch Tarbert to give it its full title. Before the idiotic self-inflicted harm that was Brexit, Tarbert Harbour Authority was given an EU Grant which they used to refurbish the facilities and now has one of the best laundry and shower blocks on the West Coast. Argyll Council has also spent money both here and in Campbeltown to improve the towns. It's a great marina in a beautiful setting and the town has all you need to stock up on supplies. We managed to have a nice gentle sail for the last four or five miles.

After a peaceful night bobbing about in Lamlash Bay, our next leg of the trip was around the south of Arran passing Pladda Lighthouse, across the southern part of Kilbrannan Sound and on to Campbeltown. This was my third visit to the Wee Toon this year. Campbeltown can get very busy as it's the last stopping point when waiting for the tides to head around The Mull to go North or to Northern Ireland. Similarly, it's the first port after coming south. It was quiet when we arrived, having missed the tidal stream for those heading around the Mull. It was a bit gloomy when we left Lamlash, but we arrived in sunshine.

Towards the end of summer each year, my sailing buddy and I take an extended passage, usually around the Western Isles. This year, were joined by Alan's wife Lynda and decided to explore Loch Fyne, The Clyde and visit a couple of places we had never sailed to.

This first leg took us from my home port of Largs to Lamlash on Arran, in glorious, warm sunshine. Recently new moorings were put down in the bay, a beautiful, peaceful setting in the shadow of the Holy Isle. We were lucky enough to see (and hear) Paddle Steamer Waverley.

If you leave early enough and the weather is favourable, then it's possible to head straight to Campbeltown from Largs, but it's sixty odd miles and can be a bit of a slog. So, it's a good idea to break the journey either at Lochranza or, as we did, Lamlash. We had a Warehouse Tasting booked for Friday afternoon but leaving just after 0730 gave us plenty of time to get there.

Each year my nephew and I set off from Largs to Campbeltown for the weekend, "The Whisky Dash". Gordon arrived on Thursday lunchtime and after stowing stuff away and stopping at the diesel pontoon to top up the fuel tank, we set off for the moorings at Lamlash for an overnight stop. The forecast was good, warm and dry, and we had an exciting weekend of whisky activities planned.

I enjoy Single Malt Scotch Whisky and one of the things I like to do when visiting Northern Ireland is to seek out good Irish Whiskies. Results have been mixed in the last few visits and I have found most to be a bit ordinary, lacking in the depth and flavour of even the most modest of Scotch Whiskies. However, I have found a couple I do like. The Limavady and a Method and Madness who have some interesting finishes. This is what we tried this year.