Stopping Places: Ardnamurchan Point to Loch Ewe

Be sure to check out Reeds  and / or the appropriate pilots (Clyde Cruise Club sailing directions) for more detailed information and some alternates, this is just an overview of ones I have been to. 

For anchorages in this area the Antares Charts covering almost 600 anchorages are invaluable and for some indispensable. At £15 they don't break the bank and as well as the chart you get a very good summary of each anchorage or passage, most if not all of the anchorages below are covered.

Sequenced approximately south to north. Links open in a new window and most point to the trip towards the anchorage, the following post may have more information.

To see my recent visits to each anchorage check out the "Labels" towards the bottom of the right hand panel or flow the individual links.

Updated Sept 23 to include Harbours and Marinas also some info on fuel & gas availability.

Anchorages = red, Marinas = Blue

Sanna Bay, Ardnamuchan.

A very nice anchorage with good shelter except from the West to North, easy access if you have GPS, preferably with the Antares chart. Without, a bit more care is required to avoid the largely submerged reef, the exposed part is visible in the picture above. Visited in 2022. 

Looking north from Sanna Bay, The Isles of Muck, Eigg and
Rum in the distance.

South Bay, Eigg, The Small Ilses.

Good anchorage in suitable conditions but exposed to the south. Useful to split the trip between Tobermory and the Kyle Rhea and local anchorages, potentially saving a nights berthing in Tobermory, for instance coming south you would probably arrive in the evening and have to pay for the night, alternatively anchor here then go to Tobermory arriving late morning and you get that afternoon and the next day till 15:00 for the price of one night. Vodafone and O2 OK.

Visited in 2024

Armadale Bay, Sound of Sleat.

In the right weather a very pleasant spot but the anchorage is deep and there is lot of weed.

 

Visited in 2022

Camas Criose, Sound of Sleat.

 

A good anchorage with offshore winds but completely exposed to winds from the east. There is plenty of room but it is much smaller than it appears at HW being ringed with drying rocks, the Antares chart will reduce stress levels. Less than 7 miles from the Kyle Rhea. Overnighted there in 2024 before heading north the next day.

Loch Na Dal, Sound of Sleat.

Looking out from the Loch Na Dal anchorage.

Another useful passage anchorage before or after going through Kyle Rhea especially in a NE wind when the nearby anchorage at Ornsay may not be tenable. Avoid the SW half which has extensive kelp. There are a couple of large mooring buoys for the local restaurant / hotel.

Visited 2021

Sgeir na Caillich

Another useful anchorage for the Kyle Rhea, this at the northern end to wait for a fair tide through the Kyle or under Sky Bridge. Sheltered from the SW but could be too exposed with an on shore wind.

The norther entrance to the Kyle Rhea is just left of centre, the
anchorage is just to the right of the mark on the right.

Visited in 2022.

Sandaig Bay, Loch Hourn

Not to be confused with another Sandaig bay further south. The real life setting for “Ring of Bright Water” a very good anchorage in northerly winds or with no swell coming up the Sound and room for a number of yachts. Vodafone and O2 OK.

 

In “Position A”, taken 2 hours after anchoring in

25 knots of wind.

Visited in 2024.

Canna, The Small Ilses.

Looking towards Rum from the Canna anchorage / moorings.

Excellent shelter and a great view (in good weather!) but extensive weed so it is probably best to pick up a mooring if serious winds are likely as was the case when I Visited in 2022 when I measured a force 7 and it was probably more at times. No Vodafone or O2 signal.

Loch Screcourt, Rum.

Has a reputation for swell refracting right round the Island but I had a peaceful night, buoy's available (chargeable) but plenty of room to anchor. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.

The ferry terminal and some of the visitors buoys.

Visited 2023

Loch Nacuillem Skye.

Regarded as having the most spectacular view of any anchorage in Scotland but apart from a small area is weed infested and I gave up after failing to get the anchor to hold, the preferred anchorage looking to be full. See The link for my trip to Rum, here or below.

Broadford Bay, Skye

Good shelter from offshore winds and good holding, the guides say there are decent facilities ashore accessible by dinghy but nothing else to recommend it except that it is closer to Skye bridge than some alternates.

Looking south from the Broadford Bay anchorage.

Visited 2020.

Plockton.

Sancerre anchored in 2021. I believe its normally much busier,
lack of boats probably down to Covid.

Sancerre on a mooring in the outer anchorage 2022, again very
 quiet, but it was early May and despite the picture VERY windy at times.

Well sheltered from most directions, perhaps not from the NE, in 2022 I was there during severe gales from the W & SW, the wind was gusty and variable in direction causing the boat to swing and sway quite violently at times, accentuated by the very long lines from the buoys, but with smooth water it was reasonably comfortable and better than most anchorages you will find in these conditions. An anchored boat not far away appeared to be somewhat more stable.

Some good places to eat ashore, if you can get a table, most places specialise in sea food and can be quite expensive depending on choice. Fish and Chip shop, fish good, chips very average. Shopping is extremely limited, consider a trip to Lochcarron (check the links) in the upper loch if you need serious resupply, the Spar shop there is the best I have come across outside of much larger villages and towns, alternatively try a train trip to Kyle of Lochalsh where there is a large Co-op and other shops and eateries.

O2 and Vodafone service OK.

Visited 2021 and 2022

Upper Lochcarron

Lochcarron village from the large anchorage.

I sat out a NE gale here in 2021 on a short scope of chain after losing 20 metres after fouling the anchor at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (The start of that saga starts here, the result 2 posts later). I visited a couple of times in 2022 and I would not recommend it in a fresh south westerly as the long fetch up the loch would make it rather exposed. 

Diesel and Gas’s is available from the garage by the slipway close to the recommended anchorage. If you take your sea boots you can save a walk with a heavy load by motoring or rowing from the anchorage to the shop in the dinghy but beware of weed close in, a reconnaissance on foot would be a good idea. Excellent shop for the size of the village, fuel available 24/7, unfortunately broken when I visited in 2024 to sit out another gale.

Churchton Bay, S Rassay.

A good anchorage but exposed to south westerly winds.

Position "A" clear of the ferry terminal.

Visited 2021

Braes Beach (Skye) / Rassay Narrows.

Across the narrows from Churchton Bay, S. Rassay (above) with good protection, at least from rough water, with winds from south and west. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.

Visited 2022

Portree, Skye.

Subject to severe squalls in strong south-westerlies but otherwise well protected. The anchorage areas around the edge are now smaller than shown in the 2024 Antares chart but the outer one is somewhat larger.

Portree, Isle of Skye.

Visited in 2024.

Loch Shieldaig / Torridon, 

Sancerre in Loch Shieldaig anchorage taken from the slip way.

A very attractive trip through Loch Torridon (see link) to get there and several anchorages to suit most conditions. A good restaurant but watch the price of wine which is very overpriced (my bottle actually had a price tag accidently left on it - almost 1/8th of what I was charged), probably best to stick to other drinks. A small shop with very limited stock.

Visited 2021

Flowerdale Bay, Loch Gairloch.

I nice anchorage although much was encumbered by pot buoys when I visited in 2024. Somewhat exposed to the west. Vodaphone and O2 signals OK.

Flowerdale anchorage 

Loch Ewe is in the section Loch Ewe to Orkney.

Anchorages, marinas and harbours:

• The Solent.
• The Needles to Plymouth.
• Fowey to Lands End.
• Lands End north to Anglesey
• The Isles of Scilly and SE Ireland from Baltimore to Carnsore Point 
• The East Coast of Ireland from Carnsore Pt to Red Bay.
• Mull of Galloway to Ardnamurchan Point.
• Ardnamurchan Point to Loch Ewe.
• The Western Isles.
• Loch Ewe to Orkney.
• Duncansby Head to The Solent.