Launching Lochinver and around, Highlands, Scotland

[Copinsay]

Hello folks

After two weeks of stunningly good weather over Easter ribbing down in the Ullapool / Lochinver / Kylesku area of Sutherland, Highlands, Scotland (intentionally using keywords to help with searches!) I'll post here some images of slips etc to help others who may be planning a trip this way.

While there's some useful info on here already in terms of text descriptions, these images will I trust help things become even clearer for you... And part of my payback for the brilliant help I've had from others :o)

Will upload to Boatlaunch too but wanted to add the additional info here.

The Clyde Cruising Club area guide "Ardnamurchan to Cape Wrath" is highly recommended for some interesting pilotage and local info

Sample pages: http://www.clyde.org/site/assets/fil..._cw_sample.pdf

To order: Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions - Clyde Cruising Club

This brilliant book is also very useful if you are into exploring and landing on the many islands in the area:
The Scottish Islands: The Bestselling Guide to Every Scottish Island: Amazon.co.uk: Hamish Haswell-Smith: Books

A great start to the season - here's a video taster from last week featuring Jess shooting the breeze:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

Steve

[Copinsay]

Kylesku slipway - here: Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

Note the much restricted width from when it was the car ferry slipway. Need around 2.3 metres of water (as quoted at Lochinver) to be sure of water above the abrupt end of the slip.

Can be very tight for getting down to the pier if people using the adjacent pub have parked both sides of the narrow approach lane.

Also not one for the faint heated if you don't like the very attentive observations of people drinking outside the adjacent pub, nor if you don't like big drops off a slipway!

But the stunning scenery makes up for it, and an interesting tide race in the adjacent narrows to play in.

[Copinsay]

The new-ish slip at Lochinver next to the breakwater and pontoons - here: Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

Usable at all states of the tide and power washed by the harbour staff when I was there.

The £26 for 15 days I paid for use of the pontoon and slip here (plus showers etc) and all other such Highland Council facilities was great value, and opened up very useful dialogue with the Harbour Master.

[Copinsay]

Slipway at Old Dornie, near Achiltibuie: here Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

Great for access to the Summer Isles - quite spot and people you do meet are keen interested boaters. Good amount of space for parking if you carry on towards the pier.

Concrete slip runs out at around half tide, but firm stones below it were no problem for launching and recovery by the Shogun. Need around 1 metre of tide to get in and our due to adjacent shallows.

[Copinsay]

Recently repaired slip at Scourie - here: Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

I didn't use this but it's much improved by community. Steep angle and signs of some trailers catching the lip at the start of the ramp.

[Copinsay]

Piers and slips at Lower Badcall here - Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

As commented elsewhere on Ribnet, the road down to this appears private due to the fish farm sign, but there is a public car park down there and reportedly this is a public slip. I didn't use this so can't confirm this.

The various sloping piers and slipways look to give options for all states of the tide, though the best slip looked to have a loadall parked across it both times I went past.

[Copinsay]

More useful image at a 1 metre tide

[Copinsay]

Slip and adjacent ramp at Ullapool at low tide - here: Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

Very handy for adjacent petrol station

[Copinsay]

And just a few other shots to tempt you, taken from the days out starting from these slips - I hope you have as good a time - Enjoy!

Others feel free to comment to add to this info

Steve

[Copinsay]

And a couple from the Summer Isles

And that's it :o)

[beerbelly]

you have got me looking forward to our camping trip at clachtol beach in august but having a sib ill be launching off the beach

[Boatnomad]

Great,you where blessed with the weather (hit it just perfect) gone to pot now.
P1050987.jpg looks amazing,where is it?

[Copinsay]

Originally Posted by Boatnomad

Great,you where blessed with the weather (hit it just perfect) gone to pot now.
P1050987.jpg looks amazing,where is it?

Hi Boatnomad pic 987 taken on Oldany Island - nice bit of pilotage to get in there (can actually walk it at low tide but that's not the point :o) )

Just here:

Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

I came in from the south which is very sheltered and clearer of rocks, but an approach from the north (pic 984) to the other side of the isthumus looked possible too if not much swell and good visibility. Launched from Kylesku

Some more pics to tempt you - was actually the worst day in some ways - big thunderstorm mid afternoon, but soon went away - you can see it on the hills.

Well worth the trip

Cheers

Steve

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Copinsay

Hi Boatnomad pic 987 taken on Oldany Island - nice bit of pilotage to get in there (can actually walk it at low tide but that's not the point :o) )

Just here:

Streetmap.co.uk - Search results

I came in from the south which is very sheltered and clearer of rocks, but an approach from the north (pic 984) to the other side of the isthumus looked possible too if not much swell and good visibility. Launched from Kylesku

Some more pics to tempt you - was actually the worst day in some ways - big thunderstorm mid afternoon, but soon went away - you can see it on the hills.

Well worth the trip

Cheers

Steve

Steve you have got nice up there mate, cracking pics and I even like your house

[Copinsay]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

you have got me looking forward to our camping trip at clachtol beach in august but having a sib ill be launching off the beach

Hope you have as good weather, if not better Beerbelly

Loch Roe would be good for you (esp if you like seals) if you've not done it before... from seeing it at low tide can probably get into the upper pool OK beyond the little bridge), but I wasn't sure about any rocks / ledge under the bridge when I was there at mid tide - enjoy!

Steve

[Copinsay]

Originally Posted by kerny

Steve you have got nice up there mate, cracking pics and I even like your house

LOL - amazingly that house had a landline going to it... hope I've not stuffed someone's tranquility - be nice people :o)

This is my place - note the absence of big hills or big trees... and my little willows... Copinsay (island) in the background, re my user name. While Jess the dog likes the Rib, I've not tried Hamish the horse yet :o)

Orkney is a great place to live, but for scenery the West Coast is hard to beat... (and indeed for midges too!)

Have a good bank holiday

Steve

[Barrowboy]

Great info Steve and very good of you to collect and share. Thank you.

[Brian]

Yes, very, very good info Steve.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful area.

[Copinsay]

Originally Posted by Brian

Yes, very, very good info Steve.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful area.

Thanks for the comments and happy to help - had so much help from folk on here that it's the least I could do.

Have a good day :o0

Steve

[Boatnomad]

Oldany Great looking place with the N/S beach's and quite a bit of shelter,even a tree!.
Vikings always favoured those N/S spots,for good reason.