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Old 10 June 2021, 21:44   #1
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Fingals cave

Hi All,

Next week I am hoping to get out to Staffa from Oban, given the the weather plays ball, can anyone give any advice, firstly which way round Mull is best?
With have our 6 m with its 225 yam
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Old 11 June 2021, 00:34   #2
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Finagles Cave on Staffa is a great destination and well worth the trip...and with a RIG like you have... incorporating it with a round Mull trip is perfectly feasable
The whole Coastline of Mull is pretty special with MANY features of natural beauty and interest.....and great wildlife opportunities...we've encountered Whale both Minkie and Pilot ...Basking Sharks...Sea Eagles ...and both Common and Bottlenose Dolphins..along with many species of Sea Birds Seals ect
The Wildernss Coast on the Ross of Mull ..Huge Sea cliffs and Arches....Waterfalls...Sandy Bays and Gems like "Balfours Bay" and "Tinkers Hole" ...amongst Many others that would take MANY trips to fully explore and appreciate!
I'd recommend looking through "The Gurnards" great videos of his numerous trips to the area for much more detail and insight of what the Island has to offer!...he's the real expert!

We've done round Mull a few times now and usually go from Oban in a counter clockwise direction up the Sound of Mull passing Tobermory where often we top up with Fuel ....which is within easy walking distance of the Pontoons...and there are generally trolleys to help,so take cans.It can be done in a longish day....and depending obviously on course is around 120nm if memory serves with a run to Staffa.
On occasion it's possible to get into the Cave itself or very close but the tide times and weather have to be right on!....The entrance and close approach at other times (in any kind of swell) is difficult and fraught with reefs and submerged rocks and care should be taken...but you can generally get close enough for a good look.
Just a few pointers to a great place to which I'm sure others will add thier advice and preferences...We just got back and it's a truly wonderful Cruiseing area with generally somewhere to go in most prevailing weather conditions.
Which as you know already is the main Criteria ....and has final say on any plans!
An early start helps but you have loads of daylight at this time of year and it's not a race.
Hope this helps...Good luck and post some pics!
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Old 11 June 2021, 08:41   #3
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As Maximus has already mentioned, you are very possibly big enough to go round Mull in reasonable conditions and not worry about the direction you take.

I have to be more scientific when I do it as Im generally in a 4m inflatable and have to avoid wind against tide situations at all costs on Treshnish Point and Calaich Point. There is also a good going race running between Gometra and the Treshnish islands. These places are the crux of the route. The rest of the round is of little worry. I go whichever direction will be easiest on the boat at these places.

For info ..get your weather reports for either Iona or Fionnphort as it is mostly very different from Oban. The west of Mull is an exposed windy coastline.

Example from XC weather Fionnphort on left ..Oban on Right for Tue and Wed next week



Going by that forecast I would prefer the strong winds blowing on my tail rather than fight into them so would go clockwise. I would still be fighting into the waves going from Oban to Ross of mull..but that is generally not as bad as going from Ross of Mull to Callaich Point. Its then sheltered along the north of Mull and down the Sound of Mull when I could be tiring after a long day.

Just as important as the wind strengths are the tide times at the crux points. Generally I only consider Treshnish Point and Calaich point falls into place. You can get its times from Willyweather as attached below.

Link ... Isle of Mull - Treshnish Point Tide Times, Argyll and Bute - WillyWeather



This tells me that between an hour after 9.22am on Tuesday and an hour before 3.43pm the tide is in ebb flow so will be flowing round the crux points wind against tide. So even in your big boat.. I suspect you would have a bouncy time if conditions are similar when you do it.

Personally in Tuesday winds I would time it for slack water around 3.45pm if in a big boat..and wouldn’t go near it in my inflatable in those conditions.

I hope that all makes sense and helps some..its your choice if you want to muscle your way round ..or use scientific data and have as easy a round as possible.

Here is a video from my latest round which was only two weeks ago..so you can see the sights and what to expect.. I enjoyed very little wind at the Crux points that day.

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Old 11 June 2021, 10:22   #4
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Hi All,



Next week I am hoping to get out to Staffa from Oban, given the the weather plays ball, can anyone give any advice, firstly which way round Mull is best?

With have our 6 m with its 225 yam


I’ve been around Mull/Iona/Fingals cave/StKilda in a 545 Ribcraft with 4pax on-board. You’ll be fine. Pick your weather & be sensible.
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Old 11 June 2021, 15:28   #5
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I’ve been around Mull/Iona/Fingals cave/StKilda in a 545 Ribcraft with 4pax on-board. You’ll be fine. Pick your weather & be sensible.
Remember that trip well PD
I hope Guy and Martine are well!
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Old 11 June 2021, 15:42   #6
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Remember that trip well PD
I hope Guy and Martine are well!


They are thanks, going a bit stir crazy as they still have a nighttime curfew. Hoping to get across this autumn but I’m not holding my breath.
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Old 11 June 2021, 19:51   #7
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Lots of good feedback, all saying similar - You'll be fine in a 6m RIB.

We've done it in a couple of times in a 6.1m Zeppelin, and did it clockwise both times. For us, the shelter of the sound was preferred during the 2nd part of the day. We were setting off from and returning to Luing.

We had plenty of fenders with us, so were able to tease the boat into the cave backwards - there was just enough space, and going in stern first was definitely easier to control. Just had to let the kayaks go first.

If you can't get it, I remember there being a quayside on the east of the island - moor there and walk back.
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Old 11 June 2021, 20:03   #8
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Lots of replies, all saying similar - You'll be fine in a 6m RIB (subject to sensible weather).

We've done it a couple of times in a 6.1m Zeppelin. Each time was clockwise. That way, we had the relative calm of the Sound on the return trip. We were setting out from/ returning to Luing.

Be careful around the southern tip of Mull - lots of rocks just below the surface. We found it best to stay out wide and almost double-back to the Sound of Iona. Stick to your charts!

We also had plenty of fenders with us - 3x on each side and we were able to tease the RIB in stern-first. Definitely much easier to control stern-first. And let any kayakers go first.

If, for some reason, you can't get in I remember there being a quayside you could moor against on the east side of the island. Definitely worth walking back!
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Old 11 June 2021, 20:06   #9
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Newbie to posting - don't ask me why I managed to post similar twice. I think it being indented got me
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Old 11 June 2021, 20:15   #10
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If you can't get it, I remember there being a quayside on the east of the island - moor there and walk back.
IIRC the quay is fairly tight for space and tricky approach. The tour charter/s use it and it's chockers. A random RIB might not be the most welcome?

Happy to be corrected!
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Old 11 June 2021, 20:16   #11
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Newbie to posting - don't ask me why I managed to post similar twice. I think it being indented got me
Maybe the Echo in the cave hitched a lift?
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Old 12 June 2021, 06:35   #12
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Happy to be corrected!
I think you might be right, but I wondered whether the tours were running just now? Or how often they run - could a RIB get in/ out again between tours?
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Old 12 June 2021, 14:50   #13
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IIRC the quay is fairly tight for space and tricky approach. The tour charter/s use it and it's chockers. A random RIB might not be the most welcome?

Happy to be corrected!
You'll SOON find out how "welcome" you are!
Last time a just motored PAST ...I'm pretty sure it was "The Scurge-'N' Herself!!
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Old 12 June 2021, 18:08   #14
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I think you might be right, but I wondered whether the tours were running just now? Or how often they run - could a RIB get in/ out again between tours?


Tours are running now, there’s at least two boats doing morning and afternoon trips.
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Old 12 June 2021, 21:05   #15
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They are thanks, going a bit stir crazy as they still have a nighttime curfew. Hoping to get across this autumn but I’m not holding my breath.
But you need 2 Discovery’s to launch
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Old 13 June 2021, 08:24   #16
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But you need 2 Discovery’s to launch
Hope that means you're going by Sea Boyz

Looking at a Jersey run a bit later....72p a liter (in the Marina!) would be a NICE change!
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Old 13 June 2021, 08:29   #17
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Hope that means you're going by Sea Boyz

Looking at a Jersey run a bit later....72p a liter (in the Marina!) would be a NICE change!
I still have worries about that launch
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Old 13 June 2021, 08:40   #18
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i still have worries about that launch


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Old 13 June 2021, 09:15   #19
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What could possibly have gone wrong [emoji6]?
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Old 13 June 2021, 13:46   #20
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Oh!
Was that a Launch!??

....Bit more Tide ("Briney") would help nxt time Chaps
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