Leg 5/2027
3 – 10 June Oban/Scotland – Outer Hebrides, rounding Cape Wrath – Kirkwall/Orkney, 300 nm
Since the Caledonian Canal was finished in 1822 in order to avoid Cape Wrath, there was really no necessity to round Scotland’s northernmost tip. Most boats still today take the pleasant alternative: the Caledonian Canal through the Highlands, and so does Regina Laska on her Leg 10-2027 back to Galicia.
Not so in June and Leg 5-2027, however! Here, we plan to take the hard way around Cape Wrath from West going north of Scotland to Orkney. But first, we would be enjoying the pleasant Hebrides starting in Oban.
It’s easy to get to Oban by taking the train from Glasgow and from here we will sail to stunning places such as Tobermory and the Isle if Skye.
The vast and breath-taking nature, its friendly people and Celtic history mixed with whisky goes beyond what can be described in a few words on this page. It just needs to be experienced, preferably from the deck of a comfortable sailing boat.
From Oban we sail to Tobermory on the island of Mull, which is maybe not as famous for its small, yet friendly, distillery, but is definitely one of the most pleasant villages (with some very nice restaurants and pubs) in the area. A visit to the voted best fish restaurant in UK is a must (Café Fish).
After Tobermory, we set sails for wherever the wind takes us and what the crew jointly requests. There are so many great places to visit in Scotland, keeping a sharp eye on the weather.
If weather is really settled, we could dare to spend a night at Loch Scavaig.
Next, we could pass the islands of Eigg, Rhum and Canna. Canna has only one visible house – and you bet it’s a pub!
Thereafter, we could to sneak into Loch Harport in the search of the Talisker distillery, if requested.
Rain over land in Scotland
After the rain in Scotland.
If time, weather and the desire requests, we can sail to the Outer Hebrides on our way north.
Castle Bay on Barra, Outer Hebrides
Looking out over Castle Bay on Barra, Outer Hebrides, from one of the local pubs.
And from here, whenever weather and tides allow, we would round Cape Wrath which is the northwestern corner of mainland Scotland and sail to Orkney!
Orkney is true viking country, with a huge history from the wars (Scapa Flow!).
Pre-historic Orkney
The radio museum, Kirkwall, Orkney
From more recent date (1798) is the Highland Park distillery, for many a must when calling into Kirkwall.
A bottle of Highland Park on the pricy side. But then again, the year it was born must have been extraordinary… :-)
Highland Park is one of the very few (I believe there is only one more) still malting by hand by themselves.
Peat fire burning at Highland Park. How many distilleries still do this? I know of only one more in the entire world.
The four distills at Highland Park. “Probably the best spirit in the world” as they claim. There might be one or two others, who could claim the same. One of my favourites for pre-dinner enjoyment is Scapa, just a few kilometres from Highland Park away.
Price: EUR 2.720 per person including all food consumed onboard, harbour fees, diesel etc plus visits to pubs and distilleries