Kyle of Lochalsh to Harris

4th to 6th June
Kyle of LA –Rona-Gairloch-L. Rodel
(route http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/133216 )

There have been fantastic warm sunny days, albeit with mostly gentle north east winds. We can handle it!

Gently ghosting to the Hebrides

Peaceful in Acharseid Mhor, Rona

Cynny and Bill on Rona

'Misty' under the mist, Acarseid Mhor

From Kyle, we motorsailed most of the way via lunch stop in Loch Toscaig, to the anchorage, Acarseid Mhor (Gaelic ‘large anchorage’) on Rona. It is really a very little anchorage, but enough room for the two boats there.

Bill Cowie is the estate manager for the Danish lady owner of the Isle of Rona. He and Lorraine are the only two inhabitants. He kindly showed me the electricity generation system for the island (windmill + ageing Lister), and we bought half a dozen very free-range eggs. Then, sailed conformably to Gairloch, as I couldn’t face lots of tacking to go round the north of Skye.

Next morning was sunny – again. (Lots of pink flesh!) We enjoyed an easy reach and run 45 miles over to the Outer Hebrides, much of it ghosting over calm sea with cruising chute. Cynny quickly got the hang of ‘Misty’s’ quirks, and my indecisiveness; and we timed (by chance rather than plan) the journey to enter an enchanting deep little pool, Poll an Tighmhail, off L. Rodel, S. Harris, where you are fully enclosed at low tide. St Clements Church is nearby but bread and milk were a five-mile walk away!

St Clements Church and primroses

Another quiet spot entered via channel at bottom right (with more water)