055:40.020 N
006:02.552 W

Ardmore Islands, Islay

The first photos below are from yesterday’s epic sail from Tiree to Jura, the light was just perfect and scenery spectacular (phone cameras doesn’t do it justice).

Today began again ridiculously early but we had to catch the tide down the Sound of Islay, a 12nm long gulley, about 2nm wide, between the islands of Jura and Islay; we are now anchored on southern Islay.

The wind was crazy in the Sound; zero to 25 knots in a tick, and once the tide kicked in 11.4 knots was spotted on the speedo; sailing here certainly keeps you on your toes but TC felt very comfortable.  We passed three Whisky distilleries along the way, and the Sound was all over within an hour. Once we were out into the wider channel, we found we were back to where we had been at the end of May; Gigha Island ahead with the Mull of Kintyre in the distance. What fun to think of all we’ve seen, learnt and done in these few weeks. 

This truly spectacular anchorage was recommended to Bol by another sailor; abundant wildlife is all around us, 20+ Seals who are either bobbing up and down, fishing, lying on the rocks, getting off the rocks, getting on the rocks, fighting with each other in the water, fighting with each other on the rocks, mums and pups swimming together, never a dull moment and thoroughly mesmerising to sit in the cockpit and just watch and listen.

There are a huge number of birds as well, Herons, Gulls, Fulmars, Oystercatchers, Gannets, and much to our delight, some Deer on the rocks, including a Stag.

A lovely walk ashore which after a bit of a climb gave us stunning views back into the anchorage. So three months since leaving the Island, the sun has just set on what is probably our last night in Scotland. The north and east winds are blowing this week so we are making the most of them.