Date : End of June / early July 2003

Time and place : Summer cruise for Ann and myself, through the Western Isles of Scotland

Distance and time : 421 nautical miles over nine days. (Click here for Hebrides map)

Weather : One wet day, a few cloudy starts, otherwise wall to wall sunshine. Windy at times.

View from the top - Arrived early at Oban (for a change), which gave us a chance to visit McCaig's tower, a Roman Coliseum look alike, built as a job creation project in the thirties. The "Folly" has given the town a real landmark, and a fine viewpoint over the harbour.

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On board MV Chalice and a chance to meet the crew and fellow guests, before setting off for the island of Mull.

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Beautiful sunshine on the lighthouse of Lismore Island, and on the brightly painted houses of Tobermory, our first stop.

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MV Poplar Diver , the second boat of the Northern Light Charter . . . . .Nearly midnight, and still light enough to see.

The following day we skirted Ardnamurchan Point, even more westerly than Lands end, and across the sound past Eigg and Rum, finally making landfall at Canna. A damp day, here anchored off the pier, we ventured ashore to see the church and the village, and to search for puffins, and perhaps an ice cream ??

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The old church at Canna, set back behind the harbour.

A new wrought iron gate leads to a very old, barrel vaulted, but delightfully simple church building.

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Foredeck crew watching for whatever was about, later Annie and I just chatting, as we made our way through the islands.

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Kirsty, Mark, Malcolm and Chris . . Archie and Hilary . . Malcolm, Kirsty, Sally and John.

Disembarkation was via the the deck ladder and into the inflatable Zodiac. This allowed us ashore for a walk each day. Here on Taransay we anchored in the southern bay near the bothy, and walked across the island to Village Bay.

Taransay Island, famed as the home of the TV "Castaways" has reverted to holiday accommodation.

The original buildings and the farm's poly tunnels remain, but the temporary "pods" have gone.

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Village Beach, and the Cairn on the lesser summit of Ben Rhea which we climbed on the way back.

The looking glass centre was showing signs of wear due to exposure to the elements.

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Our fine crew, Alice and Jane (cooks) relaxing after dinner, as Mark (1st mate) and Chris (Skipper) here showing two of their many talents (washing and drying up).

The following day dawned fine, and we were St Kilda bound.

Here the Outer Hebrides disappear from view as we set out across open sea. A 'slight swell and a north easterly breeze' were the forecast for the day.

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Technical note: Pictures taken with a Cannon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

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