PICK UP POINTS AND JOINING ARRANGEMENTS IN SCOTLAND

• Rhu:  My main base on the Clyde, from which I will continue to operate for the single week cruises unless a charter is arranged with one of the companies working from Inverkip, Largs or possibly Troon. These are all accessible starting points, by road, rail or air, for a Scottish sailing holiday, particularly on the Firth of Clyde.. During the more extended cruises I intend to base myself at or near accessible road, rail or air terminals, either on the mainland or on the offshore islands, for several days at a time, to give prospective joiners and leavers a degree of flexibility in planning their movements. The cruise plans will remain moderately flexible until  I know people's travel intentions for each section of the cruises.  Other pickup and dropping off points are as follows:

• Oban or Dunstaffnage: These are also easily accessible by road and rail (Dunstaffnage being only a short taxi ride from Oban station. They also have the distinct advantage of being on the same rail route as Helensburgh (for Rhu). Oban is the ferry terminal (car or foot passengers) for Mull (ferry to Craignure, then car, bus or taxi to Tobermory, Bunessan, or Fionnphort for Iona), Coll, Tiree, Castlebay (Barra; also accessible by air from Glasgow), Lochboisdale (South Uist) and Colonsay (also accessible Wednesdays only by ferry from Kennacraig, on the Kintyre peninsula).

• Arisaig and Mallaig: Mallaig, being a busy commercial (ferry and fishing) harbour, has not hitherto been regarded as a good yachting harbour, and has therefore not been a direct pickup point. However, this has changed as it now has a small marina. Both Arisaig and Mallaig are accessible by road and rail (from Glasgow via Fort William), and Mallaig is the car or foot passenger ferry terminal for Armadale (Skye), and foot passenger ferry terminal for the Small Isles (Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna). There is also a once a week car/passenger ferry to/from Castlebay and Lochboisdale.

• Kyle of Loch Alsh, Kyle Akin, Plockton, Portree, Uig: Kyle of Loch Alsh is accessible by road or rail (via Inverness), and the remainder either by car direct, or by bus or taxi from Kyle of Loch Alsh (all, alternatively, by bus from Glasgow). Uig is the car/passenger ferry terminal for Loch Maddy (North Uist) and Tarbert (Harris) whence you can drive or bus to anywhere on Harris or Lewis, including Stornoway).

• Ullapool: This is a possible pickup point in itself, and the car/passenger ferry terminal for Stornoway (Lewis). It is accessible by road only. Stornoway can also be reached by air from Glasgow.

• The following are possible mainland pickup/dropping off points (PU) or are ferry terminals(F), but are only accessible by road (car or bus/taxi): East Loch Tarbert (Loch Fyne)(PU), Claonaig (F) (for car/passenger ferry to Loch Ranza),  Kennacraig (F) (for car/passenger ferry to Port Ellen or Port Askaig (Islay) and from the latter, a further ferry, followed by car/bus/taxi to Craighouse (Jura)). Tayinloan (F) (for car/passenger ferry to Ardminish Bay (Gigha)), Campbeltown (PU), Tayvallich (PU), Crinan (PU), Ardfern (PU), Craobh Haven (PU), Loch Melfort (PU).

• Both I, on a yacht on my mobile number when away, and Suzanne at home on our home number, are armed with  road, rail and ferry timetables and will be happy to discuss travel arrangements. I appreciate that, unless you are doing the whole cruise, getting to and from the yacht is going to be more difficult than when I was chartering from only the main embarkation points. However, it will be the only costly part of the whole experience, and as much of the travel in this part of the world, by road or by rail, is very scenic, it should be regarded as very much part of your holiday.

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