The West Coast of Scotland is the finest cruising area on the Atlantic coast of Europe. Two hundred miles in length from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to Cape Wrath in the north, it is sheltered from the full force of the ocean by the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides. The outer islands, from Lewis to Barra Head, form an almost continuous 110-mile breakwater. The inner islands - the principal ones Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura, Coll and Tiree - provide added shelter and an abundant choice of cruising routes, passages, channels and ports of call. Fjordlike sea lochs reach deep into the mainland mountains. The scenery is breathtaking and constantly varying. The choice of anchorages is unsurpassed, and recent years have seen rapid growth in marina and pontoon facilities. Leisure sailors come from all over Great Britain and beyond to visit, or to keep their boats in these waters and to sail here year after year, enchanted by this coast, its islands and its scenery. Yacht traffic is plentiful, but it’s never crowded. Restaurants and pubs are excellent, individual and characterful, and people are welcoming and helpful.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Yachting Monthly.
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This story is from the July 2020 edition of Yachting Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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