Scotland lies in the track of Atlantic weather systems that do not respect the seasons. The good news is that they generally go through quickly and as the damp and windy air departs, crystal clear mountains, sea and sky take your breath away as high pressure becomes established. There is an opinion that May and June are the better months with wonderful long days and short nights. The meteorological statistics suggest that July and August are the wetter months with occasional gales, and they can be real howlers. There are noticeably fewer yachts around in September so there is less pressure on anchorages but then the more disturbed autumn weather is approaching.
In planning a cruise in these waters I make a rough decision about my preferences with plenty of wriggle room built in. This approach breaks the west coast of Scotland into several distinct areas. For a time-limited cruise, what could be better than concentrating on Mull and its off-lying islands with Tobermory as a goal along with Loch Sunart and Salen at its head? With more time on hand, a circumnavigation of Skye might beckon and the west mainland coast has unbelievable delights such as Torridon and Loch Gairloch.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Yachting Monthly.
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This story is from the September 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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