Sailing to Skye

[mm5aho]

I stopped at Erraid recently.

we anchored here


and explored here


and here - this is the Dubh Artach lookout


from where you can see this..


Here's where they laid out the lighthouse stones after shaping to trial fit them


From there we went to Tinkers Hole for our overnight anchorage.

[ubergeekian]

I stopped at Erraid recently...

There's a really good section on Erraid (as a walk from Fionnphort) in "Coast - The Walks", a book to go with the BBC series. The lookout tower has two windows, as it did Skerryvore as well as Dubh Artach.

OK, I confess, I'm not a wholly independent judge of that walk ... or of the Arran, Portpatrick, North Antrim, Achill or Dublin ones.

[DaveS]

Is that the observatory / lookout building's original roof? I visited it about 30 years ago and my memory is of a black, domed roof. Age and the drink undoubtedly affect memory, but my recollection seems quite clear (to me ). Sadly, I didn't take any photos at the time.

My chart's on board, but looking at the on-line C-map version courtesy of Shipfinder shows the building marked as "Cup" - maybe short for cupola? (I can't find it listed on the C-map Chart Legend pdf.) Another, maybe less reliable, bit of evidence is the fact that all of the Stevensons' light houses have domed roofs. Then again, the temporary barracks structures on the rock construction sites had conical roofs...

Am I just havering or can anyone confirm?

[DaveS]

Follow up: a bit of digging unearthed this comment on Geograph:

In 1996, a replica of the original observatory was reassembled on Erraid pier from numbered pieces. It was lifted into place by a helicopter, and aligned exactly as the original had been, with the observatory windows facing Dubh Artach and Skerryvore lighthouses.

This photo: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/139513 claims to show the old observatory in 1995, which might settle the point if it can actually be seen - I've not succeeded yet!

Then from a local history site, a bit more on the replacement:

The Observatory
The majority of this chapter is about the community on Erraid. Without the goodwill, support and suggestions of the Dutch owners, that community would not be there. The Dutch tend to stay in the background of day to day life on Erraid. But their commitment to the island is very strong. A major project undertaken by them illustrates this. They have rebuilt the old observatory for the lighthouses. They felt that the small, white-painted, cylindrical metal building perched on the hill was part of the place's charm and heritage.

"It's a piece of history that belongs to the island. We felt it was part of Erraid, an essential part to the Lighthouse community… It's a mark for ships as well. It's on many maps because it has … been there (so long)." (Hanke Van der Sluis)

The metal structure had not aged as well as the granite houses.

"It was rusting, about to be blown away. We looked into restoring it, and then decided to replace it."

In 1996, an accurate replica of the original lookout, built in a Dutch workshop at considerable expense, was reassembled on the Erraid pier from numbered pieces. It was lifted into place by a helicopter, and aligned exactly as the original had been, with the observatory windows facing Dubh Artach and Skerryvore. Community members supervised the installation.

[ubergeekian]

This photo: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/139513 claims to show the old observatory in 1995, which might settle the point if it can actually be seen - I've not succeeded yet!

When I was on Erraid doing research for the book three years ago, all I could find of the old observatory was the vent for the roof, which was lying near the cottages by the harbour. Here it is:

I found the Findhorn people there very friendly and helpful, but since they run as a quiet retreat it seems polite not to bother them too much.

[knightvision]

Well, had a great sail to Campbelltown and Port Ellen on Islay. From there to Gigha and then on Craighouse and Oban. A day off for crewe collection and then on to Tobermory and then a beautiful sail to Canna, good shelter. Then on to Loch Harport and amazingly a distillery.. good pub too. Then the weather arrived..

A fair run to Mallaig though an squawl in the mid of a thunder shower did make it somewhat more exciting than i intendend. A day to recover from the shock then a great night sail down to Tobermory. Boy that was REALLY REALLY DARK and little rain until the sun came up and then it got loads more weather..

I'm no in Tobermory and hiding from the WEATHER.. I hope it'll clear up wednesday and then I'll make a run for the Crinnan and back to Ardrossan.

It has definitely upped my view on limitations of sailing.. In fact perhaps I'll have to buy a new pair of underpants or three.. Though I'm really REALLY bored of the rain.

[Nick]

It has definitely upped my view on limitations of sailing.. In fact perhaps I'll have to buy a new pair of underpants or three.. Though I'm really REALLY bored of the rain.

The way this season has been it's probably best to sail commando . . .

- W