SV Sancerre: Stopping Places: Ardnamurchan Point to Sky Bridge.

Be sure to check out Reeds and / or the appropriate pilots (Clyde Cruise Club sailing directions) for more detailed information and some alternates, this is just an overview of ones I have been to.

For anchorages in this area the Antares Charts covering almost 600 anchorages are invaluable and for some indispensable. At £15 they don't break the bank and as well as the chart you get a very good summary of each anchorage or passage, most if not all of the anchorages below are covered.

Sequenced approximately south to north. Links open in a new window and most point to the trip towards the anchorage, the following post may have more information.

To see my recent visits to each anchorage check out the "Labels" towards the bottom of the right hand panel or flow the individual links.

Updated Sept 23 to include Harbours and Marinas also some info on fuel & gas availability.

Anchorages = red, Marinas = Blue
Updated to 18th April 2025.

Contents (in order presented):

Sanna Bay, Ardnamuchan.
South Bay, Eigg, The Small Ilses.
Armadale Bay, Sound of Sleat.
Camas Criose, Sound of Sleat.
Loch Na Dal, Sound of Sleat.
Sandaig Bay, Loch Hourn.
Bag Dunan Ruadh S Kyle Rhea
Sgeir na Caillich N Kyle Rhea
Balmacara Bay, Loch Alsh.
Kyle of Lochalsh.
Canna, The Small Ilses.
Loch Screcourt, Rum.
Loch Nacuillem Skye.

Sanna Bay, Ardnamuchan.

A very nice anchorage with good shelter except from the West to North, easy access if you have GPS, preferably with the Antares chart. Without, a bit more care is required to avoid the largely submerged reef, the exposed part is visible in the picture above. O2 and Vodafone OK.

Visited in 2022 and 2025.

Looking north from Sanna Bay, The Isles of Muck, Eigg and
Rum in the distance.

South Bay, Eigg, The Small Ilses.

Good anchorage in suitable conditions but exposed to the south. Useful to split the trip between Tobermory and the Kyle Rhea and local anchorages, potentially saving a nights berthing in Tobermory, for instance coming south you would probably arrive in the evening and have to pay for the night, alternatively anchor here then go to Tobermory arriving late morning and you get that afternoon and the next day till 15:00 for the price of one night. Vodafone and O2 OK.

Visited in 2024

Armadale Bay, Sound of Sleat.

In the right weather a very pleasant spot but the anchorage is deep and there is lot of weed.

Visited in 2022

Camas Criose, Sound of Sleat.

A good anchorage with offshore winds but completely exposed to winds from the east. There is plenty of room but it is much smaller than it appears at HW being ringed with drying rocks, the Antares chart will reduce stress levels. Less than 7 miles from the Kyle Rhea. Overnighted there in 2024 before heading north the next day.

Loch Na Dal, Sound of Sleat.

Looking out from the Loch Na Dal anchorage.

Another useful passage anchorage before or after going through Kyle Rhea especially in a NE wind when the nearby anchorage at Ornsay may not be tenable. Avoid the SW half which has extensive kelp. There are a couple of large mooring buoys for the local restaurant / hotel.

Visited 2021

Sandaig Bay, Loch Hourn

Not to be confused with another Sandaig bay further south. The real life setting for “Ring of Bright Water” a very good anchorage in northerly winds or with no swell coming up the Sound and room for a number of yachts. Vodafone and O2 OK.

In “Position A”, taken 2 hours after anchoring in

25 knots of wind.

Visited in 2024.

Bag Dunan Ruadh

A useful but small and rather exposed anchorage to wait for the tide when going north, there is an anchorage on the east side that would be better in easterly winds. Probably not suitable for an overnight stay - I'm not sure about tidal streams there was minimal 1.5 hours before the tide turned north.

The anchorage at Bag Dunan Ruadh

Visited in 2025.

Sgeir na Caillich

Another useful anchorage for the Kyle Rhea, this at the northern end to wait for a fair tide through the Kyle or under Sky Bridge. Sheltered from the SW but could be too exposed with an on shore wind.

The norther entrance to the Kyle Rhea is just left of centre, the
anchorage is just to the right of the mark on the right.

Visited in 2022.

Balmacara Bay, Loch Alsh.

A useful anchorage sheltered in in northerly winds but exposed to the south although the fetch is not great you would end up close to a lea shore if you anchored in a sensible depth were the sea bed is essentially level. O2 and Vodafone OK

Position "A", considering the fresh westerly wind at the time
I was pleased with the anchor placement. The wind was due to
be northerly shortly and F6 or more next day.

Video of the anchorage hosted on Flikr as it is a bit over the 100 MB limit.

Click the controls to view here or the body of the image to view in Flikr.

Kyle of Lochalsh.

Pontoon, very exposed with limited space. Good for shopping and a shower but not for over night. May be closed in adverse weather (when you would not want to be there anyway).

More to follow

Canna, The Small Isles.

Looking towards Rum from the Canna anchorage / moorings.

Excellent shelter and a great view (in good weather!) but extensive weed so it is probably best to pick up a mooring if serious winds are likely as was the case when I Visited in 2022 when I measured a force 7 and it was probably more at times. No Vodafone or O2 signal.

Loch Screcourt, Rum.

Has a reputation for swell refracting right round the Island but I had a peaceful night, buoy's available (chargeable) but plenty of room to anchor. Vodafone and O2 signals OK.

The ferry terminal and some of the visitors buoys.

Visited 2023

Loch Nacuillem Skye.

Regarded as having the most spectacular view of any anchorage in Scotland but apart from a small area is weed infested and I gave up after failing to get the anchor to hold, the preferred anchorage looking to be full. See The link for my trip to Rum, here or below.