Over the Top

Our second departure from Scrabster was rather grey and overcast, but there was wind, it was going our way, and the engine and all electrics seemed to be in good working order.

The wind gradually built to 17kts and took 12 hours to travel the 75 miles to Kinlochbervie - the coastline is very craggy and reminescent of the alps.  Castles have been replaced by rock stacks

Not quite the Old Man of Hoy, but certainly a relation!

Naturally the wind increased to a good 20 kts as we turned towards Kinlochbervie.  The harbour entrance was incredibly difficult to see - the charts were closely studied to make sure we were actually where we thought we were!

We passed a fish farm being towed by two boats - apparently this is one of the few places in the area where the ground is flat enough to land a fish farm for routine maintainence.

Kinlochbervie is a tiny place, one pontoon for yachts, but very well appointed.  There is a single shower in the fish market building, electricity and water on the pontoon, a resident seal and even free WiFi.  In its heyday it was clearly a very busy fishing port and is still used by a few large fishing boats who catch in waters to the far North.  They clearly catch a lot, if the amount of fish boxes is anything to go by!

The lochs are used for Mussel Farming - this involves significant numbers of long floating lines, with the Mussels growing on weighted lines dangling below.  A whole new hazard for us to look out for.

The loch and the Marina seen from above.  The two large offshore fishing boats are unloading their catch.

The single pontoon. 

Just in case the accent wasn't enough to cause confusion to some, there is a whole new language to learn here!