Mallaig - who stole the pontoons?

There were lots more Corbetts and Munro's to climb at Knoydart, but we needed a rest after all that walking so set off for Mallaig, approximately 10nm south.  Mallaig was once the largest Herring port in Europe, but now advertises new yacht facilities with pontoons for 45 boats, due to open in May 2011.  We also needed a washing machine, so it sounded like the perfect choice for our next destination.

We arrived and searched for a pontoon - the only sign of recent development was a large pile of boulders in the bay.  There were several new moorings available so we picked one up and considered our options.  Mallaig was still clearly a very busy fishing port,  and as it was a Sunday (no fishing) all the boats were in the harbour.  We did learn that the dredging of the new facility had been more complex / expensive than anticipated so works were suspended for now.  We also learnt that Mallaig has a Steam Train that was used in various Harry Potter films and apparently this is enough to draw thousands of Japanese tourists to the area.  We decided that it was not enough to get us to pump up a dinghy so Zilla was going to have to wait a little longer for her next walk.

A further 11nm down the coast we decided to rise to the challenge of finding Arisaig.  We wove our way along a 3 mile route between rocks, watching the depth and chartplotter VERY carefully.

Not too sure who this sign was intended for, but we took it to be a port channel marker.

Arisaig was beautiful - no pontoons, but definately worth pumping up the dinghy!

Another 360 degree sunset.

Followed by a pretty good sunrise.

Fortunately there was a new yacht facility on shore, complete with washing machine and showers.  Laundry done, we went on a walk to check out the rocks we had passed on the way in.

Eigg can be seen in the distance.  Fortunately the walk was fairly flat (not feeling like going up hill just yet) but we can only assume that the Highland and Island word for 'Path' is the same word as 'Bog'.  No sooner are you sure you have found the path, when it becomes a stream leading to a bog. 

We came across an Oyster Farm, we were already covered in mud by then, so a little more wasn't going to matter!

Very small oysters are put in the net bags, because they get regularly shaken around by the tide they don't get a chance to attach themselves to the bags and grow on peacefully for two or three years years before they are harvested.



We did put it back, I promise!

We now have clean clothes, but no water on the boat so it's time to find a pontoon. 

Next stop:  Tobermory, Isle of Mull