Round Arran, and on to the Mull of Kintyre

After our visitors left we spent another day in Largs - there was a mysterious Pencil Monument on the sea front that commemorated that well known Battle of Largs on 2nd October 1263 between Norway and Scotland.  Apparently the result was inconclusive!

The OK Dinghy World Championships were being held at Largs, this is clearly a well supported event and there were loads of OK's making their way to the far side of Cumbrae, naturally dodging a Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry on their way!

The next day the sun came out again and it was time to leave.  We has so far only seen the Isle of Arran under a cloud, so it was time to give it another chance - this time we were going to overnight on a mooring in Loch Ranza on Arran.

Past the Cumbrae Islands - by now there was no wind, Motor Sailing was the only option so we capitulated and headed for Arran under engine.

A typical small fishing boat, surrounded by gulls, off the Cumbrae Islands.

There was an up-side to the motoring, and we saw dozens of porpoises  in the Firth of Clyde as we headed for Arran.  We did also see a basking shark, but it was too far away for a decent photo.

We reached Loch Ranza mid afternoon in plenty of  time to break out the dinghy and go ashore - we had heard that there was a Whisky Distillery there, so a visit was required:

Loch Ranza (Etoile 2nd moored boat from left)

The Isle of Arran exceeded our expectations: 

Deer are used to mow the golf course - players have to work round them!

Sheep to mow the Football Pitches - no footballers in sight today, maybe waiting for the sheep to move on first?

Arran Distillery, complete with excellent visitor's centre and set in rather spectacular surroundings.

As we have come to expect, Loch Ranza has a castle

Not sure if this boat is waiting for the next high tide, or this is just the low cost boat park but it didn't look the most convenient place to store a yacht, even a small one!

Another Scottish Sunset, seen from Loch Ranza

On night on a swinging mooring was enough for us, we set off the next morning in search of a pontoon and shower block - having missed out the Mull of Kintyre by going through the Crinan Canal we headed south for Campbeltown. 

The 30 nm trip took about 5 hours, with about 5 changes of wind direction.  A broad reach: spinnaker up, changed to a beat, spinnaker down - repeat, several times!

We came along side the single pontoon - another lovely setting.

Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre

The usual fishing fleet alongside the harbour wall.

And a rather more unusual yacht 

Campbeltown Harbour is almost land locked, the entrance guarded by the Island of Davaar which can be walked to along a tiday causeway - the island is small enough to walk round and we were told there was a cave painting to see, so off we went.

 Zilla leads the way to Davaar Island



Davaar Island on left, Ailsa Craig Island in distance, a volcanic plug that rises 337 metres out of the sea and stands  in isolation at the southern end of the Firth of Clyde

The tide mark along the causeway was literally covered in jellyfish - apparently they have no predators or scavengers so dead ones just get washed up on the pebbles.

The walk round the island was brilliant -

We found the Cave Painting - The Crucifixion - painted in secret in 1887 by Archibald McKinnon, a local art teacher.  The story goes that he had a dream that told him where to paint, and in order to reach it he had  to lash a paintbrush to his walking stick to do the work. The painting has been maintained by subsequent art teachers from the local school.

We continued round the island, and saw the little animal below - a mink.  Cute, but not desirable!

Davaar Lighthouse

The following day we set off for Troon, passing Davaar Island for the last time.



We had very mixed sailing conditions - initially 15 kts behind us, which suddenly stopped as we left the land behind.  We struggled to find wind for a few hours, then just as we got near Troon the wind picked up and we finally had decent sailing conditions - we decided to go on past Troon and head back to Ardrossan, where we had met Geoff and Mark, a further 8 nm along the coast. 

Next Stop:  Inverkip - to meet Mike and Taryn