dinghy sailing
day journeys & overnight camps by open sailing dinghy
From spring and summer months into early autumn we run sailing day journeys or overnight journeys for those who wish to venture into more challenging coastal fringes by perhaps staying out overnight. These are undertaken by open sailing dinghy in our 16' Devon Yawls. Most of these tours below can also be undertaken by sea kayak or open canoe or even by doing a reciprocal with mountain bikes, sea kayak or open canoe.
Previous Experience | Some level of personal skills and previous experience is preferred but not absolutely essential on one day tours for clients to really enjoy their day tour. These are ideal opportunities to get away on the water with family or friends. However for longer overnight journeys it is essential that all clients have several days' previous sailing experience.
Minimum Ages | We suggest that a minimum age of 8 yrs is suitable for family orientated sailing day tours. We do not take unaccompanied youngsters with us on these sailing day tours below the age of 12 yrs. We do have plenty of other options for unaccompanied young people under the age of 12 years on our other paddlesports activity days. We are comfortable to take unaccompanied young folk of 16years plus on the overnight sail – camp journeys.
Below are just some samples of thoroughly enjoyable days out on the water, sea and hills. At all times you are accompanied by trained guides who interpret the wild life around you and ensure your comfort.
open sailing dinghy, day tours & day journeys
These local open boat sailing day tours are ideal for families or groups of friends who do not necessarily have a high level of technical skills but who really do want to get out there on the water. It is also possible to take one of these journeys for a half day starting at 09.15am or 13.30pm. It is preferable that you do all have at least some previous sailing instruction and experience to get the most out of these journeys. If you do not have this previous knowledge and skills then try one of our dinghy sailing instruction courses. You do not need to be an expert – just be familiar with the basics. Experience a unique sheltered coastal fringe sailing experience with spectacular west coast highland scenery on a short, guided adventure. You will be sailing in one of our fleet of 16' Devon Yawls which can take a group of 4 persons plus instructor comfortably.
Loch Linnhe down to Inverscaddle Bay | only minutes from our doorstep it is possible to sail in one of our open sailing boats down Loch Linnhe, a fairly sheltered marine coastal inlet - one of Scotland's longest inlets from the open sea with sea level views of Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains –Your mid day destination will be on the shoreline or a small, uninhabited island with great views of the inlet and mountains – or you may have lunch "under sail". The small islands just off the end of the Caledonian Canal – literally a (long) stone's throw from our doorstep - are excellent easy sailing for beginners. Refresh yourself with your lunch – maybe down at Inverscaddle Bay – site of Gregory's Rock.
Visually marine lochs such as Loch Linnhe resemble the beauty and calm of freshwater mountain lakes. However, they are connected (eventually!) to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea and contain a similar diversity of marine life. The rocky shores are covered with barnacles, mussels, anemones, sea stars and crabs, as well as various types of seaweed. The most common sea mammal here is the grey seal that happily laze on small tidal islands in the loch sunning themselves. Their heads often pop up above the water and their curious large eyes follow your every movement. Although not common, we can often see dolphins in the loch along with very occasional minke whales and rare orcas. At low tidal drops, the shores attract a water birds and eagles at different times of the year. During the winter months the area is home to migrating ducks, geese, grebes, and other diving birds.
Corran Narrows | On a full day sail by open sailing boat it is possible to sail cross the water from Fort William to Ardgour and then head out south west through the tidal Corran Narrows where it opens up into the wide expanse of Lower Loch Linnhe and the Argyll mountains beyond. This will depend on the tidal flow and prevailing wind direction at the time.
Loch Eil | Or head over to Ardgour and head north and west through the narrow tidal surge at Annat Narrows – if the tide is right! - into Loch Eil and the mountains beyond.
Glen Coe and Loch Leven | If the tides are just right, starting just south of Fort William is an ideal beginner's day sail into the mouth of Loch Leven. Here the mountains of Glencoe crowd in steeply from both sides – especially if the tide and wind are at your back! The sheltered bays and outcrops offer an outstanding coastline with views to crags and ridges of Glencoe and the Mamores.
open sailing dinghy, open sailing overnight camps & expeditions
Ratio | 1:4
3 – 6 days
Previous experience required | Paddlers should have already taken part in several full days of sailing instruction and be reasonably fit. For the "easier" shorter journeys it is preferred that at least 2 day's previous sailing have been undertaken. The longer expeditions should be underpinned by 3-4 days previous sailing activity. Participants should be able to put into practice at least the skills level of the proficiency skills for the training elements of the RYA National Sailing Seamanship Skills Certificate and for longer journeys the training element of RYA Day Sailing Certificate. This is an ideal opportunity for those who wish to take part in "journeying" by open sailing boats.
Weather & Tides. Any sailing on tidal waters will depend to a large part on the prevailing wind direction and strength and state of the tides on any given day. Therefore we have included a number of shorter (3 day over night sailing camps which we can offer as alternatives on various dates.
Minimum Age | 16 years unaccompanied (or 14 years as part of a specific youth or school paddling group or family group on the advice of Snowgoose Mountain Centre).
Marine lochs such as Loch Linnhe resemble the beauty and calm of freshwater mountain lakes. However, they are connected (eventually!) to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea and contain a similar diversity of marine life. The rocky shores are covered with barnacles, mussels, anemones, sea stars and crabs, as well as various types of seaweed. The most common sea mammal here is the grey seal that happily laze on small tidal islands in the loch sunning them selves. Their heads often pop up above the water and their curious large eyes follow your every movement. Although not common, we can often see dolphins in the loch along with very occasional minke whales and rare orcas. At low tidal drops, the shores attract a water birds and eagles at different times of the year. At varying times of the year the area is home to migrating ducks, geese, grebes, and other diving birds.
Glen Coe, Kentallen & Cuil Bay & Balnagowan Island
Ratio |- 1:4 (There may well be more than one sailing boat taking part)
3 days
If the tides and wind are right, we start by sailing south past Fort William – through Corran Narrows into the mouth of Loch Leven with the mountains of Glencoe coming into view from both sides. If the tides are right we may go into Loch Leven where we may visit Bishop's Bay with a short stop further south perhaps at the beautiful Kentallen Bay. A brisk sail from south of Ballachullish brings us towards the sheltered anchorages at Balnagowan Island and Cuil Bay. Port Appin is sail based around Castle Stalker and the island of Eriskay at the mouth of Loch Creran.
Lower Loch Linnhe – Ardour, Inversanda & Loch a Choire
Ratio | 1:4 (There may well be more than one sailing boat taking part)
3 days The more inaccessible northern coastal fringes of Lower Loch Linnhe offer magical opportunities to really get off the beaten track – sailing wise! If the conditions are just right there maybe the possibility of spending a second overnight stop in Loch a Choire to dive for mussels. The major quarry at Glensanda is a major land mark on this stretch of the Loch. On a three day trip of this nature the aim would be to reach at least as far south as Glen Tarbert and Inversanda Bay.
Sail Loch Linnhe to Lismore & Shuna Island
Ratio | 1:4 (There may well be more than one sailing boat taking part)
4 days
From our doorstep it is possible to sail in one of our open boats down Loch Linnhe, along one of Scotland's longest inlets from the open sea with superb mountain views from sea level. There may be a refreshment or overnight stop at Inverscaddle Bay – site of Gregory's Rock. The Ardgour Inn is a short walk away. Then – depending on the tides – through the narrow tidal surge at Corran Narrows with an overnight stop off Coire Gour south of Corran. Beyond Corran Narrows Loch Linnhe opens up into the wide expanse of Lower Loch Linnhe and the wild Argyll mountains beyond. There is then a sail onwards to explore the historic islands of Lismore and Shuna Port Appin offers a sail base (and excellent eating opportunities!) to explore around Castle Stalker and the island of Eriskay at the mouth of Loch Creran.
Wild Rover Expeditions
Open Boat Sailing and Paddling Combined Journeys
Ratio | 1:4 (There may well be more than one sailing boat taking part)
6 days
Minimum Age | 18years
We have introduced the option for more experience open boat sailors to take part in our new reciprocal paddling and open boat sailing initiative. We will have 2 groups operating at the same time – an open canoe or sea kayak group leaving for Strontian on Loch Sunnart. They will paddle along Loch Sunnart – wild camping along the way round into the Sound of Mull and thence to Loch Aline. The other group will sail from Fort William down Loch Linnhe through to the Sound of Mull and into Loch Aline. Here they will meet the Paddling group and meet up to re-group, re-supply, and maybe chill out for a few hours!
The groups will then bid farewell and change their mode of transport from paddle to sail boat – or visa versa both to arrive back at Corpach at roughly the same time. The group paddling back to Strontian will be picked up by our transport from there. The sailing group will sail back to Corpach. This is an exciting and demanding expedition which opens up all sorts of possibilities for the future. It is not for the faint hearted – but will be accompanied by a safety boat at all times. To all intents and purposes the groups will be completely self propelled and self supporting.
