Scottish anchorages

Scarba from the anchorage

There are two quite separate anchorages on Lunga and this is by far the most dramatic, and it is easy to get into and out of. It is an amazing bay, almost completely blocked off from the open sea by the great lump of Scarba. Anchored here gives one the feeling of being surrounded by rocky mountains which are green in the summer and purple with heather in the autumn, although nowhere is very high. Nonetheless, terrific for the Inner Hebrides.

The name is very apt - the bay of the giant. There is a stony beach which invites a barbeque although drift wood is hard to find, at low tide there is sand enough for sandcastles. Unfortunately there is far too much plastic litter thrown up here to the high water mark, and no one to cart it away. And just maybe there are otters in the steep burn that comes down to the bay.

It is not easy walking around Lunga but not impossible. There are no paths, and in the summer the bracken is very thick. It is of course possible to walk to the Little Corryvreckan (the Grey Dogs Channel) but this is easier from Pol nan Corran.

I am not sure if at low tide you can get across to the islands in the north - possibly not, and nor whether there is anything special to see and do if you can - probably not. By and large Lunga is a place for scenery and views of the other islands.

I have never found it, but there is a well at Tobar a Challuim-Chille (the well of St. Columba's church) north west of Bidean na h-Iolaire (the highest point) which was once used by the slate miners on Belnahua.

The island is owned by the Torquil Johnson-Ferguson family who run the Rubha Fiola adventure centre. Lunga is used for grazing animals and I don't think there are any permanent inhabitants notwithstanding the few houses at Poll nan Corran.