Scottish anchorages

West Mull

Slightly tricky entrance to this one, and not good if there is any swell or the wind is in the north. But it is the only anchorage convenient for a visit to Glengorm Castle.  If you can be bothered, and you should, there is a really nice 45 minute walk up to the castle. Land on the NE shore and walk NE for a few minutes until you hit the head of Laorin Bay with its small stone pier. A Land Rover track heads from here up the hill. It will take you all the way to the castle via on the left three standing stones which generations of landowners have kindly left alone for us to admire and ponder their use (two have been re-erected apparently). And if you want another little detour have a wander up to An Sean Dun which is on the hill just south of the wood through which the track goes, and for a Dun there is quite a bit of it left.

There is also - apparently - a bathing pool which is sluiced and filled by the sea. It is SW of the iron age fort - Dun Ara. Maybe get to it along the coast from Laorin Bay, as well as from the castle.

The castle is a marvellous Victorian pile high up overlooking the NW entrance to the Sound of Mull, clearly visible from the sea as a kind of exotic Rupert Bear sort of a place. But close up it is rather dull and stark, at least for my taste. However, the views from the rooms overlooking the Sound must be fantastic, and it does have a fabulous and huge walled market garden, supplemented with polytunnels – wonderful.

The estate is privately owned by the Nelson family who successfully run it as a farm, farm shop, cafe, art gallery, self catering, B&B and wedding venue. Rather impressive. The whole place has a really good feel to it, I think because the owners actually live full time in the castle. So if you want to get married there, or maybe stay in one of their upmarket rooms, have a look at their website and click on.

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