West Scotland is one of the few places in Britain where a yacht gives you access that no land-based visitor has. Staffa and its basalt columns are only reachable by sea. The remoter sea lochs have no roads to them. The castles that appear from the water — Duart, Ardtornish, Dunstaffnage — were built for exactly this reason: to command the sea routes.
Staffa and Fingal's Cave
An uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides, formed of hexagonal basalt columns arranged by geology into something that looks almost deliberately constructed. Fingal's Cave — the sea cave that inspired Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture — runs 60 metres into the island's basalt face. You can land on Staffa and walk the cave entrance on a railed walkway in moderate conditions. In anything above Force 4 from the south-west, the swell makes landing impractical.
Most crews approach from Tobermory on Mull or from Iona, both roughly 8 miles away. The anchorage off Staffa is exposed but short-stay acceptable in light conditions. Plan to arrive early — NatureScot permits landing and the island can be busy with day trip boats by mid-morning in summer.
Duart Castle, Mull
The 13th-century seat of Clan MacLean sits on a headland at the southern entrance to the Sound of Mull, commanding views of Loch Linnhe, the Firth of Lorn, and Morvern. The castle is still occupied by the Chief of Clan MacLean and is open to visitors from May to October. Entry around £7. From the battlements, the full panorama of the surrounding waters — the same view the castle's occupants have used to control sea traffic for 700 years — is impressive.
Anchorage: Duart Bay directly below the castle offers reasonable holding in settled conditions. Land by dinghy at the small jetty. The bay is open to the south-east and uncomfortable in anything from that direction.
Tobermory, Mull
The most photographed harbour in Scotland — the painted houses along the waterfront have appeared on everything from whisky labels to children's television. The reality lives up to the picture. Tobermory is the main town on Mull, with a good chandlery, several excellent pubs and restaurants, a distillery (the Tobermory Distillery, open for tours year-round), and a small museum. It is also a genuine working harbour — fishing boats, RIBs, and the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry all share the anchorage.
Visitors' moorings are available in the bay; the harbour master (VHF 12) will direct you. The holding in the anchorage is good mud. The bay is well-sheltered except from the north.
Inveraray Castle, Loch Fyne
The seat of the Duke of Argyll and the ancestral home of Clan Campbell, built in the 18th century as a Gothic Revival castle on the north shore of Loch Fyne. The state rooms contain an extraordinary collection of arms — the armoury hall has 1,300 weapons arranged in patterns across the walls — alongside French tapestries, portraits, and furniture. Entry around £17; open May to October.
Sail up Loch Fyne to Inveraray town quay (free alongside for visitors, alongside the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar). The castle is a 20-minute walk from the quay along the lochside.
The Crinan Canal
Not a sight in the traditional sense, but the 9-mile canal from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne to Crinan on the Sound of Jura is one of the finest inland waterways in Britain — and one of the most practical pieces of sailing infrastructure in Scotland, saving the 130-mile passage around the Mull of Kintyre. The canal has 15 hand-operated locks; most yachts take a full day to transit. Lock into Crinan Basin at the western end in the evening, eat at the Crinan Hotel bar, and exit to the Sound of Jura on the morning tide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it possible to land on Staffa without a tour boat?
A: Yes — NatureScot does not require a permit to land on Staffa from your own vessel, unlike some other Hebridean islands. Be aware that the landing depends on sea conditions; many crews make the passage and cannot land due to swell. Have an alternative plan.
Q: When is Duart Castle open?
A: May to mid-October, daily from 10:30. Check ahead for exact dates in shoulder season. The castle runs specific Clan MacLean events in summer that can affect visitor access.