The following are voyage details and climbs acheived in the Spring/Summer season (April/May/June 2025) on Nilak, my Ovni 32 aluminium sailing yacht.
Lorna on nilak, my Ovni 32 aluminium yacht in Loch na Cuilce, April 2025
April 25
We launched Nilak in Argyll mid April, the only drama being the fwd/reverse morse cables being incorrectly fitted meaning I went backwards at a rate of knots before I worked it out. We then sailed to Loch Aline where we climbed Glais Beinn and the Table of Lorn (Morvern Peninsula).
Rounding Ardnamurchan we anchored in Sanna Bay for the night.
We then sailed into Loch na Cuilce which is reputed to be one of Scotland’s most dramatic anchorages. We stayed here a few nights and climbed Sgurr na Stri, visited Captain Maryon’s monument and then the long ridge of Druim nan Rahm. I’ve wanted to do this for decades. The line is magnificent, as is the hillwalking. The climbing isn’t as good but it culminates on the peak of Bidean Druim nan Rahm which is a fantastic peak in itself.
Lorna on Sgurr na Stri
Tim Blakemore on Druim nan Rahm, Isle of Skye
Nilak anchored Loch Scavaig/Loch na Cuilce
We sailed further west and spent a few days at Canna which is always a pleasure. The bird life is spectacular and we were delighted to see our first puffins of the season here.
From Canna we made the crossing of the Sea of the Hebrides (about 30nm) to Loch Boisdale on South Uist. We sat out bad weather here but did climb Beinn Ruigchoinnich.
May 25
We then sailed South to Arcasaid Mhor on Eriskay. We anchored here again for a few days and were enchanted by the island. We visted South Uist over the causeway, roamed the white shell and sand beaches and met the ponies. We went hunting whiskey bottles from the stricken vessel Politician and visited the island’s pub of the same name (where the original bottles and other artifacts can be seen). Finally I repeated ‘Odalisque’ HVS 5B and climbed a new E1 route called ‘Puffin Beak’ at Rubha Basadearn.
Eriskay Beach
Eriskay Pony
Tim Blakemore 1st ascent Puffin Beak, E1, Eriskay
From Eriskay we sailed/motored into Castle Bay, Barra. We’ve visited curry houses and thrift shops(!) as well as walk over to Vatersay to visit the pristine beaches. This is the first place we’ve actually seen any other yachts (all German).
Vatersay Beach
May 25
Martin Doyle, Stu Macdonald and my Son, Michael joined nilak for the first half of May. We had a mixed bag of weather but generally very good. We did suffer big swell in some of the early anchorages and some landings were challenging. We visited Berneray (Barra Head) which was wild though the cliffs weren’t climable other than a smaller single pitch one we visited. I think this venue has some mystique/allure because of lack of information and a recent climbing video highlighting it. There are many better venues though in the Bishop Isles with cleaner rock so we left the birds to hang out with their eggs.
nilak anchored in Sandray, Bishop’s Isles
We also anchored at Mingulay but the swell made landing a real challenge. I actually had an early morning enforced ‘wild swim’ here to retreive a wayward tender where I was please to have a wetsuit on the boat.
Because of the wind direction Pabbay wasn’t an option for us but we anchored in two locations on Sandray where I’ve always had a great time. We climbed at a couple of crags, caught fish and lobster and thoroughly enjoyed the Hebridean experience.
Martin Doyle climbing on Sandray, Bishop Isles
We then visited Vatersay Community Cafe and Centre where we ate cakes and grabbed showers. Finally we also climbed on the excellent (and not so popular) crags of Barra.
Stu Macdonald & Sandray anchorage
A really great adventure with friends (and my Son) to a wild part of the Western Isles.
Martin Doyle, Stu Macdonald and Michael enjoying the climbing on Sandray, Outer Hebrides
During the latter half of May I’ve been in Greenland (see later post) and nilak has been left safely in Castle Bay Marina.
June 25
Lorna on Berneray, Western Isles of Scotland
We picked up Nilak in Castle Bay and visited Sandray, Vatersay, North Bay (Barra), Sgeirislum, Gigay, Ronay, Berneray, Scalpay, Harris, Shiant Islands, Rona, Raasay, Portree and Kyleakin.
nilak anchored in Rona
The islands are all so different, both in appearance and culture and we enjoyed them all. The southern chain of the Bishop’s isles stand out for wildness and great climbing. Berneray (reached from the Sound of Harris) was a nice gem with Gaelic heard commonly as was Scalpay where we stayed a few days and enjoyed the warmth of the people there.
The stand out location was the Shiants though. The birdlife is otherworldly and it’s a very special place.
puffin in the Shiant isles
The weather seems to have broken so we’re leaving Nilak until the autumn when we’ll return her to Lochnell for the winter