9th May 2024

We packed up the van and headed to Oban. Stopped at Tesco to fill up with diesel. Most of the pumps were devoid of diesel.  Only two operating. After filling we drove to the port and parked in the waiting lanes. Left the van and went for a coffee at Costa.  The sea food hut was already doing great business, well before lunch time.

[As an aside, I bought diesel on the mainland believing the island diesel would be expensive. This is not the case, the price of fuel on the islands is generally cheaper than on the mainland. There is some subsidy from the Scottish Government, or rather a reduced tax rate.]

We waited in the van for quite a long time. We seemed to be late boarding the ship. There was another ferry, bound for Mull, which arrived and then left before us.

We eventually left late but arrived pretty much on time. More than five hours on the ship. We ate a Stornoway Black pudding pizza for lunch on the boat. The journey is spectacular, after leaving Oban, and the Isle of Kerrera, you head towards the channel, (Sound of Mull) between mainland Scotland on the North, and the Isle of Mull on the South. There are islands and reefs, with lighthouses guarding the entry. The entry to the channel is also guarded by the spectacular Duart Castle. The image of the castle was very foreboding with the hills in the clouds.

Leaving the Sound of Mull you pass the Ardnamurchan lighthouse into open waters, making your way towards Barra and the port of Castlebay. Coming into Castlebay, you could see sandy white beaches on the port side. The heights of the island were obscured by clouds.

We disembarked and drove straight to the Borve Camping and Caravan Site, and set up the van for our evening meal. The campsite is right on the sea edge. You either parked your van on the edge looking out towards America, or if unlucky you parked one row back. We were unlucky the first night and did not have the sea view. The pitches had all been allocated, and a board with our name and the number of nights was at the entrance to the site and on the pitch. This was in case the owner was not about.

Our camping neighbour stopped to apologise in advance for having to leave at 04:30 the next morning to catch a ferry. The time had been changed dramatically. Interesting chap who we chatted to over drinks and cheese with a Hi-Top VW he’d managed to buy second-hand.

As you can see from the pictures, the weather was not good, there was low lying cloud everywhere, making for some scenic pictures. Who wants boring blue skies!

Track