BLUEMOMENT

We had a rather fine lunch today at the Boathouse Restaurant at Kingairloch, Loch a'Choire. Highly recommended.

Their set Sunday lunch of three courses comes in at £12.50 per head. So, a three course meal for two, a large glass of wine each and coffee came to £34. The cooking was excellent, the helpings generous, all at a very competitive price. Service was friendly, attentive and courteous, and not "in your face" at all. Although I do wonder at the point of muzak in restaurants, it wasn't too intrusive, but it would have been nicer without it.

Loch a'Choire can be quite squally, and we had about 30 knots on the nose as we approached the moorings. Worried a little about taking the dinghy ashore in strong winds, we were considering phoning them to cancel the reservation. However, the moorings area was surprisingly well sheltered in the north westerly wind, and it was an easy row to the shore.

They welcome visiting boats and don't mind customers in their wellies. Their website states;

For visiting yachts to The Boathouse we have just put down six moorings, which are free to use reference:56o36.971N 05o 30.947W. We also have free wireless internet access during the day.

I believe that their season may finish at the end of October, so best to confirm with them first - telephone 01967 411 232.

Well worth a visit by local boats as well as those on passage to/from the Caledonian Canal.

Yes, we have had a good meal there too (although we arrived by road).

This year they have only been open Thursday-Sunday, but I believe they have been pretty busy; friends of ours had to try three times to get a table. I don't know if they plan to open more days next season.

Their web site has a nice feel to it...

Hmm - do you think the lad is serving all of those comely maidens....?

Hi there, just thought you all might be interested to know that the chef at the boathouse has moved on to running their own wee business on the Isle of Canna. The island has safe anchorage but no moorings I'm afraid. Best of luck to the new chef at Boathouse but the restaurant on Canna will be worth a look!

Well if it hasn't got a web presence at least tell us what it's called.

Or is this it?

Yes, thats the one! It doesnt have a website yet but will be open for Easter.

It might be a bit far for the Chentleman's Cruise but I dare say some of us will visit before the season is over.

Just clicked up Cmap to see where we were talking about, and realised there's a great big chunk we seem to bypass every time we're out round the bend. (Mulligan's Tyre)
I don't think we've sailed North of Lismore, as we always get drawn towards Ardnamurchan and the outside. Have we missed much?

For longer cruises, we'll also go "outside", but tbh, the area from Lismore up to Corran and Loch Leven does have some with some great sailing areas and reasonable anchorages, but it is a little bit of a backwater. We're based at Dallens Bay, Appin, so, for long weekends, there are great opportunities. Even for short weekends, we enjoy pottering about in the area; for interest, we explore the potential of unlisted anchorages.

Personally, I'm not too keen on sailing much beyond Corran in the north; there is a good anchorage about a mile or so NW of the ferry, but we've found that there is too much kelp for safe anchoring to the north of there. Loch Eil, for some reason, is just lacking charm and character imho. Perhaps it's the cowp on its south side.....