Sula Sgeir and North Rona

Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides?

I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for an
overnight visit?

Tony of Judicious wrote:

> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides?
>
> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for
> an overnight visit?

In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula Sgeir:

"The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an ancient
traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a year in
September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared boat without a
compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is fixed to the rocks
at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill Bhain, as there is no
anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or fresh water on the islet
but there are five stone bothies which the guga-hunters live in for a
few days during their annual expedition."

About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is generally
difficult, but the best places, depending on wind direction and sea
state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom or Poll Heallair,
or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)."

Ronald Raygun wrote:

> Tony of Judicious wrote:
>
>> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides?
>>
>> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for
>> an overnight visit?
>
> In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula Sgeir:
>
> "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an ancient
> traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a year in
> September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared boat without a
> compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is fixed to the rocks
> at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill Bhain, as there is no
> anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or fresh water on the islet
> but there are five stone bothies which the guga-hunters live in for a
> few days during their annual expedition."
>
> About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is generally
> difficult, but the best places, depending on wind direction and sea
> state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom or Poll Heallair,
> or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)."

Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it.

Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards.

Tony of Judicious wrote:
> Ronald Raygun wrote:
>
>> Tony of Judicious wrote:
>>
>>> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides?
>>>
>>> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable
>>> anchorage for an overnight visit?
>>
>> In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula
>> Sgeir:
>>
>> "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an
>> ancient traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a
>> year in September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared
>> boat without a compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is
>> fixed to the rocks at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill
>> Bhain, as there is no anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or
>> fresh water on the islet but there are five stone bothies which the
>> guga-hunters live in for a few days during their annual expedition."
>>
>> About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is
>> generally difficult, but the best places, depending on wind
>> direction and sea state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom
>> or Poll Heallair,
>> or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)."
>
>
> Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it.
>
> Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards.

Both locations could do wi' a brothel!

Dennis.

Dennis Pogson wrote:

> Tony of Judicious wrote:
>> Ronald Raygun wrote:
>>
>>> Tony of Judicious wrote:
>>>
>>>> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides?
>>>>
>>>> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable
>>>> anchorage for an overnight visit?
>>>
>>> In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula
>>> Sgeir:
>>>
>>> "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an
>>> ancient traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a
>>> year in September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared
>>> boat without a compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is
>>> fixed to the rocks at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill
>>> Bhain, as there is no anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or
>>> fresh water on the islet but there are five stone bothies which the
>>> guga-hunters live in for a few days during their annual expedition."
>>>
>>> About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is
>>> generally difficult, but the best places, depending on wind
>>> direction and sea state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom
>>> or Poll Heallair,
>>> or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)."
>>
>>
>> Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it.
>>
>> Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards.
>
> Both locations could do wi' a brothel!
>
> Dennis.

I believe there are some sheep.

At the moment the guys from Lewes are gathering gannets on Sule Segir. As J
is currently moored this week at Lochinver (a day's sailing away) I thought
a visit to them might make an interesting end of season cruise.

To Ardrossan by early October for the winter.

	#1
Tony of Judicious	Sula Sgeir and North Rona Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides? I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for an overnight visit?

	#2
Ronald Raygun	Re: Sula Sgeir and North Rona Tony of Judicious wrote: > Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides? > > I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for > an overnight visit? In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula Sgeir: "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an ancient traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a year in September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared boat without a compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is fixed to the rocks at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill Bhain, as there is no anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or fresh water on the islet but there are five stone bothies which the guga-hunters live in for a few days during their annual expedition." About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is generally difficult, but the best places, depending on wind direction and sea state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom or Poll Heallair, or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)."

	#3
Tony of Judicious	Re: Sula Sgeir and North Rona Ronald Raygun wrote: > Tony of Judicious wrote: > >> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides? >> >> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable anchorage for >> an overnight visit? > > In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula Sgeir: > > "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an ancient > traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a year in > September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared boat without a > compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is fixed to the rocks > at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill Bhain, as there is no > anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or fresh water on the islet > but there are five stone bothies which the guga-hunters live in for a > few days during their annual expedition." > > About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is generally > difficult, but the best places, depending on wind direction and sea > state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom or Poll Heallair, > or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)." Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it. Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards.

	#4
Dennis Pogson	Re: Sula Sgeir and North Rona Tony of Judicious wrote: > Ronald Raygun wrote: > >> Tony of Judicious wrote: >> >>> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides? >>> >>> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable >>> anchorage for an overnight visit? >> >> In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula >> Sgeir: >> >> "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an >> ancient traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a >> year in September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared >> boat without a compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is >> fixed to the rocks at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill >> Bhain, as there is no anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or >> fresh water on the islet but there are five stone bothies which the >> guga-hunters live in for a few days during their annual expedition." >> >> About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is >> generally difficult, but the best places, depending on wind >> direction and sea state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom >> or Poll Heallair, >> or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)." > > > Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it. > > Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards. Both locations could do wi' a brothel! Dennis.

	#5
Tony of Judicious	Re: Sula Sgeir and North Rona Dennis Pogson wrote: > Tony of Judicious wrote: >> Ronald Raygun wrote: >> >>> Tony of Judicious wrote: >>> >>>> Anybody visited these islands north of the Hebrides? >>>> >>>> I have sailed past them, wondered if there was a reasonable >>>> anchorage for an overnight visit? >>> >>> In "The Scottish Islands", Hamish Haswell Smith writes about Sula >>> Sgeir: >>> >>> "The Lewismen [who despite it being a nature reserve retain an >>> ancient traditional right to harvest guga (young gannets) once a >>> year in September] used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared >>> boat without a compass and yet accidents were very rare. A ring is >>> fixed to the rocks at the only landing place, Geodha a' Phuill >>> Bhain, as there is no anchorage or beach. Nor is there any soil or >>> fresh water on the islet but there are five stone bothies which the >>> guga-hunters live in for a few days during their annual expedition." >>> >>> About Rona: "There is no recognised anchorage and landing is >>> generally difficult, but the best places, depending on wind >>> direction and sea state, are (a) Geodh' a' Stoth, (b) Poll Thothatom >>> or Poll Heallair, >>> or (c) Sgeildige (requiring a climb up a cliff)." >> >> >> Thanks, my copy of Haswell-Smith is on J, so I couldn't refer to it. >> >> Looks as if an overnight stay is not on the cards. > > Both locations could do wi' a brothel! > > Dennis. I believe there are some sheep. At the moment the guys from Lewes are gathering gannets on Sule Segir. As J is currently moored this week at Lochinver (a day's sailing away) I thought a visit to them might make an interesting end of season cruise. To Ardrossan by early October for the winter.