Sailing Jibseavideo
We Found the Most Incredible Castle Anchorages in Scotland - Ep 267
March 8, 2026 · 18 min · 15K views · Loch Moedart, Scotland
What this video covers
Anchoring in front of castle ruins is the defining feature of this Scottish coastal passage, with Steph and Travis aboard Jibsea stopping at two historic sites: an unnamed castle on their first night and Castle Tioram in Loch Moidart, a 13th-century Clan MacDonald stronghold built on a tidal island accessible only at low tide.5:58 The tidal island floods quickly — the causeway disappeared while they were ashore — and the castle's masonry is condemned as liable to collapse, so entry is prohibited.9:06 En route, they transit a notoriously current-driven cut between mainland Scotland and Islay, roughly one to two miles long, where mistiming the current makes passage impossible; they had been turned back there on a previous trip.2:22 Tobermory on the Isle of Mull is the final stop, an anchorage in the Inner Hebrides where depths run 40 feet near shore and 60 feet in the middle — anchoring close to shore is essential.14:01 A recurring instrument failure traced to a faulty bus bar knocked out autopilot, depth, and speed displays twice during the passage, forcing navigation by chart plotter alone through a difficult estuary.11:14 Timing the current at the Islay cut is non-negotiable; a previous failed attempt confirmed that bucking the flow is not an option.2:22
More from Sailing Jibsea
From Sailing Jibsea — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.