Calmac's Longest Route: Oban to Castlebay via Coll and Tiree!
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Day 3 of my Oban trip was a long one. 14 hours on board the MV Clansman on Calmac's longest sailing- Oban to Castlebay via Coll and Tiree!
Having boarded the MV Clansman in time for her 07:00 departure out of Oban we set off out of Oban leaving the bay and heading into the Firth of Lorn, having passed Lismore Lighthouse and Duart Castle we passed Craignure before continuing up the Sound of Mull passing Lochaline and Tobermory along the way before reaching Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse and exiting the Sound of Mull where we turned for Coll. After a short steam towards Coll we approached the berth with what was one of the most impressive and effortless looking bits of ship handling I've seen in a long time and after going alongside and a quick turnaround headed for Tiree where after an hours cruise passing the Gunna Sound we arrived at Tiree. After another quick turnaround it was time to head out this time through the Gunna Sound and out into the Sea of the Hebrides and over to the Outer Hebrides and the Island of Barra. Having approached Barra we went through the channel and into Castlebay where we berthed alongside and after some time alongside we fired up and headed back out into the Sea of the Hebrides and set course back to the Gunna Sound. After some time to charge both my camera and my own batteries in the observation lounge we made our way through the Gunna Sound and arrived at Tiree where we quickly off loaded and reloaded traffic before setting off for Coll. Once again at Coll the turnaround time was quick and before long we were out and had our course set for the Sound of Mull. After entering the Sound of Mull the sun began to set and by the time we were passing Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse it was fully setting, and after a stunning cruise down the Sound the sun had set as we passed Craignure with the MV Coruisk arriving in from Oban we once again passed Duart Castle and Lismore Lighthouse before heading for Oban Bay. On the entrance to the bay was the MV Hebridean Princess anchored off of Kerrera for the night and after maneuvering our way around Oban Bay we berthed alongside arriving back into Oban some 14 and a half hours after leaving on what was a mammoth but enjoyable sailing!
Seen as this is a big video and I've hit the milestone of 300 subscribers recently this is also my 300 sub special!
I hope you enjoy the video as this one has been a big one! Thanks for Watching!
![Lerwick (Shetland) via Kirkwall (Orkney) to Aberdeen overnight ferry [July 2017]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FtrARpGGwDM/mqdefault.jpg)
What a lovely clear day for the sail. The Mighty one ( Clansman) is certainly busy, and how these crews handle these big ( west coast) ferries, and have the ability to turn them like an old sixpence spinning is awe inspiring.! You've made me crave for that sail, and have a calm day during it.
May I add, liked the camera work, you have added interest by explaining, lived in castles and lighthouses. I do not want to to be thought of as a 'grisly old man'. Thank you for a good tout. Patrick Speaight, Northamptonshire.
Great video, looks like a brilliant day out.
VERY impressive berthing Manoeuvere , i was once on a boat which landed at Coll with what came to be known as the dull thud manoeuvere, not calmac I hasten to add, and the skipper was sober as well
Haha the ferry chorus of car alarms, I only did it the once and then after that haven’t bothered locking the vehicle since.
There seems to be a lot of people complain about CalMac but I can honestly say every time I have travelled with them they have been great, the staff always seem helpful and the smaller vessels the staff are chatty too which for a geek like me makes the trip.
Car alarms to the fore as usual
that'll be the CalMac Chorus 🚙
Booked on the mini cruise lol there and back next Wednesday. Hopefully have some great weather.
A mini cruise is a great way to describe it! Hopefully you’ll get good weather as it is a lovely sailing a day out!
So we did this as intended. The weather was glorious and the sea smooth and calm. Got to see a few eagles and purpoises on the way to. There was another couple doing the round trip mini cruise to. A great way of seeing the isles.
Gorgeous scenery. Please slow the camera pans down a bit, it would have a much better effect. Thanks for a lovely armchair journey.
I'm not sure but isn't the MV clansman the sister ferry to the MV hebrides?
You're correct, MV Clansman, built in 1998, is the younger sister to the MV Hebrides which was built in the year 2000.
Ehi. What was your overall feel of the trip? Would you recommend it? Would you do it again?
Weren't you tempted to just put a foot on Tiree, Coll and Barra to say you'd been there? 😂
I'm headed up in April and thinking of doing just this. Thanks for giving me an idea of the journey!
How many people actually got off at Castlebay and how many people did they pick up from there?
Great video btw
Thank you! I’m not sure, if I recall there was a few cars and passengers that got on and off, not quite as busy as the usual Isle of Lewis sailings that’s for sure though!
May I suggest a map, it will add interest, and context. When describing land marks, surely you can add who lived there, or its importance!
The lovely mountain seen from Sound of Mull is Ben Talaidh at 2496ft a demoted Corbett.
Thank you! Trying to work out which mountain was which was certainly a challenge, so knew I wouldn't get them all right! That is certainly good to know for future!
08:30 whats the story in.... ;)
Next time use a tripod or better equipment. No swell but still queasy before half time.
Worst meal I've eaten on a ferry, don't know who prepared it. maybe the engineer or someone with no cooking ability or worse than mine, a difficult standard to surpass.
Rare footage of a Scottish ferry actually working
You don't actually use ferries, do you? 🙄