I doubt if many people bother anchoring in this wide-open south-facing bay. And I can't say I blame them. Although there is a splendid sandy beach, it can be very crowded because there is a large caravan site as well as holiday lodges at the back of it (mid-week out-of-season should be good though). Mind you, the site is quite discrete because it is set back from the dunes, indeed you hardly notice the lodges from a distance because they are painted green. This is in marked contrast to the huge eyesore on the east side of the bay which you can see from miles away — from a distance, the white caravans look like tomb stones.
On the west side of the bay there is a prominent stately-looking home — Lochnell House — where the Earl of Dundonald and his family live. Sailors should already know that the 10th Earl was Thomas Cochrane, a famous naval commander in the Napoleonic wars and later founder of the Chilean Navy. Patrick O'Brian used him as the model for his wonderful Jack Aubrey historical novels, including his false imprisonment. As you sail closer, the house begins to look a bit tatty, especially the battlemented Victorian add-on bit which is I think no longer lived in. There is also a 17th century bit and a Georgian bit. Apparently it is being gradually restored which is nice to hear. I don't think it is open in any shape or form to the public, except as a wedding venue. Sadly there seems at first sight to be nothing in the large walled garden, but I am told there is a vegetable garden and fruit trees (it would be nice if wonderful enclosed spaces like this could be rented out for allotments, but maybe here in the country there is no call for veggie patches).
Relatively recently the estate seems to have set up a boatyard and boat storage facility, so something to take a look at soon.
About a kilometre southwest, on the hill, you can see Lady Margaret's Tower— erected in 1754. It is accessible by foot with permission from the estate manager (ph 07791 481203).
