⚓ Scottish AnchoragesCharles Warlow

Hyskeir (Òigh Sgeir - maiden rock)

56.9731, -6.68635 Locate on map
The lighthouse, photo by Ian Cowe
The lighthouse, photo by Ian Cowe

Yes you can indeed anchor here, at least on a calm day (the Antares chart will get you there while clasping your iPad or phone). Go in to the gut from the north, leaving the lighthouse to port. It is so long ago since I did this that the light was still manned, but stupidly I never took any photographs. I must revisit. The three keepers were delighted to see us and took us right up to the light. What a view, like from an aeroplane. Everything was incredibly clean, not a speck of dust, brass gleaming. I wonder what the inside looks like now in these automated days since 1997. I also wonder what happened to the visitors' book which went right back to when the light was established in 1904, as well as the war book with instructions about what to do in the event of an outbreak of hostilities. Again, it is a Stevenson light, David and Charles this time. As well as the lighthouse, make sure to enjoy the wild flowers and the hexagonal stones on the island, and note the overgrown vegetable garden.