Cruising to Scotland for our first proper holiday on Ravensdale

Me taking a turn at the helm of Ravensdale on the way home

This week we returned from our first proper holiday on our 43ft Neptunus 133 motor cruiser.

It was also Ruby’s first trip away on Ravensdale.

And we’ve discovered the joys of taking our home with us when we go away.

There’s no need to pack anything as everything we want is already on board.

In fact, the only preparation needed is exactly the same as going out for a short fishing trip.

We just throw off our mooring ropes and we’re away.

There are no traffic jams to get stuck in, no hold-ups at the airport to delay the start of our holiday or return home and no chance of leaving anything important behind at either end.

What’s not to like? 😊


Over the sea to Scotland

Ravensdale leaving Maryport Marina

After a few days of lovely warm, sunny weather in Maryport, we could see that it was due to continue for at least the next three or four days.

It seemed too good an opportunity to miss so we decided to head off across the Solway Firth from our home port at Maryport in Cumbria, North West England, to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

We took Ravensdale over to Kirkcudbright intending to stay for a few days last September but had to return home after just two nights because the weather forecast changed.

Since then, we’d been planning to return and hopefully stay a bit longer and this looked like the opportunity for which we'd been waiting.

We travelled over to Kirkcudbright on Tuesday of last week (May 14) hoping to stay for a week but planning to return home on Thursday or Friday if the forecast took a turn for the worse.

Ravensdale leaving Maryport

The weather was bright and sunny as we left Maryport at around 9.15am and the water was fairly calm although Ravensdale rocked around a bit due to the fact we were crossing the tide much of the way across the Solway Firth.

Ruby stayed quiet and apparently happy in her cage for the two-and-a-half-hour crossing to Little Ross Island.

Ravensdale approaching Little Ross Island

We dropped anchor off the island but found it was particularly bumpy in the spot we’d chosen so we brought in the anchor and moved over to the other side of the bay but that was also bumpier than we’d hoped.

We returned to the island and anchored closer to the shore, which was a bit more sheltered and much more comfortable.

Phil set up his fishing rods, while I took Ruby out on deck. I thought she would want to get out of her cage as soon as possible as she’d been in there for considerably longer than on any previous trip out on Ravensdale.

She was fine and had a good look around at her new surroundings. I took her up on the flybridge for the first time so she could get a better view from the boat.

Ruby checking out the view from Ravensdale's flybridge

Ruby sympathising with Phil over the lack of fish 😊 

Soon after we arrived, a yacht turned up and anchored nearby.

Ruby quickly discovered they had a dog on board and barked back when she heard it barking but quickly lost interest and settled down to do a bit of sunbathing on the aft deck.

Ruby sunbathing on the aft deck at Little Ross Island

The people on the yacht took their dog onto the island in their dinghy but we were unable to do this as Ruby’s new life jacket hadn’t arrived by the time we left for Kirkcudbright.

The yacht anchored next to us off Little Ross Island

We also hadn’t tried taking her in the dinghy so need to try that in our marina before attempting it on the open water, so we’ll know she’s OK with travelling in this way.

Meanwhile, I called Kirkcudbright Marina to check they had room for us and said we’d arrive around high tide.

Phil enjoying the sun on the flybridge while waiting for a fish to bite

We had lunch and Phil carried on trying to fish for a while but was only catching dogfish so he gave up and we just sat in the sunshine enjoying the views until it was time to head up the five-mile buoyed channel up the river from Little Ross Island to Kirkcudbright.

The river is navigable for about two and half hours either side of high tide, so we set off a bit earlier than planned and went up the river with the tide.

We entered the channel behind a yacht and followed it at the speed it was doing for a while before it pulled over and waved us past.

Ravensdale following a yacht up the channel to Kirkcudbright

Making our way up the buoyed channel towards Kirkcudbright

We arrived in Kirkcudbright at 7.30pm after just over 10 hours at sea during which time we travelled 26 nautical miles.

Our arrival at Kirkcudbright

We moored Ravensdale without any problems and were very pleased to have arrived in time to get a takeaway fish and chip supper from the local chippy by the harbour.


Our Scottish holiday

Ravensdale in Kirkcudbright

We’d enjoyed our visit to Kirkcudbright in September, so we were happy to be able to stay for longer this time.

Kirkcudbright Harbour is the fifth busiest fishing port in Scotland and the ninth busiest in the UK with 24 fishing boats landing shellfish, mainly scallops and queenies.

Kirkcudbright Harbour

One of the best things about our holiday, other than having a new place to explore, was the beautiful view from our boat…and not needing to drop the blinds in the saloon to stop people looking in 😊

Bridge over the River Dee at Kirkcudbright from Ravensdale's aft deck

Sunset from Ravensdale's foredeck

View across the River Dee from Ravensdale's starboard side at high tide

Kirkcudbright Marina is on the River Dee, which is a tidal river, so the view changes dramatically as the tide goes in and out.

At high water, on a spring tide, the river is very wide with the water coming up to the top of the harbour slipway and across the fields on the opposite side from the marina.

When the tide goes out, much of the marina dries out and some of the boats end up sitting on mountains of mud.

Mountains of mud at Kirkcudbright Marina at low tide

Thankfully, there was still a good depth of water alongside the main pontoon where we were moored and there was more than two metres under Ravensdale’s keel at low tide. At high tide, our depth sounder was showing nine metres under her keel.

It was strange to experience the full extent of the tidal range as, while in Maryport, the sea gate is closed as the tide goes out to keep water in the marina so we only experience the change over the period two and half hours either side of high tide.

Ravensdale at sunset on our first night in Kirkcudbright

On our first visit to Kirkcudbright last year, we were also surprised at the speed with which the tide goes in and out there and it was interesting to see it rushing past our boat.

The Polar Bites sign

The weather was amazing for our stay – dry, sunny and warm – up until Saturday when there was more cloud and it was a bit cooler, but still dry by day and warm enough for shorts and a vest top or T-shirt.

We were a bit late for going out on the first night, so we went to Polar Bites for a takeaway fish and chip supper.

I was amused by a sign inside the shop warning that anyone caught picking off the lettering would be deep fried in their own fat.

One of the letters had been partially picked off so I couldn’t help wondering if the culprit was caught and, if so, whether they really were deep fried 😊

We had a lovely holiday taking Ruby for walks along the river, wandering around the town and harbour and being able to eat out in a different place.

Fishing boat Osprey at Kirkcudbright Harbour at high tide

The start of the riverside walk from Kirkcudbright

The River Dee at Kirkcudbright

A Kirkcudbright street

Colourful beach huts by the harbour car park

We had a delicious lunch in the beer garden at The Selkirk Arms, a local hotel that had been recommended to us by several people we met. We arrived at 1.55pm to discover they stopped serving at 2pm so we were just in time 😊

The beer garden at The Selkirk Arms

We had another takeaway from the award-winning Polar Bites chippy.

And we enjoyed several lunches and visits for coffee and cake at the café at Kirkcudbright Galleries.

We also visited the Japanese exhibition at Kirkcudbright Galleries, which includes prints on loan from the National Museums Scotland.

Part of the Japanese exhibition at Kirkcudbright Galleries

Another area of the Japanese exhibition

I love Japanese art so was really pleased to discover this exhibition was on while we were there, and I think Phil enjoyed this one too.

We also visited some of the independent galleries and workshops in the town known as “Kirkcudbright artists town” because of its artistic heritage.

We admired the remains of MacLellan’s Castle, which was built in the 16^th century and is currently being restored, the impressive Kirkcudbright Parish Church, which was completed in 1838, and some of the attractive gardens around the town.

MacLellan's Castle in Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright Parish Church

An attractive garden near Kirkcudbright Parish Church

And I visited an exhibition of work by local artists at the Harbourside Cottage Gallery while Phil was looking after Ruby when she was unwell.

Harbourside Cottage Gallery at Kirkcudbright

After I visited the gallery, I popped into town for some shopping and came across a lone piper playing by the church grounds.

The lone piper by Kirkcudbright Parish Church

We’d seen a banner advertising a car show in the harbour car park on Sunday so decided to go along to take a look.

We were expecting an interesting array of classic cars, so were disappointed to discover that it was difficult to tell which cars were supposed to be part of the event.

Most of the vehicles on show were modern cars, so it just looked like any other car park ☹

Kirkcudbright Car Show

One of the more interesting cars on display at the show

But the car show and poor Ruby being unwell were the only downsides to our holiday.

Otherwise, it was a brilliant break and we will definitely be returning to Kirkcudbright.


Heading home to Maryport

After deciding not to return home last Thursday, we planned to stay until Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.

And, when we got up on Monday morning, we agreed to delay our departure for at least one more day and carried on as if we were staying.

We knew MV River Trader – a 58.27m (191ft) cargo ship with a gross tonnage of 794 – was due to travel up the channel to Kirkcudbright around high tide that day.

The local range boat was acting as pilot boat for the large vessel. We were asked if we were planning to go out that day and we said we were not.

A digger piling up queenie shells on the dock ready to be collected by MV River Trader

In fact, I was looking forward to seeing it dock in Kirkcudbright to collect queenie (queen scallop) shells and leave again at high tide the following day.

However, mid-morning Ruby took a turn for the worse.

Entrance to Kircudbright Marina from the land

Welcome sign at Kirkcudbright Marina

I then checked the weather forecast to discover that it had changed, and the wind was going to get up at the time we would be able to make the crossing due to the tide on both Tuesday and Wednesday…and the higher wind speeds were expected to continue for at least the next seven days.

At that point, we decided it was best to go there and then.

We prepared Ravensdale for the off and I dived up to leave a cheque for our mooring fees in the honesty box. While I was doing this, I bumped into the harbour master and told him of our plans.

He asked if we could delay leaving until after MV River Trader had passed us.

I explained that it would mean the sea gate at Maryport would be closed before we got back, and we’d have to sit at anchor for up to seven hours waiting for it to open for the next tide – not a great plan with a sick dog.

The harbour master agreed and said he’d let the range boat know we were heading down the channel. He told us to listen on VHF channels 12 and 16 for information on the large vessel’s progress up the river, which we would've done anyway.

Ravensdale leaving the channel and heading towards MV River Trader

We set off at around 11.15am and had reached the last but one buoy when we got a call from the range vessel informing us that there was plenty of water outside the channel for our boat. They asked us to leave the channel, head straight towards them and go around their stern.

A closer view of MV River Trader

Ravensdale's autopilot

We acknowledged the message and confirmed that we’d do as requested which, of course, is exactly what we did.

After that, the journey back was pretty uneventful, which is always a good thing.

And I’ve discovered that taking my turn at the helm is a lot easier when autopilot is operating 😊

I just had to stand there, make sure Ravensdale stayed on the track Phil had set the autopilot to follow and keep an eye out for anything that we needed to avoid.

He showed me how to switch off the autopilot if we needed to change course for any reason, but we didn't so I feel a bit of a fraud for even posting a photo of me at the helm - let alone two 😊

Me taking a turn at the helm of Ravensdale with the help of the autopilot

On the way back, we saw a wind farm boat heading across from Robin Rigg Wind Farm, which is about half-way across the firth.

It was approaching from our port side, so we knew we had the right of way but were ready to take evasive action if necessary.

The wind farm boat approaching from our port side

It quickly became obvious that it was travelling faster than us so it crossed in front of us before we reached it.

Ravensdale heading home to Maryport

We got back to Maryport at around 2pm after travelling the 26-mile journey home in two hours and 45 minutes.

And, having seen what the weather was like over the following days, we were very glad we came home when we did.

It remained dry and sunny, but the wind was higher while the marina gate was open than it was on Monday when we returned from Kirkcudbright.

We still remember and live by the excellent advice we were given by a seasoned sailor who told us: “Better to be in the marina wishing you were out than out of the marina wishing you were in it.”


Ruby of Ravensdale

Ruby helping Phil clean Ravensdale

Before we went away, Ruby was determined to help Phil with the spring cleaning but, as usual, she wasn’t really much of a help at all – quite the opposite 😊

Unfortunately, she started her first season overnight Saturday/Sunday, just before our trip to Kirkcudbright, but we decided to go anyway as the weather was too good to miss.

Ruby watching the sunset at Maryport Marina the night before her first holiday

She seemed fine in herself and it made little difference whether we were dealing with her season at home or away.

It was the first time she'd spent a full day out on the water and she seemed totally unfazed by the experience. She ate her meals as usual, spent time outside sunbathing and went indoors from time to time to cool off.

She also enjoyed being allowed to explore the flybridge for the first time.

Ruby exploring the flybridge while we were at anchor off Little Ross island

Ruby giving herself a manicure on the flybridge

Ruby on look-out duty on the flybridge

Ruby seemed surprised when she first went up on deck when we arrived in Kirkcudbright and discovered the view from her home had changed again.

Ruby checking out the view from Ravensdale's foredeck

She walked around on deck checking the views in all directions and, as usual spent a good bit of time sitting on the deck watching people and dogs walking past.

Ruby and I enjoying the sunshine on the foredeck

She also enjoyed sunbathing on the aft deck.

But she wasn’t so sure about the cows that came down to the river at low tide, but then they were the first cows she’d ever seen so I guess it’s not surprising that she was very interested in them.

Ruby watching the cows from Ravensdale

Ruby helping Phil clean the windscreen

And, as usual, she was keen to get involved in cleaning the windows 😊

We took Ruby for walks along the river in Kirkcudbright every day until Saturday when we got up to discover she’d been unwell in the night ☹

Ruby looking for treats from Phil during one of our river walks

Ruby rolling in the grass

Ruby and Phil sitting on the banks of the River Dee

At this point, Phil got out the carpet cleaner and shampooed the carpet in the saloon. We then took it up, rolled it and put it on the flybridge until Ruby has finished her season.

It looks a bit like a shed inside Ravensdale at the moment, but cleaning the wooden floor is so much easier than trying to keep the carpet clean.

We had to throw away her bed and I walked into town to get her a new one while Phil stayed on board to look after her as we didn’t want to leave her alone.

She got worse during the day on Saturday and by the evening seemed very unwell. She didn’t really respond to us much, showed no interest in our food and just kept sleeping.

I called the vet for advice and was told she should be OK until the morning but to call her again at 8am to let her know how Ruby was doing.

Ruby slept peacefully in her cage on the way back to Maryport. The carpet was still on the flybridge

She seemed a bit brighter in the morning, so I informed the vet that she seemed to be on the mend.

We did as the vet recommended and starved her for 24 hours then started feeding her chicken and rice or scrambled egg and she seemed to be improving, but the tummy upset returned on Monday morning.

This coupled with a weather forecast showing that the wind was due to increase over the next couple of days made us decide to get back home to Maryport.

She seemed much better on Tuesday, so we tried feeding her a small quantity of her normal food and the tummy upset returned overnight so she was back on chicken rice and scrambled egg on Wednesday.

Ruby wanted to be back out on deck yesterday but had to be on her lead for a while to stop her trying to eat the boat wash

Thankfully, she was much better yesterday (Thursday) so we were able to start reintroducing her normal food and she seems to be OK on it.

Ruby has spent a lot of time sleeping and has been very clingy over the past week, but we don’t know whether this was due to her being in season or because she was feeling unwell.

She’s very needy at the moment. She wants lots of love and cuddles and is getting plenty of both.

Ruby sunbathing in the saloon yesterday (Thursday)

Spring cleaning continues

The big spring clean on Ravensdale continued until we decided to go away to Kirkcudbright.

We started cleaning her stainless-steel guard rails together on Saturday afternoon (May 11) but there is, of course, no photographic evidence of my involvement simply because I’m the one who thinks to grab the camera 😊

Phil polishing Ravensdale's guard rails while Ruby watches him

I put the chrome cleaner on and started the cleaning process and Phil followed behind me polishing it off and making the rails look all nice and shiny.

Unfortunately, we ran out of chrome cleaner before we finished the job so only managed to do forward of the aft deck.

We then decided on our trip to Kirkcudbright before we’d had a chance to get any more chrome cleaner so the stainless steel around the aft deck will have to be cleaned at a later date.

Phil also washed Ravensdale and started waxing and polishing the superstructure.

Phil cleaning Ravensdale yesterday (Thursday)

This was another job that was unfinished when we decided to go away but he ordered some new boat wash and polish as soon as we returned and was back to cleaning again yesterday (Thursday).


Edging the saloon carpet

After Ruby tried to eat the carpet in the saloon a couple of weeks ago, I bought some matching wool to oversew the raw edges.

The saloon carpet was already on Ravensdale when we bought her.

Most of the edges had been professionally finished – presumably when it was first fitted, but the more intricately cut corners had not been overstitched.

And the area I attempted to darn after Ruby started pulling it to bits was desperately in need of edging in the hope it would discourage her from having another go at it.

Phil cleaned the carpet while we were in Kirkcudbright and we draped it over the flybridge while it was drying. This seemed the perfect opportunity to bind the edges, so I was able to do it in the sunshine. It was also much easier working on it at that height than it would've been on the floor.

I’m afraid there are no photos of me doing this as I didn’t think to ask Phil to take one ☹


New neighbour

Ravensdale and Margarita at Maryport Marina

Before we went away, I commented that everyone had deserted us along one side of the pontoon on which Ravensdale is currently moored.

But we now have a new neighbour.

Our friend’s Nauticat 33, Margarita, came back into the water on Wednesday after spending the winter on the hardstanding and is now on the inside of the hammerhead that we're moored on.

We're really looking forward to them coming to stay on the boat for a while as it will be lovely to have Jim and Angie on this pontoon again, although I'm not sure if Margarita is staying next to us or whether it's just a temporary thing.


Photography

Most of the photos I’ve taken over the past fortnight were taken while we were at sea or during our holiday in Kirkcudbright.

A fishing boat that we followed out of Maryport on our way to Kirkcudbright

A Kirkcudbright fishing boat that passed us at Little Ross Island

Kirkcudbright lifeboat crew training session

Kirkcudbright at high tide

Sunset at Kircudbright Marina

 

Kirkcudbright Harbour at low tide

Clouds reflected in the River Dee

A fishing boat leaving Kirkcudbright Marina

Another fishing boat arriving at Kirkcudbright Marina

Wellspring - a former Maryport boat now derelict on the banks of the River Dee

A close up of a blocked-up window in MacLellan Castle

More windows in MacLellan Castle

View through to the River Dee between two buildings on the harbourside

A fishing boat at Kirkcudbright Harbour

Little Ross Island lighthouse

Maryport from the Solway Firth

A closer view of Maryport from the Solway Firth

There have been some lovely calm evenings here at Maryport Marina producing come beautiful reflections. These were taken on the evening of Friday, May 10 and on Monday evening of this week.

Reflections at Maryport Marina

Yachts at Maryport Marina

A calm evening at Maryport Marina

More reflections at Maryport Marina

I also took my camera for a walk around Maryport harbour and up to town on Saturday.

A fishing boat in Maryport Harbour at low tide

View from Maryport out towards the Solway Firth

An impressive building in Maryport

The River Ellen in Maryport at low tide

Market Steps at Maryport, which feature in a painting by L S Lowry

Looking out over the Solway Firth to Scotland from the top of Market Steps

Weather watch

We’ve had some lovely spring weather over the past fortnight, which is why we decided it was a good time to go away for a holiday.

Sunshine at Maryport Marina on Saturday, May 11

Saturday, May 11 was dry, sunny and relatively warm. It was calm during the morning with more wind during the afternoon. The temperature reached 12C (54F) at St Bees Head – our nearest weather station - with a top average wind speed of 19mph but it seemed warmer and calmer here.

Wall-to-wall sunshine and flat calm conditions at Maryport Marina on Sunday, May 12

Sunday, May 12 was dry, sunny and calm feeling warm in the sun during the morning but cooler when the wind got up a bit in the afternoon.

The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head was 8mph, but it was a bit higher than that in Maryport.

Monday, May 13 was dry, bright and sunny with a cool wind. The top temperature was 14C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 16mph.

Sunset at Maryport Marina on Monday, May 13

Tuesday, May 14 was another dry, bright and sunny day with the temperature peaking at 17C (63F) and a top average wind speed of 10mph.

It was very calm overnight with an average wind speed of just 3mph.

A bright, sunny day at Kirkcudbright Marina on Wednesday, May 15

Wednesday, May 15 started warm, dry and sunny, but it clouded over during the late afternoon. The temperature reached 17C (63F) with an average wind speed of up to 10mph.

Thursday, May 16 was yet another dry, bright and sunny day with a little more cloud during the afternoon. The top temperature was 16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.

Sunshine and clouds at Kirkcudbright Marina on Friday, May 17

We had rain first thing in Kirkcudbright on Friday, May 17, but the sun soon came out and it was dry, bright and sunny with a bit more wind than on previous days. It was still warm out of the wind with a top temperature of 18C (64F) and a top average wind speed of 16mph.

A heavy sky over Kirkcudbright on Saturday

It rained overnight Friday into Saturday and light rain continued into the morning, but the weather brightened up as the day went on. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 9mph.

There was more rain overnight and Sunday started cloudy but calm with increasing cloud during the morning. We had light rain around lunchtime and on and off during the afternoon. The temperature reached 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.

Blue sky and white clouds over the River Dee on Monday

The wind speed reached 13mph overnight and Monday started cloudy but dry. The sun came out as the day went on giving a top temperature of 13C (55F). The top average wind speed was 17mph, but only 9-11mph while we were crossing the Solway Firth.

Dry and sunny weather at Maryport Marina on Tuesday

Tuesday was dry, bright, sunny and breezy becoming windier as the day went on. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 18mph.

Wednesday started dry, bright, sunny and calm with the wind speed increasing during the day.

The temperature reached 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 15mph.

Another bright and sunny day at Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday)

Yesterday (Thursday) started cloudy but bright with the clouds clearing as the morning went on and staying dry. Again, it was fairly calm in the morning with the wind speed picking up late morning.

The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph at St Bees Head but it seemed windier than that here.

And, today (Friday), the weather has been bright and breezy with a top temperature of 14 C (57F) and a top average wind speed of 21mph.