Craobh Haven

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Craobh Haven is a small sailing port on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is situated 1 mile to the west of the A816 approximately 22 miles south of Oban, between Arduaine and Kilmartin, to the north of Lochgilphead.

Craobh Haven Village and Marina

A small group of tidal saltwater islands adjacent to the village have had the shallow waters between them filled in as a causeway and large breakwater, forming a large, safe water, enclosed Marina. It has one public house called:- The Lord of The Isles, a village store, a gift shop, a Harbourmaster and Marina office and a Watersports centre. There are two small terraces of houses, a group of small cottages, the majority of which are used as holiday rentals, and several small cottages scattered around the outer edges and the hillside above the village.

The enclosed marina it is very popular with private boat owners, but does not have anchorage for larger passenger vessels. There are occasional visits to the village by small cruise ships, touring the nearby islands, which land passengers by their ships boats, to awaiting coaches for sight-seeing trips ashore.

The waters to the north of the village are part of the Firth of Lorne and the islands situated there are Seil, and Luing, with Shuna and Scarba more westerly. The group of islands to the west are known as the Garvellachs and bounded by the Black Isles. To the southwest are the islands of Colonsay, Oronsay, Jura and Islay. and directly south is the Sound of Jura and the island of Gigha.

A passenger and vehicle ferry service operates between the islands and Oban.

[edit] Sailing

The waters surrounding the islands are extensively used for leisure sailing areas. A good knowledge of the area is required, with weather conditions likely to change very quickly. Due to the array of separate tidal races produced by the underwater topography there are some treacherous stretches of water. These include the Grey Dogs and the Gulf of Corryvreckan in which is located the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool, which is the third largest whirlpool in the world. It surrounds a pyramid-shaped Basalt Pinnacle, rising from a depth of 70 metres to 29 metres below sea level, at its rounded top. It is not unusual to find 9 metre high waves passing between the island at high tide.

The Garvellachs

The Grey Dogs

Garvellachs Tidal Flow

[edit] Recreational diving

Divers aboard the Farsain, from Craobh Haven

The Garvellachs are particularly well known to divers, with boats from Oban also taking groups down to the area. Increasingly many divers are basing their activities from Craobh Haven itself. The waters, though somewhat devoid of fish, offer some very clear waters and an extensive array of corals, Seastars, Anemonae, Shellfish and underwater topographical features. The trips out to the dive sites also offer the opportunities to see Golden Eagles, Sea Eagles and porpoises. Due to the fast flowing waters in the Firth of Lorne Minke whales may also be viewed occasionally.