Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyleakin and Approaches

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This stretch of water from the Northern end of the Sound of Sleat, north through Kyle Rhea and on West through Kyle Akin and under the Skye Bridge is a much used, sheltered passage into and out of the Minch . The tidal streams run back and forth through it at up to 8 knots through Kyle Rhea and about 3 to 3.5 knots past Kyle of Loch Alsh; get it wrong and you could spend quite a few hours getting through the two miles of Kyle Rhea!!

Tidal Stream Timings

Kyle Rhea .
North going stream is from 6 hours after HW Ullapool up to 6 or 7 kts at Springs
South going stream is from HW Ullapool up to 8 knots at Springs.
In both instances the water sluicing out of the Kyle forms eddies and quite fierce overfalls where wind opposes tide.

Chart 2540-1 and the CCC cruising notes provide tidal streams for the 12 hour cycle. Note that there is a back eddy on the East side of the Kyle which means that for a short distance the current is South bound there for the whole of the cycle; this wouldn't be a problem unless you meet something large ploughing south whilst you are creeping North - don't let him don't let him push you too far over to starboard!!

Kyle Akin (Under the Skye Bridge)
East going stream starts 4 hours and 20 minutes before HW Ullapool on Springs and at HW Ullapool on Neaps
West going stream starts 4 hours after HW Ullapool on Springs and 6 hours after HW Ullapool on Neaps.

The other thing to bear in mind is that, most of the time, when the stream is South bound in Kyle Rhea it is flowing out of Loch Duich and that means that if you are on passage between the Skye Bridge and Loch Duich or vice versa you will need to be a bit clever on your times, especially at spring tides. It can also mean that if you arrive at Kyleakin and find no room in the inn your options may be limited because Loch Duich, which could be the best alternative in a SW blow, may be a tide too far.

You can access the Tidal streams in Kyle Rhea here Tidal streams

General Information:

As we have said, this is a busy bit of water, not only is there a constant flow of cruising yachtsmen, the harbour at Kyle of Lochalsh is home to a fair few fishing vessels of one sort or another, there are supply vessels running from here out to the islands, there are also support vessels for the submarine warfare practice ranges in the Inner Sound, the Kyle of Lochalsh ILB is out practicing most evenings and there is a glass bottom boat taking trippers out to look at the bottom several times a day! (This now operates from the Kyleakin side and is no longer taking up berthing space at Kyle of Lochalsh

There are two main facilities for cruisers, one on the North side (Kyle of Lochalsh) and the other on the Skye side (Kyleakin); Kyleakin is run by the Highland Council whilst the pontoons at Kyle of Lochalsh are now run by the Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust These towns/villages used to be the termini for the ferry over to Skye, and you just have to look at the Railway Station to see how busy this place used to be (though half the building is given over to a museum these days).

Both have wide slips as an inheritance from the ferries but nowadays these are used mainly for launching kayaks & RIBS. Virtually all the berths at Kyleakin on Skye have been leased to local boats and there is not much room there for visiting boats.

This is unfortunate because the pontoon on the other side, at Kyle of Lochalsh, is exposed to strong West to South West winds and also subject to the wash from vessels to-ing and fro-ing from the old railway pier et alia. (had it been otherwise no doubt the locals would be leasing permanent moorings here as well)

There are also moorings available off the beach at Kyleakin opposite the Kings Arms of which three blue ones at the Bridge end of the trot are for visitors. I believe that there is a charge for their use but there is no record of anyone being approached to pay it! You will find that, in mid season and especially if there is a blow forecast, the pontoon at Kyleakin is double banked by teatime and boats are scurrying about looking for shelter throughout the evening; the HM at Kyle of Lochalsh may even have to close the pontoon if there is significant weather threatened.

In these situations you will find an assortment of anchorages along the sides of Loch Alsh and into Loch Duich and people who are familiar with the area often go straight past both facilities and anchor in Loch Duich from choice, planning to pass the North end of Kyle Rhea at LW slack.