Scottish adventures are always more fun!
Matt asked me to write an article about our flying trip to the Scottish Hebrides, but we all know what happens to the best laid plans and certainly plans had to change due (but it’s not what I thought I’d be writing about as the planned trip was somewhat altered due) to the micro-climates of the West coast of Scotland.
So what’s this article is going to be about? A review of the trip, a celebration to our valiant pilots and passengers, and a few insights if you wanted to go it alone in the Scottish Hebrides.
A bacon butty and a cuppa…
Matt and I started talking about a flying trip to Scotland at the beginning of 2025 over a cuppa and a bacon sandwich at Croft Farm. At the time, the idea was sound, we knew the routes and many of the airfields and farm strips we wanted to visit. The routes would give every pilot a sense of fun, adventure and accomplishment, along with camaraderie by meeting other like-minded aviators. A fantastic environment to learn from each other and make long-term friends.
Hours of planning, phone calls and e-mails went into selecting and obtaining permissions from airfield managers, farmers and local authorities notwithstanding organising food, camping and showers for all!
The WhatsApp group was hot with activity once Matt announced the trip to the Outer Herbrides, the take-up was overwhelming and enthusiastic… all down to the loyalty of the pilots from previous trips! In the end we had 20 people and 13 planes – it would have been a magical 14, but unfortunately I’d pranged my propeller on the barn and the Aviat Husky was out of action for this trip!
Are you calling an emergency?
Our first rendezvous was Glenforsa Hotel on the Isle of Mull which was also our basecamp for the weekend. Glenforsa Hotel is set back from the Sound of Mull – a beautiful sea inlet that goes from the Atlantic towards Oban. The hotel is an authentic log cabin style building with a most incredible 780m NE / SW grass strip which separates the Sound of Mull from the hotel. The strip is manicured and well drained and suitable for light sports aircraft, caravan style and backcountry planes. Authentic camping is allowed under the wing of your plane – it’s an aviator’s dream scenario.
The hotel is owned by Brendan and Alison Walsh who are an extremely aviation friendly team, having run the Intrepid Aviation Company for Dave Gilmore (Pink Floyd) at North Weald looking after his many vintage planes. On this note, Dave Gilmore owned a Beech Staggerwing (a photo of which is proudly displayed in the Glenforsa reception). However, what many didn’t know is one of our pilots Ed Parkin is the new owner of this very same plane… what a coincidence that was! I believe Brendan had a few stories to share about that plane’s past and flying nuances with Ed.
Twelve planes, pilots and passengers arrived safely with no dramas on route, except for one… Arthur! Unfortunately, Arthur had a fuel value issue where he couldn’t transfer gas from his reserve to the main tank, this resulted in an unexpected detour and AvGas top-up at Prestwick Airport.
What a sight to see, a little J3 Cub surrounded by Ryanair’s and Jet2’s Airbus and Boeing fleet planes. Arthur told me Prestwick was questioning him to declare an emergency which it wasn’t, they then tried to charge him handsomely for landing there – he used his diplomacy and charismatic charm to avoid these two penalties.
After a welcome drink, supper and much banter we headed off to our beds with the excitement of a fun filled Saturday ahead of us. However, we woke to drizzle and low cloud which wasn’t forecast.
Thankfully the weather turned bright over the Sound of Mull within an hour, the trip was on (hurrah!), some of the faster planes scooted off to our first destination, Glendoe farm strip. However, the micro-climates of the Scottish Hebrides had other ideas.
Pathfinders do a reconnaissance.
As Charles and I flew along the Great Glen in his yellow RV6 we could see a bank of cloud sitting across the mountains to the West and East of Fort William and over the town itself. We couldn’t get through as the cloud was touching the base. At this exact same time Ed (in his Super Cub) was 5,000ft above us and reported cloud rising beyond 8,000ft – there was no way through. We had to return to base camp.
We contacted the airfields beyond Fort William and they all reported CAVOK – we had to find a way through keep the trip on track.
So I jumped into the little yellow RV6 with Charles (who has now been awarded the call-sign ‘Pathfinder’ due to heroic low level flying along the Great Glen) to fly towards the Isle of Skye and Plockton to see if we can reach Easter, Culboike and Knockbain Farm from the South West. But no, this route was blocked by low cloud and rain too!
We returned to base camp for a second time with the disappointing news. This meant a walk around the town of Dornoch and lunch at Newhall Mains was regrettably canceled. The airfield manager (Hughie) at Dornoch airfield had organised a few places for snacks and coffee in the town… we’ll make it next time. I must admit I was so looking forward to sampling the Newhall Mains menu – it looked delicious.
The weather was moving extremely slowly across the Great Glen, so we decided to stay at Glenforsa, have lunch and take a view later in the day.
A decision was made that we should stay in the Mull area as the weather was known and we were still getting reports that the Great Glen was still blocked by cloud. Some groups headed off for a play around Iona, Jura, Ulva, Gometra, Skye and the Sound of Arisaig. A little later in the day other pilots went to Oban to fuel up in preparation for Sunday’s flying.
Angus and Fiona, along with Peter and Anne, in two planes managed to sneak through the gap at Fort William and get to Newhall Mains for a cup of tea and a game of croquet, I believe the game of croquet was held in glorious sunshine.
You couldn’t make it up!
We all met for supper at Glenforsa to swap stories of our day’s adventures around this beautiful area. Some enjoyed a beach landing or two – I’m thrilled for those who managed to spread their wings and explore the Scottish Hebrides others visited the Isle of Skye. Well done!
We woke to a very overcast Sunday and the prospect of not being able to head South and home.
We waited the morning out hoping the cloud would shift – unfortunately the cloud stayed low. We were briefed by Brendan about the Graignish low level corridor which local pilots use during the winter to head towards the mainland. This may be our only route home.
The plan was to head toward Carlisle for fuel whilst visiting a few airstrips on the way. However, at the last minute as we were requesting PPR from Carlisle, we were told the fuel had run out as the delivery hadn’t arrived… you couldn’t make it up!
So, the only alternative fuel stop was Kirkbride and they close fro fuel at 2pm – which we could not make in time. What a relief… we managed to persuade Kirkbride to stay open until 3pm which they did – we are extremely grateful to them.
We set off one by one heading towards the Graignish corridor with the aim to all meet at Kirkbride.
Charles and I were one of the last to leave Glenforsa. We heard on the radio the Graignish corridor was closing in with reports of pilots scudding through the corridor. We decided to head towards Oban and climb above the cloud – which we did. We cruised along at 7,000ft – peaking out between the clouds we spotted vibrant blue water and land beneath us. We descended over the Firth of Clyde and headed toward Girvan on the mainland. It was then a bumpy low level ride to Kirkbride.
We met others at Kirkbride and heard about their adventurous journey – by all accounts exciting! We then counted the planes in, one by one. As the last few planes approached I had a text from Matt asking, ‘Can you get permission from the field for me to land on the grass?’ Which I did – for those who are asking why? Well it’s a backcountry thing, which you’ll get when you own a taildragger! 🙂
A huge thank you to the airfield owners and hoteliers who welcomed us to their airfields, to the pilots and passenger who displayed a best of British, ‘Let’s make the most of our weekend’ attitude!
Fancy going it alone?
Insights I’d like to share for when you go it alone to the Outer Hebrides…
Every flying trip I’ve made to Scotland I’ve had some sort of weather issue which says to me, always build in an extra few days to wait it out, never be in a rush to head to the next destination or even home.
Plan, discuss and review. Even though the information on SkDemon is excellent call the airfield owners and get a direct briefing from them – especially the remote strip as they could suffer from wind sheer, undulating ground or some other obstacle. In the case of Glendoe and Kilkerran they provide excellent written briefing documents mentioning things like undulating ground, fencing and gradients. If you are travelling with a co-pilot or in a group then even better, share the research, discuss and make a collective plan.
Take a tent and some extra food just in case you need to sleep it out at a farm strip or if there’s no hotel accommodation near by.
Extra clothes are also important if the stay is extended or you need to go on a long wet walk to the petrol station or village. We were lucky, Glenforsa has a courtesy car for us to pick up the MoGas.
Fill up with gas whenever you can at whatever the cost so you know it’s there for when you need it. Also, it’s worth investing in a couple of gas bladders so you can pick up some MoGas at the local petrol station or carry extra gas on board.
As we did on this trip, we constantly checked the weather using local contacts and insights. Remember this advice… the Griagnish low level corridor and local weather knowledge from Glenforsa?
As a pilot in command you need to gather as much information as you can about the situation you find ourselves in. Constantly review the status and make a decision on what next and what I’m comfortable about doing. Never feel pushed by others to fly, remember there’s no shame in not flying, it’s just a good decision by you.
If you can, fly with other pilots who have aligned skills and planes with similar capabilities – this is so you can enjoy all destinations and fly as a group.
Ed Smiley-Jone AKA @HinterlandPilot
What next?
Long weekend trips will be saved until 2026 but we will be having a few gatherings and fly-outs before the winter hits us. Keep checking the WhatsApp group and our newsletters for updates.
