Solent-Scotland in April-thoughts?

[TJ D]

Hi Forum,

We're planning to leave a bit earlier than most would from the Solent area to Scotland. We'll have a few weeks or a month to make the trip, but we want to have the boat in Scotland by May 1.

I'm sort of 50-50 on which way to go, up the E or W side of England.

Westabout: More harbors, less tidal headaches, but we have a more exposed crossing to get across to Ireland/Scotland (we would probably cross to Cork or Kinsale and then carry on N from there).

Eastabout, Less harbors, bigger tides, more shipping, but we should get some decent protection from the W.

If we go up the E side, we'll go through the Caledonian canal to get to the W side.

Obviously, we know that the weather's still often up at thie time of year, so we'll be planning to hop and hide as necessary.

I'd appreciate some local knowledge from you old UK hands. Which way would you guys recommend?

Thanks, TJ

[TJ D]

And on a related note... Any favorite all weather/deep water spots to stop from Land's end N? We draw 3M, and don't really want to be aground at low tide, unless it's pretty soupy mud. Definitely no going dry for us.

Thanks, TJ