Dorus Mor

The sun didn't deign to shine two days in a row, so another day of looking for photographic detail rather than views.

Among the workboats in Oban harbour today was a terrific workhorse of a boat, the Dorus Mor, Gaelic for Great Door. It's a general purpose workboat, length 19.5m, beam 6.7m for those who like that sort of details. Apart from watching men freeze their fingers off, the interesting thing for me is that the Dorus Mor is a tidal race at the southern end of Loch Craignish, off Craignish Point, where the incoming tide is forced up the dead end loch. This tidal race has a reputation, deservedly as it moves at 8 knots at springs. The boat of the same name has a service speed of 9 knots, not much more than the tidal race. But I reckon you'd be in good hands, with this man on board. Better as always in large, when the capstan on the left reminds me of a Henry Moore sculpture.

The tidal race is mentioned in a poem by a very interesting woman, Alice Clare MacDonell of Keppoch, Bardess to Clan Donald Society, publishing in the 1920's.


From "The Spell of the Mountains"


To hear the falls of the Spean*
In their tumbling vehemence roar,
Or watch the salt spray dashing
In a storm on the ' Dorus Mor ;'
When the spell of the mountain calling
Rends the soul with her plaintive cry,
Back to the heather-clad mountains
Her sons must return, or die !