The Scottish west coast cruise area in which we operate is stunningly beautiful, fascinating and also extensive. It stretches from the magnificent sea lochs of the west coast of Scotland and the Caledonian Canal, to the islands of the inner and outer Hebrides and St Kilda. It would take weeks, if not months to explore this vast area, therefore our cruise itineraries are designed as a series of journeys within our cruise area to highlight the unique aspects of each. Once our guests get a taste for the west coast of Scotland and its islands, many return year after year to explore a different area.
We cruise from the end of April to the end of October. The long days of spring and summer are perfect for exploring remote coastal landscapes and spending time on deck identifiying passing wildlife. The days get shorter in autumn, but there are other benefits including a bounty of wildlife, landscapes with stunning autumn colour and sunrises and sunsets perfectly timed for breakfast and dinner!
The Islands of the Inner Hebrides
Within the Inner Hebrides there are 36 inhabited islands. The main islands that we visit include the mystical Isle of Skye and the nearby "Small Isles" of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna. We also visit the Isle of Mull and its offshore islands - Iona, the Treshnish Isles, Staffa, Lunga, Ulva and Gometra. Each island is totally different from its neighbour with its own distinct character and magic.
The Islands of the Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides is a stunningly beautiful chain of over 100 islands on the edge of Scotland. Practically the entire west coast of the Outer Hebrides is continuous white shell-sand beaches and flowering machair grassland, while the east coast is indented with thousands of small sea lochs and inlets to create a very picturesque coastal landscape. The main islands that we visit include Barra, the Uists and Harris as well as the far-flung smaller remote islands of Mingulay, the Monachs, the Shiants, Bernery and Taransay.
St Kilda
St Kilda is an archipelago of islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean 64 kilometres from of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It is an unforgettable place to visit because of its isolated location, evocative history, teeming wildlife and dramatic landscape. A trip to St Kilda is a lifetime experience desired by many of our guests and we have a very good record of reaching the archipelago, with the proviso that the safety of guests must always come first. We operate a 10-day trip to give the best chance of a suitable weather window and usually manage at least 2 nights anchored in Village Bay to explore St Kilda on shore, and cruising around the sea-stacks.
West Coast Mainland: Lochaber, Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Appin
Our cruises often call in at remote and idyllic anchorages in the magnificent sea lochs on the Scottish west coast mainland, such as Loch Carron, Loch Torridon, Loch Nevis, Loch Hourn, Loch Sunart, Loch Linnhe and Loch Etive, amongst others.
We set off from Oban in the Elizabeth G under the expert skippering (is that a word ?) of Alistair, Bosun Craig was ever attentive providing drinks and excellenttable service, Zoe our guide pointing out various wildlife species and Charle our Chef providing delicious meals and snacks all throughout the cruise. I would nominate Charlie for Master Chef. Alistair plotted our course northwards, we saw Dolphins on our first day, poor Zoe couldn't get me to say pods, "herds of them" was my cry, it was amazing that these highly intelligent creatures would actively go out of their way to interact with us, it happened every day and our faces ached with the smiles these fantastic animals generated. We saw Minke whales almost every day as well The Elizabth G may be 60 years old but she is in excellent condition, strong, reliable, steady in a strong wind and swell because of her stabilisers, she has character and a beauty all of her own. She is big enough to give you confidence that she can tackle what mother nature throws at her but small enough to anchor in some truly amazing places. Every day you go ashore and explore another new location. (Weather permitting) Every member of the crew is dedicated to making sure you get the most out of your cruise, excellent food, excellent care, super knowledge of the flora and fauna. You go to bed every evening with your knowledge expanded, your spirits lifted. If you want to see Dolphins, Whales, Harbour Porpoises, Eagles, Shags, Gannets, Manx Shearwater, Gulls of every type, the list of encounters is limited only by the time/length of your cruise, sign up for a cruise as soon as you can. Alistair, the skipper has the utmost respect for the wildlife you encounter, every encounter is on the animals terms, their safety takes priority, he lets the wildlife come to the boat rather than pursuing it. His storytelling is wonderful, every evening he and Zoe join you and he shows you where you have been, where you are going and what weather to expect, there is even a knowledge test at the end o
David and Tracy Woods-Thomas: 28 August 2023Whale watching in the Northern Minch