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.
Emma, James and all of the Hebrides Cruises team - thank you for the most wonderful, memorable experience aboard Lucy Mary last weekend on the Hebrides Magical Mini-Cruise. We are missing it all so much already! Every single detail was so perfect, from the minute we stepped on board and were welcomed so warmly by the crew with the lovely Prosecco and canapés to the excitement of setting sail and knowing that we and our cruise companions had all begun a unique adventure together, making lifetime memories in the most tranquil, spiritual setting that would bond us all. Everything felt familiar and like home so quickly but also so far away from our day to day reality which didn’t creep in and disturb us once. We were utterly immersed in the experience and the wildlife aspect was simply phenomenal. I still can’t quite believe we actually experienced those moments. The anticipation of a ‘spot’, seeing a beastie emerge and sharing the wonder of that experience together as a group. Those are etched memories and I know how moved and elated every single person in our group was, time and time again on our trip. Having a pod of common dolphins, followed by bottle nose dolphins bow riding Lucy Mary as we journeyed towards Ardtornish was a moment we will never forget. It was other worldly and really quite emotional. The depth of knowledge and experience James has gave us the experiences we were so lucky to have, and having a wildlife guide on board is one of the most unique aspects of the cruise. James and Bella knew exactly what to look for in the waters which led to a successful spot each time - whales, dolphins, porpoises and all manner of sea birds. We had such lovely cruise companions - we all bonded and became very fond of each other quickly, with Hebrides Cruises creating the foundation for that with the quality of the experience. I hadn't appreciated just how much we would enjoy that aspect, being around people we had never met. It really is such a special part of the experience. The accommodation was so comfortable -
Andrew Wilson: 19 April 2024Hebrides Magical Mini Cruise