20 June 2024
We had a fantastic trip and will definitely be back! Dropping off the luggage early is a great idea as you have time to explore Oban. Charlie was a fantastic Skipper and his local knowledge was tested by the wind and the weather. Nothing was too much trouble, all the crew were exceptional. Book it!
F Poole
16 June 2022
Dear Emma - Firstly, let me say a huge thank you to Rob, Craig, Bumble and Zoë for the wonderful way they made us feel so welcome and at home on Elizabeth G. Thanks too to Elizabeth G for being such a safe and reliable vessel. We wish the weather had been kinder but we always were able to take advantage of the trips ashore and saw some superb woldlife. We really enjoyed Bumble's great cooking and Zoë's excellent wildlife knowledge. Craig was amazing in the way he switched roles seamlessly and helped with the trips ashore. Rob's seamanship and experience was greatly admired and no more so than the day he responded to the Mayday call. He was also great to chat to and kept us amused in the wheelhouse on long wet passages with tales of colourful characters from his decades of association with the sea. It was an amazing experience - thank you.
Sue Hurst
16 June 2022
Considering this booking had been postponed from 2020 due to Covid, everything was as efficient as usual – thanks Emma! Couldn’t have done better and huge thanks to Rob, Craig, Zoe and Bumble for all they did to care for us throughout. Meals were amazing considering the size of the kitchen and the weather and Rob always made sure that we knew what was on the agenda each day.
A Bercellos
16 June 2022
Dear Emma, Just to say what a wonderful cruise we had! We found it excellent in every way. The weather was trying but only some of the time. Rob devised such a very good route with wonderful anchorages, and we made it to the Flannan Isles, the highlight I suppose. It was so good to be with such diverse fellow guests, and we had enormous admiration for all the crew members; they seemed so wonderfully cohesive and versatile in all they did for us. Bumble never ceased to produce wonderful meals; Craig turned from his anchor to cabin duties with amazing good will and skill, while Zoe had excellent recall on birds and was an attentive companion on shore, a really fine wildlife spotter. We had the added excitement of rescuing the yacht in trouble off Tobermory in which Rob applied all his skill and experience. Please pass on our gratitude to Rob in due course.
Julian & Sarah Lush
16 June 2022
First class all the way, food (including vegetarian) well catered, knowledgeable staff never short of information and practical help, never been so “looked after”. Yes book it. For us it was a lot of money compared to our usual trips but it was well worth it. We know the Western Isles pretty well but were taken to many new places and Kathryn had never really been on a ship before.
Neil & Kathryn Turnball
24 June 2021
I can only say that the cruise was excellent in every way!
Tom Bairner
24 June 2021
Fabulous experience with glorious weather, good company and a phenomenal crew. Itinerary was superb and was adapted as the trip progressed to provide the best experience for all. Great deal of laughter throughout. Catering was superb. In summary a trip not to be missed
Michael Went
24 June 2021
A fabulous trip, we visited remote islands, saw lots of wildlife, ate wonderful food and had a lot of fun. James, Will, Emma & Helen did everything possible to make our trip memorable. We have already booked to come back in 2022.
John & Jenny Bartram
24 June 2021
Understatement to say that we had a wonderful time. The fabulous weather helped but it would have been superb regardless. We saw almost everything on the list (James and Will have an uncanny ability to spot cetaceans a long way off - radio control was suggested!) and appreciated the way the itinerary was kept flexible to allow for the changing swell conditions. Emma and Helen looked after us extremely well - fabulous food and service. A really professional and friendly crew! The other passengers were interesting and good fun. Brilliant ... we'll be back for sure.
Brian and Barbara Corlett
24 June 2021
Fabulous !I will be honest and admit that I hadn’t even heard of the Flannan Isles until I booked this cruise, so some speedy reading was called for! I’m please I did, for that little knowledge created an aura about the place, and when we were lucky enough (thanks to James !) to actually step ashore, then the highlight of my cruise was instantly created. Then, cruising across to visit the plethora of gannet further added to the Flannan experience, a fabulous place ! That is not to say it was the only highlight – the standing stones at Callanish were another highlight, and being able to anchor within sight of the stones just added to the experience. Those were my own personal highlights, but Eigg and The Shiants were also amazing places. St Kilda was always my dream island to visit, and I managed that on a previous cruise with you, but I must say, I think this cruise actually surpassed that one – what more can I say ! The crew were simply fabulous. Helen kept the accommodation spotless throughout, catered for our every need, Emma provided wonderful meals, Will was a true action man, pointing out wildlife, lifting anchors, fastening ropes precariously on Flannan, and of course, James was ever the perfect skipper. Each and every one of the crew were brilliant to share the cruise with, so friendly, so keen to provide absolutely anything that anyone wanted.
Mr Steve Lloyd
Well! Where does one start to describe such a phenomenal adventure. As a couple of old folk, well into their eighties, with one of us disabled and only recently diagnosed with dementia. You may wonder what on earth were we doing, taking on a small vessel wild life cruise into the seas around the Hebrides. An act of Faith, maybe. Fear not! This is no ordinary “cruise company”. Read on, this is something else. From the very onset, when first contacting Emma, (and before realising we had a dementia situation) , we were treated with immense respect, given prompt very sincere answers to all our queries and immediately realised we were dealing with a very genuine company and warm people. We could do this! So it proved to be. All the guidance and joining information was detailed, accurate and very helpful. On arrival at North Pier, Oban, prior to boarding, we were met by the most friendly of people who promptly took our luggage and conveyed it to our boat, LucyMary. And there she was! The most handsome of vessels, gleaming and awaiting her guests, whilst laid alongside the pontoons. We felt like royalty. At the foot of the companionway stood owner Rob, waiting to greet his guests. No, not captain, skipper, or the like, simply Rob. The head of what was for the duration, a close knit group of guests and crew who blended together seamlessly into one very happy family the whole trip. The crew of four were simply brilliant. Starting with Rob, of course. Then in no particular order - Indie, our extraordinary and knowledgeable naturalist and wild life expert. Abbie, delightful, ever accommodating stewardess, who looked after everyone with continuous attention. Serving meals, making drinks, tidying cabins, fetching and carrying. Then , the chef! Perry. Wow, what he produced in the galley was exquisite. But, it didn’t stop there. All of the crew joined in where appropriate with any other duties too.
Mike & Margaret Knighton: 18 September 2023The Small Isles and sea lochs: Wildlife havens