News

No stranger to Elizabeth G or the Hebrides, Chris Jackson (CJ) was back on board to skipper our "Idyllic Islands: Hebridean Photography Cruise" of 2015, which was led by professional wildlife photographer Chris Gomersall (CG). The two Chris’s have worked together since 2002, and with Bosun Sarah and Cook Pip on board, we knew the guests would be well entertained and looked after.

Here are some of the highlights of our 6-night cruise on May 23rd 2015.  With Guide Vivi Bolin on board, an impressive amount of wildlife was spotted and identified: golden and white tailed Eagles; bottlenose, common and Risso’s dolphins; porpoise, Pomerine skua, puffins, guillemots, razorbills and whimbrel amongst many other species

The number of white-tailed eagles in Scotland has reached 100 breeding pairs, a great success story for the re-introduction of the species. The birds, also known as sea eagles, were absent from the UK for nearly 60 years because of widespread persecution. The last known nesting attempt was on Skye in 1916 and in 1918 the last British white-tailed eagle was shot in Shetland.

We really appreciate when guests take the time to give us detailed feedback.  Our first cruise of the season to the Isle of Mull did not get the best of weather but hopefully this review from our guest Felicity Lovell gives an insight that the weather is not essential to a great cruise experience.

Elizabeth G was looking her very best with a total makeover inside and out for her first cruise of the season. Our four crew, Skipper Rob, Chef Steve, Wildlife Guide Vivi and Bosun Sarah were ready to welcome our first guests of the season on board yesterday

Common dolphins are actually normally not all that common in the Hebrides, but this has changed recently. The number of common dolphins found in the waters off western Scotland has substantially increased; the encounter rate has more than doubled in the past 12 years according to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust

Have a look at the blog our Australian guest Murray Foote has produced to document his St Kilda and the Hebrides cruise with us in 2014.  The images and information are truly superb and we are very grateful to Murray for sharing them with us.

Basking sharks have been spotted off the island of Coll over the Easter weekend, much earlier in the year than expected.

The Hebrides is still the best place in the world for sighting basking sharks

Basking Shark Scotland (BSS), based in Oban recorded 250 individual basking shark sightings last year, despite many places in the UK recording their lowest numbers in many years. The sightings ranged from Caithness to Dumfries & Galloway, but the highest concentration of sightings were recorded in the Hebrides.

Pip Pedley is one of our onboard chefs for this season and she has provided us with her favourite mussel recipe!

One of the delights of our cruises is mingling with the local population when we happen to meet them. The history of the people who populate the islands we visit is invariably fascinating and they are justly proud of their roots and ancestry.  Barra has a population of 1,000 and the main name is MacNeil.  There are of course MacNeils all over the world who are also proud of their heritage

Scottish rope grown mussels produced by Inverlussa Shellfish based in Loch Spelve on the Isle of Mull will take a starring role on BBC TV’s James Martins “Home Comforts” programme later this week. 

THE diaries of a teacher and minister’s wife who lived on St Kilda before the isles were evacuated are to be put online by the National Trust of Scotland.

The name “The Small Isles” really doesn’t do justice to a unique group of four islands, just south of Skye, each with its own amazing character, culture, scenery and geology.  

It’s really pleasing and amazing to see a scallop fisherman on the Isle of Mull featured in a massive advertising campaign in Heathrow Airport. Our good friend and supplier of ethically fished seafood, Guy Grieve of the Ethical Shellfish Company stars in one of four new animated adverts displayed across Heathrow to coincide with the festive season and attract more international visitors to Scotland.