Early return for Basking Sharks
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Basking sharks have been spotted off the island of Coll over the Easter weekend, much earlier in the year than expected.
Read MoreHebrides Basking Sharks
Monday, 2 February 2015
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.
Read MoreOur favourite mussel recipe
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Pip Pedley is one of our onboard chefs for this season and she has provided us with her favourite mussel recipe!
Read MoreThe MacNeils of Barra
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
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
Read MoreIsle of Mull Mussels
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
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.
Read MoreDiaries from St Kilda
Friday, 16 January 2015
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.
Read MoreFrom Canna to Coruisk
Saturday, 10 January 2015
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.
Read MoreEthically fished seafood in the spotlight
Saturday, 20 December 2014
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.
Read MoreCelebrated dolphin appears in Sound of Mull
Saturday, 6 December 2014
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) has provided research information on a recent solitary bottlenose dolphin that has appeared off the Island of Mull this week.
Read MoreCetacean researcher on our 2015 cruises
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Guests on many of our 2015 cruises will be invited to take part in important research on the distribution of the larger marine animals which we encounter on our voyages throughout the Hebrides.
Read MoreSeabird Success for Hebrides
Saturday, 16 August 2014
After several years of bad news on seabird populations on the west coast of Scotland, Dr Richard Luxmoore, Senior Nature Conservation Adviser for the National Trust has reported that several species have had their best season in 10 years.
Read MoreSt Kilda Cruise: Sean Guthrie from The Herald comes aboard
Friday, 1 August 2014
This is Sean Guthrie’s account of his cruise which appeared the The Herald on July 20th 2014
THE value of much you take for granted or overlook can be driven home in the unlikeliest of circumstances, in this case a week among strangers on a converted rescue ship ploughing the seas around the Inner and Outer Hebrides
Read MoreQueen’s Baton arrives on St Kilda
Friday, 11 July 2014
Guests on Elizabeth G watch as the Queen’s Baton arrives on St Kilda! Elizabeth G is enjoying a glorious morning as the Commonwealth Games Baton arrives on St Kilda carried by open-water swimmer Colin MacLeod. Watch the video here>
Read MorePrivate cruise charter the Monachs
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
We were delighted to welcome a particularly favourite group of guests on board for their 6th private charter with us. A very special guest on this cruise is Elizabeth Spanswick who Elizabeth G is named after. We have highlighted the menu on board to give a taste of what the guests enjoyed!
Read MoreBasking Sharks in the Hebrides
Monday, 30 June 2014
The Hebrides is often described as romantic so it is no surprise to find that this may be one of the reasons why one of our most fascinating and rare species visits these waters too!
Read More
Our trip to the Outer Hebrides was exceptional in every way; the talented staff; the comfortable accommodations; the little details (a refreshing glass of Prosecco on the return of each day's trip); the always-full cookie jar; the welcoming and beautifully decorated table spread with good food; the post-dinner discussions and chart-reading with Captain James and our naturalist, Will; the frolicking Bottlenose dolphins "bow riding" upside down next to the "Emma Jane"; the seals lazily lounging on the rocky ledges; the Minke whales; the diving gannets, nesting puffins, and Great Skua (nicknamed "Bonzies" by the Scots.....Will photographed one Bonxie trying to grab a mackerel away from a shearwater); the while fulmars flitting in and out the rocky crevices; and our wonderful trip companions. It was a trip to treasure and relive many times in future years! Every new adventure offered the chance to read and to learn about the many marine birds, the "beasties" (ocean mammals), and the fascinating stories and history of the Outer Hebrides. All experiences were unique; hiking in the Isle of Eigg to the "Massacre Cave"; viewing habitats of nesting puffins, guillemots, shags, fulmars on the cliffs of the "Shiants" and St. Kilda's; seeing the aquaculture salmon rafts stretched in a row off the coast of Skye; steaming across the water to the archipelago of St. Kilda's and experiencing the view of Hirta, St. Kilda's main island, mysteriously rising out of the fog as we approached the island All were memorable experiences. And we were lucky! The weather was perfect for our trip....some light drizzle off and on, some wind but no strong "houlies" (very strong winds)! This is a trip of a lifetime. We recommend it with enthusiasm and with joyful memories! Sally and Alan Gayer June 2019 Private Cruise to the Outer Hebrides and St. Kilda's
Sally and Alan Gayer: 8 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights