22 August 2025
What a brilliant cruise out beyond St Kilda, along the Rockall Shelf edge and round the top of Lewis and into the Minch. Three kinds of Dolphin, Basking Sharks, Minke Whales and a distant Fin Whale were the some highlights. Bird life rewarded us with the St Kilda wren and a juvenile Barred Warbler whilst on Hirta on the island, four types of Shearwater and a Sabine’s Gull. Elizabeth G was well suited for the challenges of our extended sailing times and the unpredictable seas off the north western islands of Scotland. The crew of James, Conor, Lynsey and Charlie were all brilliant in their navigating, guiding, cooking and supporting the guests getting the most out of our research expedition cruise. Thank you
Colin & Carol W
We’re just back from a superb 10-night cruise aboard Elizabeth G. It’s our latest trip with Rob and his crew. With en-suite cabins now it’s even more of a luxury trip. Not that we spent much time in the cabin - instead we were generally found on the top observation deck, watching shearwaters dance across the waves, fulmars shoot past effortlessly, gannets flying in squadron-formation and panicky puffins duck beneath our wake. We’re enticed down for two reasons: bow-riding dolphins, when we hang over the bow sharing the excitement and energy of this spectacle with our fellow guests, and food: Mags was our cook preparing fabulous meals with local ingredients, including scallops hand-dived by our skipper, Rob. It was at dinner each evening that Rob would discuss the next day’s itinerary, balancing our wishes with the weather and his incredible knowledge of the most picturesque anchorages. Each day saw us exploring a new island with the help of Nigel our wildlife guide, taken ashore by Rob and Bosun Craig in the tender. And we even got to St Kilda. St Kilda is a unique place with a magical atmosphere; an atmosphere that lingers in part because of its remoteness. Rob found the weather window to allow a 2-night stay and it was here, on our trip round the stacs, that guests and crew came together on the front deck to gaze in awe at the thousands of seabirds around us. As we disembarked, a little sadly, in Oban on our last day I couldn’t help wonder how soon we’ll get the urge to return...
Catrin Lester: 24 June 2019St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides