28 June 2018
We set off on 28 June from Oban for our ten days exploration of the Hebrides with the hope that we’d visit St Kilda. We did, and so much more. The crew (Chris (skipper), Alexa (wildlife guide), Pete (cook), Emma (bosun), were fantastic from the off. They effortlessly transported our mountain of luggage to our comfortable cabins which Emma kept spotless through the cruise, as well as looking after us on the rough crossing to St Kilda through to Caribbean strength G&Ts. Chris was a really good skipper. He sailed the boat well and did his best to find a route that best managed his passengers’ seafaring abilities, and he also had a ceremony to give homage to the Blue Men of the Minch! Pete’s amazing menus incorporated our requests – I’ll always remember his mussels on the first night, his haggis Scotch eggs, my mother’s clootie dumpling and much more – and we appreciated how he involved the kids (9 to 11) in the kitchen. Alexa (with Chris) magic’d up an amazing array of wildlife with huge enthusiasm and great knowledge. We became blasé about the number of dolphins we saw – I can best quote Chris “the weather and the wildlife sightings are some of the best I’ve known in almost 20 years”. The weather was fantastic which enabled us to land and explore Tobermory, Canna, Sanday, Taransay, Hirta (St. Kilda), Mingulay, Vatersay, Rum, Lunga (Treshnish Isles) and Loch Buie, as well as sailing past Neist Point (Skye), Boreray (St. Kilda), Monachs, Hellisay in the Sound of Barra, Eigg, Staffa, Ulva and Iona. The weather was so good we were able to swim off Sanday, Taransay, Mingulay and Vatersay, as well as enjoy the hot tub. This was a trip of a lifetime for us all. We were able to see so many places which have been specks on the horizon for so long. The cruise was magical and extra special. It’s given us memories to last a lifetime!
George Mitchell
I have cruised before with Hebrides Cruises and this time chose to do the one "that visited the puffins and Staffa". The crew were as brilliant as ever and the food was definitely 5* all the way including catering for the individual dietary requirements too. We were able to land in some beautiful places and did see the puffins on Lunga which is a magical experience listening to them "chatting away" just a couple of metres away from your feet! We also was taken into Fingal's cave on the tender which was an unexpected bonus to the trip. We were very lucky with the weather and our wildlife sightings included a huge pod of common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, feral goats and a sea eagle literally flying low past the ship! Thank you to Chris, Zoe, Craig, Sian and Emma for such a lovely relaxing break. I can't wait to return...
Melanie Rogers: 23 April 2022Idyllic Islands: Mull, Iona, Staffa & the Treshnish Isles