Immersive, expert led encounters in the heart of the Hebrides.

At Hebrides Cruises, wildlife isn't a happy accident, it is the very purpose of our journey. As the pioneers of wildlife cruising in the UK, we have spent decades perfecting the art of the encounter. We don't just sail past the coastline; we use our deep rooted expertise to bring you face-to-face with the spectacular natural heritage of the Scottish Isles.

Expert eyes on every horizon

Nature follows its own schedule, but our success rate is no coincidence. Our reputation as leaders in the field is built on the combined local knowledge of our crew and our dedicated wildlife guides.

• Dedicated spotting: While our crew navigates, your wildlife guide is on deck or in the wheelhouse, scanning for the "tell-tale" signs, the footprint of a minke whale, the splash of a breaching dolphin, or the silhouette of an eagle.

• Beyond the shoreline: Our expertise extends to the land. On every shore excursion, your guide helps you identify everything from rare orchids and insect life to the subtle tracks of an otter in the sand.

A Theatre of the seasons

The Hebrides change beautifully throughout the year. Use our seasonal guide to see what you might encounter during your voyage:

Spring & early Summer (April – June)

• The Puffin Arrival: From late April, thousands of puffins return to the Treshnish Isles and St Kilda. They are famously curious, often allowing you to sit quietly just a few feet from their burrows.

• Nesting Colonies: Watch for manx shearwaters returning to Rum and various tern species arriving to nest.

• Island Specialists: On Iona, listen for the rare corncrake, and look for white tailed eagles soaring over the dramatic cliffs of Mull.

High Summer (July – August)

• The Giants Arrive: basking sharks, the world’s second-largest fish, typically appear in mid July as the waters warm.

• Cetacean Hotspots: Minke whales, common dolphins, and porpoises are seen on almost every cruise. The Outer Hebrides offer the best chance to spot rarer species like risso’s dolphins or even the famous West Coast Community of Orca, John Coe and Aquarius.

• The Feeding Frenzy: In late August, the waters off Ardnamurchan come alive. Thousands of gannets and guillemots dive into shoals of fish, often joined by pods of leaping dolphins and minke whales.

Autumn (September – October)

• The Red Deer Rut: As the hills turn to gold, the "rut" begins. red deer are easily spotted on the slopes of Rum and Jura.

• Atlantic Grey Seals: Our sheltered anchorages offer wonderful views of seals hauled out on the rocks, with pups often appearing in the quieter corners of the lochs.

Iconic wildlife destinations

St Kilda: 41 Miles into the Atlantic Our owner, Rob Barlow, has visited St Kilda over 250 times, pioneering the routes we sail today. We navigate our vessels within metres of the world’s highest sea stacks, home to a staggering number of seabirds. On shore, we will help you try and find the unique St Kilda wren and the formidable great skua.

Mull & The Small Isles From the "eagle capital" of Mull to the dramatic stacs of Canna, these islands are havens for biodiversity. Whether it’s watching otters play in a kelp forest or tracking a golden eagle over the peaks of Rum, these are the moments that define a Hebrides cruise.

Your wildlife checklist

While every journey is a unique adventure, on a typical cruise, we expect to encounter:

• Minke whales & harbour porpoise

• Common & bottlenose dolphins

• White-tailed & golden eagles

• Otters, seals & red deer

• Over 60 species of birds

"Part of the adventure is not knowing when the wildlife will appear—but if it’s there, we have the expertise to find it."