Explore St. Kilda and the Shiants

We will meet the captain, crew and fellow guests at Dunstaffnage Marina, just three miles north of Oban, the gateway to the Hebridean islands. After a short introduction to life on board, it’s time to set sail to the colourful and pretty town of Tobermory.  You are free to spend the day exploring the pretty harbour, admire the wooden fishing boats and brightly painted houses or visit the wonderful local museum. 

Today we’ll visit the most westerly of the Small Isles, the Isle of Canna. Known as the ‘garden of the Hebrides’, it’s also one of the most beautiful with delightful wildflower meadows and abundant wildlife. Now managed by the National Trust of Scotland, it’s home to a single farm and since 1938 it has become a bird sanctuary with over 20,000 breeding seabirds including colourful puffins, razorbills, guillemots and Manx shearwaters. We will have time to explore its shores, discovering its rich cultural heritage and archaeology, and watching for wildlife including spectacular eagles and other birds of prey.

We will anchor in the village of Castlebay on the island of Barra of the Outer Hebrides. The village is located on the south coast of the island and overlooks a bay in the Atlantic Ocean dominated by Kisimul Castle. Castlebay was the main setting for the 1949 Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore and its 1957 sequel Rockets Galore and were both filmed on Barra.

Early this morning we set sail through the Sound of Pabbay for Hirta, the largest of the four St. Hirta islands, where we will stay for two nights. Discover this remote island and a highlight is the Village Bay which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness the sea cliffs of the St Kilda islands rise dramatically out of the Atlantic which is a protected breeding ground for many different sea bird species.

Situated on North Uist, Lochmaddy is the island’s main village. The village was probably settled by the Norse and was a base for seventeenth century pirates! The main attraction is Taigh Chearsabhagh, a community arts centre and museum with a shop and café, forming part of the Uist Sculpture Trail. 

The so called ‘enchanted’ or ‘holy isles’ in Gaelic, live up to their name. Situated between Lewis, Harris and northern Skye they are a haven for birdlife with 300,000 seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags and great skuas, arriving there in the summer to breed.

Loch Dunvegan is a sea loch on the west coast of the isle of Skye. Why not explore the famous Dunvegan Castle and gardens, home to the Chiefs of the Clan MacLeod for eight hundred year’s. The award-winning castle was built on a high rock overlooking the Loch, originally the site of an old Norse fort. Explore the highland estate steeped in history and wonder the beautiful formal gardens. 

This morning, we set sail for the Isle of Rum, the largest and most spectacular of the Small Isles. The entire island is a dedicated nature reserve, and it’s the ideal place to see some spectacular Scottish wildlife roaming free including red deer, wild goats and ponies. The cliffs are home to noisy seabird colonies including Manx shearwaters. Look up and you may spy majestic golden and white-tailed eagles soaring over the Cuillin of Rum. We recommend joining a guided tour of the island with a local ranger. You could also visit eccentric Kinloch Castle, an Edwardian folly constructed from red sandstone, or hike around this beautiful, rugged island.

On our final full day together, we will visit the tranquil waters of Loch Spelve on the south-eastern shores of the Isle of Mull. This peaceful loch is surrounded by an ancient oak forest, dotted with rocky islets, home to otters. It’s also renowned for its mussel cultivation, and we’ll have the opportunity to pick up some locally grown delicacies to savour before spending a final night on board.