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The Sounds of Mull and Linnhe Wildlife Scottish Cruise

The Sounds of Mull and Linnhe Wildlife Scottish Cruise

From GBP £1,000

Description

This five night Scottish cruise takes you along the majestic Sound of Mull, famous for its wildlife and bordered by the Isle of Mull and the Morvern Peninsula, and along historic Loch Linnhe. Our voyage will give you the full flavour of Scotland from the sea: its sheltered sea lochs, tranquil anchorages, picturesque harbours, ancient castles and even a whisky distillery. The mini cruise is a wonderful introduction to the breath-taking Hebrides and Islands.
There are myriads of seabirds and glancing skywards you might glimpse soaring golden and white tailed eagles and, at sea, you could be followed by dolphins, watch playful harbour porpoises and common and grey seals. Along the shore line, if you are lucky, otters may play in the shallows.  
In the autumn the mountains and hills are truly magnificent in their red and gold colours and they become alive to the bellows of the rutting stags. 
We are pleased to offer to our passengers a complementary visit to Duart castle. 

Trip Name
The Sounds of Mull and Linnhe Wildlife Scottish Cruise
Days
6
Overview
Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 72 feet / 21.9 meters Passenger Capacity: 8 Built / refurbished: 1974 / 2020 Gemini Explorer delivers a markedly different small-ship experience: a 1974 Clyde-class cruising lifeboat rebuilt for charter work while retaining the character of her original role. The hull, engines and core structure remain true to the vessel that once served at Clovelly and took part in the 1979 Fastnet storm, but successive refits have added a bright saloon, a modern galley, high bulwarks, a viewing deck and en-suite cabins. The result is a functional, seaworthy platform with clear traces of its RNLI history, upgraded just enough to support comfortable coastal exploration without diluting the vessel’s working-boat identity. Accommodation is compact but warm, with seven berths arranged between forward en-suite cabins and an aft twin sharing facilities with the crew. Life revolves around the deck saloon for dining and conversation, while the upper viewing deck offers the best vantage point for wildlife and landscape watching. Guests can bring their own gear, make use of the onboard two-person kayak, and settle into an informal routine shaped by a skipper who knows the Hebrides intimately and a chef who keeps meals local and fresh.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Some of the places we may visit are:
Oban: Your departure point will be Oban (Dunstaffnage Marina), the gateway to the Hebridean isles. After a short introduction to life on board our small ship we set sail to our first destination.  Loch Linnhe: The long Loch Linnhe goes all the way to Fort William. We travel past Lismore Island for the sheltered anchorage off Shuna Island. We can go ashore and visit the local nature reserve on the mainland and admire the famous Castle Stalker. There are lovely walks across the causeway bridge to Port Appin.Loch Spelve: A narrow entrance leads us in to the tranquil waters of Loch Spelve (on the beautiful Isle of Mull) with its surrounding ancient oak forest. If we are lucky we might spot an otter along the loch shore. We can also pick up some locally grown mussels before we leave to our next destination.Duart Castle: Our daytime anchorage in Duart Bay is below the spectacular 13th century Duart Castle, the ancestral home to the Maclean clan. You can go for walks along the shore and visit the castle and learn about its rich clan history.Tobermory: One of the most picturesque towns in the Hebridean Isles with its famous whisky distillery and colourful waterfront. We anchor in the Bay where a Spanish galleon was supposedly sunk with all its treasure. We can spend a day ashore and for the adventurous there are fast boat trips that can be arranged to visit Fingal’s cave on the Isle of Staffa. There are also sea eagle watch tours, guided walks or you can just wander along the streets, visit the delightful local museum, perhaps watch a pipe band, admire the wooden fishing boats and take in the long history of this lovely village.Loch Drumbuie: Just south of Oronsay island, another Inner Hebridean island, lies secluded Loch Drumbuie. A squeeze between high sided cliffs and we are in a perfectly sheltered anchorage. A lovely location for going sea kayaking or for a swim.Loch Aline: In the picturesque Loch Aline there are woodland walks and, at the head of the loch, is ancient Ardtornish estate and woodland gardens. 
Day 2 - Please Note:
Please note that your voyage is weather dependent. Weather doesn't just mean good or bad weather. There are many considerations such as tidal gates, wind direction and strength, the strength and direction of currents, overfalls, and fetch. Depending upon the weather and nature’s conditions, wildlife viewing varies.  If you wish to visit a specific place or have a specific experience, such as sea eagle tours or whisky tasting, then please do let your skipper know and he will endeavour to meet your request. Excursions and visits ashore are at your own cost.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
07-06-202612-06-2026GBP £1,000Twin Cabin
07-06-202612-06-2026GBP £1,350Twin Cabin En-suite
07-06-202612-06-2026GBP £1,625Double Cabin En-suite
06-09-202611-09-2026GBP £1,000Twin Cabin
06-09-202611-09-2026GBP £1,350Twin Cabin En-suite
06-09-202611-09-2026GBP £1,625Double Cabin En-suite
01-10-202606-10-2026GBP £1,250Single Cabin
01-10-202606-10-2026GBP £1,375Twin / Double Cabin
01-10-202606-10-2026GBP £1,900Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
01-10-202606-10-2026GBP £1,900Single Cabin En-suite
07-06-202712-06-2027GBP £1,025Twin Cabin
07-06-202712-06-2027GBP £1,375Twin Cabin En-suite
07-06-202712-06-2027GBP £1,675Double Cabin En-suite
06-09-202711-09-2027GBP £1,025Twin Cabin
06-09-202711-09-2027GBP £1,375Twin Cabin En-suite
06-09-202711-09-2027GBP £1,675Double Cabin En-suite
01-10-202706-10-2027GBP £1,300Single Cabin
01-10-202706-10-2027GBP £1,425Twin / Double Cabin
01-10-202706-10-2027GBP £1,975Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
01-10-202706-10-2027GBP £1,975Single Cabin En-suite

Inclusions

    • Oban
    • Loch Linnhe
    • Loch Spelve
    • Duart Castle
    • Tobermory
    • Loch Drumbuie
    • Loch Aline

Map