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St Kilda and the Shiants – British Isles Cruise

St Kilda and the Shiants – British Isles Cruise

From GBP £2,500

Description

This Outer Hebridean (10 night) cruise will, if the weather is kind, give us time to explore fabulous St Kilda; the Shiant Isles; and many dramatic islands of the Outer Hebrides. Our starting point is Oban, the gateway to the western Scottish Islands.

Our small ships will anchor in scenic, lonely islands, in tranquil bays and, throughout the trip, we see incredible wildlife – soaring sea and golden eagles, many species of sea birds, basking sharks, orca and minke whales, porpoises, dolphins and seals. Aboard our small ships you can do as little or as much as you want. Sit back and enjoy the trip as you travel through the Sounds; pass the islands and sea lochs; view the spectacular mountains and fast running tides that make extraordinary spiral patterns and glassy runs in the sea; marvel at the lofty headland lighthouses and castles; and, if you want, become involved in working the wee ships.

Our ultimate destination is Village Bay, Hirta, on the archipelago of St Kilda – a UNESCO world heritage site. Hirta is the largest of the four islands in the St Kilda group and was inhabited for some 2000 years before the villagers were evacuated in 1930, never to return.

The sea cliffs (the highest in the UK) of the St Kilda islands rise dramatically out of the Atlantic and are the protected breeding grounds of many different sea bird species (gannets, fulmars, Leach’s petrel, which are hunted at night by giant skuas, and puffins). These thousands of seabirds were once an important source of food for the islanders. The breathtaking islands of Soay and Boreay have rare, ancient species of feral sheep and the St Kildan wren and field mouse are both unique sub species.

Trip Name
St Kilda and the Shiants - British Isles Cruise
Days
11
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 - Days 1 - 11 Cruising St Kilda and the Shiants
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 will set sail to our first destination. Afternoon tea (clotted cream and scones) will be served en-route.Tobermory: One of the most picturesque towns in the Western Isles. If you wish, we can make time to visit the local distillery or visit eagles (Mull is the best place in the UK to see sea eagles).Canna, the Small Isles: We can set sail for the scenic anchorage at Canna and its neighbouring Sanday. There are seabirds galore on the island's high sea cliffs - puffins, shags, razorbills, black guillemots, Manx shearwaters - and breeding there, in the high crags, are sea eagles. There are two lovely beaches, three churches, a tiny ruined castle and a population of less than 20! A short climb up Compass Hill gives wonderful views of Skye and our destination, the islands of the Outer Hebrides.Rum, the Small Isles: We will pass close to the Small Isles of Muck and Eigg to arrive at Rum the largest of the Small Isles, with an ancient volcano, where we can spend a night at Loch Scresort. Rum Island is a National Nature Reserve and famous for its herds of red deer and sheer sea cliffs which are home to nesting sea eagles. A visit to the Kinloch castle near the anchorage is definitely worthwhile.Castlebay, Barra: We can anchor at the village of Castlebay on the island of Barra of the Outer Hebrides. Castlebay was where much of the film Whisky Galore was made about the WW II stranding of the S.S. Politician in Eriskay Sound with her cargo of 260,00 whisky bottles! Castlebay was once an important herring curing station and near our anchorage, surrounded by water, is Kisimul Castle, the ancient seat of the MacNeils of Barra.Hirta, St Kilda: If the weather is kindly we up-anchor early and head out through the Sound of Pabbay for Hirta, St Kilda. Two nights at anchor on Hirta and a day ashore.Lochboisdale, South Uist: If the Atlantic is being too unfriendly for St Kilda, from Barra we will head north, up the island chain, pass the Sound of Barra and the islands of Hellisay and Gighay, to our next quiet anchorage in Lochboisdale on South Uist. We can explore the incredible endless beaches and flower-rich Machair of the islands of South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist.Lochmaddy: Situated on North Uist, Lochmaddy is the island’s main village. The village was probably settled by the Norse and at one time was a base for seventeenth century pirates!Shiant Isles: The so called ‘enchanted’ or ‘holy isles’ in Gaelic, they live up to their name. Situated between Lewis and Harris and northern Skye they are a haven for birdlife. They were once owned by Compton Mackenzie who wrote the famous novel Whisky Galore.Loch Dunvegan: With famous Dunvegan Castle built on a high rock overlooking the Loch which was the site of an old Norse fort. The castle has been home to the chief of the Clan MacLeod for hundreds of years.Loch Spelve: A narrow entrance leads us in to the tranquil waters of Loch Spelve with its surrounding ancient oak forest. The anchorage gives us a different perspective than our previous views of the wonderful mountains of Mull. There are resident otters along the loch's shoreline.
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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-06-202629-06-2026GBP £3,250Single Cabin
19-06-202629-06-2026GBP £3,500Twin Cabin Semi En-suite
19-06-202629-06-2026GBP £3,800Double / Twin Cabin En-suite
23-06-202603-07-2026GBP £2,500Single Cabin
23-06-202603-07-2026GBP £2,750Twin Cabin
23-06-202603-07-2026GBP £3,800Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
23-06-202603-07-2026GBP £3,800Single Cabin En-suite
26-06-202606-07-2026GBP £3,600Double Cabin Adjacent En-suite
26-06-202606-07-2026GBP £3,600Twin Cabin En-suite
26-06-202606-07-2026GBP £4,000Double Cabin En-suite
21-07-202631-07-2026GBP £3,250Single Cabin
21-07-202631-07-2026GBP £3,500Twin Cabin Semi En-suite
21-07-202631-07-2026GBP £3,800Double / Twin Cabin En-suite
25-07-202604-08-2026GBP £2,500Single Cabin
25-07-202604-08-2026GBP £2,750Twin Cabin
25-07-202604-08-2026GBP £3,800Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
25-07-202604-08-2026GBP £3,800Single Cabin En-suite
28-07-202607-08-2026GBP £3,600Double Cabin Adjacent En-suite
28-07-202607-08-2026GBP £3,600Twin Cabin En-suite
28-07-202607-08-2026GBP £4,000Double Cabin En-suite
23-06-202703-07-2027GBP £2,600Single Cabin
23-06-202703-07-2027GBP £2,850Twin Cabin
23-06-202703-07-2027GBP £3,950Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
23-06-202703-07-2027GBP £3,950Single Cabin En-suite
26-06-202706-07-2027GBP £3,700Double Cabin Adjacent En-suite
26-06-202706-07-2027GBP £3,700Twin Cabin En-suite
26-06-202706-07-2027GBP £3,950Double Cabin En-suite
12-07-202722-07-2027GBP £3,400Single Cabin
12-07-202722-07-2027GBP £3,650Twin Cabin Semi En-suite
12-07-202722-07-2027GBP £3,950Double / Twin Cabin En-suite
25-07-202704-08-2027GBP £2,600Single Cabin
25-07-202704-08-2027GBP £2,850Twin Cabin
25-07-202704-08-2027GBP £3,950Twin / Double Cabin En-suite
25-07-202704-08-2027GBP £3,950Single Cabin En-suite
28-07-202707-08-2027GBP £3,700Double Cabin Adjacent En-suite
28-07-202707-08-2027GBP £3,700Twin Cabin En-suite
28-07-202707-08-2027GBP £3,950Double Cabin En-suite

Inclusions

    • Discover Tobermory, Canna & Loch Dunvegan
    • Explore Shiant Isles, Oban & Hirta, St Kilda

Map