Compare Skye and the Small Isles by St Hilda Sea Adventures
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 1,155 |
| Price Per Day | $ 165 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
| Description |
A mini cruise around the sea lochs of the Isle of Skye and the Small Isles (Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna) has to be one of the best ways to visit the Hebridean islands. Extraordinary Scottish wildlife is everywhere from minke and occasional killer and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, otters to many species of rare sea birds, especially sea eagles. Throughout the mini cruise you will anchor in secluded and tranquil sea lochs and sail against a spectacular backdrop of dramatic, pristine island coastlines, high sea cliffs, wild mountains and forests. For extra fun, bring your kitesurf or windsurfer, swim from the boat and don't forget your hiking boots for stunning island walks. You start your cruise from Oban (Dunstaffnage marina), and visit or sail past the stunning Small Isles and the west coast of Skye, which in Loch Scavaig has the most spectacular wilderness anchorage in the whole of Scotland. We travel along the west coast of Skye and at the next anchorage you can even visit Skye's famous Talisker malt whisky distillery. |
Day 1:
Departure is from Tobermory, one of the most picturesque towns in the Western Isles. A dinghy ride from a pontoon in this most sheltered of natural harbours takes you to the St Hilda, resting at anchor. After a short introduction to life on board our small ship, there is afternoon tea (clotted cream and scones!) before we lift anchor and set sail for the Isle of Oronsay. Just south of Oronsay Island is secluded Loch Drumbie, situated between the island and the mainland. A squeeze between high sided cliffs and we are in a perfectly sheltered anchorage. We spend our first tranquil night here.
Day 2:
After breakfast we lift anchor and head for the Small Isles. Our destination is the small island of Muck (Muck is Gaelic for 'Pig'), which is only a couple of miles long and a mile wide. Ashore there are wonderful coastal walks and many seabirds. On Horse Island, which is accessible at low water, there is a colony of puffins.
Day 3:
We up anchor and head for Eigg which has the "Sguirr of Eigg", an ancient, eroded volcanic plug that creates a dramatic cliff on the east side of the island and a high ridge which runs west. There are beautiful white-sand bays and a quartz beach that creates the famous "singing sands". Our next overnight anchorage is on Rum 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.
Day 4:
We visit wild and remote Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye, the most dramatic anchorage in Scotland, if not Europe. The loch is situated below the mighty Black Cuillins mountains, famous for their difficult rock climbs, and a large colony of seals on Sgeir Doigich. We take in this breathtaking wilderness before heading along Skye's west coast to our next anchorage in Loch Harport, whose shore is home to the famous Taliskar malt whisky distillery.
Day 5:
Up anchor and sail for Canna, possibly the most beautiful of all the Small islands. Its 200 metre high cliffs of Compass Hill rise dramatically out of the sea and we have a good chance of seeing both sea and golden eagles The anchorage on Canna is one of the best of the Small Isles and a stroll ashore to see the wild flower meadows of Sanday's Machair is a pure delight.
Day 6:
Up anchor and make our way along the sea cliffs of the west coast of Rum to enjoy wonderful sea views of Eigg and Muck before we sail back to the Isle of Mull and our anchorage off Tobermory.
Day 7:
After a breakfast, disembark at around 1100, the end of a remarkable sea voyage.
