Day 1
Board Splendour at Midday in Oban Harbour and after a highland welcome and the skippers briefing set sail for the island of Canna for dinner and an exciting first night aboard.
Day 2
Explore Canna and its tidal neighbour Sanday with its churches, rabbits and wild flowers galore. Cruise past the nesting cliffs with Golden and Sea Eagles, Puffins, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Guillemots, before heading off west across the Minch to Castlebay on Barra for an overnight anchorage.
Day 3
Take a trip to Kisimul Castle erstwhile home to the MacNeils of Barra back aboard for coffee and a cruise to Mingulay to visit the ruins and sand dunes of village bay. Set sail up the coast to overnight in Loch Boisdale or, if the weather is settled, relax onboard for the voyage to the other village bay on St Kilda.
Day 4
If the weather wasn’t kind enough for St Kilda we press on for the Uists and Benbecula. A trip ashore in Tarbert for a walk to the west loch and a visit to the tweed shop and amazing general store. We overnight here in East Loch Tarbert.
Day 5
Cruise to Stornaway with a stop over for lunch in one of the many sea lochs. Explore the town of Stornoway with its many interesting shops. Overnight moored to the quayside.
Day 6
Enjoy a private tour of Lewis seeing the sights such as the standing stones of Callanish, the Broch at Carrloway and the street of blackhouses at Garenin. Depart Stornoway around 1600hrs and motor round the coast for overnight anchorage in Loch Shell.
Day 7
After breakfast we’re off to the Shiants , which abound with birdlife, especially puffins, around 250,000 of them. Here we can go ashore on the pebble beach between Garbh Eilein and Eilean An Tighe to explore these fantastic islands. Back onboard for lunch, we head south past cliffs, waterfalls, kilt rock and the island of Rhona to anchor overnight in the harbour at Portree on Skye.
Day 8
Ashore to visit the coulourful bustling town of Portree with its shops, pubs and galleries. Back onboard for lunch, we continue south to visit the island of Raasay for a walk onshore, then head east across the inner sound for a night off Plockton.
Day 9
A walk on shore in the picturesque village of Plockton then we head off under the Skye bridge and down Kyle Rhea, looking for otters and dolphins. Go ashore for an evening drink at the Old Forge Inn at Inverie, the most remote pub in Britain.
Day 10
An early start down the Sound of Sleat and anchor in Loch Scavaig or loch Na Cuilse, for a walk to awesome Loch Coruisk in the heart of the black Cuillin mountains. Next stop is the island of Rhum with its own Cuillins for an overnight anchorage in Loch Scresort, enjoy an evening shore trip to the otter hide.
Day 11
South from Rhum lies the bucolic island of Muck where a walk from Port Mor to the north bay is a delight with an interesting cemetry, craft shop and another chance for otter spotting. Now we leave the small isles behind for an overnight stop in Loch Eatharna in the island of Coll. On this trip we have an excellent chance of spotting whales, basking sharks and dolphins, all of which feed in these waters.
Day 12
After breakfast walk to the beach on the west side of Coll or hire a bicycle at the hotel for a serious bit of exercise. Back onboard for lunch whilst Splendour makes her way across to Lunga, one of the Treshnish isles, for a close encounter of the Puffin kind, then east to Ulva / Gometra for a wonderful anchorage between the islands.
Day 13
After breakfast walk on Gometra for an excellent chance of Sea Eagle spotting before returning to the boat for a cruise round to Tobermory and a stroll along its coulourful harbour front. Dinner onboard and talk of our fantastic voyage through Scotland’s wonderful island world.
Day 14
An early start for the crew and its off down the sound of Mull, again keeping a look out for dolphins escorting us back to Oban bay.
What a wonderful trip!!
Absolutely amazing. As always excellent. Thank you & Merci…. Most enjoyable food, company and scenery whatever the weather. See you next year!!
John, Cathrine & Albie | Kyles and the Isles | October 2018
Thank you for a wonderful trip, lots of fun – great memories!
Alison & Jill | Arran & Ailsa Craig Wildlife Explorer Cruise | April 2018
We feel so privileged to have spent time with Iain on the wonderful Splendour. Excellent service and food. Lovely cruising with our new found friends. Thank you for a lovely holiday.
Barbara & Brian | Arran and Ailsa Craig Wildlife Explorer | May 2018
Fantastic customer service from my first enquiry right through to returning me back to Dunoon. A fantastic trip – great food, great company. Thank you Iain & Jamie & my fellow passengers, a great bunch. I will return!
Diane | Inlets and Islands of Wild Argyll | April 2018
An adventure to be treasured, we return filled with fun memories – not to mention filled with the finest food! Thank you so much crew
Julie-Anne