Day 1
Board Splendour in Oban bay for a warm welcome and skipper’s briefing before setting sail for loch Spleve on Mull with its lost village, sea eagles, red deer and otters. Enjoy dinner and a peaceful night aboard Splendour in this wonderfully sheltered anchorage.
Day 2
After breakfast we cruise south to the Garvellachs also known as the ‘isles of the sea’ and go ashore to visit the monks beehive cells and Saint Columba’s mother’s resting place on Eilach An Naomh. South to loch Tarbert after lunch with its wonderful raised beaches for a stroll ashore.
Day 3
Down the sound of Islay for a visit and tasting at the Jura distillery at Craighouse and onto the beautiful island of Gigha where bicycles can be hired for some exercise and a tour of the island with a visit to Achamore gardens a must!
Day 4
We catch the morning tide round the mull of Kintyre for a fabulous cruise to Lamlash on the Island of Arran. A stroll before dinner through the village and a night at anchor in the very spot that sheltered a young Mary Queen of Scots on her way to France and King Haakon’s war fleet, before the battle of Largs.
Day 5
Round Claughlands point for a visit to Brodick. On offer is Brodick castle and grounds, a beautiful sweep of sandy beach and the nostalgic Arran heritage museum, not forgetting the chocolate shop for a hand made treat on the way. North after lunch to Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae for a cycle round the island or a visit to the Cathedral of the Isles (europe’s smallest) and Italian ice-cream at the café, or why not all three!
Day 6
The Royal Borough of Rothesay on the Island of Bute is our first port of call today with a choice of visits to, fabulous Mount Stuart House erstwhile home of The Marquess of Bute, or the well preserved Norman castle in Rothesay itself. Lunch onboard then north up the broad expanse of the Firth of Clyde to our final overnight stop in Loch Goil under the castle walls at Carrick.
Day 7
Enjoy breakfast then cruise down loch long looking out for groups of porpoise and into the Holy Loch for fond farewells and haste ye backs at 1100hrs. What a trip!!
Iain and chef could not have been better skipper and cook combination. Both awesome in terms of skill and knowledge and just plain lovely people! Thank you. The wonderful weather and sights we experienced made this a splendiferous experience.
Lusia & Paul | Hebrides and St Kilda | June 2018
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Splendour is magnificent. Thank you Iain and Chef for a wonderful 3 memorable days.
Hugh & Patricia | Kyles and the Isles | October 2018
Words fail us… The fantastic islands, the wildlife and enduring majesty of the Hebrides. Scotland is with us forever. Thank you Iain for a tremendous trip, cuisine and care.
Mike & Liz | Hebridean Odyssey | June 2018
I came in need of relaxation, nourishment and good company. I received it and more – in spades! Thanks so much, Iain and Mike for a memorable and most enjoyable week. All good wishes for a beautiful season ahead.
Tricia
Its hard to find the words… The boat, the sea, the skipper and cook, the food – all worked perfectly for me (alone). Iain even laid on a day’s storm / magnificent seas, the boat (and skipper) coping superbly / and then for the other passengers (a convivial and learned ornithologist from USA) relatively calm seas and, as they say ‘a prosperous voyage’. Well done Iain and Michael.
Geoff. S