Sailing trips exploring the islands dotted off the coast of the West Highlands

HIGHLIGHTS:

Explore the finest sailing in Europe, sailing amidst the many beautiful islands which dot the West Highlands coastline

Take the wheel of our traditional 65-year old gaff-cutter yacht as you sail from island to island

Experience the extraordinary marine wildlife of Scotland in its most unspoilt wild locations

INTRODUCTION:

Travelling by traditional yacht, we are able to explore the islands and fjord-like lochs which make the fissured coastline of the west of Scotland one of the most spectacular places to sail in the world. Following the winds, we will journey through the Hebrides, setting anchor in tranquil and scenic spots where you can enjoy an evening dram amidst outstanding scenery.

In a coastal region renowned for its diversity of wildlife, we have every chance of seeing whales, basking sharks and dolphins, as well as a plethora of birdlife. Set against the backdrop of the islands’ fascinating history and culture, this maritime adventure makes for a truly unique and memorable sailing holiday based on board the finest traditional yacht in Scotland.

We offer sailing holidays of either 6 or 9 nights, with fixed dates for each trip. You must join the trip for the duration of it as we will not return to Mallaig until the end of the trip - so, for example, it is not possible to join a 6 night trip for 3 nights only. The costs of these sailing holidays in 2010 are as follows:

6 night trips - £725 per person

9 night trips - £1020 per person

Costs include live aboard accommodation, all meals during the trip and the services of the skipper, first mate and skipper throughout the trip. There are a maximum of 8 clients on board.

It is possible to book the entire yacht privately for your group - please contact us using the "contact the seller" links in this listing for details is this is of interest. Early booking is highly recommended for private charters.

Please read the trip dossier for details of the yacht. Please note that, being a traditional yacht, this is a sailing adventure rather than a cruise. Therefore, you should familiarise yourself with what to expect from life on board. She is a wonderful yacht but you do need to be relatively fit and agile to get the most from life on board during this sailing holiday.

Please note that the 10-day itinerary is can be quite challenging as you will be sailing in more open waters, as well as the fact that you will be spending a week and a half living on a traditional yacht! While there is a shower on board, you will need to be conservative with water consumption as there are limited places where the yacht can re-supply.

Please be aware that the 14th - 20th Aug trip will be a sailing and racing trip and in the company of three other traditional yachts, with a race likely to be on the last day. The emphasis on this trip is on the sailing and is for enthusiastic and fit sailors.

Please do call our office if you have any questions about your suitability for this trip.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Our Sailing Journeys offer a different way to experience some of the finest scenery in the Scottish Highlands, and are open for individuals to join. Starting and finishing from the fishing village of Mallaig, located west of Fort William, this journey of no fixed itinerary is largely dictated by the wind and the best sailing conditions at the time.

Please note that, unlike our ‘Sailing & Walking’ trips, there is no walking guide on board the yacht. The emphasis is on sailing, although there will be time ashore on many islands and the crew may lead walks on request. The yacht is crewed by a skipper, first mate and chef, each of whom has an excellent knowledge of the islands.

Although the itineraries are not fixed, areas you may visit include:

Eilean Shona – translating as the beautiful island, it could not be better named

Eigg – one of the most distinctive skylines on the west coast and a charming island

Muck – the smallest of the Small Isles is a delightful place to explore on foot

Rum – a wild island boasting one of the most unusual castles in Scotland

Canna – one of the least visited islands in Scotland offers one of the finest viewpoints in the Hebrides from petite Compass Hill

Skye – Loch Scavaig offers one of the most dramatic anchorages in the world, with the Black Cuillin mountains rising directly from the shoreline

Knoydart – this remote peninsula is home to the most remote pub in Scotland

In addition to the above islands, there are many other smaller islands, sea-lochs and coves which it may be possible to visit during your trip. On longer trips, it may even be possible to reach the Outer Hebrides with its many magical islands.

The Sound of Sleat is renowned for being an excellent place to experience Scotland’s rich and diverse marine wildlife. This includes minke whales, basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises and seals, as well as a vast number of seabirds. Whatever route you take, you can be assured of a wonderful sailing experience set amidst some of Scotland’s finest scenery.

ACCOMMODATION:

The yacht, Eda Frandsen, is a classic and beautifully converted 65-year old Gaff Cutter. She is extremely graceful and her rails and spars gleam with varnish. The rig is entirely traditional showing incredible workmanship. Down below, she is comfortable and well equipped. There is a spacious saloon and the 4 twin berths can comfortably sleep 8 guests. There are 2 “heads” or bathrooms including shower facilities, which are available subject to the careful consumption of water.

Although we may be at sea, the food is a real highlight and you can expect creative and wholesome meals often prepared with fresh local produce, such as seafood or venison. Vegetarians and other dietary requirements are willingly catered for – simply let us know in advance. Evening dinner is taken on board, gathered round the dining table over a glass of wine as we recall the day’s events and look forward to the morning. A range of wines, beers and spirits are available for purchase.

ABOUT THE AREA:

Outer Hebrides - The Isle of Lewis

The Isle of Lewis is the largest of the Outer Hebrides. Most visitors arrive in the main town of Stornoway, having taken the ferry from Ullapool – a crossing of less than 3 hours. The sail provides an ideal opportunity to observe seabirds and whales. Lewis is the most populated of the Western Isles and Stornoway, the capital of the islands, is home to around 10,000 people.

The topography of Lewis is quite different to the neighbouring island of Harris - extensive peat deposits cover the ancient rock, Lewisian gneiss, and numerous lochans, the home to rare bird species such as divers, combine to give the vistas an arctic dimension.

Its west coast is more mountainous and there is good walking both inland and along the coastal beaches. Also on the west side, overlooking Loch Roag, are the atmospheric Standing Stones of Callanish, which are older than Stonehenge. Another ancient building is nearby - the massive Iron Age round house known as Dun Carloway. Our guides know some excellent hikes which combine coastal walks with visits to these incredible sites.

Outer Hebrides - The Isle of Harris

The Isle of Harris, located south of the Isle of Lewis, is actually linked to it by a narrow causeway. Harris is sparsely populated and for many people Gaelic is their first tongue. At its mountainous northern end, where it is joined to Lewis, there are several fine peaks, the highest of which is Clisham, 779m. The summits of its hills offer extensive views of the seaboard which, on a clear day, include the distant island group of St Kilda.

On the west coast there are wonderful beaches, the largest sand dunes in Europe and azure blue seas. The beaches are fringed by the machair, a flower meadow of many colours which is at its most vivid in early summer. Needless to say that the coastal walking is superb. There are also hauntingly beautiful glens with healthy populations of red deer and golden eagles and we rarely meet any other walkers while hiking in these areas.

The Outer Hebrides are one of Scotland’s best kept secrets for walking and hiking. There is probably no better place to experience a better combination of pristine scenery, intriguing culture and a way of life which doesn’t seem to have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of the 21st century. Many visitors start planning their return visit to these enchanting islands before they step off the ferry back onto the mainland!

The St Kilda Archipelago

Sailing to the World Heritage Site of St Kilda is an exceptional experience. It is a day’s journey to this volcanic archipelago from Harris in the Outer Hebrides, and one which can be taken on some of our combined Sailing and Walking trips, as well as our self-guided walking holidays to the Outer Hebrides. Despite the long journey, the constantly changing seas, skies and light, together with the anticipation of seeing wildlife close-up, combine to hold your attention. It is not unusual to have following dolphins and to encounter whales.

On the western horizon, from some distance away, you may spot puffs of cumulus cloud or the hint of a rocky outline, but it is the constant stream of seabirds which indicates landfall is near. Levenish, a rock protruding from the restless Atlantic swell, appears and is soon followed by the huge mass of the main island, Hirta. You sail past Connachair, the highest sea cliff in Britain at 1,400 feet, past the rounded dome of Oiseval and into the relatively sheltered waters of Village Bay.

Stepping ashore, you can see a line of abandoned houses, the Village Street, which has been deserted since 1930 – it’s a sad reminder of a way of life now gone. Within the village are stone enclosures and some substantial buildings such as the church and school. The National Trust for Scotland is undertaking a programme of restoration work. Beyond the settlement the grassy and heather clad hillside is dotted with cleits - small stone huts which were once used for the storage of birds. Today, Soay sheep, whose origins perhaps go back to Norse times, take advantage of their shelter, especially at lambing time.

Venturing beyond the village, there is some spectacular coastal walking with dramatic, heady seascapes and vertiginous rock, which were once scaled annually by the islanders for essential eggs and sea fowl. You can look across a short turbulent sea passage to the steep sides of the island of Soay.

Seals can be seen close by, and the boulder field of Carn Mor buzzes with countless puffins. At the” Gap” you can watch thousands of stiff-winged fulmars using the up draughts to glide round, seemingly oblivious to the crashing sea a thousand feet below. The cliff ledges are peppered with nesting birds. You can look across to Boreray, whose steep slopes are still grazed by the descendants of an abandoned flock of sheep, while its awesome stacks are home to the world’s largest gannetry (50,000 – 60,000 pairs). The isolation of St Kilda has even led to the evolution of its own unique animals such as the field mouse and wren.

It is certainly a challenge to reach St Kilda and it is a journey which you must accept will not always be easy. However, for the adventurously-minded traveler, the remoteness, extraordinary scenery, human and natural history all contribute to make a visit to these islands unquestionably an experience of a lifetime.

MODERATE GRADE:

The following information provides an overview on our grading of our Sailing trips. Further information of a specific nature can be found in the relevant Trip Dossier. If you are in any doubt at all regarding your suitability for a trip, please contact us and we will be glad to talk about the trip in detail and provide you with a recommendation.

Many people ask what the sailing conditions will be like and how they will be affected by sea sickness. The conditions will be varied from relaxing sailing in sheltered waters to some more challenging longer passages. In our experience, the worry of sickness is far greater than the reality. After a short while, most people begin to feel at home on the boat and are comfortable at sea. If you are particularly susceptible to motion-sickness, there are a range of medicines and natural remedies available, most of which are highly effective.

YOUR GUIDE:

• Jamie Robinson, Skipper

Jamie's life has been the sea since he moved to the Knoydart Peninsula in 1982. He skippered his first boat at 16 and has not looked back - there are few skippers on the West Coast with such a depth of knowledge and experience. A great entertainer, Jamie was the UK Sea Shanty Writing Champion for 2 years running.