Island Life
A springtime voyage of the British Isles from Inverness to Portsmouth aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
- 19 May 2021
This journey provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the splendours of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England and offers a unique portrait of life in the islands. It is timed for the month of May when the western shores become alive with colour, the flowers are in bloom and the birdlife prolific; the most perfect time to explore the coastal paths, see the resident wildlife and enjoy the wonderful views on offer. From the East Coast of Scotland to the Isles of Scilly, where we have a full day and a half to explore, this diverse coastline makes for a most appealing sea journey whether you be an avid gardener, birdwatcher, or simply enjoy sailing past and visiting some of the most enchanting places in the world.
The itinerary has been designed to ensure there is an enjoyable mix of history, culture and wildlife and amongst the many highlights will be our visits to Lundy where we hope to see puffins and Rathlin Island, off the north coast of Ireland and home to hundreds of seals and nesting seabirds, where we will learn of the island’s long and eventful history. For those who appreciate time to wander around beautiful gardens, we have included visits to the splendid Bodnant Garden in Conway Valley and the subtropical Abbey Gardens on the charming island of Tresco.
The voyage will be made all the more enjoyable by the use of the Zodiacs which enable landings in remote places and make the otherwise inaccessible readily available. Whilst you could always drive, travel by train and coach and reach most of the itinerary with the help of a ferry, it is much more enjoyable to join the all-suite MS Hebridean Sky and travel in comfort without any of the hassle that independent exploration of these fascinating places would entail.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
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What to Expect
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule may be changed to maximise your experience based on weather or wildlife sightings, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from our vessel’s log from a previous voyage which will provide you with an idea of what to expect should you choose to join one of our adventures in the British Isles.
Iona, Staffa and Lunga: Welcome to sunny Scotland! It isn’t every day you get to say that, but indeed it was a beautiful morning. We took our boats ashore in Iona to visit the amazing monastery of Saint Columba, an Irish saint who established this place as one of the holiest sites in Christendom and also famous for the monks’ creativity in art and sculpture culminating in the creation of the Book of Kells. We toured the church with audio guides and wondered at the many relics on display, including the oldest Celtic cross in the world. Several people took a walk with John and Conrad to see if they could find the elusive corncrake, but alas, it did not show, although they were at least able to hear one or two from their hiding places in the nettles.
We repositioned to Staffa during lunch and the conditions were so good that Emma decided to offer a surprise landing and Zodiac cruise to the small volcanic island. The rock formations of hexagonal basalt columns make this a fascinating place to explore and is interlinked with the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. We landed on a concrete jetty and carefully walked along the hexagonal steps to Fingal’s Cave, an impressive split in the columns leaving a cave filled by the rushing swell of the sea. Back on board, John Love gave a short presentation of photographs of Staffa in all seasons and times of day accompanied by Mendelsohn’s classic Hebridean Overture, which was inspired by his visit to Fingal’s Cave on Staffa.
The day was full already, but there was more to come. We repositioned once again, this time to an emerald green small island called Lunga, for our third landing of the day. The journey via Zodiac was wet and bumpy and the landing was onto slippery, seaweed covered rocks and over boulders, but it was well worth it. What awaited us was a breeding colony of the Clowns of the Sea, the Atlantic puffin! There were also guillemots, razorbills, skuas and kittiwakes galore but the star of the show were the pint-sized puffins and their wonderful antics. Coming in and out of their burrows and making their trademark laughing calls, they delighted us for a few hours of late afternoon sunshine amidst the wildflowers and green grass of Lunga. What a day! After dinner we retired for a well-earned rest.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Caledonian Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world. Formerly known as the Sea Explorer, the vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016 before being re-launched as the MS Hebridean Sky.
Itinerary
Day 1 Inverness, Scotland.
Embark the MS Hebridean Sky this afternoon in Inverness. Transfers will be provided from Inverness Railway Station and Inverness Airport at a fixed time. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Day 2 Scrabster.
Alight in Scrabster, the most northerly port on the Scottish mainland. This morning we will visit the Castle and Gardens of Mey, built between 1566 and 1572 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness. The castle was purchased by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 1952, who renovated and restored it and created the beautiful gardens which we will see today. Alternatively, join a local walk to Holborn Head to enjoy views over the Atlantic coast. We will have lunch on board and an afternoon at sea relaxing and listening to introductory talks from our expedition team.
Day 3 Stornoway & Shiant Islands.
Awake in Stornoway, the capital of Lewis, and join a morning tour which will take us across the island to the beautiful west coast and to Callanish. Described as Scotland’s Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date from around 3000 BC. There is a total of 32 stones in a circular and avenue design standing like a petrified forest on the flat top of a peninsula which reaches out into East Loch Roag. Visit the excellent visitor centre to learn more about the site and venture out amongst the stones themselves to experience their mysterious atmosphere. Continue around the west coast to the site of Dun Carloway Pictish Broch. Probably built sometime in the last century BC, it would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. We then head north to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a reconstructed settlement of traditional black houses where people and animals lived in close proximity. The houses are made using dry stone masonry and have thatched roofs, distinctively weighted down with rocks. Visit the small museum, enjoy a display of a typical crofting activity such as weaving and take in the views at this dramatic site on the wild Atlantic coast. After lunch on board we sail amongst the islands before anchoring off the spectacular basalt cliffs of the Shiant Islands in the midafternoon. We will take to the Zodiacs for a coastal cruise as this small group of little islands located a few miles off the shores of Lewis is an excellent place to spot puffins, razorbills, guillemots, seals and hopefully white-tailed eagles.
Day 4 St Kilda & Stac Lee.
This morning arrive at St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some 50 miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was occupied on and off for at least 2000 years, with the last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated at their own request in 1930. Immediately after the evacuation, the island was bought by the Marquess of Bute to protect the island’s thousands of seabirds and in 1957 it was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites with dual status reflecting its natural and cultural significance. The local ranger will join us on board before our expedition staff lead guided walks on the island. Later, we will cruise past one of the largest gannetries in the world at Stac Lee. The impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannet.
Day 5 Staffa, Iona & Lunga.
Awake this morning off the island of Staffa, where the perpendicular cliff face features an imposing series of black basalt columns, known as the Colonnade, which have been cut by the sea into cathedral-like caverns, most notably that of Fingal’s Cave. Weather permitting, we will use our Zodiacs to explore the caves in greater detail. Later this morning we will visit Iona which has been occupied for thousands of years and has been a place of pilgrimage and Christian worship for several centuries. It was to this flat, Hebridean island that St Columba fled from Ireland in 563 AD and established a monastery, here his followers were responsible for the conversion of much of pagan Scotland and Northern England. Visit the Abbey, where no less than 62 Scottish Kings are buried, walk along the white sandy beaches or go in search of the corncrake amongst the irises. Later today we hope to drop anchor off the nearby Treshnish Isles, an archipelago of uninhabited volcanic islets. The island of Lunga is the largest and has been described as ‘a green jewel in a peacock sea.’ It is a summer nesting place for hundreds of sea birds, in particular kittiwakes, shags, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills and puffins.
Day 6 Rathlin & Ailsa Craig, Northern Ireland.
Be on deck early to catch a glimpse of the magnificent cliffs to the north of the island which is home to the largest sea bird colony in Ireland. Located just a few miles from the North Antrim coast, Rathlin has been settled for more than 6000 years. Today, there are only 80 or so inhabitants whereas before the famine there were 1200. History is everywhere with historic buildings and ruins abundant on the island. Enjoy a morning guided walk which will take in the prolific sea birdlife with astonishing numbers of auks, kittiwakes and grey seals. Relax on board during an afternoon at sea before approaching the granite island of Ailsa Craig located in the Firth of Clyde. This tiny island, just 2.5 miles in circumference was once a refuge for sailors and base to a 19th century lighthouse. Today it is an RSPB reserve and home to the third largest gannet colony in Britain. In the early evening we hope to cruise by for a closer look and search for puffins, guillemots and gulls.
Day 7 Llandudno, Wales.
This morning will be spent at Bodnant Garden, which is situated above the River Conwy with stunning views across Snowdonia. Begun in 1875, Bodnant Garden is the creation of four generations of Aberconways and features huge Italianate terraces and formal lawns on its upper level, with a wooded valley, stream and wild garden below. There are dramatic colours throughout the season, with herbaceous borders, roses, hydrangeas, water lilies and clematis that delight throughout the summer. Alternatively, take a drive across the Menai Straits to Anglesey and visit the RSPB’s reserve at South Stack, a beautiful but fragile heathland which is home to a large population of guillemots and razorbills and if we are lucky, we might also see some choughs. This afternoon will be free to explore Llandudno at leisure. Developed as an upmarket holiday town for Victorian visitors, this seaside town still retains much of its 19th century grandeur, with graceful architecture lining its sweeping waterfront promenade.
Day 8 Lundy.
Enjoy a morning at sea as we sail south to Lundy. Those on deck in the early morning may catch a glimpse of the islands off the Pembrokeshire coast, home to some of the world’s largest gannetries with over 34,000 breeding pairs. During the afternoon discover Lundy, a remote and delightful island in the Bristol Channel. Walk along its traffic-free lanes and paths, explore the wide bays and coves by way of hanging valleys, observe the puffins nesting in abandoned rabbit warrens, have a drink at the inn and buy ‘puffin stamps’ at the island shop.
Days 9 & 10 Isles of Scilly.
We have one and a half days to explore some of the islands of this enchanting and uncrowded archipelago. We plan to visit traffic-free Tresco, walking its idyllic lanes from the beach to the famous subtropical Abbey Gardens. Defying the Atlantic weather, this miracle of a garden is home to more than 20,000 species of plants from over 80 countries. Enjoy time to wander at your own pace along the paths, maybe visit the Valhalla collection of ship figureheads from ships wrecked on the islands or relax in the café. Additionally, we will explore St Agnes, the most southwesterly community in the UK, surrounded by rocks and reefs this tiny island offers marvellous coastal walks. The small island of Gugh lies across a narrow sandbar and here we find a single stone monolith called the ‘Old Man of Gugh’ dating back to the Bronze Age. We will also pay a visit to Bryher, the smallest of the inhabited Isles of Scilly, where you can wander along the tracks that cross the island amongst hedgerows and fields bursting with wildflowers. The active may wish to climb Watch Hill, where in the past islanders would keep watch for ships in distress or take a stroll to one of the beautiful beaches.
Day 11 Portsmouth, UK.
Disembark this morning after breakfast. Transfers will be provided to Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station and London Heathrow Airport at a fixed time.
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy19 to 29 May 2021 | ||
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Category | Price | |
Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £5095 | |
Byrd Deck Superior Suite | £5295 | |
Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £5595 | |
Mawson Deck Corner Suite | £5995 | |
Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £6495 | |
Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £6795 | |
Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | £7795 | |
Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | £6595 | |
Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | £6995 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHSK190521
PRICE INCLUDES: 10 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Caledonian Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world. Formerly known as the Sea Explorer, the vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016 before being re-launched as the MS Hebridean Sky.
What to Expect
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule may be changed to maximise your experience based on weather or wildlife sightings, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from our vessel’s log from a previous voyage which will provide you with an idea of what to expect should you choose to join one of our adventures in the British Isles.
Iona, Staffa and Lunga: Welcome to sunny Scotland! It isn’t every day you get to say that, but indeed it was a beautiful morning. We took our boats ashore in Iona to visit the amazing monastery of Saint Columba, an Irish saint who established this place as one of the holiest sites in Christendom and also famous for the monks’ creativity in art and sculpture culminating in the creation of the Book of Kells. We toured the church with audio guides and wondered at the many relics on display, including the oldest Celtic cross in the world. Several people took a walk with John and Conrad to see if they could find the elusive corncrake, but alas, it did not show, although they were at least able to hear one or two from their hiding places in the nettles.
We repositioned to Staffa during lunch and the conditions were so good that Emma decided to offer a surprise landing and Zodiac cruise to the small volcanic island. The rock formations of hexagonal basalt columns make this a fascinating place to explore and is interlinked with the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. We landed on a concrete jetty and carefully walked along the hexagonal steps to Fingal’s Cave, an impressive split in the columns leaving a cave filled by the rushing swell of the sea. Back on board, John Love gave a short presentation of photographs of Staffa in all seasons and times of day accompanied by Mendelsohn’s classic Hebridean Overture, which was inspired by his visit to Fingal’s Cave on Staffa.
The day was full already, but there was more to come. We repositioned once again, this time to an emerald green small island called Lunga, for our third landing of the day. The journey via Zodiac was wet and bumpy and the landing was onto slippery, seaweed covered rocks and over boulders, but it was well worth it. What awaited us was a breeding colony of the Clowns of the Sea, the Atlantic puffin! There were also guillemots, razorbills, skuas and kittiwakes galore but the star of the show were the pint-sized puffins and their wonderful antics. Coming in and out of their burrows and making their trademark laughing calls, they delighted us for a few hours of late afternoon sunshine amidst the wildflowers and green grass of Lunga. What a day! After dinner we retired for a well-earned rest.
Travelling with You
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Colin Baird
Colin grew up on the west coast of Canada and developed a love for the sea at an early age, sailing and scuba diving the local waters off Vancouver Island. He spent 10 years as a marine mammal trainer working with seals, sea lions and orca (perhaps better known as Killer Whales). In 2002 he was hired by Jean Michel Cousteau as the director of field operations for the Free Willy/ Keiko Project in Iceland and Norway. This was and remains today the only attempt to release a previously captive orca back into the wild.
Since then, Colin has been expedition cruising to many out of the way places; including Iceland, Norway, Svalbard, the high arctic and Antarctic. When at home in Canada leads whale watching tours from Victoria, B.C. during the northern summer to see his favourite of all the cetaceans….the orca.
Colin Baird will be on the following tour dates: 19 to 29 May 2021 -
David Riordan
Dave grew up in the forests of central New York State in the USA, and developed an interest in the great outdoors at an early age. After earning a degree in Industrial Engineering from Penn State, he dipped his toe in a variety of pools, working at Walt Disney World, at a ski resort in Vail, Colorado, as a stock broker on Wall Street and as an Expedition Leader driving passengers in overland trucks all over South America, Asia and Africa. For the next six years he would lead trips from Colombia to Ushuaia, Helsinki to Beijing (through Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia), and from Cairo to Nairobi until getting malaria in West Africa and hanging up the truck keys for a lifejacket.
For the last six years he has been aboard expedition ships as a naturalist guide and lecturer. With many visits to Svalbard, Norway, Iceland, UK, Greenland and Antarctica, he has developed a good knowledge and appreciation of marine life, especially seabirds. Having just returned from the austral summer in Antarctica, he looks forward to returning to the UK, Ireland and Norway to share his passion for this fantastic environment with you.
David Riordan will be on the following tour dates: 19 to 29 May 2021 -
Seb Coulthard
Seb Coulthard was born in London, raised in Quito, Ecuador, and completed his higher education in England. He is an award winning sailor, engineer and adventurer with 15 years long service and good conduct in the Royal Navy (retired 2016). During his time in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces he travelled extensively between British Overseas Territories from the South Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
In 2013, with a passion for adventure travel, Seb joined Shackleton Epic Expedition the most audacious and faithful re-enactment of the celebrated 830 mile boat journey undertaken by Sir Ernest Shackleton aboard the James Caird lifeboat from Elephant Island to South Georgia. The crew of the ‘Alexandra Shackleton’ spent 12 days at sea using the same period equipment as Shackleton 100 years prior: woollen underwear, wooden lifeboat, sextant, compass, and starvation diet. The Shackleton Epic team became the only expedition in history to complete Shackleton's perilous voyage using period resources.
As an empirical historian and expedition guide, his latest expedition took him to the Arabian Peninsula where he following in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Aqaba, one of the most influential military victories of World War One. The expedition travelled unsupported, on camelback during mid-summer where temperatures exceeded 45ºC.
Seb is Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a joint Royal Yachting Association and Union Internationale Motonautique powerboat world record holder. He is a specialist in remote areas travel and a certified Antarctic tourism guide.
Seb Coulthard will be on the following tour dates: 19 to 29 May 2021
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000