Islay, Gigha, Colonsay & Ailsa Craig

Islay, Gigha, Colonsay & Ailsa Craig

Our cruise to Islay, Gigha, and Colonsay and round the Mull of Kintyre to Ailsa Craig offers a diverse mix of Scottish culture, wildlife, history, and stunning landscapes. Each island has its own unique flavour and charm, making this a dream trip for those seeking an authentic Hebridean experience. Cruising slowly in and out of these islands is a relaxing way to venture around the Inner Hebrides. Stopping at the islands you’ll get a chance to explore on foot and discover firsthand what makes these isles so special.

Islay

World famous for its Whisky, Islay is often called the ‘Queen of the Hebrides,‘ it is a whisky metropolis. Islay is the southernmost island in the Inner Hebrides, is packed full of amazing wildlife, beaches and steeped in history. In particular it is a great place to watch Eagles soaring above you. With the waters surrounding the island rich in sealife it is also great for spotting Dolphins and other cetaceans.  A perfect place for birdwatching with over 100 species to be found on the island including… Hen Harriers, Merlins, Eagles as well as Seals and Eurasian Otters.

Gigha and Colonsay

The smaller islands of Gigha and Colonsay are picture-postcard destinations with tranquil sandy beaches,  wildflowers and rare birds, including the Corncrake. All of the islands on this cruise have stand out characteristics, choosing your favourite one may prove a difficult task!

Ailsa Craig.

Ailsa Craig is a small, uninhabited island in the Firth of Clyde, located off the coast of Scotland. It’s well-known for its rich seabird colony, particularly as a breeding site for gannets, and also has historical importance in the world of curling.

Details

• Holiday type: All Inclusive
• Departure/Arrive: Oban, Argyll and Bute
• Vessel: Hjalmar Bjørge
• Max number of guests: 10

For more information visit our Useful Information page.

Please note On our best days our itinerary will be smooth transits from one anchorage to another as shown on the program we have offered. However, this is the West Coast of Scotland, and we, are governed by mother nature. So, on occasion, for your comfort and safety, we may need to, tweak, the original course that we are looking to follow. But wherever our tweaking takes us, our trip and destination anchorages will always be special.

Day 1: Oban; seafood capital of Scotland and known as the Gateway to the Isles.  Our departure point will be the pontoons just off Oban’s North Pier. We look to start boarding Hjalmar Bjorge at around 14:30, a short briefing introducing our new guests to life aboard ship, its safety procedures and getting you settled into your new home for the next 8 nights. Casting off at 15:30 then heading for the first nights anchorage.  Crinan; is the Northwest entrance/exit to the famous Crinan Canal. Our anchorage in Loch Gilp is a beautiful spot surrounded by picturesque woodland views of the mainland and islands to the west.

Day 2: A short passage will take us to the Island of Gigha and the rest of the day to explore this very green island.

Day 3-6: Over the next 4 days will see us round the Mull of Kintyre  to reach the iconic Ailsa craig and it’s seabird colonies. Stops may include Campbeltown or Sanda, maybe even Arran before returning back to Islay

Day 7: After a morning exploring Islay we will head for Colonsay and Oronsay via the sound of Islay.  At this time of year the islands are full of birdlife and flowers blooming.

Day 8:  Another  chance to experience Colonsay before heading to Mull and Loch Spelve; our favourite spot for the final night of your adventure. Loch Spelve is found on the east coast of Mull, an hours steam from Oban; very sheltered and a hot bed of Eagles, Red Deer and Otters. With spectacular mountain scenery, local walks and the possibility of Mussels from the local Mussel farm.

Day 9: After a very hearty breakfast to see you on your way, it’s back to Oban for 10:30.  We will keep an eye out for otter as we exit Loch Spelve entrance, always a good place for a sighting.