The Crew
Our crew are the most important part of our business. Their job is to make your holiday as safe, pleasurable and interesting as it can be. Most of our crew have been with Hebridean Adventures or MV Hjalmar Bjørge for many years. This allows them to provide our passengers with the best experiences.
All our skippers are fully qualified and vastly experienced in their role. They hold all the necessary, up to date, maritime qualifications and between them they have logged thousands of sea miles. Our chefs are professionally trained and are committed to providing great food from our galley. They all revise their qualifications regularly, ensuring their knowledge of health and safety as well as environmental regulations is up to date, being ever mindful of the environment in which they work.
Tony Morrison
Skipper
Tony Morrison is our senior Master and engineer aboard the Hjalmar Bjorge. Based on the Isle of Lewis, he ran a marine engineering company for over 40 years before a change of career as Harbour Master at Stornoway. He served on the crew of Stornoway RNLI Lifeboat for many years, retiring as Coxswain, but still carries a pager as a Launch Authority on the shore side.
Tony has been with Hebridean Adventures since 2018, starting as skipper of the MV Monadhliath, our other ship.
One of his most memorable cruises was on a foggy day in the Minch, off Lewis, drifting with the engines shut down and surrounded by a dozen minke whales coming close in to the boat- one even had a back-scratch on the keel!
Steve Milne
Chef
Steve has worked aboard Hjalmar Bjørge, on and off, since 2014. He holds several cooking qualifications including MCA Ships Cook, Food and Hygiene, Allergy Awareness. As well as maritime qualifications such as RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, (Sail.) Advanced Powerboat and several RYA Instructor certificates.
During the seasons he wasn’t able to work on Hjalmar Bjorge and off seasons, Steve found himself working in many different places… Hotels in Scotland, a Bistro in St Dennis South of France, a Cafe near where he lives on Lefkada, Greece, the British Antarctic Surveys Halley Base 6a in Antarctica, RRS Ernest Shackleton in the South Atlantic and on the Caledonian Canal.
Steve’s favourite island, in our cruising grounds, is ‘Mingulay.’ Apart from the fact that on a sunny day it’s beautiful; it has a fascinating history, interesting geography and lots of Wildlife. He also likes Eigg, finding it spiritually bright and beguiling.
It’s a welcome return this season and 2025 for Steve having worked many seasons aboard Hjalmar Bjørge. Delighting guests with his food and bonhomie. He loves to travel outside the season discovering new dishes and absorbing inspiration from them to create dishes and share them with you.
James Stevens
Communications Manager & Wildlife Guide
James has guided on several trips on the Hjalmar Bjørge across many of the Hebridean islands. His passion for the natural world is infectious and over the last 9 years living in Scotland has gained knowledge on Gaelic culture, geography and whisky too!
He has been working as a guide in between his job as a wildlife filmmaker. He has been a part of several major series including David Attenborough’s Wild Isles and is a regular wildlife camera operator for BBC Springwatch. So if you’re an amateur or professional photographer/filmmaker he is always happy to share his skills and expertise with you. Often described as a ‘cheeky chappy’, trips with James are always fun, especially when paired with his partner-in-crime Billy Heaney.
James’ favourite location is the Shiant Islands. He accounts the first time he witnessed them: “It was like a scene out of King Kong, as if approaching ‘Skull Island’. The cliffs shrouded in low, dark cloud with immense numbers of puffins, razorbills and guillemots circling the skies above and on the waters below. It was almost a sensory overload with the sites, sounds and smells of a myriad of seabirds.”
Chris Gomersall
Wildlife Guide
Chris Gomersall is an award-winning wildlife photographer and author, with an education in zoology and a background working as a nature reserve warden and research ecologist, as well as 14 years as staff photographer with the RSPB. For many years he has spent significant periods of time working in Scotland, nowadays mostly tour leading and wildlife guiding. He first sailed with the Hjalmar Bjørge as a wildlife guide in 2003, and has since logged at least 50 live-aboard cruises in the Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland, and the north and west coasts of Ireland. Chris will be out on deck in all weathers, encouraging guests to join him in the quest for seabirds, cetaceans and other amazing marine wildlife, as well as conducting guided walks ashore.
Billy Heaney
Wildlife Guide
Billy joined the Hebridean Adventures family in September 2023. He has a degree in Zoology and a Master’s in Biosciences from the University of Exeter. It was during his time studying that he honed his tour-guiding skills with over five years’ experience working with Falmouth-based AK Wildlife Cruises, where he led marine wildlife tours. Billy’s Masters research focused on the haul-out dynamics of grey seals around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as associated human disturbance. Though much of his academic research focused on seals, he also has extensive experience surveying cetaceans, seabirds, and working on turtle nesting beaches in Northern Cyprus.
Billy first fell in love with the Hebrides back in the summer of 2014 whilst volunteering onboard the Silurian with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
Billy is an ambassador for The Mammal Society and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. His broadcasting credits include appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Nature Table with Sue Perkins, BBC Countryfile, and BBC SpringWatch.
When not out looking for wildlife, Billy enjoys woodland walks with his golden retriever, Odi.
Colin McKinnon
Deckhand & Steward
After a 36-year career as a Senior Coxswain at various ports on Scotland’s east coast, Colin decided to follow his passion for the West Coast’s breath-taking landscapes. He is actually fully qualified to captain the Hjalmar Bjorge but enjoys channelling his energy into being a first class crew mate and adds to the safety standard we have.
Last season, he joined the crew of Hjalmar Bjorge, where he found great joy in enhancing guests’ holiday experiences and meeting fascinating new people. Having never been before 2024, a lifelong dream was realized with four unforgettable trips to St Kilda, an awe-inspiring historical site.
Colin is also an avid open-water swimmer and seized the opportunity to swim at some of the region’s most magical spots during his time with Hebridean Adventures
David Lambie
Owner
A career ecologist, having worked for Forestry and Land Scotland and the RSPB, David now runs a successful ecological consulting company based in the Highlands, as well as owning and managing Hebridean Adventures and our sister company Skyefari. There is not much of the Highlands and Islands he has not visited and so has extensive knowledge of the best locations to see Scotland’s iconic wildlife species. David often lends a hand with guiding on-board or driving our minibus on land tours.
Linda Wallace
Customer Coordinator
Linda is the person who you will encounter when booking your cruise. She will be available to answer any of your questions, organise any special requests and advise you on anything that you want to know. She is our shore-based coordinator and liaises with passengers and crew to make sure that when you step aboard you will already feel as though you are part of a team/family. Linda can be contacted by email or phone, if you prefer.
