8 June 2019
We were so pleased with the charter booking from the initial emails inquiring about dates available to the last minute questions and timely responses as we prepared to head to Scotland. Emma is professional, kind, and prompt in responding by email. We appreciate good customer service and yours is excellent. Since this was our second cruise with Skipper James and the Emma Jane, we knew what to expect about anchorages and visiting the islands. However, this cruise exceeded any expectations we had. We enjoyed returning to some islands we had previously visited and seeing new places. We continue to be overwhelmed by our visit to St. Kilda (thank you, Skipper James!) and seeing the many, many species and numbers of birds throughout the cruise that were not around in these numbers in September 2017. James knows much about all aspects of the Hebrides; if he doesn’t know an answer, he says that he doesn’t know. I like that. Will was knowledgeable about cetaceans, birds, plants, and extremely helpful to those of us who decided to take some of the walks that included narrow and muddy trails with steep inclines. He was available to offer a hand or arm to steady us as we hiked up and down the hills. Anchoring in protected areas overnight is an extraordinary experience—the quiet, the skies, the gentle rocking of the vessel. All ten of us on this charter live on bodies of water—bays, lakes, ocean. Anchoring in coves next to small villages or near an unpopulated island is special. The cruise was extra special. We were made to feel welcomed back and our friends from New Hampshire were thrilled with their experiences seeing the Hebrides and the wildlife, scenery, remoteness, and the comfort of the Emma Jane.
Angela & David Hiley
Our cruise to St Kilda was a huge success. We made it safely to these wonderful isles thanks to James and his experience of the Hebridean weather and what a day we had there. Bright sunshine with no wind and a spectacular walk with magical views and then a fantastic cruise around Boreray and the stack with calm seas and thousands of birds. James provided us with a sunny day on the Shiants and we also had some lovely walks on Vatersay, Scarp, Isay and around the Viking canal at Rubha an Dunain. Lindsay’s ability to spot wildlife was amazing and as always we really enjoyed her company up on the fly deck. Jaya’s food was perfect and Sofia could not have been more attentive. A wonderful trip, our 5th on Emma Jane and we look forward to many more.
Jenny & John Bartram: 8 June 2024St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides