20 September 2025
A typically delightful trip with Hebrides Cruises. From the warm welcome to the huggy farewell, the crew did everything possible to enable us to enjoy ourselves. Very lucky with weather, we visited 3 of the 4 Small Isles and 3 superb sea lochs as well as anchoring off the glorious beach at Kentra. The visits ashore were appropriate and well-managed—careful landings and a sensible walking pace. Lots of time to really look around and take in the beauty and wildlife we were privileged to share. While at sea there were superb sightings of common dolphin and minke whales. Golden and white-tailed eagles AND otters were a real bonus. And the food? Quite staggeringly good from such a tiny galley as usual. Beautifully presented and suitably varied with all tastes accommodated. Altogether an experience to remember with relish and long to repeat. Thank you to all involved. Jan Shearn
Janet Shearn
This must be one of the most relaxing holidays I have ever been on. A lifelong ambition was fulfilled be visiting Staffa and seeing Fingal's Cave and it was every bit as spectacular as I had hoped. Not only did we walk down the route to it to look into it but, thanks to Chris judging the tide to be right, he was able to get us right inside it. Iona and its abbey were impressive too of course and being able to land on Lunga in the Treshnish Islands and see the seabird colonies - puffins galore - was equally marvellous. The sail round Mull was an eye-opener too, seeing lochs from the sea rather than from the land. They were wonderful locations to spend the nights. And the weather was glorious. The wildlife was in abundance too with lots of seabirds and seals and good sightings of cetaceans. Bottle-nosed dolphins were the first up to bow-wave and we also had 4 or 5 Minke whales fishing and a few porpoises, but the most spectacular were over 100 Common Dolphins which came leaping from all directions to accompany us for over an hour. The hospitality on board was as friendly as ever on a Hebrides Cruises's trip thanks to Chris, Craig, Zoe and Sian with her delicious meals. Add to that very compatible fellow-travellers and no WiFi (so no gloomy news) and this was a holiday to be long treasured in the memory.
Helen Mainwood: 23 April 2022Idyllic Islands: Mull, Iona, Staffa & the Treshnish Isles