9 September 2022
The holiday of a life-time. I loved every minute. Obviously the views and islands were amazing but the boat and the especially the crew were amazing also. Angus, Will, Callum and Charlie made us feel part of their boating family and we all entertained each other over dinner in the evenings with our stories and jokes. The other passengers were great and we continue to send pictures and memories to each other on our specially set up WhatsApp group. As a complete non - sailor, I felt safe at all times with Angus our skipper, and I relished the adventure. Will, our wildlife expert, made sure that we witnessed some spectacular events, including a couple of white tailed Eagles; Dolphins sporting with us on the bow wave; and Gannets showing their skills diving for mackerel. Callum was lovely, always attentive to our needs and always smiling, filling up our glasses, bringing us tea on deck without spilling any. ( How did he do that?) And Charlie, our Chef, wow the food was superb, what a star. I am hoping to start painting the fabulous sea scapes very soon while the warm glow of the experience is still in my veins. Thank you for a very special time.
Rita Mitchell
Our trip to the Outer Hebrides was exceptional in every way; the talented staff; the comfortable accommodations; the little details (a refreshing glass of Prosecco on the return of each day's trip); the always-full cookie jar; the welcoming and beautifully decorated table spread with good food; the post-dinner discussions and chart-reading with Captain James and our naturalist, Will; the frolicking Bottlenose dolphins "bow riding" upside down next to the "Emma Jane"; the seals lazily lounging on the rocky ledges; the Minke whales; the diving gannets, nesting puffins, and Great Skua (nicknamed "Bonzies" by the Scots.....Will photographed one Bonxie trying to grab a mackerel away from a shearwater); the while fulmars flitting in and out the rocky crevices; and our wonderful trip companions. It was a trip to treasure and relive many times in future years! Every new adventure offered the chance to read and to learn about the many marine birds, the "beasties" (ocean mammals), and the fascinating stories and history of the Outer Hebrides. All experiences were unique; hiking in the Isle of Eigg to the "Massacre Cave"; viewing habitats of nesting puffins, guillemots, shags, fulmars on the cliffs of the "Shiants" and St. Kilda's; seeing the aquaculture salmon rafts stretched in a row off the coast of Skye; steaming across the water to the archipelago of St. Kilda's and experiencing the view of Hirta, St. Kilda's main island, mysteriously rising out of the fog as we approached the island All were memorable experiences. And we were lucky! The weather was perfect for our trip....some light drizzle off and on, some wind but no strong "houlies" (very strong winds)! This is a trip of a lifetime. We recommend it with enthusiasm and with joyful memories! Sally and Alan Gayer June 2019 Private Cruise to the Outer Hebrides and St. Kilda's
Sally and Alan Gayer: 8 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights