ST KILDA & OUTER ISLES WILDLIFE

Oban to Oban

Tuesday 7th to Tuesday 14th May 2024

7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

As the remotest part of the British Isles, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda forms the most important seabird breeding site in northwest Europe. With cliffs, sea stacks and grassy slopes, the islands are ideally suited to nesting birds like puffin, kittiwake, fulmar, razorbill and guillemot.

Boarding the beachcraft, a landing on the Small Isle of Rum takes us in search of red deer, before a cruise of the west coast of Skye. We take a boat trip to view the resident seal population in the shadow of Dunvegan Castle and observe the wading and farmland birds at the Balranald RSPB Reserve on North Uist, or travel to the historic ruins of Trinity Temple.

A cruise of the seabird cliffs of the privately owned Shiant Isles allows us to witness the myriad of breeding seabirds, before cruising The Minch to Stornoway to visit the bird of prey trail at Ravenpoint on the shores of Loch Erisort, or discover local heritage at Lews Castle Museum.

Venturing to St Kilda, we cruise the archipelago and seabird colonies of Stac Lee and Boreray, ahead of anchoring in Village Bay. Weather permitting, we land on the main island of Hirta to explore the abandoned 19th century village, and set sail to Barra for an island tour or the opportunity to go in search of raptors.

Local boats take us to Lunga, an island designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and where Atlantic grey seals and puffins are abundant. Our final destination is Mull, for afternoon walks ashore and the opportunity to spot Britain’s largest and most impressive bird of prey, the white-tailed eagle.

T ravel Plan – 7 nights

Tuesday 7th June

Oban - Embarkation.

Wednesday 8th June

Kilmory Bay, Rum - beach landing - red deer. Cruise west coast of Skye.

Thursday 9th June

Loch Dunvegan, Skye - Seal Colony/ Dunvegan Castle. North Uist - Balranald Bird Reserve/Trinity Temple.

Friday 10th June

Shiant Isles - Seabird cliffs by small boat. Stornoway, Lewis - Ravens Point & Loch Erisort/Lews Castle Museum.

Saturday 11th June

Cruise St Kilda archipelago and seabird cliffs/ land at Village Bay Hirta.

Cruise towards Barra.

Sunday 12th June

Castlebay, Barra - Island Tour/looking for Raptors.

Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides.

Monday 13th June

Lunga - Puffins by local boat.

Tobermory, Mull - walks ashore/look for Sea Eagles.

Tuesday 14th June

Oban - Disembarkation.

Hebridean Highlights

• Balranald Bird Reserve, North Uist

• Shiant Isles

• Ravenspoint Bird of Prey Trail

• Double UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda

• Puffin boat trip, Lunga