Scottish Islands Cruise

–

the British Outer Limits

Thursday 28 May – Thursday 4 June 2009

GUIDE PRICES we will confirm prices as soon as possible, please bear with us as the current economic climate settles down.

Non-ensuite cabins £1995pp
Ensuite cabins        £2430pp
Superior cabins      £2745pp

Deposit £300 per person, Balance payment January 2009.

Cabins are for twin occupation, though several ensuite and non-ensuite cabins will be reserved so we can match singles with appropriate cabin-mates! For single occupancy, please contact us directly and we will either match you with a partner for the voyage or give you a price for single occupancy.

Please note that although this cruise doesn't depart till May 2009, we need to commit to a fixed number of cabins well in advance to secure the voyage. This means that we will almost certainly not have availability for long!

Our vessel is the 50-berth M/V Alexsey Maryshev, the same comfortable vessel used for our Spitsbergen holiday in 2008. More information about M/V Aleksey Maryshev can be found below.

This is the ultimate ‘British Outer Limits’ experience, as we make a special cruise to the most ‘exotic’ Scottish locations. This dedicated 8-day wildlife cruise will take you to Fair Isle, the Shetland Islands (including Mousa and Foula), the Hebrides (including Lewis and the Flannan Islands), St Kilda, and also the rarely visited outposts of North Rhona and Sula Sgeir.

We will be approach locations not otherwise available, making zodiac landings on some of Britain’s most inaccessible islands. These are places every British birder wants to visit, but few ever get the chance. With Heatherlea on this tremendous holiday, you can see them all! We expect to set our itinerary to visit the best places, some of which will be weather dependant. The holiday begins in Oban and ends in Aberdeen (transfers by coach back to Oban will be arranged). This holiday is sure to be popular - experience suggests we will start booking very quickly!

The holiday will be led by Heatherlea guides Kevin Shaw and Ian Ford, with St Kilda expert, naturalist and author Kenny Taylor and cetacean expert Dylan Walker too!

Outline Itinerary

Throughout we will enjoy huge numbers of seabirds, including auks, skuas, gannets, petrels, shearwaters and many more, with rarities in the area in recent years including Red (Grey) Phalarope and Black-browed Albatross. Both Scottish eagles are likely, and mammals should include Otter, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Minke Whale and perhaps Orca. Basking Sharks have been a welcome addition in Scottish waters in recent years. All this from the comfort of our centrally-heated ship, with a backdrop of some of Britain’s most breathtaking scenery, in the company of Heatherlea’s crack guides.

Our holiday begins in Oban, where we meet for afternoon embarkation for the next seven nights. We begin by skirting the isle of Mull, where we might see White-tailed and Golden Eagles soaring over the mountains or perhaps catch an Otter along the rocky shoreline.

Beyond the western islands of Coll and Tiree we approach the Outer Hebrides, making a stop on Lewis to visit the Standing Stones of Callanish and circling the seabird colonies on the Flannan Islands before heading out to sea once more for the St Kilda group. Spectacular St Kilda is of course a major highlight of the cruise. St Kilda is rightly famous for its huge seabird colonies. The spectacle and clamour of one million birds at the height of their breeding season in north-west Europe’s largest seabird colony is an unforgettable experience. Highlights include Puffin (more than 250,000 – the largest colony in Britain), Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel and Leach’s Petrel (over 90,000 birds, and 90% of the European breeding population ). The rocky cliffs contain extensive ledges for breeding Fulmar (more than 100,000 – the largest colony in Western Europe), Guillemots and Razorbill. The St Kilda Gannet colony is the largest in the world, estimated at over 120,000 birds.

Perhaps the most notable land bird is St Kilda’s own distinctive subspecies of wren, 2 - 3g heavier than mainland birds. The other endemic subspecies to find is the St Kilda Field Mouse as it scurries about the deserted houses in search of food. A third notable local creature is the Soay Sheep - Europe's most primitive domestic breed.

We are delighted that our friend author and broadcaster Kenny Taylor will be with us on this holiday. Kenny lived on St Kilda for eight months over a period of years, and knows the islands very well. Kenny is one of Britain’s leading Puffin experts, whose work not only earned him a PhD, but was also used in the TV programme ‘Clowns of the Air’. Kenny’s was also one of only two British research projects covered in David Attenborough’s ‘Trials of Life’ series.

We need to head far out to sea to our next destinations, the remote and rarely visited outposts of North Rhona and Sula Sgeir. North Rhona was abandoned in 1844, and today the island is a haven for wildlife. Puffins are abundant and Grey Seals are common around the coasts, whilst out at sea it is worth keeping an eye open for White-beaked Dolphins, Minke Whales and Orcas. In the evening we cruise around nearby Sula Sgeir, home to 5,000 pairs of Gannets and, in recent years, just one very lonely Black-browed Albatross!

Next on our list is the small isolated island of Foula, home to the largest colony of Great Skuas in the world. Here towering sandstone cliffs rise vertically out of the sea, crowded with thousands of seabirds. We will approach as closely as we are allowed for one of the holiday’s memorable experiences. We round the cliffs of Shetland's Sumburgh Head and visit the island of Mousa on the eastern side of the archipelago. Otters and Grey Seals are likely here, but our main goal will be the Pictish Broch, an ancient circular stone tower and a breeding site of Storm Petrel

Heading south, we visit Fair Isle, with seabirds and cetaceans en-route. Fair Isle is halfway between the Orkney and Shetland Islands and is famous as a magnet for migrants and vagrants from around the world. We will take time to pick up any rarities available to us on the island, perhaps Subalpine Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Bluethroat will be seen.

Finally we continue south to the Granite City of Aberdeen, where our tour ends on the final morning. A coach service will be waiting to return those driving to Oban, stopping at Dyce Airport to unload those who are flying home instead. If you wish to join Heatherlea in Strathspey, our coach will take you to Nethybridge – our next High Season across the Highlands holiday begins on Saturday 6 June!

Please note that many of the islands we visit are hard to reach, and weather may prevent us going – the discretion of our Captain is the key factor at all times. Group size will be anything up to 50 participants, with four Heatherlea guides.

There will be options to take easy/moderate walks ashore (a mile or two in most cases though longer walks are possible). Walking is very enjoyable everywhere on these islands, where proper paths may be unavailable, but the sense of space and freedom is unbeatable.

We will go ashore in zodiac boats (these are rugged rubber inflatable boats), crewed by the Alexsey Maryshev’s experienced team, who will assist you on and off boats.

Travel can be by public transport (train to Oban and Aberdeen, flights from Aberdeen) or private vehicles, and a transfer service back to Oban from Aberdeen will be provided. The cost of this service will be minimized and depends on the number of participants.

M/V Aleksey Maryshev
Built in Finland for the Russian Academy of Science, now converted for passenger use, and ideally suited to expedition cruising. Aleksey Maryshev complies with international safety and environmental regulations, as well as Arctic and Antarctic shipping guidelines. Passengers are accommodated in twin cabins, most en-suite and all with an ‘outside’ aspect. Please note that cabins will be allocated strictly by order of booking with Heatherlea. Public areas are comfortable and cosy, and include a dining room, a bar with reference books, a small infirmary and a sauna. Passengers are welcome on the spacious bridge (one of the best wildlife spotting places). We hope to organise a polar barbecue on deck; surrounded by an impressive landscape, and accompanied by Russian crew members and your fellow travellers, this should be an event to remember – one of many on this holiday!

Accommodation is in twin berthed cabins (single occupancy available). ‘Superior cabins’ have double bed, all others have upper and lower berths.

Length 66 metres (210 feet)
Breadth 12.8 metres (42 feet)
Draft 3.5 metres (12 feet)
Speed 12.5 knots
Passenger capacity 46
19 Russian crew
3 international expedition staff, catering and hotel staff and an emergency doctor.

Price includes; seven nights cruising on M/V Alexsey Maryshev, all meals on-board from Dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 8. Food is very good and there is a well-stocked bar. Shore excursions by zodiac, and activities throughout including lectures, leadership and other services from crew, ranger services on islands where these are available, island landing fees, taxes and other fees, bird and mammal checklist and, of course, the services of your Heatherlea guides.

Price excludes; insurance, gratuities, drinks and other personal expenses. Travel to Oban and from Aberdeen.

We expect around 100 bird species, though migration can throw up welcome surprises at this time. Expect around ten mammal species, many of which will be sea-going!

Terms and Conditons Because we will be hiring the boat and paying in Euros well in advance of the holiday, our international Terms and Conditions apply to this holiday even though we never leave British territorial waters! Copy on request.

Bird List A full list will be issued later, but here is a brief list of the more interesting species;

Black-browed Albatross, Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver,  Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Leach’s Petrel, Gannet, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Eider Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Corncrake, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Great Skua, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Common Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Puffin, Short-eared Owl, Wren (St Kilda and Hebridean races),

Rarities might include Black-browed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, White-fronted Goose, King Eider, Red (Grey) Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Little Auk, Snowy Owl, Bluethroat and just about anything on Fair Isle, St Kilda or the Outer Hebrides!

Mammal (and one big fish!) List

Otter, Red Deer, St Kilda Field Mouse, Soay Sheep, Common Seal, Grey Seal, Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Orca.

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Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (eg weather).