FROM ST KILDA TO COLL

Cetaceans, thousands of seabirds, the Inner and Outer Hebrides and the breathtaking St Kilda

Saturday 5 July - Sunday 13 July 2008

Price £1375 pp.  No single supplement, cabins shared in pairs. Deposit £300pp
Maximum twelve guests plus we are delighted to welcome as Leader author and broadcaster Kenny Taylor.

Last cabin for a couple sharing,
Last place for one lady willing to share.

This cruise takes you from Oban to the island of Coll in the south, amongst the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides before climaxing in an expedition westwards to reach the remote outpost of St Kilda. 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 notacle local creature is the Soay Sheep - Europe's most primitive domestic breed.

We depart from Oban, travelling through the Sound of Mull with Ardnamurchan to our north, crossing the warm seas which play host to a variety of birds and cetaceans. Manx Shearwater, Arctic Skua, and occasional Storm Petrel, Great Skua around the ‘flurries’ of fish, hosts of Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake and of course Puffin, the seas can teem with birds. Several of the islands we pass or land upon hold Golden Eagle and/or White-tailed Eagle. Sea mammals are of great interest, and we should encounter Otter on rocky beaches and inlets as the tide is rising. We watch for Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Common and Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise, with a very good chance of all these and even a blunt-nosed Risso’s, or a flashing White-sided Dolphin are possible.

We are delighted to announce that our friend author and broadcaster Kenny Taylor has agreed to lead this holiday for us. This is a major opportunity for any lover of wildlife. Kenny lived on St Kilda for eight months over a period of years, and knows all the islands very well. Kenny's work on Puffins 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. With one of Britain’s leading Puffin experts as Leader, we highly recommend this holiday.

There is no fixed itinerary, though spectacular scenery is all around, and we should visit a selection of islands perhaps including Mull, Tiree, Coll, Canna, Muck, Eigg, Rhum, Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist. How close we approach, and where we land depends entirely on the local conditions and the captain’s judgement – after all, with all these absorbing treasures, we are planning to reach St Kilda!

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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).