Whales and Wildlife of the North Minch and Sea of the Hebrides

Some of the species we will be searching for include… Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphins, Risso, Bottlenose Dolphin and possibly Orca; Dolphins often seek out the Hjalmar Bjørge to ride her bow wave. Being nearly eye-to-eye with these graceful Dolphins make for an unforgettable encounter and is often the highlight of our guests  day.

At this time of year the Minch waters can be great for some of the larger whales including Humpbacks and the Fin Whale, the second largest animal to have ever lived.  We have even had Northern Bottlenose Whale on several occasions.

Hjalmar Bjorge provide safe, perfect vantage points to scan the waters for a surfacing whale or leaping dolphins. Whilst we don’t forget to keep a weather eye open for seabirds.  Such as… Gannets, Manx Sheerwaters, Fulmars, Guillemots, Razorbills, both Great and Arctic Skuas, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, all the usual suspects.

At this time of year you may also be lucky enough to spot other scarcer forms of Skua such as the long-tailed or Pomarine species, Sooty Shearwaters and even a Leach’s Petrel hiding amongst the Storm Petrels, for the very observant. White-tailed Eagles patrol many of the local sea lochs and cliffs,with Golden Eagles often spotted over the hill ridges too.

We will get to visit some of the Small Isles. Rum, Eigg, Muck, and Canna. These are known for their rugged beauty, wildlife, and isolated charm. Each have dramatic scenery and an abundance of wildlife and their own way of life. Wildlife includes Red Deer, White-tailed Eagles and some very rare plants.  To the North of the Small Isles lies the largest island of the Inner Hebrides; the Isle of Skye.  Skye is celebrated for its dramatic mountain scenery, and rich history. The impressive Cuillin mountains provide a heroic backdrop to capture soaring Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles.

Each evening, we anchor at a picturesque spot to enjoy the sunset with a drink. Our skippers select the best locations for that isolated experience of the islands.

On most days we get ashore for a leg stretch and a wander, accompanied by our naturalist guide.

Please note On our best days our itinerary will be smooth transits from one anchorage to another as shown on the program we have offered. However, this is the West Coast of Scotland, and we, are governed by mother nature. So, on occasion, for your comfort and safety, we may need to, tweak, the original course that we are looking to follow. But wherever our tweaking takes us, our trip and destination anchorages will always be special.

Day 1: Oban, regarded as the seafood capital of Scotland and known as the Gateway to the Western Isles, will be our starting point. We will begin boarding Hjalmar Bjorge at 14:30 at the pontoons near Oban’s North Pier. A short briefing will follow to acquaint our guests with life aboard the ship, its safety policies and procedures, and get you settled into your accommodation. We aim to cast off at 15:30 and proceed to our first anchorage for the night.

Day 2-10:  As this cruise is very much aimed at searching for and enjoying the various Cetacean species to be found in and around the the Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides, our itinerary will largely be dictated by the most recent sightings; which we constantly monitor.  Sea and weather conditions, and the experience of our local skipper will have us roaming around between the coastlines of Lewis, and the Summer Isles near Ullapool, the Isle of Skye, the Small Isles and Coll. Our overnight anchorages will largely be in quiet, remote areas with sightings of Red Deer, Otters, Seals and Eagles all possible.

Day 11: After a hearty breakfast to see you on your way, it’s back to Oban for 10:30.  We will keep an eye out for Otters as we exit Loch Spelve channel, always a good place for an early morning sighting.