St Kilda and Continental Shelf Expedition with Chris Gomersall (2027)

After the success of our 2025 Stanton Banks cruise, reaching the Continental Shelf west of the island of Barra has been firmly on our radar for several years. This is a return to a classic route and an expedition regularly undertaken by Hjalmar Bjorge with Mark, the vessel’s previous owner. Joining us will be Chris Gomersall, a regular guide and photographer on our voyages and a long associate and friend of Hjalmar Bjorge.

In 2027, we plan to push as far west as possible to the shelf edge—who knows what we will encounter, or what valuable data we will bring back. Our intended route will include St Kilda and parts of the Western Isles chain, also known as the Outer Hebrides. As always, the final route will be dictated by weather and sea conditions, with alternative plans in place. With this being peak cetacean season, there is always something remarkable to find.

As with all our cruises, all sightings and observations will be logged using the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s Whale Track app, contributing to long-term research and conservation efforts.

Of course, it’s not all about time at sea. There will be opportunities to go ashore on several islands in the Outer Hebrides, including Mingulay and Vatersay, as well as selected islands of the Inner Hebrides—adding rich cultural and wildlife experiences to this offshore expedition.

Available for private charter; create your own itinerary.

Availability

Cruise Dates

Nights

Spaces

Prices from p/p
05 Aug 2027 - 15 Aug 2027
10
8
£3600
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Summary

Imagine sailing west from the Outer Hebrides, and as you leave the sheltered waters around Barra, the sea floor itself begins to tell a story. Just beyond the island’s rugged shores, the continental shelf stretches out like a vast, hidden plain beneath the Atlantic.

For a time, the seabed remains relatively shallow, supporting a rich mix of marine life that has long sustained local fishing communities. Then, quite suddenly, it drops away into the deep ocean — a dramatic edge where the shelf gives way to the continental slope. Standing on Barra’s beaches, you’d never guess that just a few dozen miles offshore, the seabed plunges into an abyssal world.

For travellers, the continental shelf is a reminder that the horizons seen from the Western isles are only half the picture. Beyond the salt-sprayed headlands lies a hidden landscape every bit as dramatic as the island landscape, a place where the familiar edges of land meet the unfathomable depth of the Atlantic.

Join the Hjalmar Bjorge on our expedition to the Continental shelf, St Kilda and islands of the Outer Hebrides. Rich in marine life the upwellings are likely to attract a range of feeding cetaceans and migrant seabirds in this late summer period. To be honest, nobody has really looked very hard. Most likely we will see Minke Whales, White-Beaked and Risso’s Dolphins, and we are hoping that Humpback Whales and Fin Whales might also be present. Seabirds are likely to include… Northern Gannet, European and Storm Petrel, Great and Arctic Skua and Sooty Shearwater. Whilst there is also a good chance of rarer visitors such as Pomarine Skua, Great Shearwater, and maybe even, a Wilson’s Storm Petrel or Sabine’s Gull.

Along the way, we intend to visit the islands of Mingulay, possibly Pabbay and Sandray as well as stopping at Barra in the Western Isles. Exact itinerary is determined by local conditions and always at the discretion of the skipper.

Chris Gomersall is an award-winning wildlife photographer and author, with an education in zoology and a background working as a nature reserve warden and research ecologist, as well as 14 years as staff photographer with the RSPB. For many years he has spent significant periods of time working in Scotland, nowadays mostly tour leading and wildlife guiding. He first sailed with the Hjalmar Bjørge as a wildlife guide in 2003, and has since logged at least 50 cruises with us in the Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland, and the north and west coasts of Ireland. Chris will be out on deck in all weathers, encouraging guests to join him in the quest for seabirds, cetaceans and other amazing marine wildlife, as well as conducting guided walks ashore.

Itinerary

Please note On our best days our itinerary will be smooth transits from one anchorage to another as shown on the programme 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 procedures, policies and get you settled into your accommodation. We aim to cast off at 15:30 and proceed to our first anchorage for the night. At the top of the Sound of Mull is the stunningly beautiful Loch Sunart, positioned perfectly for a jump off point for the Outer Hebrides. Here, near Loch Sunart’s entrance, we find a small secondary loch, Loch Na Droma Buidhe. This, more often than not, will be our first night’s anchorage.

Day 2: Head towards the Outer Hebrides, and depending on weather we may make for Mingulay or straight to Barra.

Day 3-6: With a few days set aside for our attempt to reach the shelf, and with plenty of islands to explore in the area.

Day 7: Leaving the Western isles behind and make for the island of Coll, passing the cairns of Coll, a series of little islands and rocks at the northern tip of Coll. Anchoring down the east side for shelter, possibly at Crossapol bay, a very sheltered location with fantastic beaches. Also, a good area in the past for Basking shark and a good time of year to see them.

Day 8: This morning shall see us continue south and east with an anchorage possibly around the south westerly end of Mull, known as the Ross of Mull at the southern end of the island. The crossing will see us passing the Treshnish islands and Staffa Island and we will keep a lookout for whales and dolphins.

Day 9: If time allows, we may stop at Iona and a visit to the Abbey before rounding the Ross of Mull and following the coast. Time to keep an eye out for both eagle species and a great coastline for otters. An option of being dropped off at Loch Buie and walking the 2 hours round to meet the boat at Loch Spelve is a possibility.

Day 10;

Day 11: After a very 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 a sighting.