Wildlife and Whisky: Islay and Jura (2026)

Sailing from Oban aboard Hjalmar Bjorge, you’ll explore the wild coasts of Mull, Jura, and Islay, each with its own charm and abundance of life. Keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed and golden eagles, red deer, otters, seals, as well as porpoises, dolphins and minke whales as we journey through these rich island waters.

Jura: Wild and Welcoming

Our first whisky stop brings us to the remote island of Jura, home to just a few hundred residents but thousands of red deer. Rugged mountains rise above quiet bays where otters hunt along the shore and seals bask on the rocks. We’ll go ashore at Craighouse to visit the island’s famous Jura Distillery for a complimentary distillery tour and taste gentle, lightly-peated malts. It’s an ideal balance of wild beauty and warming hospitality.

Islay: The Heart of Whisky Country

Sailing south, we reach Islay, often called the “Queen of the Hebrides”, a paradise for birdwatchers and whisky lovers alike. Keep your binoculars ready for choughs, hen harriers, and eagles, as well as seals and otters along the island’s shores. A complimentary minibus tour takes us to two of Islay’s world-renowned distilleries, one on the windswept west coast and another on the island’s storied east side, where you’ll enjoy tastings and a glimpse into centuries of whisky-making tradition.

Between unforgettable wildlife encounters and the rich flavours of Scotland’s finest single malts, this voyage captures the true spirit of the Hebrides.

Details
Holiday type: All Inclusive
Departure/Arrive: Oban, Argyll and Bute
Vessel: Hjalmar Bjørge
Max number of guests: 10
Included: Jura Distillery Tour and minibus travel on Islay

For more information visit our Useful Information page.

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 procedures, and get you settled into your accommodation. Casting off at 15:30 then heading for the first nights anchorage at Crinan. Here is the Northwest entrance/exit to the famous Crinan Canal. Our anchorage in Loch Gilp is a beautiful spot surrounded by mainland picturesque woodland views and islands to the west.

Day 2:  A brief shore excursion to explore the canal, then onwards to Craighouse on Jura and a chance to go ashore and visit the Jura distillery for a complimentary tour.  We will overnight here in the bay for a relaxed evening. .

Day 3: Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise to Port Ellen, the whisky capital of Islay. We will have a minibus available for explore the town and visit two distilleries, one in the East and one in the North for more opportunities to experience wildlife and whisky on the island. Overnight in Port Ellen.

Day 4: After breakfast, we’ll head up the Sound of Islay, passing MacArthurs Head lighthouse. Look out for seabirds, divers, seals, and deer on Islay and Jura. We’ll anchor on the remote west side of Jura, a great spot for sunsets and possibly spotting otters along the shore.

Day 5: A short crossing to the island of Colonsay and Oronsay and plenty time ashore to explore these bird rich islands and walk along it’s superb beaches. Overnight here is weather dependant.

Day 6:  A full morning between Oronsay and Colonsay before we cross to the Ross of Mull.  Always looking out for dolphins and Minke whales and a high chance of White-Tailed and Golden Eagles.  There may be the option to be dropped off to take the two hour walk to Loch Spelve to connect with Hjalmar Bjorge.  Loch Spelve; our favourite spot for the final night of your adventure. This Loch is on the east coast of Mull, only an hours steam from Oban; very sheltered and a hot bed of Eagles, Red Deer and Otters. With spectacular mountain scenery, local walks and the possibility of Mussels from the local Mussel farm.

Day 7: 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 otter as we exit Loch Spelve channel, always a good place for a sighting.