St Kilda Big Adventure Cruises

Meet in Stornoway at 1300 and transfer to Tarbert on Harris via our minibus, where we board the MV Monadhliath. Enjoy a welcome drink and a talk on the trip ahead then time to settle in before we head for our first night’s anchorage further south along the coast of Harris, travelling through cetacean and seabird rich waters. There will be a chance for a brief walk ashore before supper and prepare for an early start for St Kilda.

If weather and sea conditions allow, and at the skipper’s discretion, we will be making our way to the St Kilda archipelago which will take most of the day but is well worth the effort. There will be growing anticipation to see first Boreray and Stac Armine before the main island of Hirta appears over the horizon. We will spend the first of two nights in Village Bay.

We intend to have a full day ashore if weather allows to explore the island and the village and learn about the cultural history of this dual UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Plus, you have nearly a million seabirds to take in! Spend our second night at anchor in Village Bay.

We head back to the Isle of Harris and aim for Taransay and the sheltered waters of the Sound of Harris, home to a varied array of bird and animal life; seals, red deer and otters along with both diver species and waders. We will hear the haunting calls of these birds as we anchor overnight.

Today takes us eastwards through the Sound of Harris and back into the Sea of the Hebrides and a chance of more cetacean encounters with species such as minke whales and short-beaked common dolphins.  We will anchor on the east side of Harris.

Today we head for the Shiants and a chance to get closer than ever to its seabird inhabitants, plus more great chances of seeing feeding minke whales and possibly new species of dolphin, the Risso’s and white-beaked dolphins, along with the ubiquitous harbour porpoise.  There is also a high chance of spotting both of Scotland’s eagle species, the glorious golden and the huge white-tailed (or sea) eagle. If the weather and conditions are good we hope to anchor at the Shiants overnight. If not its just a short hop over to the sheltered sea lochs of Lewis instead.

Our final morning sees us say good bye to the Shiants with one last look around the islands by boat maybe. We will then start heading back up along the coastline of Lewis towards Stornoway through some great cetacean holding waters so we will be keeping our eyes open as always for minke whales, common dolphins, Risso's dolphins, sea eagle and more....