8 June 2019
Our trip to the Outer Hebrides was exceptional in every way; the talented staff; the comfortable accommodations; the little details (a refreshing glass of Prosecco on the return of each day's trip); the always-full cookie jar; the welcoming and beautifully decorated table spread with good food; the post-dinner discussions and chart-reading with Captain James and our naturalist, Will; the frolicking Bottlenose dolphins "bow riding" upside down next to the "Emma Jane"; the seals lazily lounging on the rocky ledges; the Minke whales; the diving gannets, nesting puffins, and Great Skua (nicknamed "Bonzies" by the Scots.....Will photographed one Bonxie trying to grab a mackerel away from a shearwater); the while fulmars flitting in and out the rocky crevices; and our wonderful trip companions. It was a trip to treasure and relive many times in future years! Every new adventure offered the chance to read and to learn about the many marine birds, the "beasties" (ocean mammals), and the fascinating stories and history of the Outer Hebrides. All experiences were unique; hiking in the Isle of Eigg to the "Massacre Cave"; viewing habitats of nesting puffins, guillemots, shags, fulmars on the cliffs of the "Shiants" and St. Kilda's; seeing the aquaculture salmon rafts stretched in a row off the coast of Skye; steaming across the water to the archipelago of St. Kilda's and experiencing the view of Hirta, St. Kilda's main island, mysteriously rising out of the fog as we approached the island All were memorable experiences. And we were lucky! The weather was perfect for our trip....some light drizzle off and on, some wind but no strong "houlies" (very strong winds)! This is a trip of a lifetime. We recommend it with enthusiasm and with joyful memories! Sally and Alan Gayer June 2019 Private Cruise to the Outer Hebrides and St. Kilda's
Sally and Alan Gayer
Thank you to Rob, Sam, Ruari, Abbie and all at Hebrides Cruises, not forgetting the beautiful Lucy Mary for another amazing trip. Graeme was thrilled to achieve his ambition of visiting the original (and best ) St Kilda. We also enjoyed revisiting The Small Isles. A bonus was the weather whist not warm it was mostly dry and whilst we were at St Kilda we were able to view the magnificent stacs under clear blue skies. Sam's offering from the galley were truly magnificent with an amazing range of textures and flavours from all over the world. We enjoyed many a chat with Ruari - did you know he could have been a concert pianist? Abbie clearly loves her job and we hope she continues to look after your guests as well as she did us. Huge thanks to Rob for his skill, diligence and great stories of life on the sea and in the islands.
Graeme & Sue Hurst: 20 July 2023St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides