Sailing the Hebrides: Scotland’s Wild and Beautiful West Coast
Our week-long sailing adventure through Scotland’s breathtaking west coast offers a journey shaped by the wind, weather, and tides. Each route varies slightly, with different start and end locations (see Dates & Prices page), but the experience remains the same: an incredible mix of stunning landscapes, rich history, and extraordinary wildlife encounters. Here are just some of the highlights we may explore along the way:
The Isles of Mull, Iona & Coll
This region is home to some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery. The colourful harbour of Tobermory, with its charming waterfront, bustling quayside, and renowned whisky distillery, is a favourite stop. To the northwest, the secluded anchorage of Croig Bay offers a peaceful retreat, where the sound of curlews fills the air and otters slip through the water. A short walk inland reveals a hidden white-sand beach, often empty except for the occasional seals basking on the shore.
Further south, Calgary Bay is a picture-perfect cove, where golden sands are backed by wildflower-covered machair dunes. It’s a favourite stop for an afternoon walk or a swim in the crystal-clear waters. Across the sound, the Isle of Coll provides a wilder, more remote experience. The Cairns of Coll is one of the best spots in the Hebrides for spotting basking sharks and dolphins, while the fishing village of Arinagour welcomes sailors with its cosy pub and the haunting call of the rare corncrake.
The Treshnish Isles & Staffa
A sail to the Treshnish Isles is like stepping into another world. This chain of uninhabited isles, battered by the Atlantic, is a wildlife sanctuary where thousands of seabirds nest among dramatic cliffs and grassy slopes. The puffins of Lunga are famously unafraid of people, allowing for incredibly close encounters. Guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes wheel overhead, while grey seals lounge on rocky outcrops.
Not far away, the legendary Island of Staffa is home to the breathtaking Fingal’s Cave, a vast basalt cavern where the waves echo eerily against towering rock columns. The island is also a stopping point for migratory seabirds, including fulmars and storm petrels, while its waters attract dolphins, porpoises, and even the occasional minke whale.
The Small Isles & Skye
Heading north, we may visit the Small Isles, where each island has its own unique character. Rum, the largest, is dominated by the jagged peaks of the Cuillin and home to wild red deer and golden eagles. Eigg boasts the striking An Sgùrr ridge, formed by volcanic lava, offering one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Hebrides.
Sailing into the Inner Sound of Skye, the scenery shifts to towering cliffs, dramatic headlands, and sheltered bays. Stops may include Broadford Bay, where sea eagles patrol the skies, or Portree, where colourful houses cling to the harbour’s edge and seals bob in the water.
The Remote Northwest Coast
Further north, the coastline becomes even more rugged and untouched. Loch Ewe, a deep-sea loch surrounded by mountains, is a place of historic significance and natural beauty. During World War II, it was a key naval base, and remnants of its past remain scattered along the shore. Nearby, Gairloch is a stunning anchorage where golden beaches meet moorland hills, offering some of the best sunsets in the Highlands.
Further along, the picturesque village of Plockton surprises many with its almost subtropical feel, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream. Palm trees line the waterfront, and the calm waters provide one of the most sheltered anchorages on the west coast. Ullapool, set against the backdrop of towering mountains, is a lively end-point for some routes, with fresh seafood and a warm Highland welcome.
Hidden Gems & Tranquil Anchorages
Throughout the journey, we’ll uncover breathtaking spots like Gometra, an unspoiled island where white-tailed eagles are regularly seen soaring overhead, and Loch na Keal, where the combination of mountain, moorland, and sea creates a dramatic landscape. This is one of the best places to see otters, as they fish along the shore, as well as pods of common dolphins riding the bow wave.
The Isle of Iona, known for its historic abbey, is a place of reflection and spiritual significance, while its hidden bays, such as St. Columba’s Bay, offer peaceful seclusion. The Carsaig Arches, natural rock formations carved by the sea, provide a dramatic coastal spectacle, home to kestrels and golden eagles.
Further south, Loch Buie offers a glimpse into Scotland’s past with its ancient Moy Castle and mystical stone circle, while Loch Spelve is a truly special anchorage, surrounded by ancient oak forests and alive with the calls of oystercatchers. Here, we have the opportunity to taste the freshest mussels straight from the loch, harvested by local fishermen at Inverlussa Shellfish.
Wildlife Encounters
Scotland’s west coast is one of the most wildlife-rich regions in Europe, offering a chance to see some of the country’s most iconic species in their natural habitat. White-tailed eagles, Britain’s largest bird of prey, are frequently spotted soaring over the lochs, while golden eagles hunt along the cliffs and ridgelines. The waters are home to an incredible array of marine life, from pods of common and bottlenose dolphins to minke whales, porpoises, and even basking sharks in late summer. Seals are a constant companion, often popping up alongside the boat, and otters can sometimes be seen fishing along the shorelines.
On land, the Hebrides are home to red deer, wild goats, and the elusive corncrake, a bird whose distinctive rasping call can often be heard in the tall grasses of Coll and Iona. In the more sheltered bays, seabird colonies thrive, with thousands of guillemots, razorbills, and puffins returning each spring to nest on the rocky cliffs.
A Journey Shaped by the Elements
With each voyage following a slightly different route, no two trips are ever the same. Whether exploring the dramatic cliffs of Skye, the sheltered anchorages of Mull, or the remote bays of the northwest coast, this is true adventure sailing, where the wind, tides, and the ever-changing sea determine the journey, and the beauty of Scotland’s wild west coast never fails to impress.
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