Hebrides
Wildlife
Cruise
Join us for an unforgettable 10-night wildlife cruise through the spectacular Outer Hebrides, exploring one of Britain’s wildest and most beautiful coastlines from the perfect platform - a small expedition ship. Timed for June, when the seabird colonies are at their most spectacular, our focus will be on photographing puffins, gannets, guillemots and other breeding seabirds, while always keeping watch for whatever else these wildlife-rich waters deliver. With dramatic islands, remote coastlines and the freedom to respond to the wildlife we encounter, this is a proper small-ship wildlife adventure where no two days will be quite the same.
In June 2028, we’ll set sail on a 10-night small-ship expedition through the spectacular Outer Hebrides, exploring some of the wildest islands and coastlines in Britain. This is a journey designed around wildlife rather than a rigid timetable, giving us the freedom to make the most of conditions, sightings and photographic opportunities as they unfold. We’ll explore remote, windswept bays, dramatic sea cliffs and islands that are difficult to experience in any other way.
June is a wonderful time for seabirds, and they will be one of the major highlights of our adventure. We plan to visit the great colonies of the Shiants, Lunga and other key seabird locations, where thousands of birds gather to breed. Puffins, guillemots and razorbills will provide fantastic photographic opportunities, while we’ll also seek out gannets, eagles and the many other species that make these islands their summer home.
But this trip is about much more than seabirds. We’ll constantly be watching the water for dolphins, porpoises and whales, searching the shorelines for otters and seals, and keeping an eye on the skies for both white-tailed and golden eagles. The beauty of travelling by small ship is that we can be flexible: if wildlife appears, conditions change or an unexpected opportunity presents itself, we can respond rather than simply sticking to a predetermined route.
Our home throughout will be a comfortable small exploration ship, crewed by an experienced team who know these waters, with expert wildlife and photographic guidance throughout the voyage. It’s a proper expedition into one of the UK’s great wildernesses, but without giving up the comforts you want at the end of a long day in the field. And, as with all our WildBunch Expeditions, your trip is fully financially protected through our TTA bonding.
Trip Highlights
10 nights exploring the spectacular Outer Hebrides aboard our comfortable small expedition ship.
Visit some of Britain’s greatest seabird colonies, including the Shiants and Lunga.
Fantastic opportunities to photograph puffins, guillemots and razorbills at the height of the breeding season.
Search for both white-tailed and golden eagles amongst the islands and dramatic coastal landscapes.
Explore secluded wild and windswept bays, sea cliffs and remote islands far from the usual tourist routes.
Watch for whales, dolphins and porpoises as we travel through these wildlife-rich waters.
Search quiet shorelines and sheltered bays for otters and seals.
Enjoy a flexible expedition itinerary, allowing our experienced crew and guides to respond to weather, wildlife sightings and the best photographic opportunities.
Travel with expert wildlife and photographic guidance, experienced expedition crew and the financial protection of WildBunch Expeditions’ TTA bonding.
Dates & Prices
Dates: June 13th -22nd 2028
Price: from £4995 per person
Availability: 8 / 8 Available
Itinerary
Any itinerary in this part of the world needs to be flexible, so please consider that the following is only a rough guideline. Weather conditions may necessitate a different order, even fully in reverse, this will decided at the time by the Captain. But still this will give you some idea of what a wonderful cruise this will be!
Day 1: Oban, regarded as the seafood capital of Scotland and known as the ‘Gateway to the Western Isles,’ will be our starting point. Boarding Hjalmar Bjorge commences at approximately 15:00 from 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 16:00 and proceed to our first anchorage for the night, possibly on our mooring in Tobermory Bay or up Loch Sunart.
Day 2: Head for Small Isles. passing the fantastic Ardnamurchan lighthouse standing out at the head of the peninsula, the furthest westerly point of the UK mainland. The skipper will use tide and weather to decide which routes to take and the most sheltered anchorage, but we expect to anchor at Canna, one of our favourite islands. There will be a chance to go ashore and explore, great island for both Golden eagle and White-tailed sea eagle.
Day 3: Leaving Canna we will pass the seabird colony on the north side of the island and start making our way north and head for the north end of Skye. Overnight in one of our usual anchorages at Waterstein where we will keep an eye out for both eagle species. (we may continue to the Shiants and not stop at Skye, again this depends on sea conditions, so we may have 2 nights at the Shiants),
Day 4: Head for Shiants (unless we arrived yesterday) in the morning and time to start exploring this great set of 3 islands, rich in seabirds and home to large colonies of boulder nesting Puffins and Razorbills. If conditions allow, we will overnight here, be surrounded by thousands of circling birds. If we can’t overnight, we will head up a sheltered Lewis sea loch just an hour away.
Day 5: Another chance to spend an early morning at the Shiants, following along the shore in our dinghy just off the boulder fields, getting close to puffins in an unusual nesting habitat. The rest of the day will see us make a passage down the east side of Skye. With many overnight choices of anchorages, somewhere between Skye and the mainland.
Day 6: A longer day at sea, we will make for a different one of the Small Isles to visit and overnight, we have the choice of Rum, Eigg or Muck. Chances of encountering hundreds if not thousands of Manx shearwaters who nest in burrows at the top of the peaks on Rum, feeding on the sea and skimming the waves. We will travel through great mountain and coastal scenery, always keeping an eye out for bow riding dolphins and encounters with whales.
Day 7: A morning passage south and our first visit to Lunga island, to a more traditional Puffin colony where we go ashore and get up close and personal with individual birds. We will try and spend as much of the afternoon and early evening here before heading to our safe anchorage less than an hour away.
Day 8: Depending on how we got on yesterday we may have an early morning back at Lunga before exploring the west side of Mull and anchoring on the Ross of Mull, great for eagles and otters.
Day 9: A morning visit to Iona and a chance of Corncrake, a walk on the island and a visit to the Abbey. The afternoon will see us head for our final night’s anchorage, either Loch Spelve on the east side of Mull or the sheltered bays at the north end of Seil island.
Day 10: Arrive in Oban for 10:00, a hearty breakfast and a fond farewell.
Accommodation
Our cosy ship has 5 passenger cabins in total, 4 are for passengers and 1 for us as guides. Two of the five cabins are en suite. The other two share one bathroom / toilet and a separate toilet (with us), giving a range of accommodation options while keeping the character and atmosphere of life on board.
Each cabin has a mirror, bedside reading lamps and wardrobe for storage and hanging clothes. Hand and bath towels are supplied for all guests and there are wash basins in each cabin. All cabins are warm and cosy with each having a thermostat controlled radiator. All the duvets and pillows are hypoallergenic and the bed linen is cotton. There is natural light coming in through a porthole in all cabins.
There is also a separate drying room for wet weather gear and boots. All cabins have electric plug sockets so you are able to charge any of your electrical equipment during the day.
The ship has a large, bright and airy saloon with tables and seating as well as a covered outdoor seating area at the stern of the boat. Passengers are welcome in to the wheelhouse when the vessel is underway but will be asked not to visit when docking or dropping anchor. The upper deck is perfect for cetacean watching and bird spotting and many of our guests happily while away a few hours up on deck with binoculars.
The Cabins
As described above the Hjalmar Bjorge has 4 double passenger cabins, each one is slightly different and each is available to book separately so you can choose in advance the cabin that you would like. Note that cabin 2 is unavailable for booking is it will be the designated guide cabin. There is no single occupancy on the ship unless you pay the full cabin price. Cabins 1,2 and 3 share the shower / toilet and separate toilet.
Now the best way of looking at all the cabins and their layout is to use the fill interactive tour of the ship. So click the button below….
Cabin 1 - this cabin features two single bunk beds that are staggered for easier access. The facilities for this cabin are shared between cabins 1, 2 & 3
Cabin 3 - this cabin features two single bunk beds that are staggered for easier access. The facilities for this cabin are shared between cabins 1, 2 & 3
Cabin 4 - this cabin is en suite with its own private adjoining shower and toilet. The bunks are arranged in a staggered side by side layout
Cabin 5 - this cabin is en suite with its own private adjoining shower and toilet. The bunks are arranged in a staggered side by side layout
Life on board
Food & Drink
Please not that as this trip is full-board all meals are included in the trip price whilst on board. And no expedition is complete without a hearty selection of cakes and snacks, which are also included! The price of the trip also includes complementary hot drinks (tea and coffee) as well as mineral water. Alcoholic and soft drinks may be purchased from the bar via an honesty system, note that any tabs must be settled in cash.
Breakfast
Each day our Chef will let you know what time breakfast will be served. On most days it will be around 8 am for breakfast, and there will always be cereals, fruits and toast available along with a selection of hot drinks.
Depending on the day ahead we offer a couple choices of hot foods differing each day. It may be just boiled eggs on those mornings when we want to get ashore as soon as possible. Or maybe a bacon or mushroom roll will help set you up for a long cruise to the more distant islands. You will soon discover breakfast at sea first thing in the early morning light on the water is a very special experience.
On the more relaxed mornings it may be buttery scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, or maybe a Stornoway black pudding, haggis stack with grilled fresh herby tomatoes. (veggie versions are available.) On the day of departure we offer Hjalmar Bjorge’s full Scottish breakfast to see you into your onward journey.
Dinner
Our days on board will be spent at sea cruising around according to the itinerary set out above. But our days will be fairly flexible too, allowing us to take advantage of anything we come across. As the weather and the sea conditions can be unpredictable it may be necessary for small changes to be made to the itinerary - these will always be discussed between the captain and the expedition leader. When we are not actively photographing, for example when transiting between islands your time will be your own, and you will be able to spend time on the bridge, or on deck bird or whale watching. There will also be lots of time for you to do some processing - there may well be some organised workshops on processing and photography techniques if there is interest from the group. This will be a very relaxing cruise!!!
Lunch
A lunch at anchor might include a freshly homemade soup, or Dhal, fresh baked bread and butter or a light meal of a mezzo of salads with home bakes or sandwiches. Fresh fruit is always available from a well stocked fruit bowl in the saloon.
Then there is the magic biscuit barrel which is always open and always filled with your favourites! Afternoon tea may be offered depending on itinerary. If not cake, then bowls of nibbles will be out to be enjoyed with your afternoon tea or tipple.
Often we will arrange for a simple packed lunch, enabling passengers to head ashore for an extended day allowing them to make the most of their time on these amazing islands. Of course it is always best to remember that at sea, nothing is set in stone, going with the flow and being adaptable is what makes this expedition so exciting.
Many things change but the quality of food is a constant and something that you can look forward too.
Just because you are on a ship doesn’t mean our experienced chefs can’t create a sumptuous meal for you, crafted from local produce as often as possible, and topped off with splendid desserts or a fruit plate to finish.
Dinner consists of two courses alternating between starters, main dishes, desserts, and cheese. And of course you can always end your day with a wee dram on deck from our small selection of Highland spirits.
We can cater for most dietary requirements aboard and we are committed to using fresh local produce as much as possible.
Areas visited
The itinerary that we have put together for this trip will allow us to target the areas that are the richest in terms of wildlife and photographic opportunity and our days on board will be spent at sea cruising around according to the itinerary set out above. But our days will be fairly flexible too allowing us to take advantage of anything we come across. As the weather and the sea conditions can be unpredictable it may be necessary for small changes to be made to the itinerary - these will always be discussed between the captain and the expedition leader. We will be targeting the seabird colonies to make the best use of the available light, which means some dawn and dusk adventures. The photography will be from the ship or sometimes to allow for greater maneuverability from a zodiac. We will land too when we can! The sections below give a little more information on some of our target areas, but as always, at sea things can change and we reserve the right to modify the itinerary to suit the conditions and species we encounter.
Canna
Our first major stop will be Canna, one the Small Isles, and the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides. Canna is a captivating destination, known for stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant ecosystems. It is only one and a half miles long and a mile wide, and separated from the huge mountains of Rum by the Straights of Canna, just 1.6 miles at its narrowest point. Blessed with dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches and fertile hills that are home to a variety of flora and fauna, the island boasts a human occupancy of 18 people, the smallest population of the inner isles.
For us the huge cliffs of Canna will provide us with our first real seabird encounters, expect thousands of birds and species that include puffins, black guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and kittiwakes and plenty more!
Lunga
The private uninhabited Shiant Islands, situated in the Minch, off the east coast of Lewis, have been designated a Special Protection Area for the conservation of wild seabirds. Huge numbers of puffins nest here and thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and fulmars nest among the massive 500 ft high basalt columns. It is actually estimated that 10% of all of the UK’s puffin population are found on the Shiant Islands. In July 2009 Europe’s oldest puffin, aged 34, was discovered on the Shiant Islands, beating the previous record holder, an Icelandic bird, by one year. An ancient 32 year old puffin was also found which had, unbelievably, originally been ringed on the same island in 1977.
East of Tiree and heading toward Mull are the Treshnish Isles. Lunga, the largest of the eight islands, is also a bird sanctuary and renowned for its dramatic cliffs, stunning landscapes and seasonal Puffin colony. It is Andy’s favourite place for puffins and is legendary in the community of wildlife photographers. Untouched by human development, it’s an amazing place to land. We will anchor offshore and transfer you via zodiac. Lunga is home to thousands of puffins, guillemots, and razorbills that nest along its cliffs during the breeding season making it a prime destination for our guests who are birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Lunga is just one our many stops for wildlife in the region but we will ensure that we have quality landings here.
Mull
We will have already had our first look at Mull at the start of our expedition, after leaving Oban we usually pass Kerrera and cruise northeast up through the Sound of Mull, with our first anchor stop in Loch Sunart. However on our return journey back to Oban we will spend extended time around Mull as we plan to sail around the south of the island. One evening we will anchor at Ross of Mull before heading onwards to our next anchor point at Loch Spelve. We may also be able to use this part of the trip for a quick visit to Iona in search of Corncrakes. Mull is the third largest of all the Scottish Islands and is renowned for its large population of otters, as well as golden and white-tailed eagles. Whilst travelling through the waterways around the island we will of course also always be on the lookout for groups of ducks and hunting terns too.
Shiant Islands
Small Isles
On our expeditionary cruise we will already have visited Canna at the start of the trip, which is one of the Small Isles. As our journey continues we will also be able to visit a different isle, this maybe Rum, Eigg or Muck. At nearly 41 square miles, Rum is inhabited by 30 people and is the largest of the small isles. It is famous for its populations of red deer, shearwaters and otters.
Eigg and Muck are both much smaller, at 12 and 2 square miles respectively, but certainly no less rich in terms of wildlife. Both islands feature plenty of varied bird species calling these isles home, including all the seabirds you’d expect, as well as birds of prey including eagles, and harriers.
Of course it goes without saying that the Summer waters to the west of Scotland are also rich in marine species too and so it’s not uncommon to see seals, dolphins, porpoises, and basking sharks. There are also several species of whale found here including Orcas, Minke and Humpback whales. The whole time we are underway the crew will be on the lookout for anything that we can get out and photograph, so always expect the unexpected! And don’t forget the dramatic landscapes that these areas are also famous for!
The Guide Team
Andy Rouse
Andy has won over 28 major international awards, been a pro for nearly 25 years and has led photographic expeditions all over the world. He prides himself in only offering the very best destinations, and has built a reputation as one of the best photographic safari guides in the world. Andy’s safari’s are always packed with fantastic opportunities, expert guidance and a drive to get the very best for his clients, as well as being a lot of fun - you are on holiday after all!
Andy shoots with the Sony A1 Mark II, but rest assured no matter what system you use, Andy will be able to help you get the most from your system and yourself. Away from work he is a proud husband, Dad and West Ham fan!
Suzie Rouse
Suzie Rouse is an experienced wildlife photographer and birdwatcher, having travelled all over the world adding to her birding life list and capturing images of some iconic species. Whilst guiding, Suzie brings her keen birdwatchers eyes and is a fantastic animal spotter. Away from the travel Suzie is a University lecturer; specialising in teaching students all about forensic imaging and photography. As part of her work Suzie has taught countless complete beginners how to image a variety of different situations. Suzie post-processes using Lightroom and complements Andy's Photoshop processing tutorials by producing her own tutorials on Lightroom.
Travel Trust Association
Now we know that there are a lot of people out there offering photographic tours, however rest assured that this safari is backed by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure
Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and
supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee,
so that you can have total financial confidence in us, and your booking with
us, as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here.
Essential Information
-
In short - unpredictable! The weather at open sea is often colder that the equivalent land temperatures, so even though we are visiting in June there may be days where it is cold, windy, and wet. Likewise we may be lucky enough to experience warmer temperatures, so practical layers (including waterproofs) will be essential for this trip. It is also worth bringing wooly hats and gloves, as well as sturdy shoes or boots for landings. Slippers are a cosy choice for onboard living.
-
This is one of those trips where a very long lens can be a disadvantage. Andy uses a 200-600 or a 300 2.8 for his long lens, but the most used lens is 70-200 f2.8 with a converter. A wide angle is also great too - as well as your phone for those quick shots.
-
As this is an ocean based expedition we cannot guarantee what the sailing conditions will be like. Whilst the captain of the ship will always take steps to minimise rough crossings these can sometimes not be avoided. Guests who suffer from seasickness should therefore be aware and prepared for this. Safety on board. is always our number one priority therefore we reserve the right to change the itinerary at any stage for any reason. Although we will always avoid doing this if possible.
-
It’s important that you understand that whilst we guarantee that everyone will do their very best to get you the very best in photographic opportunities we cannot guarantee photographable sightings, landings or species.
Please come with a positive attitude and this in mind.
-
The tour is open to both photographers and non photographers. Life on board a ship is a unique experience and is generally very relaxing. However due to the nature of this trip it is esssential that you are prepared to get on with people - an easy-going attitude is definitely required!
Our tours are inclusive, anyone is welcome irrespective of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We just ask that you come with a smile and a love of wildlife.
-
Summer midges and Scotland are a constant unfortunately. However the good thing is that whilst we are at sea it will be a midge free zone. You are therefore recommended to bring suitable clothing, that covers your arms and legs, and wear any repellents that you need.
-
Yes - however it is absolutely essential that the ship knows about this well in advance as all food will be brought onboard at the start of our trip. If you have any specific dietary requirements please email us at the time of booking so that we can discuss your individual requirements.
-
You do not need to be particularly fit for this tour, however good mobility is essential as you will be required to navigate up and down steep stairways on board, and transfer on and off the zodiac as well as landing. All cabins feature bunk beds which you must be able to access.
-
Phone signal on this trip will be limited; whilst mobile coverage is available in and around the islands; due to the remote nature and topography of some areas we visit, signal strength can be limited or intermittent. In certain more remote and sheltered anchorages there may be no reception, meaning guests can be out of contact for two to three days at a time. Coverage is, however, gradually improving across the region. If this will be an issue we suggest you bring a satellite based system.
-
Space within the cabins is extremely limited. We therefore ask that you do not bring hard-sided suitcases. Soft bags are strongly recommended, as they can be more easily stowed and help maximise the available space.
Please ensure that you bring all toiletries - liquid hand soap is provided in all cabins and bathrooms.
Hairdryers are not provided, so please bring your own if required; however, please note they may only be used when the boat’s engine or generator is running.
-
All cabins have charging points so you can charge batteries and use laptops during the day. At night however and when we are at anchor, you cannot charge anything as the generator will not be running.
Booking Information
-
The cabin prices are listed above on a per person sharing basis. We are the first charter / cruise for 2028 with the new updated prices.
-
All meals and snacks, including cakes, biscuits, and fruit, are included. Complimentary hot drinks, including tea, coffee, and mineral water are available at all times. Landing fees are all included too.
-
The price excludes your travel getting to / from Oban, any accommodation needed before / after the tour and any alcoholic drinks whilst on board. Please note that only cash is accepted on board. A corkage fee of £10 per bottle of wine and £20 per bottle of spirits applies to any alcohol brought on board.
-
The deposit will be £1500 now and the remainder split into two payments 9 months and 3 months before departure.
-
Our cancellation policies are strict and come from experience. We operate a non refundable policy to protect the other clients on the tour. This applies to both deposit and balance. Therefore it is a requirement of booking that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover all eventualities. By booking this cruise you agree to these conditions and no discussion will be entered into. If we postpone then your payment will be held over for a replacement tour at a later date or you will of course be entitled to a full refund. If you have to cancel then we will provide you will all the necessary documents for an insurance claim. In some instances it may be possible to fill your place at short notice, at which point you will receive a partial refund of monies paid, but this very much depends on the time of the cancellation and not guarantees can be made.
-
We will provide extensive pre departure info 3 months before the trip with everything you need to know.
-
Rest assured that this safari is backed by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee, so that you can have total financial confidence in us, and your booking with us, as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here