ͭ£100 deposits apply for 2021 trip bookings and are non-refundable. The balance of the normal deposit is due by 10 January, with the balance due 12 weeks before departure. Book with confidence - see our COVID-19 policy.
Make music, immerse yourself in nature, and explore famous distilleries as you sail a 1903 tall ship along the incredible Scottish West Coast
6 nights: 15 -21 May 2021
Standard cabin: €885 / £840 per person*
Standard+ cabin: €985 / £935 per person*
Single Cabin: €1,250 / £1,187 per person*
Immerse yourself in the wild beauty of the Scotland's west coast and the Inner Hebrides, as you visit famous whisky distilleries and awe-inspiring islands while making and enjoying folk music with your crew and the musicians on board.
Explore idyllic harbour towns before anchoring in tranquil bays far from civilisation, taking in the stunning scenery as well as the diverse wildlife as you go. Visit the isle of Jura, famous for its distillery but also for the thousands of deer outnumbering the small human population. Sail to Islay, a whisky lover’s paradise, where you will moor up on the distilleries’ own jetties in the tall ship. Experience the incredible acoustics of the awe-inspiring Fingal’s cave and keep an eye out for whales, sharks, dolphins and other marine life as you sail.
Work and play with a fantastic group of like-minded adventurers, taking part in all aspects of crew life as you learn to navigate, trim and set the sails and helm the ship. A professional crew onboard means you can get as stuck in as you like on this stunning adventure.
Spending your evenings onboard or in a local pub with your crew, this trip is truly something special. With the talented musicians Joost and Bouke with you on your journey, you can experience the heart-felt music of this beautiful place, joining in on this fascinating nautical adventure with a difference.
The specified program is a guide. Changes due to the effects of weather, currents and wind are possible. Flexibility is required for this trip.
Day 1: Arrival to Oban
You arrive in Oban, a cozy fishing village with a wonderful location in a beautiful bay. If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage with us and have a look in the village and drink a glass of water (whisky) in one of the cozy pubs. In the evening you will be welcomed on board and get to know the crew and the other passengers. Afterwards, there is an nice dinner and we raise the glass for a nice music and whisky trip and enjoy later on the sound of music.
Day 2: Isle of Mull, Tobermory
After a good breakfast, we sail to Tobermory on the island of Mull. On the way we sail very close to Duart Castle which is an impressive sight. We enjoy the untouched, wild nature of the Scottish west coast.
Tobermory is a picturesque, colorful fishing village with a famous whisky brand. The lively port is the starting point for a small fishing boat fleet. Tobermory is the main town of Mull with a convivial center and lovely pubs and restaurants. One of the most sociable pubs in Scotland, the Mishnish, is the place where we bring our musicians and make music.
Day 3: Staffa and Colonsay
The uninhabited Island of Staffa is famous for its hexagonal basal columns and the Fingals cave, an approximately 80m long cathedral in the Earth’s interior, exposed to the constant waves of the Atlantic. This place inspired Mendelssohn to compose the “Hebride Overture”. A visit to Staffa is not always possible due to the harsh conditions. But it is an unforgettable experience to approach this remote piece of rock with the zodiac.
Colonsay is an island of the Inner Hebrides. It is 13 km long, up to 4.8 km wide and about 124 people live here (according to the last census). The landscape is varied, with some beautiful sandy beaches. The highest elevation is Carnan Eoin, 143 meters above sea level. A variety of destroyed fortresses lie scattered across the island. We find a small bookstore specializing in books with a local focus. It is at the same time the home of the House of Lochar publishing house, which specializes in Scottish history. There is a hotel with a view on the pier, a cafe, a bakery and a post office. And finally, the brewery Colonsay, which employs two people. Colonsay is the smallest island in the world with its own brewery.
Day 4: Islay
Our Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip continues. Today we sail to Islay, the Whisky Island par excellence. Islay owes its fame to the nine distilleries that produce millions of liters of liquid gold. Due to various alcohol taxes, this part of Great Britain is also called the most heavily burdened part.
Since most distilleries have their own boat bridge, we can dock or anchor directly with the ship. We first visit the beautiful old distillery Bunnahabhain.
After a lovely visit we will continue to Port Ellen where we will spend the night. The next day there is the possibility to visit Lagavullin.
Day 5: Jura
After a visit to Lagavullin, it goes to the island of Jura, a paradise of untouched wilderness and natural beauty. The name Jura comes from Norwegian and means “Deer Island”, still an appropriate name because about 5,500 deer exceed the human population of 180. We spend the night in this hidden little piece of paradise in Scotland. Of course you can visit the famous distillery.
Day 6: Oban
After a good tour and nice whisky drams we sail back to Oban on our Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip. On the way, we can enjoy the untouched, wild nature of the islands on the Scottish west coast. The rugged beauty of Mull, the silence on the water, the indescribable landscape, the rugged coastline with surprising bays and quiet fishing villages.
Day 7: Departure from Oban
Unfortunately this beautiful Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip has come to an end. After an extensive breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. This week, you have seen the charming Scotland in a unique way, tasted some incredible whiskies, and listened to beautiful music. We thank you and the musicians for a wonderful time!
Oban, Scotland
Oban, Scotland
The specified program is a guide. Changes due to the effects of weather, currents and wind are possible. Flexibility is required for this trip.
Day 1: Arrival to Oban
You arrive in Oban, a cozy fishing village with a wonderful location in a beautiful bay. If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage with us and have a look in the village and drink a glass of water (whisky) in one of the cozy pubs. In the evening you will be welcomed on board and get to know the crew and the other passengers. Afterwards, there is an nice dinner and we raise the glass for a nice music and whisky trip and enjoy later on the sound of music.
Day 2: Isle of Mull, Tobermory
After a good breakfast, we sail to Tobermory on the island of Mull. On the way we sail very close to Duart Castle which is an impressive sight. We enjoy the untouched, wild nature of the Scottish west coast.
Tobermory is a picturesque, colorful fishing village with a famous whisky brand. The lively port is the starting point for a small fishing boat fleet. Tobermory is the main town of Mull with a convivial center and lovely pubs and restaurants. One of the most sociable pubs in Scotland, the Mishnish, is the place where we bring our musicians and make music.
Day 3: Staffa and Colonsay
The uninhabited Island of Staffa is famous for its hexagonal basal columns and the Fingals cave, an approximately 80m long cathedral in the Earth’s interior, exposed to the constant waves of the Atlantic. This place inspired Mendelssohn to compose the “Hebride Overture”. A visit to Staffa is not always possible due to the harsh conditions. But it is an unforgettable experience to approach this remote piece of rock with the zodiac.
Colonsay is an island of the Inner Hebrides. It is 13 km long, up to 4.8 km wide and about 124 people live here (according to the last census). The landscape is varied, with some beautiful sandy beaches. The highest elevation is Carnan Eoin, 143 meters above sea level. A variety of destroyed fortresses lie scattered across the island. We find a small bookstore specializing in books with a local focus. It is at the same time the home of the House of Lochar publishing house, which specializes in Scottish history. There is a hotel with a view on the pier, a cafe, a bakery and a post office. And finally, the brewery Colonsay, which employs two people. Colonsay is the smallest island in the world with its own brewery.
Day 4: Islay
Our Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip continues. Today we sail to Islay, the Whisky Island par excellence. Islay owes its fame to the nine distilleries that produce millions of liters of liquid gold. Due to various alcohol taxes, this part of Great Britain is also called the most heavily burdened part.
Since most distilleries have their own boat bridge, we can dock or anchor directly with the ship. We first visit the beautiful old distillery Bunnahabhain.
After a lovely visit we will continue to Port Ellen where we will spend the night. The next day there is the possibility to visit Lagavullin.
Day 5: Jura
After a visit to Lagavullin, it goes to the island of Jura, a paradise of untouched wilderness and natural beauty. The name Jura comes from Norwegian and means “Deer Island”, still an appropriate name because about 5,500 deer exceed the human population of 180. We spend the night in this hidden little piece of paradise in Scotland. Of course you can visit the famous distillery.
Day 6: Oban
After a good tour and nice whisky drams we sail back to Oban on our Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip. On the way, we can enjoy the untouched, wild nature of the islands on the Scottish west coast. The rugged beauty of Mull, the silence on the water, the indescribable landscape, the rugged coastline with surprising bays and quiet fishing villages.
Day 7: Departure from Oban
Unfortunately this beautiful Sailing & Folk & Whisky trip has come to an end. After an extensive breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. This week, you have seen the charming Scotland in a unique way, tasted some incredible whiskies, and listened to beautiful music. We thank you and the musicians for a wonderful time!
Base layer – 2x warm thermal tops + thermal leggings
Mid layer – 2x fleece type mid layers + mid layer trousers
Light waterproof shell (waterproof hiking type jacket and trousers) – for exploring ashore
Down jacket – a down (or synthetic alternative) jacket, the warmer the better
Gillet – optional but a really versatile mid layer, down or synthetic down are great
Hats – 2x warm wool hats, ear flaps are great
Waterproof hat – a waterproof hat or cap (eg Sealskins)
Neck warmer – 2x ‘Buff’ style neck warmers
Gloves – one waterproof pair (ski or fishing type) + 2x thinner fleece liner / spare pairs
Socks – 2x pairs of warm socks for sailing + hiking socks for exploring ashore
Boots – Wellington type boots. These are needed not just for sailing but also for getting ashore from the rib where you may need to stop into mid-calf depth water. They don’t need to be expensive or sailing specific, but they should be waterproof with good grip
Hiking shoes / boots – suitable for exploring on rough or wet terrain ashore
Rucsac – for on land exploring
Underwear – a couple of sets of comfortable underwear
Swimwear –
Camera, batteries, memory cards etc – it is possible to charge camera batteries onboard but it is a good idea to bring spare batteries and lots of memory card space
Entertainment – books, music etc for rest time
Toiletries – basic wash kit with travel-sized bottles
Eye mask and earplugs – can make sleeping easier in the midnight sun
Any personal medications that you need – ensure you have enough to last the whole trip
Dry bags – recommended for keeping any electrical kit in and for taking things ashore
Head torch – ideally with a red light function
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
A set of ‘shore clothes’ for travelling in / rest days in town
Passport / visas
Credit/debit card for shore-based activities or travel emergencies
Kitbag – this must be squashy type (not a suitcase) a large barrel type bag is ideal
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