Tall Ship: The Shiant Islands & Skye

Suited to

Families, Couples, Individuals, Groups

Difficulty

No sailing experience is required. Sit back and relax or get as involved with crew life as you like. Learning to navigate, trim and set the sails, and helm the ship.

Nights onboard

Vessel type

Tall Ship - Flying Dutchman. Restored and renovated during the winter of 2003/2004, turning it into a luxury schooner.

Vessel length

39.55 m/ 129.7ft

Skipper

Yes

Berth Style

22 guests in 11 twin cabins. All cabins are en-suite and are twins. Twin Cabin Plus cabins are slightly larger in size.

Insurance Required

Yes

In this adventurous sailing trip to the Shiants & Skye, we will discover remote and exceptional places where nature and marine life flourish.

8 nights: 12 to 20 August 2023

From €1425/£1,281 per person*

* Trips are priced in the operator’s local currency. The sterling amount shown is a guide only and the amount you pay in sterling will change with currency fluctuations.

An adventure sailing trip to the Shiants & Skye takes us to remote and exceptional places where nature and marine life are at the forefront. The Shiants, an isolated archipelago east of the Outer Hebrides, is one of Europe's most important seabird nesting areas as well as a hot spot for whales and several dolphin species. A unique opportunity to visit these islands by ship, but Skye and the other islands also offer beautiful nature and wildlife to discover. A unique area will be explored aboard the Flying Dutchman in an adventurous voyage of discovery.

Itinerary

The specified program is a guide. Changes due to the effects of weather, current and wind are possible. Flexibility is required for this trip.

Day 1: Oban

It begins in Oban, an attractive fishing town with many attractions, where the tour to Skye and the Shiant Islands begins. You are welcome aboard at 6:00 PM and can meet the crew and the other guests. The welcome dinner takes place at 19.00, and we raise a glass to a wonderful journey.

Day 2: Rum

A beautiful archipelago south of Skye, Rum is one of the 4 “Small Isles”. This is the only island in the archipelago. Located in the west of Scotland, this undiscovered gem offers an eccentric castle, diverse wildlife, and deserted beaches. Of all of the Scottish islands, Rum is arguably the best choice for a relief hike – mountain passes, waterfalls, valleys, and beaches are all accessible on the hike.

Day 3: Loch Dunvegan

We will sail to Loch Dunvegan after breakfast and anchor near Dunvegan Castle, one of the most famous castles on Skye. Loch Dunvegan is a beautiful, large loch on the west side of Skye.

Day 4 & 5: Shiants

Leaving our anchorage early today, we set sail for the Shiants, an island archipelago east of the Outer Hebrides. There are three islands in the Shiants; Garbh Eilean (Rugged Island), Eilean a Tighe (Island with House), and Eilean Mhuire (Island of the Virgin Mary). In the area around the Shiants, whales and dolphins can be seen in abundance. Their name can be traced back to Sacred or Enchanted Islands. The Shiants themselves are one of the most important breeding grounds for seabirds in Europe, including 65,000 puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and the rare Arctic shearwater. There are many rock arches and 110-meter-high basalt cliffs on the islands. Several books have been written about the history and life of the Shiants: Tearoom.

Day 5: Portree

In the afternoon, you can explore Skye on your own from here. Portree is the largest village on Skye, a colourful fishing village that attracts many visitors every year.

Day 6: Loch Nevis

We leave Skye and set course for Inverie, a small village in the beautiful but difficult-to-reach “Knoydart”. Although this is the mainland of Scotland, Inverie can only be reached by ship or via a 3-day walk. The hills around Inverie are full of large groups of Deer that often show themselves well. Inverie is also the location of the Old Forge, the UK’s most remote pub.

Day 7: Tobermory

After a good night’s sleep, we sail on to Tobermory with its beautiful coloured houses on the water and its famous whiskey distillery. The Tobermory distillery offers tours, the small Tobermory museum, and the Marine Exhibition, which shows the local waters and the harbour’s activities.

Day 8: Oban

A wonderful and adventurous journey through Scotland has led us to the Shiants and Skye. After an extensive breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye.

Please note: With all tours as exciting as this, we can be at the mercy of prevailing conditions, particularly the weather. So, a degree of flexibility and an open-minded attitude is helpful. Should we make any changes to the itinerary, we will ensure you have an equally engaging and insightful experience.

All meals on board – including daily breakfast, lunch and evening meal
Refreshments throughout the day
Use of safety equipment
Accommodation in a twin en suite cabin
All instruction and lectures on board by fully qualified crew

Transport to and from the vessel
Personal expenses ashore
Food ashore
Fees for events that take place outside the ship.
Beverages besides the included drinks during the meals.

ACCOMMODATION

T/S Flying Dutchman

This is not a floating hotel but a traditional sailing ship that is comfortable, intimate, and small enough to anchor directly next to many of the distilleries. Alongside the crew and Barry’s lodging, the ship has a berth for 22 guests. It was restored and renovated during the winter of 2003/2004, turning it into a luxury schooner.

The ship has a large deck area on which you can sit and soak up the sun. There is a cozy bar in the deckhouse and plenty of room for eating together on deck.

Cabins

All of the cabins on board are twin en-suites with air-conditioning. Please don’t forget to bring a European plug adapter to plug your electrical devices into your cabins.

Twin Cabin & Ensuite

Oban, Scotland