Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland
| country: | Scotland |
| location: | Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides |
| departures: | 2008: 19 Sep, 26 Sep |
| price: | From £385 (3 days) excluding flights |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
Do you like the ruggedness of the West coast of Britain, the idea of visiting some of the harder to get to islands – small communities, peaceful locations, Hebridean culture, more wildlife than people…?
We offer a huge variety of cruises - you can join a group, or we can tailor make a holiday to suit your needs. Aside from the fact that we are the UK’s first and most experienced whale and dolphin watch, you have the security of over 20 years of a family-run business. It is also important to us (and we hope to you) that marine research has always been at the forefront of our wildlife-watching, working closely with local charity the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
Our select group will be based in Tobermory, with boat trips running out of Tobermory, on Mull’s north coast. Here the only other traffic you’ll meet will be Kenny and Ronan’s creel boat, unloading their catch of local crab onto the tiny fisherman’s pier. Oh and the odd hungry otter…
Weekend explorer
This popular weekend break gives you two days on the boat exploring the islands (Eigg, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Staffa, all with their own character and charm). We will take you through the whale and dolphin grounds and land on islands (puffins, razorbills, gannets, shearwaters, and so much more).
Ferry departs on Friday from Oban at 16.00 (a 45 minute crossing). The transfer from Craignure to Tobermory/Dervaig is approximately 45mins. Return transfer to Craignure for 17.00 sailing to Oban on Monday, arriving in Oban at 17.45 (to connect with trains and buses).
We offer a huge variety of cruises - you can join a group, or we can tailor make a holiday to suit your needs. Aside from the fact that we are the UK’s first and most experienced whale and dolphin watch, you have the security of over 20 years of a family-run business. It is also important to us (and we hope to you) that marine research has always been at the forefront of our wildlife-watching, working closely with local charity the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
Our select group will be based in Tobermory, with boat trips running out of Tobermory, on Mull’s north coast. Here the only other traffic you’ll meet will be Kenny and Ronan’s creel boat, unloading their catch of local crab onto the tiny fisherman’s pier. Oh and the odd hungry otter…
Weekend explorer
This popular weekend break gives you two days on the boat exploring the islands (Eigg, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Staffa, all with their own character and charm). We will take you through the whale and dolphin grounds and land on islands (puffins, razorbills, gannets, shearwaters, and so much more).
Ferry departs on Friday from Oban at 16.00 (a 45 minute crossing). The transfer from Craignure to Tobermory/Dervaig is approximately 45mins. Return transfer to Craignure for 17.00 sailing to Oban on Monday, arriving in Oban at 17.45 (to connect with trains and buses).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Late afternoon transfer from Craignure ferry terminal to accommodation in Tobermory or Derviag. After dinner create your own Tobermory experience, watching the reflection of the coloured houses in the water of the bay as you enjoy wee nip next to an open fire at one of the three local pubs, or if based in Dervaig a walk down to Loch Cuin watching the sunset over the narrows and herons in Glen Bellart, or a drink in the local Inn, the Bellachroy Hotel. |
| Day 2-3: | Two full day boat trips exploring the waters around Mull, Ardnamurchan Peninsula and the Small Isles with a break for lunch on one of the secluded islands of the Hebrides—our search will be for harbour porpoise, dolphins, seals, basking sharks, sunfish, seabirds, eagles, and our favourite summer visitor, the minke whale. If you crave even more time at sea, you are welcome to join one or more of our other scheduled boat trips on your day of departure, free of charge (subject to availability). Or perhaps you may wish to join a Land Rover safari, searching for Otters, Golden and white-tailed Eagles, Red and Fallow deer, a whole assortment of birdlife, with stunning insights into deserted beaches, rugged cliff-top roads and views of Ben Mor and across to the Treshnish Isles to take your breath away. |
travellers' tales
The most memorable part of the holiday was the surveys trip ... seeing Minke whales and basking sharks on such a beautiful day - I will remember this for many years to come. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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We focus heavily on education through marine based research with a strict environmental ethos. Every customer leaves having felt they have “put back” something into the environment by becoming involved, as well as having had an unforgettable adventure.
We have been conducting cetacean surveys in the coastal waters of the Isle of Mull since 1990. The waters to the north and west of Mull contain an ecologically diverse marine life. Regularly sighted cetaceans include minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), and killer whale (Orcinus orca). The regular sightings of minke whale in this area provides an excellent opportunity for the behavioural and ecological study of this species, the behaviour of which is virtually unknown in the Eastern North Atlantic. The results of such a study could have important implications for the management of minke whales if commercial hunting were to resume in the eastern North Atlantic. In collaboration with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, we have been conducting a photo-identification study of minke whales since 1990. Over 60 whales have been identified and catalogued, many having been seen year after year. The success of the company was highlighted in October 1994 when they won the Scottish Tourist Board's Thistle Award for excellence in the field of Tourism and the Environment and in February 1995 the British Airways' Tourism for Tomorrow Award. During 2003 James was the Argyll 'Shell Livewire' for Ecocruz, in 2005 we became a member of the WISE scheme and are currently working towards our Green Tourism Business Award. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |