23 independent reviews for Wildlife sailing holiday in Scotland

Depending on the cruise's itinerary or on what the passengers wish to do, there will sometimes be less opportunities for you to interact with local people. Whenever possible we encourage our guests to visit locally important heritage sites, visit local gardens, craft shops and participate in cultural events. We also work with local wildlife rangers and tour guides. Tourism is increasingly a vital part of the income for the local residents of this somewhat remote, isolated but beautiful region of the Inner and Outer Hebrides. We are shopping locally before the cruise (vegans are catered for), trying to use seasonal and locally produced food for the duration of the cruise (we buy items with minimal packaging). Often we buy more during the cruise from the little shops found during the journey in villages and towns on the islands we visit. We only employ the services of the local marina, shops, services, restaurants and guides. These suppliers all employ local staff. We are very precise and strict with our recycling protocol. All waste is sorted out during the cruise, stored and taken back to our base where cans, tins, glass bottles, cardboard and plastic are recycled. As part of our low carbon policy: We ask guests to bring their own water bottles which we refill. We do not use straws, plastic cutlery/plates, drink stirrers, mini butter/jam packets. Engine revolutions are kept to a minimum to reduce fuel consumption. We do not travel at night as we anchor in secluded in anchorages and in two of our vessels the fuel consuming generators are switched off to give quiet ships. On St Hilda, where possible, we set the sails. All fuel usage is recorded so that fuel consumption can be tightly monitored. Bed linen and towels are not changed daily. We do not use imported flowers. We use low energy LEDs where possible. Our company depends largely on the internet and word of mouth for marketing to reduce paper waste.

We like to offer our guests a good choice of breakfast cereals and porridge, followed by toast, preserves, honey, perhaps a boiled egg, scrambled eggs, pancakes or occasionally a bacon roll as a treat. This is always complimented by fresh fruit and yoghurt. Our chef often serves freshly baked bread for lunch and home made cakes for afternoon tea. We cannot be sure of where we shall stop during the cruise because of the weather and our chef stocks up before the cruise from the local shops in Oban, buying Scottish meat and fish. We are sometimes meeting some fishing boats and are offered fish, prawns or scallops to buy which is always a pleasure. I can think of only one organic garden offering fresh vegetables to buy. As our chef has usually already bought the necessary supply for the cruise, buying more during the cruise could result in a waste of food which is something against our ethos. Vegetables and fruits are good when fresh and don't keep that way for very long. I am glad that, as it is often the case during a cruise, you were able to catch some mackerels and crab. There is nothing quite as delicious as mackerels cooked immediately after being caught. I am so pleased that you felt safe and comfortable aboard our vessel and enjoyed using our new kayaks. We always recommend that you bring some light water-proof jacket and trousers to use when kayaking and also in the dinghy when going exploring or going ashore. Even in good weather, they will protect you from the sea spray and wind and keep you warm. I would like to thank you for giving us 4 stars and hope that you and your daughter will join us again for another Hebridean adventure.