Inner Hebrides

We shall visit the Ardnamurchan peninsula’s ancient oak woodland enroute to Oban, where our adventure really begins. In the morning we shall catch the ferry to Coll, our base for three nights. From here we shall be taking three pelagic excursions to various locations in search of the magnificent Basking Shark, as well as other sea dwelling mammals and birds.

MAP

Print Version

Trip Report

Tour DetailsItineraryKey SpeciesFeedbackVideoAccommodationGallery

Leaders

Sally Nowell and Kate Mennie

Day 1	Meet at hotel in Inverness - 1 night Premier Inn, Inverness
Day 2	Drive to Mallaig birding enroute - 2 nights West Highland Hotel, Mallaig
Day 3	Drive to Arisaig, boat trip to Rum/Eigg
Day 4	Travel to Oban via Ardnamurchan and Glenborrodale - 1 night Oban Bay Hotel, Oban
Day 5	Early ferry to Coll, boat trip around the island for rest of the day - 2 nights Tigh na Mara Guest House, Coll
Day 6	Boat trip for the whole day including landing on Tiree
Day 7	Boat trip for the whole day, evening ferry from Coll to Oban - 1 night Oban Bay Hotel, Oban
Day 8	Drive back to Inverness - 1 night Premier Inn, Inverness
Day 9	Depart Inverness

Weather	We can experience all the seasons during this trip and at times it can be windy and cold especially at sea, so please be prepared for all conditions and weather, with potential temperatures between (5°-25°C)
Walking	Coastal walks on uneven terrain of up to three miles - walking boots recommended, but trainers or even sandals suitable on some occasions. Collapsible/telescopic walking poles could be useful for this trip
Boat Trips	Be prepared for all weathers on our boat trips. Waterproof clothes including gloves are recommended. As a precaution, you may wish to bring seasickness medication with you. Toilet onboard
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9
Insects	Biting insects can be a problem at this time of year in certain conditions, so come prepared with insect repellant
Accom	Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite. Private or shared bathroom in some rooms on Coll.
Group	10

This trip will take us to the outer edges of Scotland on a pelagic adventure looking for Basking Shark, Minke Whale, Common Porpoise, Manx Shearwater and White-tailed Eagle.

	* Basking Shark and Britain’s cetaceans are our target species
	* Venture into some of the more remote parts of the UK by land and sea
	* Spend plenty of time at sea looking for shearwaters, petrels and other seabirds
	* Visit the beautiful Ardnamurchan Peninsula
	* Visit the islands of Rum, Eigg, Mull, Coll and Tiree
	* Comfortable hotels throughout
	* Convenient start time and location in Inverness

Day 1	Our adventure begins with a meal together in Inverness and a run through the trip itinerary.
Day 2	Today we take a relaxing drive alongside Loch Ness down towards Fort William on the west coast. We shall be stopping enroute to do some roadside birding, then from Fort William we shall drive towards the delightful fishing village of Mallaig. We arrive in Mallaig in plenty of time for you to wander round the village, walk to the harbour and settle into our hotel.
Day 3	We shall start the day with a short drive to Arisaig, where we board our chartered boat and travel across the Sound of Sleat towards the community-owned island of Eigg and then on to the Island of Rum, the first place in the UK where White-tailed Eagles were released. As we sail, we shall be scanning the sea for fins of cetaceans, in particular Minke Whale and keeping an eye on the skies for the massive wingspan of a White-tailed Eagle, as they soar over the peaks of Rum. Our views of the islands we pass are often spectacular and a real favourite with photographers. After our day at sea, we shall be pleasantly relaxed and ready to head back to our hotel in Mallaig for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Day 4	After a more leisurely start and breakfast, we shall begin a day’s drive towards and across the Ardnamurchan peninsula. We shall stop at the stunning Sanna Bay, visit RSPB Glenborrodale and also the Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre. As we drive, we shall be looking for Golden Eagle above and Otters along the shore and out to sea we might be lucky and catch a glimpse of a cetacean; Ardnamurchan can be a great place to spot Orca!! After leaving Ardnamurchan we shall weave our way down to Oban, all the time scanning the shorelines and enjoying the stunning views this drive has to offer. We shall overnight in Oban.
Days 5-7	An early ferry today takes us across to the Island of Coll. Coll and Tiree are the sunniest places in the UK, and are also some of the most remote. They are surrounded by stunning white sand beaches and are known for their peace and tranquillity. Not that easy to get to, we shall certainly feel ‘away from it all’ here! The air could not be clearer and the skies not much darker. After transferring to our hotel and a briefing regarding our time onboard, we shall have our first boat trip in search of the awesome Basking Shark. Depending on weather conditions, we shall head north to the offshore whale and dolphin grounds. We shall visit Common Seal colonies and look for a variety of bird species including rafts of Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrels and Arctic and Great Skuas, plus the huge colonies of Shags along the coast which are quite spectacular. We shall head south looking for Basking Sharks and Grey Seals and have a number of other cetaceans on our target list which will include Common, Bottlenose and Risso’s Dolphin, Minke Whale, Porpoise and if we are really lucky, we might even see Orca! We shall hope to get up close to diving Gannets in the tidal races. Tiree and Coll both hold good populations of Corncrake and though we shall be visiting late in the season, we shall be aiming to visit both islands on our full day’s boat trip, in the hope of catching a glimpse or sound of this bird. There are other birds here too though and we shall definitely be on the trail of the beautiful Hen Harrier. The wildflowers on both islands are legendary and there should still be evidence of some of the most healthy ‘machair’ in Scotland. After our days out on the boat, we shall spend some time on Coll to explore this delightful island from the land. On our last evening on Coll we shall catch the ferry back to Oban, with plenty more chances of cetacean sightings enroute. We shall also be hoping to glimpse White-tailed Eagles and we stand good chances of great views of these from the sea.
Day 8	We shall make our way back to Inverness birding enroute before spending our final night in Inverness.
Day 9	After breakfast we shall say our goodbyes and depart.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Manx Shearwater	Golden Eagle	Bottlenose Dolphin
Storm Petrel	Corncrake	Common Porpoise
Gannet	Short-eared Owl	Grey Seal
Black Gulliemot	Hen Harrier	Common Seal
Black-throated Diver	Arctic Skua	Otter
Red-throated Diver	Great Skua	Red Deer
White-tailed Eagle	Basking Shark

"So many, but not all photographable. The Manx Shearwaters were stunning, taking off from the water in rafts. Also viewing the Otter at Oban in the morning through the guides' telescopes. And the different views of both kinds of eagles in many places. And the dolphins from the ferry, the porpoises in many places and the Minke whale"
Jo Tomalin

"Being with a like-minded group of people. Seeing Minke whales and White-tailed Eagles which we had not seen before"
Peter & Jannette Warden

"Large numbers of Manx Shearwaters, Gannet mobbing a White-tailed Eagle. Dolphins seen from the ferry from Oban to Coll. Loch na Cuilce and walk from there (where we had lunch on the boat trip out of Arisaig)"
Chris Hutchinson

With its guarantee of a good night’s sleep, a reputation for excellent customer service and a good restaurant, the Premier Inn is the ideal place to spend our first and last evening. Located at the edge of Torvean Golf Course, this contemporary hotel is a 1-minute walk from the Caledonian Canal. In-room amenities feature free WiFi, pillow-top mattresses and en suite bathrooms with showers, as well as tea and coffee-making facilities, TVs and desks.

Set on an elevated position overlooking the Sound of Sleat, the West Highland Hotel offers a fabulous terrace restaurant with quality local produce, wood burning stove, panoramic views and an outside seating area with a fire pit. Overlooking the village, this hotel offers en suite rooms with Freeview TVs, tea and coffee making facilites and hairdryers.

Set on the edge of Oban's Esplanade, with sea views of Mull, Kerrera and the Firth of Lorne, the hotel has a sun lounge and free WiFi. All rooms feature a private bathroom, a hairdryer, TV and tea and coffee making facilities. In the evening, the Oban Bay Hotel's award winning Rannachan Restaurant has an à la carte menu featuring fresh, local seafood and organic produce. The sun lounge stretches the entire length of the hotel and there is an indoor steam room, and a sauna.

Tigh na Mara offers stunning views of Mull and the Treshnish Isles, complimented by their friendly Hebridean welcome. A 4 star licenced guesthouse with 7 well appointed and constantly upgraded rooms, where the comfort of guests is paramount. The dining room makes the best of the uninterrupted views at breakfast and dinner, with doors opening out onto the newly renovated raised patio, meals are sourced using the best produce they can from Coll, Argyll Islands, Argyll or Scotland.

Name

Index

Name

Index