Tall Ship Sailing; Skye & the Isle of Harris

Join Blue Clipper in port town of Ullapool – the perfect starting location on the West coast of Scotland to set sail and explore the surrounding islands and coastlines.

The harbour town is the portal to discovering a dramatic highland landscape, rich in its natural and historical heritage. As Blue Clipper sets sail from Ullapool, you’ll discover an ever-changing terrain of mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches. When it comes to heart-achingly beautiful scenery, the highlands of Scotland certainly deliver.

Life at Sea

Exactly where you explore during your sailing holiday in the Hebrides will entirely depend on the wind and tides but your Skipper is familiar with the sailing area so knows all the best spots off the beaten track. Think remote anchorages, moody landscapes, secret coves and uninhabited islands for walking trails ashore. As you board, the skipper will have a better idea of the weather forecast and what to expect from the voyage but below is a summary of the possible locations you could explore;

Setting the sails

Skye

Known for its picturesque fishing villages, rugged landscapes & castles, there’s an abundance of beautiful anchorages. Nestling at the foot of the Skye Cuillins lies Loch Scavaig, a sea loch with the waters of Loch Corusk pouring magnificently in.

Isle of Harris

The outer Hebridean island of Harris is one that has offered inspiration for generations.  With its rich traditions, stunning shifting scenery and a strong sense of community.  Harris offers a unique introduction to island life on the edge.  Visit the village of Tarbert, home to the Harris Tweed Shop and the recently opened Isle of Harris Distillery.

Gaze out across the West Harris sands to the famous uninhabited Castaway island of Taransay and experience a glimpse of the isolation from which the proud self-sufficient communities of the Outer Hebrides were born, or tour the adjoining Isle of Scalpay with its strong seafaring connections to understand more about the symbiosis of islanders and ocean.

Isle of Lewis

The largest of the Outer Hebrides, Lewis offers amazing opportunities to explore all the elements life on the edge in the Atlantic Ocean – with history, heritage, wilderness, wildlife, arts and crafts.

See the ancient Callanish Standing Stones rising from the Lewis landscape to give an imposing outline against the endless island skies and hear the echoes of the past murmuring round these monoliths – an eternal testament to islanders enduring spirit and ingenuity.

Explore the sea caves and stacks at Garry Beach to better understand how the relentless seas have shaped the island environment and the lifestyles of those who live here.

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GETTING INVOLVED

Sailing with Blue Clipper is certainly an enjoyable hands on experience and guests are encouraged to get involved with all aspects of sailing this magnificent tall ship. From hoisting the sails to taking the helm, the friendly and knowledgable crew are on hand to show you the ropes.

Blue Clipper has a dedicated chef onboard to so you don’t have to worry about cooking after a days sailing in the salty sea air. Think locally sourced produce, fresh fish and home-made bread with hearty home-cooked meals and plenty of tea, coffee and cake! Your ticket price includes one glass of wine with your evening meal too.

As with all Blue Clipper’s sailing holidays, your ticket price includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Soft Drinks. There are six ensuite twin cabins and one six-berth cabin with a shared bathroom.  All cabins have bedding and towels are provided. 

Simply click “Enquire Now” to reserve your berth for five days whilst you sort your travel plans. No booking form or deposit is required until you are ready to book!

All voyages for Blue Clipper

Blue Clipper

Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff Schooner

Built-in Sweden in 1991, tall ship Blue Clipper is an impressive three-masted gaff rig schooner. With a clipper bow, original teak deck and elegant stern, she mixes a traditional tall ship feel with a relatively modern build giving guests an authentic experience with all the mod cons.

She has spent many years sailing all over the world from the Caribbean to the Arctic and is a frequent participant in the European Tall Ship regattas. Originally owned by the Brandy company Hennessy and named ‘Spirit of Hennessey, she appeared in many TV programmes and commercials before being privately bought in the late 90’s.

On deck, she boasts ample space for her guests to become fully immersed in hands-on sailing; heaving the ropes, hoisting the sails, learning ropes skills and even taking the helm. She has 3 kayaks and 3 paddle-boards for guest use while on anchor so you can explore even further inshore.

A spacious saloon, wheelhouse and galley also sit at deck level while below decks has been well-considered with six ensuite cabins a family cabin that sleeps six. All cabins have a porthole for natural light and heating/air conditioning.

Read more about Life on Board Blue Clipper here.

In 2016 she started her new life with her current owner and now spends her summers sailing  Scotland and the Hebrides and her autumn months heading south to Spain and Portugal.

Deck plan

More about Blue Clipper

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and hot drinks)

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please let us know when making your booking.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  6x Twin Ensuite, 1x six-berth family cabin

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  9 in total. All Cabins are Ensuite aside from the six-berth that shares a bathroom.

• Is there an age limit?

  Over 12's ideally but please check in the over for ages between 12-18 years.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes - please bring EU adaptors.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure and a want to get actively involved.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

Travel Planning

From: Ullapool

To: Ullapool

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

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PARKING:

Ullapool is a small town so parking is limited. There is a large, free carpark (Latheron) by Tesco that cars can be left at the owners risk or try your luck with on-street parking.

 

BY RAIL:

Garve is Ullapool’s closest station. Trains run 1 – 4 times a day from Inverness to Garve. Inverness has good rail and air links from the rest of the UK.

BY AIR:

Inverness Airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes to Ullapool by taxi. There are direct flights to Inverness from the major London airports.

STAY IN ULLAPOOL:

There are plenty of places to stay in Ullapool. Try Creagan Guesthouse, Rosslyn Cottage or Harbour House.