The Natural Beauty of the Inner Hebrides

Vessel: The Natural Beauty of the Inner Hebrides
Where: Scotland

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This voyage will use the wind to sail around the inner Hebridean islands, with the west coast of Scotland offering some of the most spectacular sailing waters around.

Join Eye of the Wind in Kyle of Lochalsh on the peninsula between the Loch Alsh estuary and Loch Carron in the Scottish Highland district.

Around Lochalsh, you will experience the land of clans and castles in Scotland. Here you can meet the residents who still speak Gaelic and keep the traditional folklore of their ancestors alive. The rich history of the country and the former life of the Celts can be experienced in many places. Hiking trails lead you to wonderful landscapes and historic finds, for example the ten metres high and more than 2000-year-old stone towers from the Iron Age in Glenelg in the southern part of Lochalsh. These hollow-walled buildings can only be found in this part of Scotland.

From Kyle of Lochalsh Eye of the Winds route will depend on the winds but she intends to sail counterclockwise around the Isle of Skye at its northern end or between the strait at Kyle of Lochalsh, Tobermory, and our destination Oban.

All hands on deck or all laid back – the choice is yours! After receiving safety instructions and an introduction to sailing from the ship’s crew, you will soon be able to take part in the sailing yourself. Being at the helm, keeping a wind-powered tall ship on course, is a unique holiday experience – especially under a starry night sky! Your active assistance on deck and in the rigging is always voluntary, and our regular crew will explain everything you need to know. The reward of climbing to the top of the mast is an unforgettable view of the vast sea.

Your ticket price includes accommodation in comfortable, air-conditioned ensuite cabins, all freshly prepared meals, soft drinks, coffee & tea and even a lounge with TV/DVD and extensive onboard library! With all this to offer and beautiful locations to visit, what’s not to love?!

The Hebrides look like a natural fortress of rock, water, storms, fog and unusually clear light. Its magic and attraction are based on its cool, rough nature and its breathtaking beauty. Mighty cliffs, rock formations and highland peaks characterise this unspoiled, barren landscape. In the course of the trip, several stops with the opportunity to go on shore are planned. The decision on which port or mooring spot to call on in the evening is usually made by the captain on the same day, and depends on the wind and weather conditions and the current.

Here are a few examples of possible destinations…

Portree is the harbour and capital of the Isle of Skye and is sheltered in a deep bay, with its colourful houses a popular holiday destination. Make the most of your stay by exploring the island’s beautiful nature. Leisure activities include hiking, cycling, horse riding and guided tours of the pyramid-shaped Ben Tianavaig mountain. Portree is Skye’s cultural hub and the award-winning Aros Center hosts regular plays, concerts and film screenings. The city is also a popular starting point for exploring other parts of the island.

The island of Carbost cuts deeply into the coastline, is where the Talisker – the only single malt whisky on Skye – has been produced for over 180 years. The best way to try the “King of Drinks”, as Robert Louis Stevenson called the Talisker, is, of course, to sail to the whisky distillery. We can land on the jetty of the distillery with the dinghy.

Passing underwater rocks and seal banks, we reach Loch Scavaig, the most beautiful mooring spot of the coastline. Hiking trails lead to the well-protected interior of the island with views of rugged basalt cliffs of the Black Cuillin Hills. With its awe-inspiring silence and pristine nature, this solitary mountain world almost seems enchanted.

Continue southwards between the islands of Rum and Eigg to Tobermory, the capital of the third-largest Hebridean Isle of Mull. The harbour front – a landmark of the west coast – is a postcard-like idyll of colourful houses in a semicircular bay. Among the attractions of the pretty village are not only the many pubs, but also the distillery and the Isle of Mull Museum. For over 150 years, the iconic “Mishnish” bar in Tobermory has been a popular sailing club and the “best pub in town”.

Disembark Eye of the Wind in the harbour town of Oban, Scotland. This journey home takes us through the Sound of Mull, where Duart Castle lies enthroned on a steep cliff. This castle has been the seat of the Macleans clan for 700 years. Oban is a charming port town on the Scottish mainland. Inventions such as railways and steamboats once made the Victorian town the “gateway to the Hebrides”. A visit to the Isle of Oban is not complete without a visit to the whisky distillery. Above the town stands McCraig’s Tower, a replica of the Roman Colosseum, which is a curious landmark of the city.