Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Sail the Western Isles

At Classic Sailing we like mountains and islands as a dramatic backdrop for our sailing voyages. The Western Isles, Inner Hebrides, and sea lochs between the remote mainland peninsulas create thousands of miles of unspoilt coastline. This means Western Scotland provides one of the best deep water sailing grounds in Europe for scenery, wildlife, and splendid isolation. In the Norweigan Fjords the rock walls are so steep that you cannot see the mountain ranges beyond, but in Western Scotland you can often see ridge after ridge of mountains, fading to a purple haze in the distance. A perfect scene for a water colour painting with fast changing weather systems and an ever changing sky.

Tall Ship Bessie Ellen - Extensive wild playground

Self sufficent 116ft wooden tall ship Bessie Ellen is a great summer expedition ship for those of you who prefer a larger vessel with a sense of history.  With only 12 guest crew on board you will get plenty of hands on sailing.  Bessie Ellen's professional crew have chosen to spend most the summer in the Western Isles in 2012 because they have been captivated by the wildlife and scenery. The owner Nikki sails as mate and host and has taken Bessie Ellen to Scotland many times. Her current skippers Ruud and Rob spent last summer exploring places like the Shiant Islands and St Kilda and are keen to return. From Oban Bessie Ellen can cover quite an extensive area in a week - with the Southern half of the Outer Hebrides possible or reach as far North as Skye, Canna and Rum.

Bessie Ellen in Scotland Summer 2012 mini brochure as a printable PDF

Bessie Ellen in Scotland - voyage descriptions,  itineraries, dates & prices 2012

Bessie Ellen - Outer Hebrides & St Kilda Summer Expedition

The Outer Hebrides are very special and the best way to see them in summer is in a decent sized sailing vessel. Once in the Outer Hebrides the skipper will look for a good weather window to visit the remote island of St Kilda, but really that would be the 'icing on the cake' as the Outer Hebrides are worth a 9 day sailing adventure in their own right.

Bessie Ellen - Voyage Description - Outer Hebrides & St Kilda  9 day voyage 2012

St Kilda, Outer Hebrides & Orkney as a sailing destination

Provident - Brixham Trawler in the far North

Provident was built in 1924 and is a core vessel on the UK Historic Ships Register.  She has always been a working girl and with an attractive interior designed for adventure charter she has taken thousands of people sailing safely.  At 70ft on deck sh

e is smaller than Leader or Bessie Ellen but she can still easily take 12 guests and has a big wooden table for sociable evening meals.  She knows the attractions of the far North of Scotland and will travel upto Scotland from Devon in peak season, to offer a series of summer sailing expeditions from Mallaig.  Mallaig sits at the end of the West Highland Train line and gives easy access to the South Coast of Skye, Rum and Canna - out where the eagles play.  The Outer Hebrides and Cullins Mountains on  Skye offer considerable protection from the North Atlantic but the deep waters are home to whales and dolphins.

Provident Voyage dates and details in August 2012

Lizzie May - Pilot Cutter

When Classic Sailing chose our holiday fleet we like to have a mix of good looking traditional boats based in the best locations with local skippers and more roving vessels that create that true expedition style voyage.  Lizzie May offers a mix of the two, as she is roaming far and wide in 2012. From the Mull of Kintyre to Skye is a vast sailing ground so we can't claim Lizzie May's skippers know every anchorage....but exploring new places is part of the fun.

Lizzie May's home waters are on the Firth of Clyde where she offers 2-5 day voyages in beautiful scenery within easy reach of Glasgow. If you are travelling around Scotland a short activity break on Lizzie May as guest crew is perfect way of seeing Scotland from a different perspective. No experience is needed and we will teach you to sail too.

In 2012 she only has a few summer voyages further North with crew changes in Oban or Arisaig. In the middle of her season she is heading South to France to take part in Brest Festival which only occurs every 4 years.

Lizzie May Summer Programme dates 2012

Square Rigger Visiting Whisky Distilleries

Three masted barque Lord Nelson has a couple of voyages in Western Scotland in 2012, including a visit to Islay's best whisky distilleries.  Not to be mixed with climbing the rigging !  There is even a voyage from Dublin to Greenock via some island hopping in Scotland.

Lord Nelson Scottish Voyages - dates and more details  2012

Weather - Flat water blasts, long mid summer days & a few heatwaves

Scotland can be very windy and the gales come in fast off the Atlantic at any time of year, but you can usually keep on sailing between the islands. There are many miles where Provident, Lizzie May or Bessie Ellen can escape the ocean swell and go for an awesome flat water blast. Not everywhere is protected but at least there are safe havens where you can go to reef down and reduce sail so you can tackle the next exposed headland or firth. 

In June the sun sets very late in the evening so Scottish midsummer days are long. When a high pressure system sits over Scotland you can find yourself in a heatwave with waters so still the mountains and blue skies create a mirror image. The warm Gulf Stream means you can swim off the boat or beachcomb on white quartz sand beaches with no other sunbathers in sight. When a depression sweeps in - boy can it rain, but when the weather front clears the views are crystal clear.

Anchorage to Anchorage - Self Sufficient Travel

The choice of anchorages is endless on a sailing holiday in Scotland. The energetic can climb to the highest point ashore and look down on Lizzie May in splendid isolation in perfect natural anchorages that south coast sailors can only dream of. Self sufficient aboard your floating home; you can relax snugly in front of the wood burning stove and wait for supper with an appetite as large as the hills.

 "Sailing in the Western Isles of Scotland is one of the best ways of exploring these remote islands. You do not have to worry about accommodation, it’s close to nature but cosier than camping!"

>> more on Firth of Clyde as a sailing destination

>>more Oban & Arisaig - Skye, Mull & the Small Isles

>>more Oban Southwards - Mull, Colonsay, Islay & Jura