St Kilda, Outer Hebrides & Orkney

photo: St Kilda

St Kilda, Outer Hebrides & Orkney

Sailing & Wildlife Voyages - We call them expeditions

Our 10-11 day sailing and wildlife expeditions on Tall Ship Oosterschelde will show you why Classic Sailing work this Dutch ship. The Captain (Sebaastian or Gerben) and ships crew love to explore remote locations and connect with human communities living on the edge. Oosterschelde has travelled the world from Antarctica to Indonesia so reaching new destinations and finding unusual anchorages is part of their ethos.

These sailing voyages leadsto sparsely inhabited islands, tiny fishing villages, deep lochs and rugged cliffs that will be appealing to nature lovers looking for puffin, sea and white tailed eagles, whales and other cetaceans.

The hundreds of islands of the Hebrides have their own character, are very isolated and therefore communities are entirely self-reliant. This area is rich in seabirds, which usually breed on the steep cliff faces. With the ‘Oosterschelde’, a relatively small ship, we will visit unique places that cannot be reached by anything but boat or ship.

The waters surrounding the Hebrides and St Kilda are rich in plankton and fish. During the crossings between the different islands the chances are high that we will spot whales and seals.

Outer Hebrides

The Hebrides derive their name from the Norse (Viking) word Havbrodoy meaning on the edge of the sea, but they were inhabited long before the Norse Era. Pliny called them Hebudes, and Ptolemy in the 2nd century wrote of the Eboudai islands above Ivernia (Ireland).

Enjoy the novelty of a Dutch schooner with a multi national crew exploring distinctive celtic communities, who only have a handful of yachts visit them each year, and some uninhabited islands which are a haven for seabirds.

Like the Great Barrier Reef, the chain of Outer Hebridean islands runs parallel to the Scottish mainland and protects it from ocean storms. The Atlantic facing coast is an almost continuous strand of sand dunes and machair (grass) whilst the east coast is deeply indented with a maze of islets and anchorages.

There are over 26 islands in the Outer Hebrides south of the Sound of Harris, and at least another 16 islands around Lewis to the North.So even without the prize of St Kilda, there will be plenty of new anchorages to try.

St Kilda on a Three Masted Topsail Schooner

Oosterschelde successfully sailed to St Kilda in 2009 and is keen to return again in 2010. On this archipelago we will find hundreds of thousands of seabirds. The island group is very remote and affected by ocean swell so if the weather is too tough for an ocean going sailing ship like Oosterschelde, then she will continue her exploration of the Outer Hebrides. St Kilda is one of those holy grail type destinations for yachtsmen and women in that it can be tough to reach or anchor off, even in summer. You do increase your chances significantly with a 132ft sailing ship which will give you a more comfortable ride than a yacht in moderate sized seas.

Orkney Islands Archipelago - Viking Culture

In 2010 Oosterschelde will also be sailing around the top of Scotland past Cape Wrath in both directions, which gives the exciting prospect of exploring the northernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides and the Orkney Islands - a British archipelago that has more links with Viking culture than the Scottish mainland.

Read more about Orkney and Cape Wrath voyage destinations