Oosterschelde - St Kilda - Outer Hebrides, Now only £1280 for 11 days
Submitted by adam on Tue, 20/10/2009 - 10:48
| Voyage Number | Ost-1008 |
| Voyage price | €1390 was £1390 |
| Voyage Dates | 22/07/2010 - 20:00 - 01/08/2010 - 08:00 |
| Depart from | Oban |
| Finishing Port | Oban |
| Voyage area | Hebrides , Scotland , St Kilda |
| Voyage type | Adventure Voyage , Tall Ships , Wildlife Voyages |
| Vessel | Oosterschelde |
| Availability | Available |
| BOOKING FORM >>> |
Voyage Description
Photos (C) R Woodall
St Kilda and the Hebrides - Adventure Sailing Voyage
This sailing voyage leads to 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 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 by6 anything but boat or ship.
The waters surrounding the Hebrides and St Kilda are rich in food. 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. Take a zodiac ride under the sculptural arches of Mingulay, see where the TV castaways stayed on Taransay
On the Outer Hebrides we will visit lesser known islands of Miughaiagh and Bearnaraigh, amongst others. The only human inhabitants here are the lighthouse keepers, but there are masses of Auks, Kittiwakes and Fulmars.
During the voyage we will sail as much as possible.
There will also be enough time to go on land to explore the coasts, culture and animal life. The walks we make are based on guests in average condition. When the walks are tougher, we will offer alternatives so that there is always something suitable for you.
St Kilda an Introduction
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. See below for more details.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 lies approximately 40 sea miles west of the Outer Hebrides. It is a small group of islands, Hirta being the biggest. As long as people can remember Hirta has been inhabited by the Celts. In the ancient feudal era the island group was in possession of the clan Macleod of Macloud.
For millennia the Celtic community on St. Kilda had been dependant on whatever the island group had to offer.
At the beginning of the previous century the St. Kildans lived exceptionally primitive compared to the rest of Europe. They lived of a few sheep, the agriculture and especially of bird catching. Annually a ship with necessities such as knifes, needles and yarn came to the island. These goods were exchanged for dried birds and tweed.
Tens of thousands of birds were caught every year, especially Auks, Northern Fulmars and Northern Gannets. For food they would make dangerous expeditions to catch the birds and there eggs on the incredibly steep cliffs; especially on the islands in the north (Boreray, Stack and Stack Armin) which are really no more than steep tall rocks.
One hundred and eighty people lived on the islands towards the end of the 17th century but they only had 16ft boats to get about in. There was not enough timber to build there own craft so these tiny boats crossed the eighty mile passage from the mainland, fancy a try?
The St. Kildans lived in houses with walls made of boulders and roofs made of turf and hay. The earliest houses had no chimneys or windows and they must have been very damp, dark and dingy to live in. In the 1830’s wood and glass were introduced into new dwellings and the old houses became stables and stores. The old feudal Celtic community of St. Kilda was gradually destroyed by the influence the Anglo Saxons from the mainland but the morning “Parliament” persisted. Every morning the men folk would meet on the Village Street and deicide what had to be done that day and who would do it.
Strict Christianity had always been part of life on St Kilda and they also were responsible for the education of the children. At the start of the 20th century stone houses with sanitary facilities were introduced and an attempt was made with charity and tourism to keep the islands going; the main aim of which was to get them enough food to live on. But still the inhabitants were poverty stricken and near to starvation most of the time so that on August 29th 1930 the British government removed the last 39 inhabitants.
In 1957 a military post, which is still there, was built and is now run by Quintec Associates Ltd a defence organisation. The military started out by using bulldozers to destroy most of the old houses.
Also in 1957 the National Trust for Scotland became the owner and made St. Kilda a nature reserve. In 1986 St. Kilda became a Unesco World Heritage Site.
In recent years the National Trust for Scotland has restored some of the houses, the church and the school for accommodation and education on the life of St Kilda. Tourism has been encouraged in so far as it does not conflict with preserving the flora, fauna and wild life of the St Kilda Islands.
St. Kilda Birds and Animals
Twenty species of birds are breeding at St. Kilda, with over a million birds sitting on about 300.000 nests. A quarter of all the Northern Gannets on the Northern Atlantic, about 60.000 pair, are breeding on Boreray and the Stacks.
Atlantic Puffin are the most common seabird in the archipelago; there were once millions of pairs but a declining fish population has dramatically reduced there number.
St Kilda has its own unique St. Kilda Wren, with a slightly bigger beak and a different song; it is estimated that there are 250 breeding pairs and a major sighting for any ornithologist or amateur bird watchers.
Photos (C) R Woodall
St Kilda and the Hebrides Itinerary
Day 1. After arriving in Oban you will come on board in the afternoon. The cabins will be assigned and the captain will explain everything on board and will give you a safety briefing. You will get the opportunity to get acquainted with the ship and find your way around. The rest of the day everyone is free to fill in as they like. Some will explore Oban town or look at its famous Coliseum or visit its equally impressive Cathedral. There are a good selection of shops, galleries and even a small museum to visit.
Day 2. We leave early and sail out of the Sound of Mull. We will keep the island of Mull on our port side and as we reach the northern end of the Sound of Mull small islands begin to appear in the west, Coll and Tiree and on the right hand side you will pass well offshore Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on Mainland Britain, not Lands End in Cornwall as many believe.
The island of Staffa will emerge as a steep, volcanic rock wall with numerous birds in residence.
For his Hebrides-overture Mendelssohn got inspiration on the island of Staffa. Using the dinghies we will visit Fingals Cave, a deep basalt cave to which the overture refers and we can go for a short walk ashore. At the end of the afternoon we will set sail and cross towards the Outer Hebrides. You will have been assigned to the watches and now is the time to get acquainted with the tangle of lines onboard with expert tuition from the full time crew.
Day 3. Our destination is Miughaiaigh and Bearnaraigh right at the south end of the Outer Hebrides Island Chain. We hope to anchor at the cliffs on the west side of Mingulay in the morning. Besides the mass of Auks, Kittiwakes and Northern Fulmars the only inhabitants are the lighthouse keepers.
At the beginning of the evening we will sail on towards the Island of Barra and moor at Castle Bay. Some shops, hotels, a church and Kismuil Castle are located here. This castle, originally 12th century but in its current state mainly 15th and 20th century, is beautifully located on a rock in the bay where we will anchor. We will spend the night here to try real Scottish whisky in a local pub, “slange”.
Day 4. During the morning we will head out to the Atlantic Ocean and set course for St. Kilda. The crossing is approximately 80 miles and we expect to arrive within a full day. Underway we might spot whales, dolphins, porpoise or basking sharks and sun fish. Some species of dolphins like to swim alongside ships and play in the bow wave, a beautiful show but very difficult to capture with your camera!
In the seas off the West Coast of Scotland and around the Hebrides in the Minches there are several species of whales and it is there blowholes that are often spotted first. Hence the expression “There she blows”. The largest are the Sperm whales that can be up to 20 meters long (66 feet) and the most exciting are the Killer whales easily identifiable by there large white side stripes. Minke whales, funny shaped heads, with young are quite common and long finned pilot whales can be seen in large pods.
Day 5. Around sunrise we hope to catch a glimpse of the seven islands and rocks forming the St. Kilda archipelago where the cliffs Ard Uachdarachd of Conchair are the highest of the British Isles.
Oosterschelde will anchor at the main Island Hirta in Village Bay and will stay a good length of time so that you can go ashore and explore for yourselves. See Voyage description for an introduction to St Kilda.
Day 6. We leave St. Kilda for a long passage of 40 miles to the North of Lewis to the Flannan Islands and its infamous lighthouse. (Subject to weather) and to the Cape called The Butt of Lewis.
We sometimes sail close to the rugged coast with its deep bays and sandy beaches: a spectacular place to spot seabirds. The Cape is also known as a good location to observe whales. Killer Whales have been spotted regularly here.
Day 7. We anchor in the naturally sheltered harbour of Stornoway. Stornoway is the only town on the Outer Hebrides and has 8000 inhabitants. There is a museum that displays the life on the island. In the harbour is a colony of Grey seals and around Lewis Castle is a forest with the only Rook colony on the entire Hebrides.
Day 8. Today we have Dunvegan, on the island Skye, on the program. The Gaelic language is widely spoken on Skye, as on many of the other islands of the Hebrides. The inhabitants give a poetic description of the island: ‘The island of mist under the shadow of the high mountains’. The mist gives Skye a mystical character. Dunvegan is rather touristy. There is a 13th century castle and there are a few 18th century gardens, which are open for visitors.
Day 9. We sail out of the bay of Dunvegan. On one of the rock islands near the coast resides a seal colony that we might be able to see. We will then sail on to the island Rhum. It sticks 800 metres out of the water. This island is covered with grass, heath land, lichen and forests. There is a research station, which is aimed at American elks and reintroducing White-tailed eagles. The White-tailed eagle has been breeding here since 1985 and Rhum is the only place in the country where their presence is guaranteed. Maybe we will even find some Golden eagles and Peregrine falcons here. The use of magnetic compasses on or near Mull is not reliable as the island has a vast quantity of iron in its rock structure making compasses swing erratically.
Day 10. Today we sail through the Sound of Eigg, between the islands Eigg, Eileen nan Each and Muck in the direction of Sound of Mull. If there is enough time we will make a stop at one of the islands mentioned above. Somewhere in the afternoon we will sail through the Sound of Mull toward the final destination: Oban. Our cook will prepare an extensive farewell dinner for this evening.
Day 11. Busy Oban lies in a sheltered bay. Fishermen and ferries use the harbour. After
breakfast bags will be packed and some might want to buy souvenirs in the town. We
will say our goodbyes and leave the ship.
Photo cuortesy Fr Paul Hackett
Oban
Oban has been described as one of the most scenic travel destinations. The sheltered port of Oban (“little bay” in Gaelic) is surrounded by views of earth, sea and sky, which have enthralled artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries.
Known as the gateway to Argyll and the Western Isles, Oban is the perfect origin for your own journey to discover the enchantment of the west coast of Scotland.
Oban has always been known as the traveller’s rest. As a small town with a resident population of 8,500 this unofficial capital of the West Highlands often swells with large numbers of visitors.
Oban is renowned for its glorious gardens, its fabulous views, the ocean promenade, islands all around, ancient monuments and castles, and outdoor activities such as diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching – even whale spotting - especially from pilot cutters and tall ships.
Queen Victoria visited the town and gave it the royal seal of approval when she described it as "one of the finest spots we have seen".
Getting to Oban
By Road
Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch Lomond and its steam ships. When you get to Tyndrum turn to port (left) onto the A85 for Oban. Find the North Quay and then further into Town and near Tesco you will find secure paid for parking at Oban Car Hire which does have to be paid for.
By Coach
CityLink offer connections from Glasgow Buchanan Street train and Bus Station and Glasgow Airport.
By Train
ScotRail has trains for Oban that also leave from Buchanan Street Station.
By Plane
You can fly from Central Glasgow to Oban on Loch Lomond Seaplanes - probably the most dramatic way to arrive - certainly the quickest from Glasgow.
Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Oban, The Official Oban Tourist Office has the best local directory.
Photo cuortesy Fr Paul Hackett
Oban
Oban has been described as one of the most scenic travel destinations. The sheltered port of Oban (“little bay” in Gaelic) is surrounded by views of earth, sea and sky, which have enthralled artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries.
Known as the gateway to Argyll and the Western Isles, Oban is the perfect origin for your own journey to discover the enchantment of the west coast of Scotland.
Oban has always been known as the traveller’s rest. As a small town with a resident population of 8,500 this unofficial capital of the West Highlands often swells with large numbers of visitors.
Oban is renowned for its glorious gardens, its fabulous views, the ocean promenade, islands all around, ancient monuments and castles, and outdoor activities such as diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching – even whale spotting - especially from pilot cutters and tall ships.
Queen Victoria visited the town and gave it the royal seal of approval when she described it as "one of the finest spots we have seen".
Getting to Oban
By Road
Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch Lomond and its steam ships. When you get to Tyndrum turn to port (left) onto the A85 for Oban. Find the North Quay and then further into Town and near Tesco you will find secure paid for parking at Oban Car Hire which does have to be paid for.
By Coach
CityLink offer connections from Glasgow Buchanan Street train and Bus Station and Glasgow Airport.
By Train
ScotRail has trains for Oban that also leave from Buchanan Street Station.
By Plane
You can fly from Central Glasgow to Oban on Loch Lomond Seaplanes - probably the most dramatic way to arrive - certainly the quickest from Glasgow.
Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Oban, The Official Oban Tourist Office has the best local directory.
Three masted topsail schooner Oosterschelde
Oosterschelde has sailed as far as the Arctic and Antarctica and sailed around the world She is very well known in Holland and a favourite of sea and nature lovers. The ship is owned by a Dutch Foundation but the working language on board is English.
LATEST NEWS - more below
- Cape Verde - Tropical Sailing in Winter 2012-13
- Catch this impressive schooner with square sails in Europe this summer 2012
- Round the World Voyage & Australian Tall Ships Races 2013
Life on Oosterschelde
On board Oosterschelde—as on all of Classic Sailing holidays—you are not a passenger but part of the guest crew. You will be assigned a watch together with the professional crew to sail, steer and navigate the ship. No sailing experience is necessary. The crew will be happy to explain the functions of all the ropes.
Oosterschelde is very well known in Holland and a favourite of sea and nature lovers. Her ethos is one of active and direct exposure to the sea and sailing, the region being explored and its wildlife. Below decks the two and four cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold water. Showers are separate. The lounge is very stylish with a wood burning stove (for Spitzbergen trips etc) a piano and library. All cabins have forced ventilation and a window or hatch to open. The ever present trade winds keep it a pleasant temperature below decks. She has a large galley and professional cook and you can buy drinks at the bar. On board euros are accepted but not credit cards.
On a fore and aft rigged schooner there is more sail trimming, tacking and gybing than you might find on a square rigger, so at times on watch you may be very busy. With two square sails there is still an excuse (if you need it) to go aloft.
Expedition Ship
Oosterschelde is well used to running sailing expeditions to remote places like Spitzbergen, Antarctica, Indonesia with well educated guests interested in nature, walking, maritime history and local culture ashore. Whilst the ship does do social projects / sail training, for most the year the hospitality and style of sailing is geared towards adults on an adventure holiday. The landing places will be carefully selected to show you the best of each island and there will be some organised expeditions ashore.
Equipment & Safety
The crew are experienced ocean going sailors and most of them are employed on Oosterschelde full time. The ship is owned and operated by Oosterschelde Shipping Company and Sailing Foundation. She is equipped to sail the world’s seas and holds all the safety certificates required by Dutch Law. As you are part of the guest crew you will be fully trained in emergency procedures. For going ashore Oostershelde has two rubber dinghies with outboards and a wooden boat. She carries lifejackets, liferafts, fire detection and extinguishing systems, very extensive medicine cabinent, EPIRB, SART, radar, GPS, SSB radio, INMARSAT Sat C fax terminal etc. If your family/friends need to contact the ship in emergencies the ship can be contacted by Iridium saterlite telephone, but cheaper to go through the ships office in Rotterdam ( Michelle or Gerben) as they are in contact with the ship regularly.
Ship Specification:
| Type | 3 masted topsail schooner |
| Built | 1918 (restored 1988-1992) |
| Port | Rotterdam |
| LOA | 50 metres |
| LOD | 40.12 metres |
| Draft | 3 metres |
| sail area | 891 m sq |
| cabins | 24 guest crew in 2 or 4 berth cabins |
| crew | Captain, Mate, DH/Engineer, Cook, DH |
Cape Verde for trade winds & tropical sun
Now a regular feature in Oosterschelde's Sailing Programme, the ship sails south in the autumn to the Cape Verde Islands. This 'off the beaten track' destination makes for perfect sailing. Located off Senegal in West Africa, these nine islands are on the same latitude as St Lucia in the Caribbean and enjoy strong NE trade winds, tropical sun and virtually no rain. They are nothing like the Canaries and the ship arranges some great jeep safaris up into the mountains and local villages.
For some great photos and a full description of these voyages
PDF Cape Verde Sailing Expeditions Brochure 2011-12
PDF - a photo diary of our Christmas voyage in Cape Verde
Round the World Voyage Planned 2013
Oosterschelde and our other Dutch tall ship Europa are sailing around the world together in 2013.
The route for Oosterschelde will be to sail from Cape Verde (at the end of next years winter season in Spring 2013) to Cape Town and rendevous with Europa. They both sail for Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Freemantle, Jakarta, Adelaide, Melbourne and stop in Hobart Tasmania. In Australia they will help celebrate the Australian Royal Navy Centennial celebrations in a series of tall ships races. Hobart - Sydney, Sydney - Auckland. The two ships will sail accross the South Pacific and around Cape Horn, before going their seperate ways. Dates to be announced after Easter 2012.
Short Summer Season 2012 - Try Oosterschelde in Europe.
If you just want to try out Oosterschelde we have a few voyages this summer in the English Channel, Highlights include exploring the Channel Isles and sailing to St Malo tall ships gathering and Brest Festival in one voyage.
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BOOK EARLY FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS 2012 & NEW YEAR 2013 Cape Verde Island Exploration from €1650 per person CV12-03 |
Oosterschelde | Cape Verde (Sal) | Cape Verde (Sal) | Sun, 23/12/2012 - 20:00- to Thu, 03/01/2013 - 10:00 |
 |
Cape Verde Trade wind sailing and tropical island exploration with local guide12 days from €1650 per person CV13-04 |
Oosterschelde | Cape Verde (Sal) | Cape Verde (Sal) | Thu, 03/01/2013 - 16:00- to Mon, 14/01/2013 - 10:00 |
 |
Cape Verde Tropical Islands Exploration 12 days from €1650 per person CV13-05 |
Oosterschelde | Cape Verde (Sal) | Cape Verde (Sal) | Mon, 14/01/2013 - 20:00- to Fri, 25/01/2013 - 10:00 |
 |
Cape Verde Tropical Islands Exploration 12 days from €1650 per person CV13-06 |
Oosterschelde | Cape Verde (Sal) | Cape Verde (Sal) | Fri, 25/01/2013 - 20:00- to Tue, 05/02/2013 - 10:00 |
Gilbert Pépin Location: Vernon, France 29.5.2009
I want to thank the crew for the three magnificent days passed on board, between "Golfe du Morbihan" and "Le Havre". I sailed on numerous occasions on about ten different ships, and this sailing on Oosterschelde is the best experience I ever had. I was impressed by the good performances of the ship, and by the way the crew adjusts sails permanently so that the ship always gives the best ; it was an immense pleasure to participate of my best in all these operations. I regret that our different languages did not allow us to communicate more, because all the crew members were really very nice and very thoughtful with us. I have now only an envy: to embark again on Oosterschelde, to be on the deck to participate in the laborers of sails, to climb on the mast to help the crew, and to share again these excellent moments given by sailing on Oosterschelde !!!
(Excuse my bad English, which is the one from a French...)
Thanks again
Gilbert
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