With its rugged coastline, remote islands, blue water and wildlife around every corner, the Coast of Scotland is a popular place to visit amongst tourists and wildlife watchers alike. Many of Speyside Wildlife’s holidays to the Coast include the Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Isle of Mull, but this brand-new holiday for 2021 explores the harder to visit Inner Hebridean islands of Eigg, Rum, Coll and Tiree – each island with its unique landscape and wildlife only reachable by boat or ferry.
White-tailed Eagle in flight (Kate Mennie)
The first of our sea ventures will begin near Mallaig, where we climb onboard our charter boat for the day, the MV Shearwater. Heading towards the Isles of Rum and Eigg, species such as Manx Shearwater, Strom Petrel and gannet use the rugged islands to nest in the summer months. We will be able to stretch our legs on the Isle of Rum, where the first released White-tailed Eagles in the UK were released. As we cross the Sound of Sleat, we will search the water for Harbour Porpoise and Minke Whale.
The Ardnamurchan peninsula is a well-driven road by many, and our journey to Oban will be taking in the single track road past stunning viewpoints and sea lochs where Otter and Diver species fish. To get further out west, the Calmac ferry will take us to the remote island of Coll. Coll and Tiree are renowned for their tranquil secluded white sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and sunsets out west.
Boat above a Basking Shark (photo: Basking Shark Scotland)
This pelagic adventure around the Inner Hebrides continues from Tiree in search of sea species such as Great and Arctic Skua, divers, cetaceans with our key species the Basking Shark. During only a few weeks of the summer months, Basking Sharks migrate and feed around the Inner Hebrides islands where their food is plentiful. The second boat vessel of the holiday with Basking Shark Scotland will allow us to search the waters and get as close as possible to these giants of the sea. The Basking Shark can reach lengths of 10 metres, with their flimsy dorsal fin and tail leading you to their presence. With clear water, their wide-open mouths, used for gathering (food) will be visible as they scan the waters around the boat. It is often luck that you will catch a glimpse of one of these sharks on a day trip out into the waters, so our 3-day excursion with Basking Shark Scotland will increase our chances of seeing these, plus cetaceans species like Dolphin, Porpoise and bird species….
Basking Shark (Basking Shark Scotland)
If the notion of being on the water in comfortable boats going in search of some special wildlife species and unique experiences, then this trip could be for you this year. Staying in comfortable hotels, minibus transport and sea excursions with experienced skippers, take a look at the full information about this holiday on our website and get in touch to know more.