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HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 1 Hebridean Times HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 2 The heBRIDeAN TIMeS Contents View from the Bridge 4-5 Captain david Kirkwood News in Brief 6 Crew News 7 Inlets and Islands 8-9 of Argyll 2020 European River 10-11 Cruise Collection Budapest Flavours of the 12 Low Countries Recipe 13 Leek Flamiche Sea-Changers 14 8-9 15 Meet the Team 15 Ardkinglas House Egon Emr egon emr, Food and beverage supervisor Competition 16 Cover image: benmore botanic Garden When you have finished reading this newsletter, please recycle. 12 Gouda 2 01756 704704 HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 3 AUTUMN 2019 Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of The hebridean Times after a sojourn of five weeks Hebridean Princess has recently returned to her familiar waters of scotland’s west coast and her home port of Oban. Our out-of-area cruises this summer saw her based in the port of invergordon on the Cromarty Firth and explore the waters around the northern isles of Orkney and shetland. a series of four fascinating voyages allowed guests to discover the highlights of these fa r-flung archipelagos peppered with historic sites and with a distinctly norse influence. now back in the Western isles we can look forward to the colours of autumn before steaming south to Greenock, our winter home on the Clyde. if you would like the opportunity to sail on board Hebridean Princess this year, before she enters the 10-11 dry-dock for her annual re-fit, we do have limited availability on the last two Clyde cruises at the end of the season in november. Please call our reservations Team on 01756 704704 for the latest availability and prices. Our 2019 season of european river Cruises has reached a successful conclusion and our 2020 european river Cruise Collection has recently been launched, offering four varied and enthralling itineraries. Travelling on the continent’s great waterways is a voyage of discovery, presenting a combination of enchanting destinations full of history and intrigue. see pages 10 and 11 for full details. To test your ‘little grey cells’, the Low Countries Crossword competition on the back cover offers the chance to win one of three dVd box sets of Great Canal Journeys. This endearing series sees Timothy West and Prunella scales embark on spectacular canal journeys across britain and abroad. You may recognise some familiar scenery around the Crinan Canal or be tempted to join one of our cruises around the Low Countries as Tim and Pru explore the dutch canals from the windmills of the Kinderdijk to the vibrant city of amsterdam. i do hope that you enjoy perusing this issue of The Hebridean Times and we look forward to welcoming you on board in the very near future. Louise Pratt 4-5 Hebridean Times editor View from the Bridge www.hebridean.co.uk 3 HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 4 The heBRIDeAN TIMeS View from the Bridge by Captain david Kirkwood Captain David Kirkwood early half way through the season finds always part and parcel of cruising the Western Isles. There us based in Invergordon for our Orkney are generally sheltered waters and anchorages to be Nand Shetland cruises, having left Oban found, and our guests’ comfort is, of course, always our on July 9th and not returning to our usual prime concern. Certain ports of call seem to be missed by Western Isles home port until August 13th. some guests time after time but we try our hardest to adjust the itineraries to ensure disappointments are kept The Deck department has seen quite a few changes so far to a minimum. this year with two new Third Officers and a promotion Our three scheduled St Kilda visits in May and June were from Third Officer to Second Officer for Thom herbert. all successfully completed, despite the second one (which One of our l ongstanding Bosuns, Kelvin, retired and has just happened to be the one I was on for!) being disrupted been replaced by Viktor, one of our regular AB's, who a little by the weather. The wind and sea increased whilst slotted seamlessly into the position. As usual, various we were at anchor in Village Bay, but the majority of the changes in the hotel department but despite the new guests were able to get ashore on hirta and then enjoy the faces the ‘team’ has settled in well in all departments. cruise around the Stacs and Boreray, to be able to It was my turn this year for the ‘Spring Surprise’ cruise in appreciate the gannets in their thousands. April and, due to the weather forecast, I decided to head The wildlife cruise was blessed with fine weather and calm south initially, visiting Northern Ireland, the Titanic seas, except for the St Kilda visit, and after weeks of very exhibition in Belfast from Larne, across to Peel and the Isle few dolphins they decided to appear at last, almost daily, of Man, before heading back to Bangor and then returning and of all types, along with whales and a great variety of to the Western Isles for the second half of the week. The bird life. Dave Sexton, one of our wildlife guides, along weather was as forecast, we had smooth passages and with Darren Rees, was able to introduce the guests to the clear skies so at least I was able to get that part right. I white tailed eagles on Mull and show us a nesting site, hope that the ports visited were new and interesting to complete with chicks. We even managed to find a pair most of the guests! when anchored off the Shiants which was an added bonus. As usual we have managed to visit most ports on our For distance covered during a weeks cruise we certainly itineraries, but not necessarily in the right order, which is put in the miles, but all the itinerary was met, despite 4 01756 704704 HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 5 AUTUMN 2019 Hebridean Princess, Peel, Isle of Man by Alison Croose having to double back on ourselves to fit St Kilda into the I join the ship on her arrival in Invergordon on the 18th July weather window. Our visit to handa Island saw us anchor and, as usual, am keeping my finge rs crossed for fine to the north, by way of a change thanks to the weather, weather during our Orkney and Shetland cruises. having but it turned out to be a real bonus, giving us a sheltered not visited for three years it will be good to sail the area anchorage plus a shorter trip for the shore boat to run the again and be able to call in at a few ports that I missed out guests to and from the landing beach. The Shiants, despite on the last time. Fair Isle is always one place I look forward the aborted beach landing, was a great afternoon, cruising to seeing again and at least we get two chances on each around the bay in the boats while we were at anchor, with cruise, going north or south, so there is a good possibility the puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, etc, etc in their most guests should get a chance to land during the next thousands at the start of their breeding season. few weeks. In June we headed south to visit Northern Ireland again All on board are looking forward to our voyages around and then ventured across to Troon for a visit to Dumfries the Northern Isles of Scotland and hope that the weather house, spending all day there, which was thoroughly behaves itself during our stay so that all guests have a enjoyed as alway s. It really is one of those houses that is a truly wonderful time, before we head back to Oban and must-see for everyone. It was then back round the Mull of the Western Isles once again. Kintyre to the Western Isles once again. A private golf charter in June was a great success. With 30 plus golfers playing most of the courses, getting all the equipment off and on the ship and transporting it to and from the venues proved ‘interesting’ but it worked pretty well. The weather was reasonably kind and all venues were thoroughly enjoyed, with the non-golfers excursions greatly appreciated. After the success of the cycling cruise last year, we all look forward to something a little different from time to time and making a success of each cruise, no matter what the theme might be from week to week. Puffin, Shiant Isles by Paul Heyes www.hebridean.co.uk 5 HEB TIMES Issue 32.qxp_Layout 1 14/08/2019 15:47 Page 6 The heBRIDeAN TIMeS News in Brief COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO THE ILF 2019 Ilkley Literature Festival is an annual event in the spa town of Ilkley, West Yorkshire (close to hebridean’s office in Skipton) and has become one of the UK’s top literary festivals. Attracting many important international literary figures, its two-week programme, starting in October, now features more than 250 events in a variety of venues in the Ilkley area. Over t he past few years hebridean Island cruises has been proud to sponsor a number of events at the festival and this year we are delighted to be doing so again.