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Home , Eilean Mhuire, Outer Hebrides, Shiant Islands

SPECIAL OFFER - sa £200ve PER PERSON

Island Hopping in the

An expedition voyage exploring the majestic beauty of the Hebrides ABOARD THE OCEAN NOVA

11th to 18th May 2018

All special offers are subject to availability. Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover: Standing Stones of ords do not do justice to the spectacular beauty, rich wildlife and fascinating history of the Inner and which we will explore during this expedition aboard the Ocean Nova. One of Europe’s last true remaining wilderness areasW affords the traveller a marvellous island hopping journey through stunning scenery accompanied by spectacular sunsets and prolific birdlife. With our naturalists and local guides and our fleet of nimble Zodiacs we are able to visit some of the most remote and uninhabited islands that surround the Scottish coast including St Kilda and as well as the small island communities of Canna and . Having arranged hundreds of small ship cruises around , we have realised that St Kilda everyone takes something different from the experience. Learn something of the island’s OUTER history, see their abundant bird and marine life, but above all revel in the timeless enchantment HEBRIDES Canna that these islands exude to all those who appreciate the natural world. We are indeed fortunate Loch Scavaig in having such marvellous places so close to home. Now, more than ever there is a great Mingulay SCOTLAND Lunga appreciation for the peace, beauty and culture of this special corner of the UK. Whether your Iona Jura interest lies in horticulture or the natural world, history or bird watching or simply being there to witness the beauty of the islands, this trip will lift the spirits and gladden the heart. What to Expect Flexibility is the key to an expedition itself! John showed a short but side by side for the rest of our installation. John’s group then cruise; sometimes the whole day’s spectacular slide presentation to visit. This very cliff housed one dispersed to explore on their own schedule may be changed to Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture of the very last breeding pairs and most of us, of course, found maximise your experience based as the ship moved on to Lunga. It early in the 20th century but a time to visit the shop for postcards on weather or wildlife sightings, was after five when we began our highly successful reintroduction and souvenirs. On return to the something that would not be landing but it had brightened to a programme (begun on the Isle of ship, lunch consisted of a barbecue possible on a large cruise ship. bright sunny afternoon showing the Rum in 1975) has resulted in some prepared by the galley staff and Each day holds something new and Hebridean vista to full effect – from 60 pairs now nesting in Britain many opted to eat outside on deck below are some extracts from our the of Rum to the Paps of (mainly the Hebrides) once again. with the impressive backdrop of vessel’s logs from our last Hebridean Jura, even distant Ben Nevis was We saw some grey and common St Kilda’s Village Bay. But we were voyages which will provide you with just visible. But the climax of a very seals hauled out ashore, and not finished yet, for the expedition an idea of what to expect should full day must be the puffins that investigated some interesting sea team then filled their Zodiacs with you choose to join our Hebridean awaited us at the top of a short, caves before turning along the enthusiastic and intrepid guests, adventure; slightly rocky path. Lying down huge boulder scree along the east keen to explore the rocky shores meant that the birds soon became side of with its huge and dramatic caves of , seeing used to our presence, providing numbers of razorbills, puffins and seals and seabirds notably, of unparalleled close encounters – shags. There were also some great course, puffins. This highlight well worth the climb! Some of the skuas flying around, looking for an was quickly overshadowed by the more energetic followed John opportunity to rob the auks of the final offering – the Captain taking along a cliff path to Harp Rock, food they carried to feed chicks. his ship for a circumnavigation which was crammed with nesting of St Kilda, around Dun, under guillemots, some razorbills, more the Lover’s Stone and the Carn puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes and Mor boulder field on to shags – all presenting wonderful Soay, and then past Glen Bay to 18th June - Iona, & Lunga: photo opportunities. Those who view, Conachair, at 1,400 feet the We awoke to find ourselves could not face the climb were still highest sheer cliff in Britain. As anchored in the Sound of Iona for able to enjoy the spectacle from if on cue, the cloud lifted briefly our walk up to the Abbey. Little the Zodiacs as thousands of puffins to reveal its summit before we remains of the early Christian and other seabirds were resting on struck east, across the four mile settlement, founded around the sea. volcanic caldera 60 metres under 563 A.D. by St and 12 us, towards Boreray and the stacs. companions who had sailed from 21st June - Shiant Islands: By 22nd June - St Kilda: The early Approaching (564 ft) . It became one of the most breakfast the ship had anchored risers were rewarded with fine the Captain opted to take a wide important monasteries in early amongst the Shiant Islands in the views of our approach to the sweep and circumnavigate this Medieval Europe, renowned as Minch – (Mary’s of St Kilda, its tops hugely impressive tooth of rock, a centre of learning and artistic Isle) to the north, Eilean Tighe draped mysteriously in mist. It had smothered in 9,000 pairs of nesting excellence. During our walk, many (House Island) and the spectacular been a calm crossing and some gannets. The noise – and the passengers heard corncrakes Garbh Eilean (Rough Island) to dolphins and minke whales had smell! – were palpable as we stared calling in the gardens and fields the south, the two joined by been spotted on route. We ate up at the sheer face in its cloud around the village and some were a boulder beach. Once more breakfast quickly so as to hear an of gannets, constantly changing lucky enough to catch sight of we were viewing tertiary introduction to the islands by the shape and almost close enough to one. All too soon it was time to columns just like Staffa and Canna ranger. Soon after the Zodiacs touch. We next moved on to the return to the ship for lunch as we but this time several hundred feet began shuttling people ashore pyramid shape of still had a full day ahead. Once the tall and thronging with seabirds, to the pier and, although several – at 644 ft the highest sea stack in ship had repositioned to anchor many of whom sat on the calm options had been offered, most Britain, home again to 9,000 pairs off Staffa half of our compliment sea as our Zodiacs cruised close people opted first to join John of gannets, the remaining 40,000 were landed on the island to walk off shore. The islands are owned on a guided historical walk along pairs of St Kilda’s largest colony round into Fingal’s Cave, while by Adam Nicholson who wrote the village street from the Manse dispersed around the soaring others were taken by Zodiac into about them so eloquently in (now the staff quarters which also 1,260 ft cliffs of Boreray. Dozens the cave, swapping over later. his book ‘Sea Room’ and are housed the shop). Many then of great skuas were patrolling the The latter was a distinct highlight, uninhabited. We made first for the progressed up The Gap to find skies seeking out gannets returning made possible only by the ship’s tall basalt cliffs where we enjoyed Jamie and his party of longer to feed their chick with a crop Zodiacs so not many visitors are a fly-past of a white-tailed sea walkers, while Karin had led an fullof fish. The pirates often acted able to view the wondrous basalt eagle which then landed near its energetic walk up the road to in groups forcing their victim to columns from within the cave mate on a grassy ledge. They sat the summit ridge and the radar regurgitate. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Puffins, Lunga Island Grey seal

Mingulay

The Itinerary Day 1 Oban. Embark the Ocean began in 1907 and the island was reflecting its natural and cultural animals at ground floor level. Our Nova this afternoon in Oban. completely abandoned in 1912. significance. The local ranger final stop is the Gearrannan Transfers will be provided from Ruins of the village remain close to will join us on board before our Village – a Central Railway Station the shore which we will explore on expedition staff lead a number of reconstructed settlement of and Glasgow International Airport a guided walk. The islands are also guided walks on the island. Later, traditional black houses which were at a fixed time. Enjoy Welcome a nature reserve with important cruise past two of the largest made using dry stone masonry and Drinks and Dinner as we sail this breeding populations of razorbills, gannetries in the world at Stac have thatched roofs, distinctively evening. guillemots, puffins, fulmars and Lee and Boreray. These impressive weighted down with rocks. Visit the shags. stacs rise 170 metres from the small museum, enjoy a display of a Day 2 Barra & Mingulay. This sea and are home to up to 60,000 typical activity such as morning we will land on Barra Day 3 St Kilda. Arrive at first breeding pairs of . weaving and take in the views at this which is near the southern tip of light in St Kilda, a remarkable dramatic site on the wild Atlantic the Outer Hebrides and visit uninhabited archipelago some fifty Day 4 Isle of Lewis & Shiant Isles. coast. Spend the afternoon which curves around the miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. On leaving the island capital of exploring the Shiant Isles. Anyone barren rocky hills of a beautiful Dominated by the highest cliffs and Stornoway, we will head across the who has read Adam Nicholson’s wide bay. Here we find the 15th sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s island to the beautiful west coast. captivating book ‘Sea Room’ will century , seat of the main island was occupied on and Described as Scotland’s want to visit these lonely little Clan Macneil and a key defensive off for at least two thousand years, Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing islands located a few miles off the stronghold situated on a rock in the with the last 36 Gaelic speaking Stones date from around 3000 B.C. shores of Lewis. We will use our bay. During lunch we will sail the inhabitants evacuated at their There are a total of 32 stones in a Zodiacs to explore the coastline and short distance to Mingulay, which is own request in 1930. Immediately circular and avenue design which see the abundant birdlife and seals. nearly 1,600 acres and the largest after the evacuation, the island stand like a petrified forest on the of the group of islands south of was bought by the Marquess flat top of a peninsula which reaches Day 5 Canna & Loch Scavaig. Barra. Its towering cliffs and stacks of Bute to protect the island’s out into East Loch Roag. We also Strategically placed between the face the Atlantic while the east side thousands of seabirds including visit the Dun Pictish , mountains of Rum and the Outer slopes gradually down to the sandy puffin and fulmars, and in 1957 it probably built sometime in the last Hebrides, the island of Canna and beach of Mingulay Bay. Despite was bequeathed to The National century B.C., it would have served its adjoining neighbour Sanday there being a continuous Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one as an occasionally defensible are bound together like some rare population on the island for at least of only two dozen UNESCO World residence for an extended family text that reveals over 60 million two thousand years, evacuation Heritage Sites with dual status complete with accommodation for years of Hebridean geology and www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Guillemots Exploring the island of Barra St Kilda

Iona

Loch Scavaig and the Cullin Mountains

history. They have an amazingly 1,000 years the island of Iona has Colonsay House, built in 1722 by and will be welcomed in the rich archaeological landscape with been a place of deep spiritual Malcolm MacNeil and bought by cooperage where we will be given remains dating to all periods of significance and no less than 62 Lord Strathcona in 1904, we will an introduction to the Jura Distillery settled occupation in Scotland. Kings of Scotland are buried here. visit the attractively dilapidated and an opportunity to taste the local Canna is run as a single farm and St Columba came here from Ireland wooded gardens which protect the product. Alternatively, join one of bird sanctuary by the National Trust in 563 A.D. and early tiny, enigmatic 8th century St Oran’s our naturalists on a walk along the for Scotland and enjoys the best spread through northern Britain Cross. Return to the vessel for shore or take the local bus for a harbour in the , a horn- from this remote island community. lunch as we sail through the Sound short drive around the island. shaped haven. The fertile soil and After exploring the Abbey, time of to Jura, arriving in the late its diversity of habitats mean that permitting, you may take a short afternoon. Dominating the views Day 8 Oban. Disembark this the island has an incredibly rich walk on the wild side to the ‘Bay of Jura are the three hills called morning. Transfers will be provided plant life with 248 native flowering at the Back of the Ocean’. Over ‘The Paps of Jura’, the highest to Glasgow Central Station and plants recorded. We will see Canna lunch we sail to Lunga, the largest being Beinn an Oir at 785 metres. Glasgow International Airport at a House and wander across grassy of the . Of volcanic We will go ashore at Craighouse fixed time. basalt plateaus to the 600 foot cliffs origin, Lunga has been described on the north shore. Enjoy lunch as as a ‘green jewel in a peacock sea’. we sail to lovely Loch Scavaig on Populated until the 19th century, the island of Skye. Just beyond the island still bears the remains Prices per person is the freshwater Loch Corruisk of black houses. There is prolific Based on double occupancy with its breathtakingly beautiful birdlife on the island including SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE £200 PER PERSON FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY view over the . This is great storm-petrels, puffins, kittiwakes Cat Cabin Description Brochure Price Special Offer Price walking country and our expedition and Manx shearwaters. 1 Bunk bedded cabin for twin use team will run a series of hikes for £2595 £2395 2 Standard Twin £2895 £2695 all interests. For those who prefer Day 7 Colonsay & Jura. Lying 3 Superior a less energetic afternoon our between Mull and Islay, we will £3295 £3095 1 Bunk bedded cabin for sole use Zodiacs will explore the coast spend the morning exploring £3595 £3395 2 Standard Twin sole use looking out for seals. the island of Colonsay, with her £3895 £3695 craggy, heather-backed hills and Price Includes: Seven nights aboard Ocean Nova on a full board basis, shore Day 6 Iona & Lunga. This morning sparse woodland yet impressive excursions, expedition team, gratuities, transfers, port taxes. we land on Iona. For more than array of plant and birdlife. Near Not Included: Travel insurance.

+44 (0)20 7752 0000 Lounge

Category 3 Cabin

Bridge Dining Room Exploring by Zodiac

Ocean Nova We have chartered the expedition ship, the Ocean Nova for our unique island hopping expeditions. The vessel was built in Denmark in 1992 with high ice class to serve Greenland’s west coast. In 2006 she was completely refurbished and now has a career as a small and comfortable expedition ship.

Your Cabin or search for from the spacious Please note that the cruises featured in this brochure are The Ocean Nova accommodates observation decks. expedition cruises and Zodiacs will be used regularly to just 84 passengers. Cabins are make landings ashore. Due to the rugged nature of the spread over two decks and include Your Dining islands and the lack of transportation, on many of the cabins for the single traveller, The comfortable dining room seats islands our exploration will be on foot and to make the most double and triple cabins, all with all passengers in a single sitting of this fascinating trip participants should be prepared for sea-view and private facilities. The and offers delicious hearty meals walks, often over uneven surfaces. double cabins have either two with a mixture of table service lower beds or upper and lower and buffet. It is comfortable and beds. The triple cabins have upper spacious enough to accommodate TOP DECK and lower beds. In your cabin you all passengers and expedition will also find a desk with chair and staff in one seating, and the ample storage space for clothes portholes allow you to take in and equipment. They are well your surroundings as you dine. DECK designed with typical Scandinavian The informal dining arrangement OBSERVATION light woods. adds to the friendly atmosphere BRIDGE DECK CAPTAIN on board and meals are a great Your Space chance to discuss all you have seen LOUNGE The Panorama lounge located with your fellow travellers, and for 416 414 412 410 408 406 404 402 on the Top deck affords excellent the expedition team to share their LIBRARY BRIDGE 415 413 411 409 407 405 403 401 views and is the main meeting knowledge. place where you can enjoy a drink with a breathtaking view of Life On Board & Exploring Ashore UPPER DECK the surrounding landscape. It is The atmosphere on board is informal OFFICE 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 306 304 302 here that our expedition team and time on board is often spent out DINING will entertain and educate you on deck keeping watch for wildlife ROOM with lectures on biology, history, or admiring the spectacular view. 321 319 317 BUFFET 315 313 311 309 307 305 303 301 geology or ornithology with daily The schedule can change due to briefings. There is also a library weather conditions or unexpected MAIN DECK with panoramic views and a good wildlife sightings which adds to the selection of books on the area adventure. Daily briefings from our H you are visiting. On board there expedition team will prepare you is a satellite phone, small gym for each day’s activities and experts GYM and medical doctor. Passengers in subjects such as ornithology or are welcome on the Bridge and marine biology will give talks and there is always something to see accompany us ashore. CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk 240517_S All special offers are subject to availability. Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover: Standing Stones of Callanish