Sailing & Walking

Sailing & Walking View Trip Dates Knoydart, Skye & The Small Isles Book Now

Trip Grade: Blue 5 Knoydart Skye & The Small Isles Sailing on a 75-year-old traditional yacht, you will explore the islands and sea lochs which make the west coast of Scotland so dramatic, going ashore in the company of an expert guide to enjoy some excellent remote hiking. This itinerary is flexible and you may visit the remote peninsula of Knoydart, often referred to as Scotland’s last wilderness, as well as the Isles of Skye and Rum with their rocky ridges and Eigg with its distinctive mountain ‘An Sgurr’. You will hike to rarely visited vantage points, beautiful white sandy beaches and wild and remote glens, using the yacht to access these remote locations. In coastal waters renowned for their diversity of marine and bird life, you have every chance of seeing whales, dolphins as well as a plethora of birdlife such as golden eagles and sea eagles. Set against the backdrop of the islands’ fascinating history and culture, this maritime adventure makes for a truly unique and memorable holiday.

Highlights • Enjoy a combined sailing and walking holiday, exploring the Hebrides on a traditional yacht. • Experience the extraordinary wildlife of Scotland in its most unspoiled wild locations. • Discover some of Scotland’s finest walking, accessing rarely-trodden routes from the yacht.

Book with confidence • We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked • Maximum of 8 places available per departure

PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary is not set, this is an example itinerary only Planned Itinerary

Arrival Info

• You will be met by your Wilderness Guide on the main platform at Mallaig Railway Station 1:40pm on Day 1 of your trip

Departure Info

• You will be returned to Mallaig Railway Station 10:00am on the final day of your trip

PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary is not set, this is an example itinerary only Day 1 | An Evening Sail

On arrival in the small fishing village of Mallaig, you will be warmly welcomed aboard the yacht. Following a trip briefing and afternoon tea you will set sail to either the Point of Sleat on Skye or to an alternative anchorage, perhaps Eilean Shona in Loch Moidart. (D)

Day 2 | Sail to the Isle of Rum

Following a relaxing breakfast you’ll set sail for the mysterious and fascinating Isle of Rum. This stretch of water is excellent for whale spotting and we are likely to see porpoises and dolphins as we sail. After lunch in Loch Scresort, we head ashore to explore Rum and its famous Kinloch Castle. (B, L, D)

Walk details: easy walk – 8km, approx. 3 hours

Day 3 | Rum Cuillin & Canna Island

You’ll head into the hills to explore the majestic Rum Cuillin. One possible ascent might be Hallival, populated by Europe’s largest colony of Manx Shearwater which nest in burrows high up on the mountain. Returning to the yacht amidst incredible views of Eigg and Skye, we set sail for Canna. (B, L, D)

Walk details: moderate walk – 12km, approx. 6 hours Day 4 | Canna & Loch Scavaig, Skye

You can spend the morning ashore on the stunning Island of Canna, enjoying the short walk to the summit of Compass Hill with its fantastic panoramic viewpoint. From here we can see the route to our evening’s destination, Loch Scavaig, spectacularly situated at the foot of the Cuillin Mountains on Skye. (B, L, D)

Walk details: easy walk – 5km, approx. 2 hours

Day 5 | Walk in the Skye Cuillin

Loch Scavaig, in any weather, must be among the most dramatic anchorages in the world. Following breakfast, you’ll head ashore to enjoy a walk round the hauntingly beautiful Loch Coruisk. Returning to the boat for lunch, you then sail to the fjord-like Loch Hourn on the mainland peninsula of Kynoydart. (B, L, D)

Walk details: moderate walk - 8km, approx. 4 hours

Day 6 | Loch Hourn to Loch Nevis

Following an ancient deer stalker’s path, you will cross the Mam Barrisdale pass, traversing the pristine wilderness country of the Knoydart Peninsula. Reaching the village of Inverie on the shores of Loch Nevis you can visit the most remote pub in Britain, before a celebratory final dinner aboard the boat. (B, L, D)

Walk details: moderate walk - 14km, approx. 6 hours

Day 7 | Short Passage to Mallaig & Return Home

Following breakfast, you’ll make the short trip back to Mallaig to connect with the morning train south. (B) Trip Grading | Blue 5 |

Our Blue graded Sailing and Walking trip is suitable for people with no previous sailing experience, however a good level of fitness and hiking experience is needed.

We are based aboard Eda Frandsen - a beautiful 70 year old traditional yacht. Sailing aboard Eda is a hands-on experience as there are no winches on board to help raise sail, so everyone is needed to help out on deck. You will be asked to help hoist sails and help sail the yacht, which is fun but can be challenging.

The areas below deck for sleeping/eating etc are compact but functional so you should also be comfortable with the idea of having limited personal space for the duration of the trip, as expected when living on a boat!

When hiking we walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 3-6 hours at a time. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 2000ft / 600m high.

The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join.

If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately ﬁt and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us ﬁrst. Accommodation and Meals

Eda Frandsen is a beautifully restored 75-year old Gaff Cutter. She is extremely graceful and her rails and spars gleam with varnish. The rig is entirely traditional showing incredible workmanship. Down below, she is comfortable and well equipped, but please understand that personal space is still limited. There is a comfortable saloon and 4 ‘cabins’ with twin sleeping berths in a bunk arrangement. The cabins are separated from the saloon by privacy curtains. Each berth has its own locker storage. Please ensure that you bring your personal belongings in a soft holdall that can be compressed to fit into the locker. There are 2 “heads” or bathrooms including one with shower facility. The layout of the boat can be seen on the plan below.

Although we may be at sea, the food is a real highlight and we can expect creative and wholesome meals often prepared with fresh local produce, such as seafood or venison. Special Dietary Requirements

Due to the small size of the galley and being at sea, we are not able to accommodate as wide a range of diets on this trip. If you have any dietary requirements please discuss this with us before you book so we can check with the skipper to see if this can be accommodated. If we are not aware of your dietary needs at the time of booking we cannot guarantee we will be able to cater for them. Please note - Unfortunately we're not able to accommodate people with nut allergies on any of our sailing trips. All Inclusive Inclusions

This trip includes the following: • 6 nights accommodation on the traditional sailing yacht ‘Eda Frandsen’ • All meals during the trip (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Mallaig • All specialist group sailing equipment • The services of a highly experienced skipper and walking guide

Our All Inclusive trips include all accommodation, meals, guiding and travel during the trip. We do not include drinks or any gratuities you may choose to leave. Our holidays reviewed in your words…

One of the highlights was the day we sailed to Skye and hiked for a few hours. As we ascended the hill, we noticed that a wedding, complete with a piper, “ was taking place in the distance across from us! We stopped to take it in and when the ceremony was finished we continued our climb accompanied by the wonderful sound of the bagpipe echoing over the hills. The rest of the day was equally magical. We had a great wind for the afternoon sail and enjoyed full sun on a very warm day (shorts, T-shirts and sandals were all that we needed). We ate an amazing dinner on deck in full sunshine, then visited with the boat that had moored beside us, taking in traditional Scottish songs played on the fiddle, guitar and flute. To top it all off, the evening ended with shooting stars until well past midnight! Martin Wade ”

All Trip Reviews Here Your Guide

During this trip you will be accompanied and led by one of our professional guides. Our guides are among the most highly experienced and qualified in the country. Defined by their passion for Scotland’s wild places, they have an intimate knowledge of the natural and social history of this land which they will be delighted to share with you. For more info and to meet the team please see our Guide Pages.

Sustainable Travel

Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive.

We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland’s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in.

You can learn more about the work we’re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here. Equipment List

Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland. wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear

Eat | Stay | See

Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do

Eat – Stay – See – Fort Willam.pdf

General Info – Scotland

From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to to know facts.

General-Info-Scotland.pdf Travel Insurance

It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/ injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions.

We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies.

Campbell Irvine Direct – campbellirvinedirect.com Journeyman Insurance Services – journeyman-services.com/travelInsurance

If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions

Travel With Confidence

You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected.

Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA. FAQs

Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page. wildernessscotland.com/faq

Questions To Ask? Ready to Book?

If you want to get in touch please send us an email or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by email, or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately.

We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer.

email: [email protected] View Trip Dates Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0)1479 420 020 Book Now Tel (US and Canada): 866-740-3890