BIRD ISLANDS An exploration of the seabird islands of Britain and Ireland aboard the Ocean Nova 1st to 11th May 2019 he seabird islands of the western British Isles Handa are the envy of the birding world, yet it is not T Shiant Islands easy to sample the wonderful diversity of their St Kilda Loch Scavaig Canna character and come face-to-face with seagoing Lunga Iona ObanSCOTLAND inhabitants. This unusual expedition cruise will Rathlin Island appeal to those who wish to explore our coastal Derry Ailsa Craig waters, observe the marvellous seabird and marine IRELAND life and walk across untouched coastal wilderness Holy Island UNITED KINGDOM areas. The focus of our expedition is the prolific Grassholm Skomer birdlife but the region is also rich in cultural Lundy heritage and we will visit the spiritual island of Isles of Scilly Iona, the historic island of Rathlin and the city of Plymouth Derry, regarded by many as one of the finest examples of a walled city in all of Europe. Cruising aboard the 84-passenger Ocean Nova, we will be able to enjoy expedition Kittiwakes cruising at its best. Although we will set sail with a schedule, it will not be set in stone. The Captain and expedition team keep a flexible approach allowing you the razorbills, if we are lucky we might also see some opportunity to fully experience the unexpected, whether it be a sighting of dolphins, choughs. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a whale or any unusual event. Our exploration of inlets, estuaries and protected the afternoon on board as we cruise through the coastal waters will be made all the more enjoyable by the use of our Zodiac landing Irish Sea. Maybe join a lecture in the lounge or find a spot on deck to watch for wildlife. craft which enable us to land in remote places such as St Kilda and Lunga, providing for an unusual perspective and making the otherwise inaccessible readily available. Day 5 Ailsa Craig, Scotland & Rathlin Island, This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of our most beautiful places and view Northern Ireland. At dawn we will anchor off the granite island of Ailsa Craig. The tiny island, just some of the extensive birdlife. No matter your level of expertise you will find a 2.5 miles circumference was once a refuge for warm welcome and a cornucopia of stunning sights and sounds. sailors and base to a 19th century lighthouse. Today it is an RSPB reserve and home to the third largest gannet colony in Britain. We will The Itinerary use the Zodiacs for a closer look and also search Day 1 Plymouth. Embark the Ocean Nova this Day 3 Lundy, Skomer and Grassholm Islands. for puffins, guillemots and gulls. Sail in the late afternoon. Transfers will be provided from We have scheduled a morning on Lundy, a morning towards Rathlin Island. Located just a Plymouth railway station at a fixed time. Enjoy remote island in the Bristol Channel. Walk along few miles from the North Antrim coast, Rathlin Welcome Drinks and Dinner as we sail this evening. its traffic-free lanes and paths, explore the has been settled for more than 6000 years. wide bays and coves by way of hanging valleys, Today, there are only 80 or so souls, whereas Day 2 Isles of Scilly. Spend the morning on traffic- observe the puffins nesting in abandoned rabbit before the famine there were 1200 inhabitants. free Tresco, walking its idyllic lanes from the beach warrens, have a drink at the inn and buy the History is everywhere with historic buildings and to the famous subtropical Abbey Gardens. Defying islands ‘puffin stamps’ at the island’s shop. In the ruins. Enjoy a guided walk which will also take in the Atlantic weather, this miracle of a garden is afternoon sail on to Skomer Island, one of the the prolific sea bird life with astonishing numbers home to more than 20,000 species of plants from most important wildlife sites in Northern Europe. of auks, kittiwakes and grey seals. In the evening over 80 countries. Enjoy time to wander at your It is a marvellously peaceful and scenic island sail past the magnificent cliffs to the north of own pace along the paths, maybe visit the Valhalla with fantastic birdlife including 6000 pairs of the island which is home to the largest sea bird collection of ship figureheads from ships wrecked puffins, countless numbers of guillemots, fulmar, colony in Ireland. on the islands or relax in the café. We spend the kittiwakes and the elusive Manx shearwater afternoon on St Agnes, the most south-westerly and storm petrel. Enjoy a Zodiac excursion and Day 6 Derry. Berth this morning at the historic community in the UK. This delightful tiny island return to the vessel for dinner as we sail around city of Derry, renowned as one of the finest offers marvellous coastal walks. The small island Grassholm to view one of the world’s largest examples of a walled city in all of Europe. Derry of Gugh lies across a narrow sandbar and here we gannetries with over 34,000 breeding pairs. is our base for a morning at the Inch Wild Fowl find a single stone monolith called the ‘Old Man Reserve, Ireland’s premier wetland site, a Special of Gugh’ which dates back to the Bronze Age. Day 4 Holy Island, Wales. This morning we Protected Area and an important staging ground Alternatively join a boat trip to the nearby island arrive at Holyhead, adjacent to Anglesey with for migrating birds. On a guided walk we will of Annet the second largest of the uninhabited its spectacular sea-cliffs. Here we will visit the spot for grebes, herons and tern whilst we Islands and a bird sanctuary. We are not allowed to RSPB’s reserve at South Stack, a beautiful but may see otters in the water. Return to the ship land but will cruise the coastline alive with puffins, fragile maritime sward and heathland which is for lunch and this afternoon choose to either European storm petrels and shag. home to a large population of guillemots and independently explore the city of Derry or join Abbey Gardens, Tresco Razorbill South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead Ocean Nova at St Kilda Iona Abbey an afternoon tour to the Giant’s Causeway which and great skua. We will spend the afternoon became widely known from the 1700s as the exploring the Shiant Isles. Anyone who has read PRE-CRUISE ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ and large numbers Adam Nicholson’s captivating book ‘Sea Room’ DARTMOUTH EXTENSION of visitors came to view this amazing array of will want to visit these lonely little islands located 29th April to 1st May 2019 basalt columns - it is estimated that there are a few miles off the shores of Lewis. We will use around 40,000 in total. our Zodiacs to explore the coastline and see the abundant birdlife and seals. Day 7 Iona & Lunga. This morning we land on Iona. For more than 1000 years the island of Iona Day 10 Canna & Loch Scavaig. Strategically has been a place of deep spiritual significance placed between the mountains of Rum and the and no less than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried Outer Hebrides, the island of Canna, and its here. St Columba came here from Ireland in 563 adjoining neighbour Sanday, are bound together AD and early Christianity spread through northern like some rare text that reveals over 60 million Britain from this remote island community. After years of Hebridean geology and history. They exploring the Abbey, time permitting you may have an amazingly rich archaeological landscape care to take a short walk on the wild side to the with remains dating to all periods of settled ‘Bay at the Back of the Ocean’. Over lunch we occupation in Scotland. Canna is run as a single sail to Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles. farm and bird sanctuary by the National Trust Of volcanic origin, Lunga has been described as for Scotland and enjoys the best harbour in the a ‘green jewel in a peacock sea’. Populated until Small Isles, a horn-shaped haven. The fertile soil the 19th century, the island still bears the remains and its diversity of habitats mean that the island of black houses. There is prolific birdlife on the has an incredibly rich plant life with 248 native island including storm-petrels, puffins, kittiwakes flowering plants recorded. We will see Canna Picturesque Dartmouth harbour and Manx Shearwaters. House and wander across grassy basalt plateaus For those who would like to spend some to the 600 foot cliffs on the north shore. Enjoy time in Dartmouth before embarking Day 8 St Kilda. Arrive at first light in St Kilda, a lunch as we sail to lovely Loch Scavaig on the the Ocean Nova, we are offering the remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty island of Skye. Just beyond is the freshwater opportunity to join our two night miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated Loch Corruisk with its breathtakingly beautiful extension staying at the Dart Marina by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, view over the Cuillins. This is great walking Hotel & Spa. Situated a short walk Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was occupied on country and our expedition team will run a series from the town centre you can enjoy and off for at least two thousand years, with the of hikes for all interests. For those who prefer a time to explore the historic centre or last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated less energetic morning our Zodiacs will explore visit some of the nearby attractions at their own request in 1930.