The “Western Isles Milebuilder” weeks also start from Tobermory and will appeal to those who want the experience of longer passages. The Outer Hebrides come within range and visits to the remote islands of Mingulay, Barra, Uist, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis are normally possible.
A circumnavigation of Skye could include the puffins and seals of the Shiants and possibly even the Summer Isles near Ullapool or the sub-tropical gardens at Inverewe. On our way south we might stop at the picturesque towns of Portree or Plockton before tackling the tidal race at Kyle Rhea between Skye and the mainland.

Please click here to find more information to help you decide if a milebuilder cruise is right for you.

Our programme includes some longer and one-way cruises in June and July, taking advantage of the long days and allowing us to undertake more adventurous passages to St Kilda and Orkney and Shetland.
St. Kilda lies out in the Atlantic to the west of the Outer Hebrides and the islands and their massive cliffs are home to Europe’s largest sea bird colony.
To reach the Orkney Islands we sail along the wild northern coastlines of the mainland and round Cape Wrath before crossing to the Old Man of Hoy and Scapa Flow and finally to the capital Kirkwall.
Our passage north to Shetland may include the remote island of Fair Isle with Lerwick as our most likely northerly destination.
By allowing more time for these trips we are more likely to find the weather “window” we need for the long passages.

Visiting the Faroe Islands is an exciting northward extension of our cruising ground.

Our destination will be Torshavn, the capital of the islands and well connected by ferry services to Denmark and Iceland and with daily flights from Vagar airport to Aberdeen and London Stansted with Atlantic Airways.
The Faroes, which has a population of about 50,000, is a group of eighteen rugged islands half way between Iceland and Norway and about 180 miles northwest of Shetland. The islands are characterised by spectacular cliffs and peaks up to 900m high.

Not all of the islands are inhabited. The name Faroes means Sheep Islands which gives a clue to the local economy, although fishing is by far the biggest earner.
Politically, the Faroes are linked to Denmark, which has responsibility for defence and legal affairs, but there is a high degree of local autonomy. They are not members of the E.U. although citizens of Schengen countries (which does not include the UK) travel freely.

The scenery and wildlife are amazing - “St Kilda on steroids” as somebody described it. The tides are amongst the strongest one is likely to encounter although tidal range is very small which makes mooring alongside the many town piers a pleasure. The people are welcoming and friendly and English is widely spoken.
It is far enough north to have very short nights and indeed the lighthouses are switched off in June and July. Instant memories are – houses with grass roofs; impressive wooden churches; huge cliffs; green mountains; mist; narrow channels; divebombing gannets; swirling tides; friendly people.

Please click here for more information about the passages to St. Kilda, Orkney, Shetland and the Shiants.

“We had a wonderful time, in a spectacular location, with great company on a superb boat”
Paul (normally Bareboats) Kent UK