| Starting Port |
Starting Time |
Finishing Port |
Finishing Time |
Number of Nights |
| Oban |
17:00 |
Oban |
10:00 |
6 |
Voyage Summary
Our Sail and Paddle voyages give you the opportunity to get really close to the environment in which we sail. We will aim to explore the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck by traditional sailing vessel and sea kayak. However, closer to our base in Oban there are some equally fabulous lochs and islands to explore, if conditions don’t allow us to get all the way north.
We will have professional sea kayaking guides with us for the whole week allowing you to do as much or as little as you like. There is no need to pre-book, decide what you fancy when you wake up and we’ll do our very best to accommodate it!
Voyage Highlights
Sea Kayaking
The Small Isles are a brilliant sea kayaking destination. Each of the islands is very different and play host to a wide variety of geology, wildlife and infrastructure. Viewing these from a few inches above the water gives a very different perspective. It presents a wonderful opportunity to get really close to marine wildlife and to paddle with whales and dolphins is a magical experience.
Plans
We’ll start this voyage from Oban and spend the first day sailing to the Small Isles. If conditions are against us, we may decide to stay more locally and explore the island of Mull and the lochs around that area. Either way, it will be a full day’s sail but a fabulous introduction to life on board Irene. There are limited marina facilities in the Western Isles so we may be relying on the anchor for the week. Our exact location will depend on the weather – we want you to have comfortable night after all!
The next four days will be spent in a variety of locations around the Small Isles or the Sound of Mull. Each day you’ll have the opportunity to explore our location on foot under expert guidance or to spend the day paddling around the coastline with a professional kayak guide. Alternatively, put your feet up and relax on board Irene, soaking up the stunning views and wonderful atmosphere or take yourself off to explore ashore under your own steam.
Moving Irene between the islands will be done during the night, or if excursions are a shorter length, during the daytime. We like to keep these plans reasonably flexible to ensure we make the most of weather conditions and the wishes of our guests.
Our final day will be the return sail to Oban. This might involve a sail through the night to ensure we maximise our time. If visibility is good, you can expect stunning views of the stars as light pollution is so low here. We’ve also known the crew to give a rather good rendition of some Beach Boys hits to encourage a spot of midnight dancing and keep the circulation going as temperatures cool!
