Scotland is a place of rugged beauty, but even in such a land, the Isle of Skye stands out because of its dramatic landscapes. On this adventure, we sail around the South and the East coast of Skye and venture into dramatic Lochs of the Northwest mainland. All of this in the company of Scottish photographer Richard Gaston, who will help you in a quest to capture some of the beauty of this magical place.
To be clear, this is not a luxury cruise package that allows photographs to be taken from the afterdeck of a large ship. This is an active small group adventure aboard a 44′ (13.4m) sailing yacht. The group will go ashore daily with the photographer on hikes to wilder bits of Skye and nearby lands. Each day he will provide a short photography workshop as well as ongoing support and instruction. The hikes will not be technical, but they will require a modest degree of fitness and, most importantly, an intrepid attitude.
Important note on the itinerary: Other than the duration, all of this description and itinerary should be considered provisional as weather and other factors may influence the route and timing of the trip. While subject to change, the itinerary below is representative of the locations, sailing, and hiking we’ll do. The skipper has sailed around the island and the photographer has shot on much of it, but we may venture to locations new to all aboard… which only adds to the adventure.
Important note on lodging: At some sites, we may have the opportunity to sleep ashore in a bothie or B&B; however, you should plan to sleep aboard the boat. The vessel has three double berths and two single bunks for you to choose from. This means that if you join us as a solo traveler, you may share a cabin and berth (bed) with someone of the same gender. For more information, please see the FAQ page or get in touch.
For this series of trips, we are partnering with Isle of Skye Yachts and sailing aboard their largest yacht, The Countess of Sleat. The Countess of Sleat link provides photos and further information about the boat and may answer questions about living conditions. The vessel sleeps ten and the skipper and photographer will doss in the saloon (the common living area). This means two bunks and three double berths (beds) are available for our fellow adventurers.
Richard Gaston is a professional photographer originally from the countryside of Ayrshire, Scotland. He’s especially fond of trekking within the wilds of Assynt and camping amongst the grand hills of Torridon. His work often draws on the dramatic essence of the Scottish Highlands, whether it be in the force of winter or the charm of summer.
Richard is a co-author of Wild Guide Scotland and a rubbish sailor.
The boat will leave and return to Mallaig, a town with good transport links on the mainland which lies just off The Isle of Skye. (Google Map)
We will depart Sunday by 9:00 AM.
Our sailing and photography trips feature a professional photographer who will be providing a daily workshop as well as hands-on tips. The small group size accommodates all skill levels. You don’t have to bring any special photography equipment, but a decent camera and tripod would undoubtedly come in handy. Similarly, these trips don’t require any sailing know-how, but if you’re a sailor, or want to learn, we encourage your participation in sailing the boat and love to share our knowledge of this sublime way to travel.
When you come aboard, unpack your gear once and you will only need a daypack for the excursions ashore. In most of the wild locations we’ve chosen, going ashore will be accomplished using a small inflatable boat called a dinghy. Transfer from to/from the dinghy can get a little sporty, so we suggest you bring a dry bag for your valuables and a change of shoes. For example, you may have some hiking boots you want to use ashore; you may want to bring a pair of sport sandals or Wellies so your boots stay dry when getting on/off the dinghy.
Important note on hiking excursions: All of the hikes are optional. We encourage you to participate to get the most out of this active adventure, but if you’re not feeling up to a particular hike you can stay aboard the boat, do some fishing, paddle the kayak, or stroll in a local village. Of course, what options are available depends upon the circumstances, but you get the idea: no forced marches.
Note on travel arrangements: These are small group trips and we have a good deal of flexibility. If, for example, you need to catch a train early the morning we are due to return in the afternoon, we can likely facilitate early departure and drop you off at a transport hub along the way.
Note on sailing distances and time: The distances in the itinerary are totals for the day and expressed in nautical miles (abbreviated M). A conservative assumption is the boat will average 5 knots (nautical miles per hour), so on a day the itinerary calls for a total of 30M you can estimate about 6 hours of sailing.
We’ll sail Sunday morning from Mallaig by around 9:00 AM. Mallaig has good transport options, but the west coast of Scotland is remote, so to facilitate your travel we’ll provide the option to stay aboard the boat that Saturday night.
That morning we’ll sail to the Elgol Penisula and drop you off on the eastern side. You’ll walk across the peninsula for what the photographer describes as “a dramatic reveal” and the boat will pick you up on the western side.
If time permits, we’ll also sail to the scenic Loch na Cuilce and go ashore here too.
Finally, we’ll sail to a nearby island for the night Soay or maybe Mull.
Sail distance: 30M
Hike distance: 5km
We sail from Soay for Barrisdale where you’ll go ashore for one of the more demanding hikes up Ladhar Bheinn. The climb up this 1,020m Munroe is rewarded with stunning vistas of the Knoydart Peninsula and Skye. As with any of the hikes, it’s optional if you’re not feeling up it.
We’ll anchor that evening at the neighboring village of Arnisdale.
Sail distance: 27M
Hike distance: 12k
We will sail through two narrow straights (kyles in Scottish) that may produce overfalls, small whirlpools, and a fair bit of excitement. While they require a bit of skill and timing to cross in a sailboat, the heady waters often churn with wildlife that doesn’t seem to notice the tidal currents coursing through at speeds up to 8 knots and a possibly more.
We’ll anchor for the evening in Plockton and may go ashore in Achintraid if time permits.
Sail distance: 22M
Hike distance: minimal
From Plockton we sail to Portree, the capital of Skye and its largest town. In Portree will deign to take ground transportation to go see an old man, The Old Man of Storr. ‘The Old Man’ is a rock pinnacle on The Storr, a famously scenic rocky hill on the Trotternish ridge. This is one of the most famous walking destinations and is accessible and popular so, unlike many of our other destinations, The Storr is a place we’re likely to see other hill walkers.
Sail distance: 22M
Hike distance: 3k
We sail from Portree to the nearby Loch Sligachan. The sea loch is near the Red Cuillin ridge which you will know if you’re a serious climber. These high hills can make this anchorage too unsettled to use overnight but it is our Plan A because of the spectacular views and walking there.
Sail distance: 8M
Hike distance: 4km
Our final day doesn’t involve any trips ashore but is filled with photographic opportunities from the boat including the Skye Bridge. We will sail back through the narrow kyles which are just as exciting when going through them southbound.
If all goes well, we end as we began in Mallaig.
Sail distance: 33M
Hike distance: none
