Wildlife Explorer Cruises: above and below the waves

New for 2012 are our Wildlife Explorer 5-night Cruises which  which we have developed in response to the delight of our guests at the wealth of wildlife they encounter on our cruises.  From the decks of the St Hilda and from the boat tender we can see an incredible amount of rare bird and marine life. Just below the surface of the sea we can sample and examine the minute and spectacular world of Plankton and we can set lobster pots, explore the rock pools and even fish for our supper. Click here to find out more about a Wildlife Experience on board the St Hilda

Over 24 species of bird have been recorded on the St Hilda regularly in one day: from large rafts of Manx Shearwaters and Guillemots, to sightings of sea eagles.  Porpoises, dolphins and seals are regularly seen and more occasionally Minke whales, otters and basking sharks. Anchored off the shore we see wild mountain goats, roe deer and a colony of common seals basking in the sun.

On the St Hilda we are able to collect tiny planktonic creatures by dragging a very fine-meshed plankton net behind the boat. We are equipped with a top of the range dissecting microscope and a light microscope and we capture microscopic images on computer with a specially designed digital camera.  We also go ashore to do rock pooling on the pristine coastline of Argyll; the rock pools teem with a variety of species. Animals and plants are numerous on the rocky shores of our cruising area, which are nearly as rich as coral reefs if you know where to look.

On certain anchorages, we drop lobster pots and examine the creatures that are caught. The majority of creatures are put back to the wild but needless to say, a good-sized lobster or crab could be served up for dinner! Everyone can have a go at fishing when we are at anchor. Small ones are put back, but if you are lucky  mackerel are the most common and any big ones caught will end up on your plate.

Our 5-night wildlife cruises leave from Holy Loch . Please check the cruise calendar for 2012 dates and feel free to get in touch if you require further information, we are happy to help.  These cruises are suitable for solo travellers, couples, group bookings and whole boat charter.