Britain & Ireland - Noble Caledonia

Ocean Nova
AN EXPLORATION OF THE LITTLE KNOWN & RARELY VISITED HEBRIDEAN ISLANDS
This unique voyage will appeal to
those who prefer their islands
deserted, but with abundant bird and
wildlife. Come with us as we journey to
once inhabited islands, many with a
long history dating back to the Iron
Age. With just sixty or so like-minded
souls we will sail to Scotland’s lovely
Western Isles and beyond to the World
Heritage Site of St Kilda, where such
excellent restoration work is being
carried out to the abandoned
settlement by the National Trust for
Scotland. On the way to St Kilda we will
spend a day exploring the tiny islands
of Pabbay, Berneray and Mingulay off
the coast of South Uist. After St Kilda
we will head for Stornoway on
the isle of Lewis to see the
famous ‘Standing Stones’
and then continue our
island adventure with
visits to the marvellous
seabird island of Handa, the
Summer Isles, Small Isles,
Treshnish and finally Iona, a
fitting place to end our
island pilgrimage.
Eccentric Kinloch Castle, Rum
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Lost Islands
19th to 26th May 2013
The Itinerary
Day 1 Oban. Embark the Ocean Nova in the late
afternoon and sail in the early evening.
Transportation will be provided from Glasgow
International airport and Glasgow Central train
station at a fixed time.
Day 2 Berneray, Pabbay & Mingulay. This
promises to be a most memorable day as we
circumnavigate the uninhabited islands at the
very tip of South Uist. Making good use of our
Zodiacs we will explore the islands and make
beach landings. These islands are a nature reserve
with important breeding populations of Razorbills,
Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Fulmars and
Shags. The islands also have significant historical
sites, including the old village on Mingulay which
the last islanders left in 1912 and which we will
visit this afternoon.
Day 3 St Kilda. Arrive at first light in St Kilda, a
remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty
miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. For some this is
almost a pilgrimage and a moving experience as
we drop anchor off Village Bay on the island of
Hirta. The local Ranger will come aboard for a
brief talk on the island before we have the chance
to wander through the village. St Kilda once
supported a population of over 200, but the last
islanders left in the 1930s. Recent restoration work
on the village by the National Trust for Scotland
offers a marvellous link with the past. Later, cruise
past two of the largest gannetries in the world at
Stac Lee and Berneray as we make our way to the
Island of Lewis.
Day 4 Stornoway & Shiant Isles. From
Stornoway, we will cross the island to the beautiful
Gulls nesting
Gannets, Stac Lee
west coast to Callanish. Described as Scotland’s
Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date
from around 3000 B.C. There are a total of 32
stones and there are many theories as to their
meaning and purpose. Continue around the west
coast to the site of Dun Carloway Pictish Broch.
Probably built sometime in the last century B.C., it
is said to have been used as a stronghold by the
Morrison clan in the 17th century. We then head
north to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village – a
reconstructed settlement of traditional
blackhouses. This afternoon we will board the
Zodiacs for a cruise around the Shiant Islands, a
group of little islands located a few miles off the
shores of Lewis. This is an excellent place to spot
seals and hopefully White Tailed Eagles.
Going ashore on Iona
Standing Stones of Callanish