West Skye, Outer Hebrides & Shiant Islands

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

About this Voyage

Our primary aim for this 9 night sailing expedition on 44ft Pilot Cutter Tallulah is to sail out west from Mallaig to island hop in the Outer Hebrides, finishing in Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. Whatever way we go it means sailing around at least half of Skye, and hopefully a stop in the Shiant Islands. There are also a few gems on the Scottish mainland. As we head towards Ullapool and we aim to look impressive sailing into Loch Broom.

If the weather is a bit wild from the South at the beginning of the voyage, then Tallulah can sail a more sheltered route through the Kyles of Loch Alsh to destinations like Plockton, Applecross, Loch Torridon for some incredible mountain scenery. As we sail level with the North of Skye and Rubna Huish lighthouse, then heading out west to the more Northerly Outer Hebrides could be  an option again.

The lovely Shiant Islands would be worth a visit (puffins and eagles and author Adam Nicolson’s bothy). On the way to Ullapool we sail past the mountain ranges of loch Torridon and anchoring off the remote Loch Ewe Boatyard is on Skipper Debbie’s slightly obscure hit list.

Even in summer this voyage is potentially a little bit more ‘out there’ than the 6 night Mallaig voyages with some potential for lively seas. If you are very prone to seasickness this might not be the voyage for you. If we get lucky then some of the shallow water anchorages around the Sound of Harris and Taransay would be oh so tempting.

See the voyage description for more.

Tallulah is a 2008 replica of the seaworthy 19th Century working pilot cutters that plied their trade in the Western Approaches to Lands End. She makes a great expedition ship, but this is a a small group adventure with only 6 guests participating as crew. Expect to be fully involved in the sailing, and we also hope to be sharing the exploring ashore with you too, where we can.

Tallulah’s First Foray to Wilderness Scotland

Pilot cutter Tallulah is 44ft on deck and 59ft overall. Bought specifically as a perfect boat to run charter holidays by her current skipper/owner Debbie Purser in 2021, Tallulah has quickly been building up a following – with voyages in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and Brittany in the last 5 seasons. Before that Debbie ran charter voyages on ‘Eve of St Mawes’ for 23 years.

So who comes on our voyages ?

With a female skipper/ owner and plenty of adventurous relief skippers and mates we try and cultivate a fairly energetic and healthy vibe on board. Tallulah runs yoga and watersports voyages, wild swimming, connect with nature – wellness breaks, sailing and walking and lots more back in Cornwall, so we like to think we can give your energy levels a boost the wilds of Scotland too. Attitude rather than age is the mantra amongst our sea staff. Tallulah’s mix of guests over the last 5 year have been 47%- 51% female, so we like to think we have the social and gender mix right too. Its not all physical action. This beautiful cutter lures musicians, artists, climbers and film makers too. The people that come, make every voyage unique.

Experienced Skippers Heading Back to Scotland

We don’t claim to be experts on Scotland. Tallulah’s two main skippers have sailed here on other boats, but not in a while. This is just us and a great bunch of guests heading Northwards – for the first time with Tallulah as our floating home.  We are calling it an expedition because there is nothing jaded and predictable about it. There are many, many anchorages we have never been to, and a few favourites we haven’t seen for years long to return to. Come and explore with us as we see the seascapes and landscapes with fresh eyes.

Debbie has been lucky enough to have explored Scotland on other charter vessels over the years from Loch Scavaig and the Shiants to Orkney, Fair Isle and the Shetlands.  Anthony has worked on Eda Frandsen in Scotland and is a commercial fisherman in winter, so he knows his seafood.  We will be headhunting a few regular guests and specialists that have other talents to add to each Hebridean voyage in 2027.

The mate and skipper both love cooking so we take turns at cooking. We love seafood and all cuisines, but we don’t claim to be gourmet. It’s just wholesome fresh food, not a competition.  We won’t force you to eat pudding and we have a decent vegetarian range of meals if you tell us.

Where might we go?

There is definitely not a set itinerary for Tallulah.  We view the chart (and ordanance survey maps) with eyes wide open at the options.  The choices are always based on swell, wind direction and landing opportunities. The distances run each day are shaped to the guest crews experience, energy left after the day before and where we think you will find special moments, vistas and connections with nature.

Tallulah has a great bookshelf for us all to understand what we are looking at from birds to whales or eagles. Delve into past explorers or the Viking or Celtic history of the isles and seaways.

Our skipper and mate want to explore ashore with you too. One or both of us will generally be up for a beachcomb, swim, leg stretch up a hill, or pint. We have diverse hobbies from wildlife photography to rowing and sketching.

First stops on a 10 day / 9 night expedition

Whilst you find your sea legs we might stop in the Small Isles. Only 15 miles from Mallaig is Loch Scresort on Rum, or right under the famous Cullin mountain ridges on Skye are anchorages like Loch Scavaig with its steep buttresses.

Rhum is a regular home to sea eagles and golden eagles with plenty of high cliffs and a mountain that the Vikings used as a landmark.

Canna is the westernmost of the small Isles so it would make a good last stepping stone, before entering the Little Minch Channel. We are keen to see who is running the cafe on Canna now. Another island with great habitats for a huge range of birds with wetlands, salt marsh, moor and high sea cliffs.

Over the Sea – to the Outer Hebrides

With The barrier of islands like South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist to the West and the indented coastline of Skye to the East, Tallulah has  anchorages on either side of the 15 mile wide Little Minch, but it all depends on the wind direction.

New destinations beckoning on Tallulah’s hit list: Would it be so terrible to stop at Loch Harport on Skye to check out the Tallisker Whiskey Distillery?

There are some big headlands to round if we continue up the high cliff coastline of Skye.  On the other side of the Little Minch are pirates lairs like Lochmaddy on South Uist. Even the Cornish used to lurk up here to raid from trading ships heading up the Viking lands of Shetland, Faroes and Iceland in the far North

There are quite a few low lying islands in the middle of the Outer Hebridean Chain with only dunes and miles of white sand beaches between you and the wild Atlantic….and there are a lot of skerries and rocks.  Absolutely beautiful in benign summer conditions, but if the weather is poor, Tallulah has alternatives

If the weather is a bit wild from the South at the beginning of the voyage, then Tallulah can sail a more sheltered route through the Kyles of Loch Alsh to destinations like Plockton. This ridiculous pretty seafaring village has a big anchorage and was where Debbie met her future husband on a tall ship, many years ago. A toast of Laphroaig single malt to Adam might be in order. Applecross is another remote village with a great seafood pub right on the seafront.

If we sail close past Loch Torridon, the climbers and munro baggers will be looking for the red sandstone bulk of Liathach and some incredible mountain scenery.

If there is time to head out west again then the lighthouse baggers can notch off Rubna Huish lighthouse on the Northern tip of Skye, The more Northerly Outer Hebrides are a bit further away now but the Shiant Isles can offer a stepping stone on the way.

The Shiants – Puffins and Lonely Authors Bothy

The lovely Shiant Islands would be worth a visit. This is one of the biggest colonies of puffins and by June their chicks have usually hatched and the skies are wheeling with frantic puffins, diving for sand eels. Last time Debbie was on the Shiants she saw two fish eagles (white tailed eagles).

The now uninhabited island group is also the famous retreat of Adam Nicolson. His family left him steward of the islands at 21 and he wrote a book called Sea Room about his struggles and time in the stone bothy that still stands on the main island.  We all fancy the tiny cottage as a holiday escape.

On the way to Ullapool the remote Loch Ewe Boatyard is on Debbies hit list. It has been responsible for some beautiful restorations of working fishing craft and the yard owner Alistair studied boat building at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis.

In Ullapool there is a community led organisation raising money to restore an 80ft Zulu. It is very early days We hope to catch up with their progress.

What Wildlife Can We See?

The deep sounds between the Island groups are routeways for cetaceans. Common or bottlenosed dolphins are all around the fast tides of the British Isles, but Western Scotland gives you more chance to see bigger species like Orca, Humpback or Minke Whales.  The plankton rich seas are prefect for basking sharks and sometimes the clear waters here reveal how huge these gentle giants can be.

Our staff are normally Cornish based where we rarely see otters, so we are looking forward to seeing Otters playing on the remote shorelines and  sea eagles, Golden eagles, and a bigger range of sea birds in the skies.

The high mountains on Rum and nearby Skye offer perfect soaring grounds for Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles.

The steep side of Canna has loads of seabirds breeding at this time of year. You can climb the hills and look down on their nests. There is also mudflats and salt marsh her for all types of waders.

Ocean birds like Gannets, shearwaters, fulmars, skuas and storm petrels will all be breeding on the cliffs and diving to catch fish or sand eels for their young.

Puffins on the Shiant Islands April to July

The red deer and the common seals will also be warily watching us watch them.

Wild Swimming

Swimming from Tallulah in a beautiful anchorage is often a big part of the fun on our sailing activity holidays. You are welcome to bring a wetsuit.

The availability of Wild Swimming from Tallulah is at the skippers discretion. Supervision is provided from Tallulah and her dinghies. All our skippers are qualified with First Aid at Sea but not all are lifesaving guards. The boarding ladder requires quite strong arms but if you can swallow your pride we can assist you climb back on board with a little bit of help from our helicopter stop and tackle. We have a paddle board too. Scotland sea temperatures are partly warmed by the Gulf Stream, but it is not called ‘Scotland the Brave’ for nothing.

SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD

We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities, and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation.  There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.

 

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail.

AGILITY & FITNESS

Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application.  If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better. 

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Tallulah

Plus Parking in St Mawes

What's Included

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life jackets and harnesses)
• All meals on board & refreshments throughout the day
• Bed linen, duvet, pillows
• Wooden rowing boat activities
• 2 x Stand Up Paddleboards & buoyancy jackets (on summer voyages)

What is not included

• Alcoholic beverages
• Towels
• Wellie boots
• Waterproof jackets & trousers 

What to Bring

Please limit yourself to one soft bag or rucksack as there is limited storage space on board. No suitcases please!

Tallulah does not have waterproof jacket and trousers yet, so please bring a properly waterproof jacket and trousers on all voyages.

Walking and cycling waterproofs are usually adequate and much lighter to pack, so there really is no need to buy a coastal sailing jacket (unless you really want an excuse to invest in your future sailing). If you need any advice, or lack of a jacket is preventing you participating, please ring us on 01326 53 1234

• warm, windproof jacket for days when you don't want to wear a waterproof jacket
• Hats for sun and cold weather.
• At least two sets of warm clothes - layers e.g. tracksuit bottoms, shirts, fleece jacket, wool jumpers, thick socks, and neck scarf. It can get cold at sea even in mid summer.
• Swim suit, towel, and suntan lotion.
• we have space if you want to bring a wetsuit for wild swimming or SUP adventures
• Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes.
• Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can come over deck if rough*.
• (An alternative to boots in summer is to bring another pair of flat shoes with a good grip in case the first pair get wet).
• All terrain type sandals are great for dinghy trips ashore – but you do need shoes which protect your toes for sailing.
• Scillies trips – Walking boots are useful and can be these can be worn on deck too
• A small rucksack is useful for going ashore
• Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
• Passport for European or Ireland Voyages, Reciprocal Free Health Care card in Europe.
• Please bring a passport on French trips
• Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasick tablets - check with your Doctor, which brand if you suffer asthma or are on medication.
• RYA Cruising Logbook or similar if you want to log your sailing experience e.g. sea miles, night hours
• Musical instruments are always welcome.

Alcohol

Tallulah does not always have wine bottles for sale on board so you are welcome to bring modest quantities of alcohol, (unless it is an alcohol free voyage) e.g. to drink with evening meals, but drinking whilst sailing is not allowed.

A Note on Covid 19

While Tallulah's guests do not need to prove Covid Vaccination status at this time, it is expected that if a guest feels unwell prior to joining the ship they should always use common sense and test when appropriate to decide whether they should join the voyage, for their own safety and the safety of others onboard. It is a requirement that guests on residential voyages take out appropriate Travel Insurance and care should be taken to ensure insurance includes cover for such a case. Likewise, should members of Tallulah's professional crew including the skipper feel unwell prior to a voyage, they will always use common sense & test when appropriate.

 

Car Parking in St Mawes for Crew Joining Tallulah

If you're arriving by car, motorbike, or camper van to join Tallulah in St Mawes, here’s what you need to know.

There is a long-stay car park behind the Rising Sun pub in central St Mawes. It's run by St Just in Roseland Parish Council. You pay at the machine on arrival — card payments are accepted. Advance booking isn’t possible.

As of April 2023, the daily charge for a standard vehicle using one bay was £6, with reduced rates for longer stays (e.g. £35 for a week). Prices may have changed since then.

Motorbikes parked on yellow hatchings are free. Full mobility vehicles are also free. Blue Badge holders pay the standard rate.

Camper vans are welcome to park during the day but cannot be used for overnight stays. If your vehicle uses more than one space, you’ll need to pay for each and display a ticket for both. Coach bays are not to be used.

The car park is in regular use by both locals and visitors. High-value vehicles are often parked here, and concerns around theft or vandalism are very low, though of course no guarantee can be given.

Note
Always check the signage when you arrive, especially if staying multiple days or parking a large vehicle. Local rules may change.

Photos and images of the striking 44ft pilot cutter Tallulah, offering charter voyages for individuals, couples and groups from 2022.  Based in St Mawes, Cornwall. No experience is necessary and a local skipper as your guide.