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Monday 9am - 9pm Tuesday 9am - 9pm Wednesday 9am - 9pm Thursday 9am - 9pm Friday 9am - 9pm Saturday 9am - 9pm Sunday 9am - 9pm

St Hilda Sea Adventures

Name: St Hilda Sea Adventures
Address: Dunbeg, Oban, PA371PX, GB
Telephone: +441631564121
Price range: $$

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St Hilda Sea Adventures

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Small ship cruising and wildlife holidays on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland. St Hilda is a traditional, wooden ex-Tall Ship.

Our three small cruise ships are St Hilda (maximum 6 passengers), Seahorse II (maximum 11 passengers) and Gemini Explorer (maximum 8 passengers). Seahorse II is an ex-Norwegian Ferry. Gemini Explorer is an ex-Cruising Lifeboat. All three ships have been converted to cruise the western islands of Scotland in comfort and style.

18/10/2026

Autumnal pictures taken from our last two cruises of the season. Guests onboard Gemini Explorer enjoyed a true Scottish Experience sailing through Loch Ness and along the incredible Caledonian Canal. They unfortunately didn’t spot the Loch Ness monster!

We have had a wonderful season and we have already started on our winter maintenance. We look forward to welcoming new and returning guests next year!

Many thanks to guest Leah and guide Keir for the pictures.

24/09/2026

A few pictures from our recent six‑night ‘Isle of Mull and the Small Isles’ cruise in September. Guests had sightings of gannets, Manx shearwaters, guillemots, skuas, white‑tailed sea eagles and golden eagles, along with common dolphins, seals and porpoises.

Many thanks to guide Keir for the pictures.

16/09/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland
Issue 11: The History of the Shiants

The Shiant Isles, a remote archipelago situated between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, harbour a fascinating past that blends Norse heritage with Scottish clan history. Once described by their owner in the 1920s as "three specks of black pepper in the middle of that uncomfortable stretch of sea called the Minch,” these islands were considered sacred in ancient times. Their name comes from the Gaelic "Na h-Eileanan Seunta" meaning "charmed" or "holy isles."

The Shiants' haunting beauty emerges from their dramatic columnar basalt cliffs, reminiscent of the more famous Staffa and Giant's Causeway, rising majestically from the sea like ancient fortresses. These uninhabited islands burst with wildlife, most notably hosting one of Europe's largest seabird colonies with nearly 10% of Britain's Atlantic puffin population transforming the landscape during breeding season.

Following a successful rat eradication project completed in 2018, the isles have seen the resurgence of native species including storm petrels and Manx shearwaters. The surrounding waters are home to killer, minke, occasional humpback whales, and dolphins. The grassy tops of the islands support a population of native black house mice, believed to be descendants from those brought by Norse settlers.

09/09/2026

Pictures from a recent 10 night cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides.
Ann and Norman MacKinnon were among the final group of permanent residents evacuated from St Kilda in 1930 after a harsh, starving winter.
Many thanks to guest Carol for sharing.

31/08/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland
Issue 10: The Basking Shark

Scotland's wild coastline is home to the world's second-largest fish. Basking sharks, stretching up to 12 meters long, feast in Scotland's plankton-rich seas. These gentle giants cruise with their cavernous mouths agape, filtering thousands of gallons of seawater hourly through their specialized gill rakers.

The Hebrides and west coast of Scotland offer some of Europe's best basking shark viewings. As sunlight warms the surface waters, these mysterious creatures appear like living submarines, their massive dorsal fins slicing through the waves. Despite their imposing size, they're harmless plankton eaters with no interest in humans beyond a passive curiosity.

Conservation efforts have helped protect these creatures, which were once hunted for their liver oil. Scotland's basking sharks represent a living connection to prehistoric times—ancient mariners that have navigated these waters for millions of years, unchanged and unmoved by the passage of time.

27/08/2026

An incredible picture of an Otter capturing an octopus off the entrance to the Crinan Canal.
Many thanks to guest Mark for sharing this picture taken during his cruise onboard Speideren.

18/08/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland
Issue 9: Wildlife of the Scottish Western Isles – Below Surface

Beneath the surface, the Hebridean waters are full of life. From porpoises to orca and minke whales, there are magnificent sea animals swimming under the sea. If you spot a small triangular fin cutting through the water, it could be a harbour porpoise. The harbour porpoise is the smallest marine mammal found in Scottish inshore waters. With no beak and a rounded head, they have a uniquely stocky appearance.

The Scottish isles is a perfect whale-watching destination, home to both minke whales and orcinus orcas. During the cruising season, visitors will often be able to admire these extraordinary creatures. Also known as the killer whale, the orcinus orca species can grow up to 10 metres in size. You may also encounter a basking shark. These gentle giants have no teeth and are often seen “basking” or feeding with their mouths wide open. They survive on plankton which they filter through their gills.

Perhaps some of the cutest creatures you can see are the playful otters. Otters split their time between the salty water of the sea lochs where they find most of their food and fresh water which they must have access to in order to wash the salt out of their coat.

02/08/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland
Issue 8: Wildlife of the Scottish Western Isles – Above Surface

The Hebrides are alive with wildlife, where land, sea, and sky weave together a rich and ever-changing tapestry of life.

There in the cliffs is a colony of puffins. Known as “the clown of the sea” these friendly little birds return annually to the isles to nest in burrows. Though sometimes mistaken for penguins, these black, white, and orange-beaked birds can actually fly as well as swim underwater.

Above the cliffs, white-tailed eagles soar, their massive wings casting shadows over the rocky coastline. Nesting in the rugged heights, these majestic birds were hunted to extinction in the early 1900s, but successful reintroduction programs brought them back to Scotland in the 1970s.

St Kilda is one of the major seabird breeding stations in the North Atlantic. The world’s largest colony of gannets nests on Boreray and the sea stacks while the Treshnish island support as much as 20% of the entire UK population of European storm petrels. These mostly black seabirds have a noticeable white band on their under wings and have a distinct, bat-like fluttering flight.

26/07/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland
Issue 7: The Jacobite Uprising and the Legend of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Scotland’s history is alive with tales of courage, rebellion, and loyalty. The Jacobite uprising of 1745 stands out as one of the most stirring chapters, led by Charles Edward Stuart—better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.

After his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the prince embarked on a daring escape through the Highlands and Islands, evading capture with the help of loyal supporters. Disguised as a maid, he famously fled to the Isle of Skye under the protection of Flora MacDonald. This journey, immortalized in the Skye Boat Song, remains one of Scotland’s most legendary stories, weaving together themes of resilience, loyalty, and the indomitable spirit of the Highlands.

Today, traces of Jacobite history can still be found across Scotland, from the battlefield of Culloden to the stone towers of ruined castles that once served as strongholds.

The Glenfinnan Monument on the shores of Loch Shiel, erected in 1815 marking the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard, to begin the 1745 Jacobite Rising.

19/07/2026

St Hilda Sea Adventures Explores Scotland

Issue 6: The Mysteries of Scotland’s Standing Stones

Scattered across Scotland’s rugged landscape, ancient stones stand as silent witnesses to a time long before written history. From the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis to the circles of Kilmartin Glen, these enigmatic monuments are thought to date back over 5,000 years.

Their purpose remains shrouded in mystery—were they sites of ritual, markers of celestial events, or something else entirely? Walking among these ancient stones, one feels a profound connection to the distant past and the people who raised them.
Whether you’re drawn to their intricate carvings or their alignment with the sun and moon, these stones offer a window into Scotland’s ancient cultures and their enduring legacy.

Address

Dunbeg
Oban
PA371PX

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 9pm
Tuesday	9am - 9pm
Wednesday	9am - 9pm
Thursday	9am - 9pm
Friday	9am - 9pm
Saturday	9am - 9pm
Sunday	9am - 9pm

Telephone

+441631564121

Website

http://www.sthildaseaadventures.co.uk/

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