Sail the Hebrides & St Kilda

The experience

Sail into the wild Atlantic on a 7- or 8-day adventure through Scotland’s Hebrides to St Kilda, one of the most remote and extraordinary archipelagos in the British Isles. Lying around 60 nautical miles west of the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda rises dramatically from the Atlantic with towering sea cliffs, spectacular sea stacks and vast colonies of seabirds. Once inhabited for thousands of years, its abandoned settlement at Village Bay offers a fascinating glimpse into life at the edge of the world. Depending on your departure and the weather, the journey may take you through the Crinan Canal, Sound of Mull and islands such as Barra, the Uists, Skye, Rum or Canna, with opportunities to explore remote anchorages and communities along the way. This is a genuine offshore sailing adventure. You’ll become part of the crew, taking part in sailing, watches and life onboard alongside an experienced RYA skipper as you navigate some of Scotland’s most rewarding waters.

Hosted by Go West Sailing

Go West Sailing is an RYA-recognised sailing school and adventure operator based in Largs, Scotland. Their experienced Yachtmaster skippers lead hands-on sailing adventures across Scotland and ambitious offshore expeditions to destinations including Greenland, Antarctica, Iceland and the Atlantic.

View all experiences by Go West Sailing

Response time

~24h

Languages

english

Itinerary

1. Day 1
   Largs / Oban: Begin the Adventure

   Meet your skipper and crew, settle aboard and prepare for an offshore sailing adventure through Scotland’s Hebrides. The exact route will be planned around the latest weather, tides and conditions.

2. Day 2
   Crinan Canal & Sound of Mull

   On Largs departures, you can potentially navigate the spectacular Crinan Canal, working together through its 14 locks before entering the west coast. Continue towards the Sound of Mull and the islands of the Inner Hebrides.

3. Day 3
   Barra or South Uist

   Sail deeper into the Hebrides towards Barra or South Uist, experiencing remote anchorages, island communities and increasingly wild Atlantic scenery as the crew prepares for the passage to St Kilda.

4. Day 4
   Offshore Passage to St Kilda

   Take on the adventure’s defining passage, sailing approximately 60 nautical miles west from the Outer Hebrides across open Atlantic waters towards the isolated archipelago of St Kilda.

5. Day 5
   Explore St Kilda

   Step ashore at extraordinary St Kilda, weather permitting. Explore Village Bay and discover the remains of a community that survived here for thousands of years, surrounded by towering cliffs, sea stacks and immense seabird colonies.

6. Day 6
   Tobermory & Journey Home

   Continue towards colourful Tobermory, a favourite final stop on the journey, before completing the adventure in Oban. On Oban-based round trips, the route is adapted accordingly.

7. Day 7
   Uists, Skye & Small Isles

   Begin the return through the Hebrides, with possible stops around North Uist or Skye and the Small Isles of Rum or Canna. The skipper chooses the best route according to weather, wind and tides.

8. Day 8

What's included

The boat

Name

Osprey

Type

sailboat

Length

13.5 m

Year

2017

Cabins

4

Capacity

6 guests

Meeting point