- Explore the finest sailing in Europe, sailing amidst the many beautiful islands which dot the West Highlands coastline
- Take the wheel of our traditional 75-year old gaff-cutter yacht as you sail from island to island
- Experience the extraordinary marine wildlife of Scotland in its most unspoilt wild locations
- 6 nights accommodation on the traditional sailing yacht u2018Eda Frandsen’
- All meals during the trip, starting with an evening meal on Day 1 and finishing with breakfast on the final day (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- All specialist group sailing equipment
- The services of a highly experienced skipper, first mate and cook
Our Green graded Sailing Journeys are suitable for people with no previous sailing experience however a reasonable level of fitness is required.
We are based aboard Eda Frandsen – a beautiful 70 year old traditional yacht. Sailing aboard Eda is a hands-on experience as there are no winches on board to help raise sail, so everyone is needed to help out on deck. You will be asked to help hoist sails and help sail the yacht, which is fun but can be challenging so you must be physically able to cope with this.
The areas below deck for sleeping/eating etc are compact but functional so you should also be comfortable with the idea of having limited personal space for the duration of the trip, as expected when living on a boat!
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Eda Frandsen is a beautifully restored 75-year old Gaff Cutter. She is extremely graceful and her rails and spars gleam with varnish. The rig is entirely traditional showing incredible workmanship. Down below, she is comfortable and well equipped, but please understand that personal space is still limited. There is a comfortable saloon and 4 u2018cabins’ with twin sleeping berths in a bunk arrangement. The cabins are separated from the saloon by privacy curtains. Each berth has its own locker storage. Please ensure that you bring your personal belongings in a soft holdall that can be compressed to fit into the locker. There are 2 u201cheadsu201d or bathrooms including one with shower facility. The layout of the boat can be seen on the plan below.
Although we may be at sea, the food is a real highlight and we can expect creative and wholesome meals often prepared with fresh local produce, such as seafood or venison.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: Due to the small size of the galley and being at sea we are not able to accommodate as wide a range of diets on this trip. If you have any dietary requirements please discuss this with us before you book so we can check with the skipper to see if this can be accommodated. If we are not aware of your dietary needs at the time of booking we cannot guarantee we will be able to cater for them.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
The trip begins in Mallaig harbour at 3:00pm on Day 1. Mallaig is a small village and the harbour is right in the centre, just yards from the railway station. Please make your own way to the harbour. We aim to have you back to Mallaig at 10:00am on the last day. Eda Frandsen is easy to find – she has the highest mast in the harbour! The crew will be on board so just say hello and they will welcome you aboard.
For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website:
Trip Details
Travelling by traditional yacht, we are able to explore the islands and fjord-like lochs which make the fissured coastline of the west of Scotland one of the most spectacular places to sail in the world.
Following the winds, we will journey through the Hebrides, setting anchor in tranquil and scenic spots where you can enjoy an evening dram amidst outstanding scenery.
In a coastal region renowned for its diversity of wildlife, we have every chance of seeing whales, basking sharks and dolphins, as well as a plethora of birdlife. Set against the backdrop of the islands’ fascinating history and culture, this maritime adventure makes for a truly unique and memorable sailing holiday based on board the finest traditional yacht in Scotland.
We offer sailing holidays of 6 nights, with fixed dates for each trip. You must join the trip for the duration of it as we will not return to Mallaig until the end of the trip.
The price includes live-aboard accommodation, all meals during the trip and the services of the skipper, first mate and skipper throughout the trip. There are a maximum of 8 clients on board.
It is possible to book the entire yacht privately for your group – please contact us for details if this is of interest. Early booking is highly recommended for private charters.
Please read the trip dossier for details of the yacht. Please note that, being a traditional yacht, this is a sailing adventure rather than a cruise. Therefore, you should familiarise yourself with what to expect from life on board. She is a wonderful yacht but you do need to be relatively fit and agile to get the most from life on board during this sailing holiday. While there is a shower on board, you will need to be conservative with water consumption as there are limited places where the yacht can re-supply.
Please do call our office if you have any questions about your suitability for this trip.
Our Sailing Journeys offer a different way to experience some of the finest scenery in the Scottish Highlands, and are open for individuals to join. Starting and finishing from the fishing village of Mallaig, located west of Fort William, this journey of no fixed itinerary is largely dictated by the wind and the best sailing conditions at the time.
Please note that, unlike our ‘Sailing & Walking’ trips, there is no walking guide on board the yacht. The emphasis is on sailing, although there will be time ashore on many islands and the crew may lead walks on request. The yacht is crewed by a skipper, first mate and chef, each of whom has an excellent knowledge of the islands.
The Sound of Sleat is renowned for being an excellent place to experience Scotland’s rich and diverse marine wildlife. This includes minke whales, basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises and seals, as well as a vast number of seabirds. Whatever route you take, you can be assured of a wonderful sailing experience set amidst some of Scotland’s finest scenery.
Trip Itinerary
Although the itineraries are not fixed, areas you may visit include:
Eilean Shona – translating as the beautiful island, it could not be better named
Eigg – one of the most distinctive skylines on the west coast and a charming island
Muck – the smallest of the Small Isles is a delightful place to explore on foot
Rum – a wild island boasting one of the most unusual castles in Scotland
Canna – one of the least visited islands in Scotland offers one of the finest viewpoints in the Hebrides from petite Compass Hill
Skye – Loch Scavaig offers one of the most dramatic anchorages in the world, with the Black Cuillin mountains rising directly from the shoreline
Knoydart – this remote peninsula is home to the most remote pub in Scotland
In addition to the above islands, there are many other smaller islands, sea-lochs and coves which it may be possible to visit during your trip. On longer trips, it may even be possible to reach the Outer Hebrides with its many magical islands.
Prices and Dates
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2019 Trip Dates
Trip Reviews
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us.
Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That's why we read each of our client's reviews and although we don't respond to all of them, if it's glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
by Robert Steele 06/06/2018
Trip Comments
Chloe, Gabriel and James were a brilliant team. Chloe's cooking was out of this world, How does she do it? Gabriel was a great skipper and so knowledgeable about the sailing area and the wildlife, James was superb in managing us with the rigging as well as being good fun to be around. Thanks to the three of them for making the trip so enjoyable.
The weather was fantastic and allowed us to get to the Outer Hebrides - an unexpected and wonderful bonus, even though it meant motoring more than sailing. But lack of wind can't be helped, and it didn't seem to matter given the gorgeous scenery and anchorage locations we visited.
Also, a great mix of people on the trip - good company.
Overall, a trip of a lifetime. Hope to repeat the experience sometime.
Thank you
Your Guide
Comments made earlier - simply put - they were a brilliant team.
The Bottom Line
Difficult to think how the trip could have been bettered. A wonderful experience.
by Martin Charlesworth 04/06/2018
Pre-Trip Service
Everything very smooth and professional; the only thing was that the list of equipment seemed to be for both the sailing and sailing/walking holidays and had items not really required for the sailing trip.
Trip Comments
Cannot praise too highly. The boat is superb, a real pleasure to be aboard. The crew were excellent, knowledgeable, efficient and patient with the added bonus of being great fun. The food was better than first class, I don't think any of us will forget eating homemade Cornish pasties on a white sand beach on the uninhabited island of Pabbay, just one of the many memories we bring away from the trip. Finally the weather was perfect which allowed us to visit places we would not otherwise have reached.
Accommodation and Food
Obviously space below is limited but the berths although tight are very comfortable. We had no problems with the 2 heads and 1 shower and there is masses of space on deck. We ate quite a few meals out on deck but also had some very convivial evenings around the saloon table.
Your Guide
The crew were outstanding. Gabe, the skipper kept us informed of the plans for the day and if correction was required to any jobs we were doing let us know tactfully and explained why. James, the mate was absolutely on top of the job, did what he needed to do but allowed us to get on with jobs he had assigned, only helping if we were doing something wrong; as a result I think we all learned a lot. Also he was great fun and so obviously enjoying his job. Finally Chloe, the magician in the galley who provided a nearly constant supply of home cooked food throughout the week. It is testimony to the quality of the food and the thought that has gone into menus that despite the amount of cake eaten I had still lost weight when I got home.
The Bottom Line
The trip was everything I had hoped it would be and much more. The weather certainly helped and enabled us to visit a large part of the outer Hebrides and also Rum, Canna and Skye, but the boat, the crew and the food as well as the others on board all made for a fantastic week, everybody including the crew so obviously enjoying it. Well done Wilderness Scotland and Eda Frandsen, the star of the show.
by Virginia Thomas 14/05/2018
Pre-Trip Service
Very responsive, thorough, and patient.
Trip Comments
Unbelievable! Beyond my wildest imagination. The crew was phenomenal. They all had the rare talent of making what must be taxing jobs seem as if they were effortless, never breaking stride from their respective responsibilities but creating an atmosphere as if we were all old friends.
Accommodation and Food
It’s a small boat, but perfectly equipped. Every space serves at least two purposes. The guests quickly adapted to moving around in close quarters.
Your Guide
The skipper reviewed each days sail after dinner and outlined what we could expect the following day. He also kept us regularly updated on weather and pointed out landmarks and sea life along the way.
by Eileen Kiernan 14/05/2018
Accommodation and Food
Accommodations were excellent for what they were. I knew in advance how cramped the boat would be so I was not expecting anything lavish. The crew of the Eda Frandsen made a tiny bunk as comfortable as it could be. Food was fantastic!
Your Guide
Skipper Gabe and 1st mate James were extremely helpful through out the trip. James was hysterical and made us laugh the whole time.
The Bottom Line
This was my first trip outside of the US and I'm not sure how I could top it. I had a great time on the Eda Frandsen even though we could not make it out to the smaller Inner Hebrides islands due to weather. We saw some amazing scenery including Rasaay, Rona, Gairloch, Plockton, Portree, and Loch Nevis. We had plenty of sailing time and plenty of time on land to explore or to go get a pint or two. Everything was top notch, especially the food. I wouldn't expect luxury accommodations, but the crew makes it more than comfortable for you.
