going ashore
Provident will get us to some amazing places that are difficult to access in any other way. Our trips are not all about sailing. Morag will always be ready to take a party on shore with walks to match fitness and inclinations. Those with appetites for longer walks, or hillwalking, can be dropped off on the shores of one loch, walk over a pass and be picked up on the shores of another. We are full of ideas and are limited only by our imagination and the ordnance survey maps.
We will land as often as weather and tide permit. Highlights to our trip may be the puffins and guillemots on Canna, the Manx shearwaters on the island of Rum or the varied seabird colonies on the Treshnish Islands or the Shiants. We may visit the caves on Eigg, the beautiful fresh water Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Skye Cullins, Fingal’s cave on Staffa or the special “pirate’s cove” on South Rona.
Depending on the weather, we may explore the inland lochs. We can drop our anchor in Inverie Bay on the Knoydart peninsula where we can take a drink or two in The Old Forge, the remotest pub in Britain. The iconic 13th Century Eilean Donan Castle is at the end of Loch Alsh. Some of you may know her as the castle that starred in Highlander and the Bond film, The World is Not Enough.
Picture: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Alsh
There are many charming ports to be found around the Hebrides from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, Mallaig, at the end of the Hogwarts Express, Plockton, the home of Hamish MacBeth, Castle Bay on Barra – and many more in between. The more southern islands of Jura and Islay are famous for their whiskys. Provident can anchor in the sound of Islay and visit Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries on the same day. Or we can stay in Port Ellen home of Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Ardbeg.
The Big Sailing Adventures
Although St Kilda is often considered the jewel in the crown of the west coast islands and we like to get there if we can, our 10 day big adventure trips aim to use the time to really go somewhere. So if the winds are westerly and the weather gods are telling us to go North to Achiltibuie and the Summer Isles or south to Tory Island, NI, then that is what we will do. The aim is to make some long passages and experience the joy of sailing at night and waking up in new and exciting places.
In 2024 we are planning two 10-day big adventure trips.
Remember, we believe in green seas and will keep our engine off as much as we can. We will go where the wind takes us…
Look at our voyages pages for “the big adventure”