Boat Trips To The Enchanting Island of Rum

The Isle of Rum is a great island to visit when on an Isle of Skye Boat trip. Rum is the largest of the Small Isles , being around 10,463 hectares but it only has around 22 people living on the island.  Everyone who lives on the island lives in the village of Kinloch on the East coast. Taking a boat trips to Rum is a great family day out as there is much to do and see on the island. First is Rum’s famous eccentric Castle known as Kinloch Castle, which was built in 1900 by George Bullough using sand stone. When the castle was build it is said that George Bullough paid the builders extra if they would wear kilts while working on it. Along with the castle there were extensive grounds that included a 9 hole golf course, tennis and squash courts and heated ponds for turtles and alligators. George employed around 100 people to work on the estate and they too were paid extra for wearing kilts. George also had a road built around the island so that his sons could race their Bentley cars. If you visit the island one of the axels of one of the Bentleys can still be seen on the beach.

Rum is similar to the other Small Isles as it too boasts amazing scenery, wildlife and beaches. When on the island there are plenty of walks to suit every ability, including both coastal and mountain walks and there are also some guided walks. When on your boat trip to Rum there is plenty of wildlife around for you to see. On the island there are around 900 red deer so there is a high chance you might see one of them. There are also around 18 highland ponies that can be seen galloping freely around the island. If you look a bit higher up there is also around 250 feral goats which can usually be spotted on the higher ground. Lastly there is the White tailed Sea-Eagle which is often seen on the Isle of Rum as Rum was one of the first places to reintroduce it.

When on your boat trip to Rum there are a number of different places that you can visit. There is the visitor’scenter which can tell you all about the islands features and what walking opportunities there are. There is also The Rumbling Tums Café which is situated in the village hall. Here you will find all sorts of yummy treats including home made soup, cakes, scones and biscuits. The perfect end to a day full of adventures on the Isle of Rum. If you are planning more than just a day trip to Rum then there is also the village shop which is small but very well stocked with a wide range of groceries.

If you are serious in using a boat trip  to rum then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at Skye boat trips so we can arrange a date and time.

Adventures and Romance with Skye Boat Trips

Skye Boat Trips is a family ran business out of the beautiful village of Elgol on the Isle of Skye. The business is owned by Local manAlisdair Mackinnon and his family.  Alisdair is a fisherman who was born and brought up in Elgol so he knows a great deal of information about the village of Elgol and the surrounding Small Isles. Alisdair employs Oliver who is from the Isle of Soay, one of the Small Isles, to skipper the boat. Oliver is also a fisherman so between the two of them they have vast amounts of information as well as their own stories to tell about the islands.

Skye Boat Trips run a number of different trips from Elgol pier. The most popular trip to do is to take a trip to Loch Coruisk. It is only a short 20 minute boat ride away but it is well worth the trip as Loch Coruisk is famous for its absolutely stunning scenery. It is so stunning in fact that a large amount of people choose to get married over there. Having a wedding in Loch Coruisk is just like stepping straight into a fairy tale.

 Skye Boat Trips run trips to Loch Coruisk daily at 9:50, 12:45, 14:45 and 16:45, it is best to book in advance, as the trips can be very popular during the summer months. As well as trips to Loch Coruisk, Skye Boat Trips also do trips to the Small Isles including Soay, Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna. These do not run as often however so it is best to phone and find out when these trips are running. The Small Isles are all unique in their own way but they all boast beautiful scenery and beaches as well as vast amounts of wildlife. Canna for example is famous for its Puffins which can be seen along the islands coasts, and Rum has huge amounts of red deer on the island as well as feral goats. It is on route to the Small Isles that you are most likely to see wildlife such as dolphins, minke whales, basking sharks and porpoise. Last week even an Orca was spotted near Canna. The wildlife is not guaranteed however as it all completely depends upon the day.

Skye Boat Trips also have an under water camera on board their boat which can take you even closer to the wildlife. If you are feeling extremely brave then Skye Boat Trips are also fully equipped to take up to 12 people out on a diving trip. This really will get you as close as possible to the wildlife.

If you are interested in any of these trips then please get in touch with us at Skye Boat Trips as we will be more than happy to help. If you are interest in getting married in Loch Coruisk then please get in touch again as we would love to help you on your special day.

Boat trips to the unique Island of Canna

Skye Boat Trips provide trips to Loch Coruisk as well as to the small isles which surround Skye. One trip, which is a particular favorite, is to take a boat trip to the Isle of Canna. Taking a boat trips to Canna can be a great family day out. It will take about an hour to reach Canna from Elgol pier but this can change depending upon the wildlife which is around on the day. The Skipper of the boat, Oliver, will take you to see as much wildlife that is around on the day as possible. On route to Canna there is a chance you may see a number of different wildlife including Minke Whales, Dolphins and porpoise. It all depends upon what is around on the day though. Canna is famous for its Puffins as these are very often seen nesting on the cliff tops. Keep your eyes peeled when looking for the Puffins as Sea Eagles are very often spotted on the cliff tops too.

Taking a boat trips to Canna can be a great adventure for the whole family. If you have an old fashioned magnetic compass with you, you will notice that as you reach Canna a deflection is created. This is because as you reach the island there is a rock just off to the right known as Compass Rock which has a very high iron content. It means that anyone using an old fashioned compass to guide their boat while near the Isle of Canna has to be quite, really careful!!

On top off Compass rock you will see what is known to the locals as “The Jail”. It is thought that this jail was used in the 17th century by jealous clan chief Donald MacDonald who hid his wife, Marion MacDonald, inside to prevent other men from wooing her. It is thought that the Jail, also known as Coroghan is a possible Dun site meaning that it was once an ancient or medieval fort.

When you are on the island itself you will see that it is linked to neighboring island Sanday by a road and by sandbacks at low tide. You will also see on the island that there is a community shop, which runs on an honesty system where a percentage of the profits are given back to the community to support community projects. When on a boat trip to Canna you must also pay a visit to the Canna café. The Canna Café is a lovely little bistro at the harbor serving fresh seafood, light snacks and refreshments. It is well truly worth a visit.

A boat trip to Canna is a great experience with plenty of things for you to see and do. The Island has amazing views and scenery so make sure you have your camera with you. If you are interested in booking a boat trip to Canna then please get in touch with us at Skye Boat Trips.

Boat Trips to the Fascinating Island of Eigg

Another of the small isles which is well worth a visit is the Isle of Eigg. A boat trips to Eigg can be a great experience for the whole family as Eigg is an island which is rich with all sorts of history. Leaving from Elgol pier it will take Skye Boat Trips boat “The Islander” about just over an hour to get you across. This may change depending on whether or not there is any wildlife about on the day however as the skipper of the boat, Oliver, will try to take you to see as much wildlife as possible.

A boat trips to Eigg is a great family day out.Eigg is such a beautiful island with a big white sandy beach so it is the perfect place to visit and relax if the weather is nice. The beach is a quartz beach known as the “Singing Sands” because when it is dry and you walk along it, it makes a squeaking noise.

Eigg is now the most populated of the small isles with around 87 people living on the island however numbers used to be much higher. During the 16th century there were around 400 MacDonalds of Clanranald living on the island however after a lengthy feud with the MacLeods of Dunvegan and Harris the whole Island was massacred in what is known as Massacure cave. The MacDonalds took refuge in a cave which is on the south west of the island but were all suffocated after a party of MacLeod entered the island and lit a fire at the entrance of the cave. The MacDonalds had no choice but to stay in the cave as it was either that or be killed by the MacLeods. The story states that 395 MacDonalds were killed which was the entire population of the island bar 1 old lady who had decided not to take refuge in the cave. If you wish to visit the cave it is about a two hour walk but the cave can only be entered at low tide and a torch is needed.

A boat trip to Eigg will take you to see the worlds first wind, water and sun powered electricity grid. During the 20th century Eigg had a lot of problems with absentee landlords so in 1997 the residents of Eigg took over the island for themselves. Eigg’s electricity was not supplied by the main grid but instead the individual houses were powered by different types of generators. Because of this when the island was then owned by its inhabitants they grouped together to create a mains electricity grid which is powered by renewable sources.

Although Eigg is only a small island being only 9 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide with only 85 residents, it is an island that is rich with history and history that is still being made to this day.  If you wish to book a boat trip to Eigg then please get in touch with us at Skye Boat Trips.

Elgol Boat Trip Adventures

Skye Boat Trips is a family run company who run their business out of the small village of Elgol on the Isle of Skye. The business is owned by Local fisherman Alisdair Mackinnon and the boat is skippered by local fisherman Oliver. They both have an amazing amount of knowledge about the area, The boat, known as “The Islander”, does the trips from Elgol pier to the beautiful Loch Coruisk and to the surrounding small Isles including Soay, Eigg, Muck, Cannan and Rum. Elgol boat trips are a must do activity when you are visiting Skye as there is so much beautiful scenery and wildlife around the island.

 When on board the Elgol boat trips you may be lucky enough to see some of the wildlife. If you decide on a trip to Loch Coruisk, there is a seal colony just before you reach the steps and depending upon the time of year there may even be some seal pups. Oliver will take you as close to these as possible so you can get some great pictures. If you decide that you would like to see one of the small Isles then you have a chance of seeing some other wildlife.

Cannan is famous for its Puffins which can be found along the cliffs. There is also a chance that you may see some dolphins, minke whales, basking sharks or porpoise when on route to the islands. If any of these happen to be about on the day then there is an underwater camera on board the boat which will let you get an even closer look.

If you want to get an even closer look at the wildlife when on an Elgol boat trip then Skye Boat Trips also offer fishing trips. The boat is totally kitted out to take up 12 people diving so if this is something you would be interested in then please get in touch to arrange a time and a date.

A day out on an Elgol boat trip can be the perfect family trip. Young children will enjoy the trip as going on a boat can be a fun and exciting adventure for them, also getting a chance to see some seals up close will be a memory which they can cherish from their holiday. You do not have to worry about leaving your four legged friends at home as dogs are more than welcome on board Skye Boat Trips boat The Islander.

If you want to book an Elgol boat trip which takes you to one of the small isles you would be best to get in contact with us so we can arrange a day which suits you best. The boat can take up to 12 passengers so it is best to book in advance in case it is busy. You do not want to miss out on what could be an amazing family day out!!

Web Videos at The Cuillin Collective | Explainer Video

Web Videos at The Cuillin Collective | Explainer Video

Boat Trips to Loch Coruisk

Taking a boat trips to Loch Coruisk is an amazing experience and something which everyone who visits the Isle of Skye should do. Loch Coruisk is famous for its extremely beautiful scenery and wildlife. It is only a short 20 minute boat ride from the Village of Elgol and is surrounded by only the water and the Cuillin mountain range.

Take a boat trips to Loch Coruisk on board Skye Boat Trips boat “The Islander”. Skye Boat Trips is a family run business who are local to the village of Elgol, so they are the perfect people to get to know if you are looking to get some information about the area.

Boat trips to Loch Coruisk can be the perfect family day out. Skye Boat Trips have trips that leave from Elgol pier at 9:50, 12:45, 2:45 and 4:45 so you can choose a time which suits you the best. The trip itself is only a short 20 minute journey over however if there is any exciting wildlife around such as basking sharks or Dolphins then Oliver, the skipper of the boat, will take you over to see these first. Just before your boat trip to Loch Coruisk lands at the steps you will be able to see a seal colony. Depending upon the time of year there may even be some seal pups, June and July are the best months to see these. Oliver will take you over to see these so that you can get some pictures. If you have children with you then this can cause great excitement and be a memory that they can cherish.

When the boat trip to loch coruisk lands there are mezzanine steps that can be a bit tricky if you have a dog with you. Oliver will be happy to help you get your dog up them. The Loch is then just a short 5 minute walk along a path. The loch is stunning with many people choosing to get married over there as it is the perfect backdrop to a fairytale wedding. There are stepping stones at the loch that can be a great adventure for older children to cross. Be careful if it has recently been raining however as they can be very slippy.

Skye Boat trips do boat trips to Loch Coruisk and also to the small isles which surround Skye. They do trips to Muck, Eigg, Cannan, Soay and Rum. If you are interested in a day trip to any of these islands then please get in touch so that a suitable day and time can be arranged. The Boat also has an underwater camera on board so if you are lucky enough to see any wildlife you can hopefully get an even closer look. If you want to get even closer to the wildlife then The Islander is also fully equipped to take up to 12 people diving. If you are interested in any of the trips above then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at Skye Boat Trips.

A Boat Trip to the historic Island of Soay

If you are interested in a boat trip to Soay and want to know a bit more about the island and what it has to offer then a boat trips to Soay on Skye Boat Trips boat the Islander is the perfect answer. Especially since the skipper of the boat, Oliver, lives on Soay.

Soay is the closest of the Small isles to the Isle of Skye and lies to the West of Loch Scavaig. Soay has much to offer in the way of wildlife. There is a Seal colony not far from the island and depending on the time of year there may even be some seal pups. There is also a chance of seeing minke whale, porpoise, dolphins and basking sharks.  On land people very often see red deer and if you are there very early in the morning then there are sometimes some otters around the coast. There has also been an increase in sea eagle sightings recently so you may be lucky enough to spot some of them.

Although Soay is a very small island compared to Skye with the highest part of it, BeinnBhreac, only reaching just over 140m it is rich with history. Soay is famous for having Gavin Maxwell’s basking shark factory. Gavin Maxwell was an author who bought the island of Soay in 1944 and soon after opened a basking shark factor in 1945. His plan was to process shark oil and sell it on to Glasgow, however due to lack of funding and bad planning the business failed and he soon sold the island to Tex Geddes and his wife in 1952. Tex Geddes was also an author however he decided that instead of selling the processed shark oil he would continue to hunt basking sharks and sell the unprocessed livers instead. In 1953 most people left the island and moved to the neighbouring Isle of Mull due to the lack of emergency telephone services and the threat of stopping the postal services. Tex Geddes and his family stayed on the island however and protested the closure of the postal service. They were successful in their protest as post would still arrive to the island once a month.

If you were to take a boat trips to Soay now, you would still see the remains of Gavin Maxwell’s and Tex Geddes’s basking shark factory on the coastline of the island. Thankfully the number of basking sharks in the area is starting to rise again. If you wish to find out more about Gavin Maxwell’s basking shark adventures then he wrote about it in his book called “Harpoon at a Venture”.

Although Soay does not have many people living on it any more it is definitely well worth a visit. If you wish to book a boat trip to Soay then please get in touch with us at Skye Boat Trips and we will be happy to arrange a time and date.

The Beautiful Isle of Muck

When on holiday in the Isle of Skye one of the most popular activities is to take one of the boat trips which run from the small village of Elgol. One trip which is particularly beautiful is to take a boat trip to the Isle of Muck on Skye Boat Trips boat, “The Islander”.

The isle of Muck is one of the small isles of the west coast of Scotland. It is only two miles long and one mile wide with a population of about 38 people. As with the rest of the small isles, the Isle of Muck is full with history. In 1821 the population of Muck had reached a staggering high with 320 people living on the island so in 1835 the owners of the island, the MacLeans, evicted 150 people and sent them to live in Cape Breton. The remaining people were allowed to build houses and make a living for themselves through fishing however a lot of them emigrated.

Since 1916 the island has been in the hands of the same family. Lieutenant MacEwan took over the island in 1916 however soon after he was recalled to the navy to fight in WW2 so the island was left the hands of his wife. When the war was over the department of agriculture paid for half of a modernisation scheme in which water was piped into every house, rayburns cookers were installed and tilly lamps were lighting each house. When Lieutenant MacEwan passed away the island was left to his eldest son Alisdair who farmed the island until he moved to the mainland and gave the island to his brother Lawrence who still farms the island till this day. Lawrence’s younger brother Ewan returned to the island in the 1970s and built a hotel.

When you’re on the island there is a tearoom, craft shop and restaurant which are all well worth a visit.  These are all usually open from 11 am from March through to September. During the quieter months of the year it is best to phone in advance to find out when they are open. A boat trips to Muck is a great family activity, especially since it is so flat so it is easy to walk around. There is beautiful scenery on the island and lots of wildlife to look out for on the trip over. The wildlife to look out for is seals, these are in and around most of the islands, porpoise, and these are mostly seen around Muck, minke whale, dolphins and basking sharks.

If you are wanting to plan a boat trips to Muck then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us here at Skye Boat trips as we will be happy to arrange a time and date for your trip.

Elgol Boat Trips

When you are on holiday in the Isle of Skye one of the must do activities is to go on an Elgol boat trip. Elgol boat trips are very popular during the summer months as the trips can take you to Loch Coruisk or to any of the small isles including Soay, Eigg, Rum, Canna and Muck. What better way to go and see these places than with a local on board Skye Boat Trips boat “The Islander”.
 
Skye Boat Trips is a family run business out of the small village of Elgol on the Isle of Skye. It is owned by local fisherman and Elgol born and bred man, Alistair Mackinnon. Alistair employs local man Oliver to skipper the boat as Oliver is also a fisherman who had a great deal of knowledge about Elgol and the surrounding area.

When on an Elgol boat trip the most popular destination to head to is the beautifully stunning Loch Coruisk. Loch Coruisk is only a short 20-minute boat trip from Elgol pier on board The Islander. On your way to the Loch there is a high chance of seeing seals as there is a seal colony on the rocks at the foot of the Cuillin mountains and depending upon the time of year there may even be seal pups. Seal pups are usually only around during the months of June and July though. Once the boat then reaches the steps the actual Loch itself is only a short 5 minute walk away. The steps are mezzanine steps however so if you have a dog with you they may struggle on these, but please do not hesitate to ask Oliver for a hand as he will help get your dog up. Once you get over to the loch you will see the beautiful and famous views, you can even have a shot of crossing the stepping-stones if you are feeling brave. Loch Coruisk is such a beautiful place that many couples even come back and choose to get married over there.

Elgol boat trips can also take you to some of the small isles surrounding Skye. One of the more popular islands to go to is The Isle of Canna as it is so beautiful. You can enjoy some lovely food and drink in the Canna cafe as well as taking a walk to the historic prison and just enjoy being in the peace and quiet of the island. Canna is famous for its wildlife as there are very often Puffins and Sea Eagles spotted on the cliffs.

Elgol boat trips are very busy during the summer months so it is best to book in advance to ensure you avoid any disappointment. Please get in touch with us here at Skye Boat Trips and we will help you find your perfect trip as well as answering any questions, which you might have.

Find The Best Skye Boat Trips in Elgol

When on holiday in the Isle of Skye one of the must do activities is to take a boat trip with Skye Boat Trips. Skye Boat Trips is a locally run business in the small village of Elgol by a man named Alistair Mackinnon. Alistair has lived and fished out of Elgol all his life so his knowledge of the area and the wildlife is immense. The skipper of the boat, Oliver, is also a local fisherman so between the two of them they can tell you a great deal about the area itself. They can also help you to have the best possible chance of seeing the wildlife which Elgol and the surrounding areas have to offer.

Skye Boat Trips offer trips to the beautiful and extremely popular Loch Coruisk 4 times a day, with trips leaving from the pier in Elgol at 9:50, 12:45, 14:45 and 16:45. Loch Coruisk is an extremely beautiful area of Skye no matter what the weather. In the sunshine you get the amazing views of the Cuillins, the surrounding islands and Loch Coruisk itself. While in the rain however you can see a completely different view with it creating an almost sinister atmosphere. It can feel like a completely different place depending on the weather. On your way to Loch Coruisk, just before you reach your destination, there is a high possibility of seeing Seals and depending upon the time of year they may also have their seal pups there too.

Skye Boat Trips also offer trips to some of the smaller islands around Skye such as Canna, Eigg, Rum, Muck and Soay. If you wish to book a trip to any of these islands you will need to organise this in advance with Skye Boat Trips. These islands all have different stories behind them so what better way to hear about it than through a local. In fact the skipper of the boat, Oliver, lives in Soay so who better to hear the history of the Island from. He will be able to tell you all about Gavin Maxwell’s famous shark factory. If you choose to head to one of these islands then you may have more of a chance of seeing some of the other wildlife. Early this month Skye Boat Trips have spotted Dolphins, Puffins and Minke Whale near the Island of Canna. There have also been sightings of porpoise, sea eagles, basking sharks and otters around the area.

Skye Boat Trips also have an underwater camera on board their boat allowing you to see all the excitement beneath the waves as well as above. The camera is available upon request and can really add to the excitement of the whole experience. If you are feeling even more adventurous then Skye Boat Trips are also offering fishing and diving trips. The boat is fully kitted out to take up to 12 people diving so do not hesitate to get in touch if this is something you would be interested in.