Scottish Small Ship Cruises: Discover Scotland's Wild Isles

Visit Scotland's Wild Isles aboard one of our unique, small cruise ships. We take our passengers (couples, solos, groups and families) from Dunstaffnage Marina, near Oban, to the majestic Outer and Inner Hebrides - beautiful, unspoiled coastlines of spectacular sea lochs, stunning Hebridean landscapes and incredible wildlife. Spring, summer and early autumn are, without doubt, the best times of the year to enjoy Scotland’s Wild Isles. In the summer months the days are long and the nights are short allowing even more time to enjoy the wonderful wildlife and scenery. 

Book Your Scottish Cruise 

Our 2025 and 2026 cruise calendars are all online. Please get in touch with us to talk through your requirements - we are flexible and very happy to help. Contact us via phone on 01631 564121 or +1 (800) 281 4980 (if calling from the USA) or e-mail  info@sthildaseaadventures.co.uk 

Land and Sea Voyages

Any of our cruises can be combined with a customised land tour which can be before or after your cruise. You can find an example of a five day ‘Clans and Castles’ land tour HERE.

Book The Whole Boat

All of our Scottish cruises are perfect for small groups or families. Groups, friends and families often charter the whole boat. Any un-booked cruise can be booked for a private charter. However, as soon as a cruise has just a single booking a private charter is no longer possible for that date - so early booking is recommended. All ages can enjoy fishing, sea kayaking, swimming, wild swimming, coastal walks, rock pooling, dinghy trips and even hoisting the sails on St Hilda.

Our four small ships are authentic, traditional vessels: a Norwegian ferry that plyed the rough North Sea and the fjords of Norway; a cruising lifeboat that spent days at sea in the Western Approaches; a Norwegian rescue ship that worked the unpredictable waters of the North and Arctic Seas, rescuing and towing many a crippled vessel; and a sail training vessel that raced across the North Sea on a number of occasions with merchant navy cadet officers being trained under highly experienced Master Mariners. All four small ships have been modernised for passenger safety and comfort but, where possible, keeping the traditional "look" and insides in their traditional state so as to reflect the roles they once played. Many of the cabins are finished in their original hardwood and the berths have been kept as they originally were so as to keep the passengers safe in a seaway and when sleeping at night. Of course the bathrooms and heating systems have all been updated.

Our four small ships are St Hilda (max 6 passengers), Seahorse II (max 11 passengers) and Gemini Explorer (max 8 passengers) and Spiederen (max 8 passengers). All of our ships have been converted to cruise the western islands of Scotland in comfort and style.