Scottish Isles Expedition Cruise: Island Hopping the Remote Hebrides & St Kilda

My recent voyage on HX Expeditions' "The Scottish Isles: Island Hopping in the Hebrides" cruise was more than a trip—it was an invitation to the wild, historic heart of Scotland. Aboard the MS Spitsbergen, we didn't just sail past these legendary islands; we stepped ashore to experience them intimately with an incredible Expedition Team as our guides.

If you’re seeking a travel experience that combines rugged adventure, rich history, and absolutely breathtaking landscapes in the fresh bloom of spring with a splash of Scotch, this is the odyssey for you.

The Hebridean Experience

This expedition is defined by its ability to take you to the edges of Scotland, offering active, meaningful encounters in Scotland’s most remote and beautiful regions.

🏞️ Isle of Arran: Scotland in Miniature

Arran is where the Scottish Lowlands meet the Highlands, split by the famous Highland Boundary Fault. Our day here was a study in contrasts:

• The Landscape: We hiked along the Fisherman’s trail taking in views of the jagged peaks and Brodick Castle.

• The Wildlife: Arran is a prime location to seek out Scotland’s ‘Big Five’—Golden Eagles, red deer, red squirrels, otters, and harbour seals. We were limited to seeing a few squirrels, swans, mallards, and our biggest surprise palm trees!

• History & Culture: Exploring Brodick Castle and its gardens, which are bursting with spring life, offered a beautiful contrast to the raw nature of the highlands.

• Afterwards: We stopped off at the Isle of Arran Cheese Shop and a local restaurant to try the Isle of Arran Dark Premium Beer.

🥃 Islay: The Whisky Trail

Known worldwide as "Whisky Island" for its distinctive peaty single malts, Islay offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage:

• The Spirit: We ventured out on our own by reserving two E-bikes to explore the Three Distilleries Pathway from Port Ellen to Ardbeg. Knowing what was ahead-of-us we biked directly to Ardbeg for our first tastings. This ended up being our longest stay and worth the extra time. On the way back, stops at Lagavulin and Laphroaig kept us motivated. Along the bike path, there are several interesting stops like the standing stone, Alexander McDougall lookout, Dunyvaig castle ruins and a few places to get down by the water

• The Ecosystem: Beyond the peated malt, Islay is a vital wildlife haven. Over 200 species of birds—including oystercatchers, gannets, and Golden Eagles—call this island home.

🚶‍♀️ Isle of Gigha: A Slice of Sustainable Paradise

Tiny Gigha (pronounced “Gee-a”) is proudly community-owned, operating a unique, sustainable local economy.

• The Pace: At only seven miles long, the best way to explore is on foot. This gentle pace allows you to truly connect with the quiet beauty.

• Gardens & Coast: We wandered through the stunning woodland gardens of Achamore House, famed for their colourful rhododendrons, before discovering pristine white sandy coves like Bàgh Rubha Ruaidh.

• Citizen Science: Afterwards, we participated in taking Phyto-plankton samples with the Expedition team biologist.

🦅 Isle of Mull: Most Colourful Ports

Mull is a magnet for birders and a visual delight with its picturesque fishing port of Tobermory.

• Tobermory: The brightly coloured Georgian houses lining the waterfront create a picture-perfect setting for a stroll, where local guides share stories of the town’s vibrant past. Lots of small shops to stop into and it is worth stopping for some fish & chips or freshly caught langoustines.

• Birding: Mull boasts the highest breeding density of Golden Eagles in Europe, and majestic White-tailed Eagles are often seen soaring above the coastline—a photographer's dream!

🏰 The Jewel of the Atlantic: St Kilda (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Of all the remote isles in the Outer Hebrides, a visit to St Kilda is the ultimate triumph of any Scottish expedition. Lying exposed in the North Atlantic, this dual UNESCO World Heritage site is arguably the most spectacular stop on the entire voyage.

• A Dramatic History: St Kilda is famous as the home of Britain's most isolated community, whose residents were evacuated in 1930. Stepping onto Hirta, the main island, you walk among the abandoned village, countless sheep, the historic 'cleits' (stone storage huts), and the houses that were once the lifeline of this resilient population.

• A Natural Fortress: The islands—Hirta, Dun, Soay, and Boreray—are remnants of an ancient volcano and boast the highest sea cliffs in the UK. This creates a breathtaking, dramatic setting unmatched anywhere else and an amazing hike from sea level to the top of the mountain to the stone survey marker.

• Seabird Capital: St Kilda is one of the most important seabird colonies in the North Atlantic. The cliffs and sea stacks are packed with immense numbers of Northern Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, and Razorbills. Sailing past the mighty Stac an Armin and Stac Lee is a wildlife spectacle you will never forget.

• True Expedition Victory: A landing here is never guaranteed due to the wild Atlantic weather. This possibility of reaching St Kilda embodies the entire spirit of expedition cruising: achieving a rare, significant experience through careful planning, flexibility, and the use of small, nimble expedition boats. For some people on the expedition, this was a monumental moment as they had relatives who lived at St. Kilda.

⛰️ Isle of Skye & Eigg: Dramatic Scenery

Skye gave us the most dramatic scenery of the entire journey.

• Loch Scavaig & The Cuillins: Sailing into Loch Scavaig, we were surrounded by the imposing, craggy peaks of the Cuillin Mountains. Putting on our hiking boots to explore the loch's shores with the Expedition Team brought us right into this epic landscape. We were tempted, but not enough time for a swim!

• Eigg: Renowned for their unique ecosystems, we walked around the island taking pictures of “An Sgurr” and the coastal caves.

🗿 Stornoway, Lewis and Harris: Ancient Stones and Island Fabric

Our second stop in the Outer Hebrides offered an extraordinary dive into deep history and island craft.

• Ancient History: We journeyed to the west coast to visit 'Scotland's Stonehenge,' the Callanish Standing Stones. Erected over 5,000 years ago (predating the main circle at Stonehenge!), this cruciform arrangement of megaliths is thought by many to have been a prehistoric lunar or astronomical observatory—a truly awe-inspiring place.

• Culture: The island is the home of the world-famous Harris Tweed cloth, a tangible piece of island heritage. We also explored the Gothic architecture and scenic trails around Lews Castle in Stornoway.

🙏 Iona & Staffa: Sacred Ground and Geological Wonder

This day was a blend of spirituality and geological magnificence.

• Iona: This tiny island is one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites, founded in the sixth century. Visiting the restored Iona Abbey felt deeply tranquil. We took a contemplative walk to the stunning white sands of the aptly named ‘Bay at the Back of the Ocean.’

• Staffa & Fingal's Cave: We took our small expedition Zodiacs for a close look at Fingal's Cave, a masterpiece of nature where hexagonal basalt columns create a vast, echoing chamber with mesmerizing acoustics.

• Citizen Science: We ended the stop by doing tide-pool observations with the Expedition team biologists

🌸 Isle of Colonsay: Unspoiled Beauty

Our final island stop was a paradise for lovers of flora and fauna.

• Biodiversity: Colonsay features over 400 species of plants, best seen in the woodland gardens of Colonsay House. It's also an important birdwatching site, known for choughs, red northern divers, eagles, and if you listen closely later in spring, the distinct rattle of the elusive corncrake.

• A Final Taste: We were able to take a walk-through town and stop off at the local distillery to bring back some Wild Island Botanical Gin. It was a good way to walk the town.

This HX Expedition truly is the ultimate way to access, explore, and appreciate the wild Scottish Isles. Every landing is an adventure, and every island tells an incredible story.

Are you ready to discover this immersive side of Scotland? Let's start planning your journey!