Sailing holidays in Scotland

Our sailing holidays in Scotland are on boats with professional crews. On some holidays you participate in the sailing of the boat, and become part of the crew. On others, you’re playing the role of relaxed passenger and chief wildlife spotter. In the day, if weather permits, you’ll be going underway using the power of the wind – and the tides, which are strong in Scotland – but you’ll have a motor to act as back up, too. When the sun sets, you’ll be anchored up somewhere peaceful – generally our holidays don’t go underway at night.

Sailing boats are built to cut through the water on narrow hulls, and it means that they are often not very roomy below deck, especially racing and expedition yachts; you will need to pack light. You won’t want to spend time in your cabin unless you’re sleeping. To navigate the odd rain shower, expect to wear waterproofs or oilskins on deck, or retreat to the mess to cosy up around the table and play cards. If you want a bit more space, some of our boats are available for private charter.

A sanctuary for wildlife that can’t be found in other parts of the UK, Scotland is home to internationally significant numbers of seabirds, spread over hundreds of islands, and there are over 8,000 wildlife species in its seas and inland waters. For sailors, this means great chances to interact with animals around the boat. If you’re lucky, this might be a pod of dolphins passing under your hull, seals on the rocks, or an osprey spotted on the hunt.

On our responsible sailing holidays you’ll be sailing with passionate crews who follow wildlife watching advice to the letter, and are especially mindful around breeding bird colonies – sailing boats often have better views of these on cliffs than observers on land. Bring your binoculars.

There’s no better simple pleasure than putting out a fishing line when you’re underway, getting a bite and calling your crew to slow down the boat so you can reel in your catch. Alongside some of the freshest seafood you can eat, our sailing holidays in Scotland are about whisky tasting on islands where the peatland imparts a smoky taste to every bottle, and trying sustainably sourced venison, and freshly-grown fruits and vegetables – is there anything better than a Scottish raspberry?

The Inner Hebrides are a popular sailing ground, as going by boat is a great way to see popular Scottish holiday destinations, whilst skipping the crowds. That means finding quiet anchorages off the beautiful island of Skye, Islay, Jura, Mull, Staffa and the Small Isles.

The Western Isles, also called the Outer Hebrides, includes Barra, North and South Uists, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis. Close together, but more remote than the Inner Hebrides, they form a long chain that boats can explore in short hops.

Far north enough to enjoy a lot of daylight hours in summer, Orkney feels wild and remote – and with just 18 of its 70 islands uninhabited, it’s easy to find quiet corners where you can birdwatch, feel the wind in your hair, and pretend you’ve just arrived, Viking-style, across the North Sea from Norway.