Naturalist, self-confessed biophile, and well-known wildlife TV presenter Nick Baker will be guiding lucky guests on two Hebridean Adventures cruises later this year, on board the MV Hjalmar Bjørge from Oban operated by their Northern Light Cruising Co. brand. 

Mull Wildlife Explorer Cruise – 6 nights from Oban from the 25th of September to 1st of October, with a loose itinerary circumnavigating the wildlife hotspot that is the Isle of Mull and some other nearby islands. These are planned to include the sacred Isle of Iona, Staffa, plus Coll and Tiree, but the nature of this cruise is that is an adventure, so the skipper will react to the daily conditions and reported sightings to ensure guests have the very best experience possible.

Mull and its waters are home to many iconic Scottish species, with whales and dolphins, basking sharks, otters, seals and seabirds like gannets on the potential watchlist, but you will also get to take daily walks ashore to explore also where Nick will be able to use his experience to showcase flora and fauna of all sizes, with a particular interest in insects so expect to learn about fascinating species you may never have heard of! Mull is also home to both golden and white-tailed eagles as well as other raptors, and at this time of year you are likely to see and hear the red deer as it will be their annual rutting season, but you may also spot some of the handsome fallow deer that are present on Mull also.

Caledonia – Wildlife of the Great Glen – 6 nights from the 10th to the 16th of October. This cruise starts in Fort William and will navigate along the length of the Caledonian Canal, passing through all its locks such as famous Neptune's Staircase, and travelling through Loch Ness as you near the end in Inverness. It will be a very leisurely cruise, accompanied by Nick on board, but also shadowed by company owner and experienced ecologist David Lambie in a 4x4 minibus, ready to whisk you away into the surrounding hills and glens each day. Here you will search for those Scottish specialities such as red squirrels, crested tits, and crossbill, as well as admire the magnificent Autumnal scenery and colours thanks to the many broadleaf forests and heather-clad hillsides. Again, the local red deer should be evident on the hillsides, with possible sightings of red grouse in places as well. 

Along the canal itself you can expect sightings of water birds and waders, plus otters live in many locations along the canal so keep those eyes peeled! The week will end in Inverness with the chance to try and spot the local bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth, either by boat or minibus.

Details - Both cruises are priced at £2070 per person and there are only 10 spaces available on each cruise. For full details and to book, please see the Northern Light Cruising website at www.northernlight-uk.com or call and speak to Michelle Baron on 01599 555723 or by email at info@northernlight-uk.com .

Ends.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Nick Baker

On our screens for over 30 years, Nick Baker is a wildlife TV presenter, and naturalist. After completing his degree in biological sciences, Nick began his career as a wildlife presenter, and quickly became well-known for his passion and enthusiasm for the natural world.

His ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible way together with his infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of wildlife have made him a popular figure among nature lovers around the world. He has presented a number of popular television shows, including The Really Wild Show, Nick Baker's Weird Creatures, and Nick Baker's British Wildlife, as well as regularly featuring on BBC Two's Springwatch and Winterwatch.

In addition to his television work, Nick is also an accomplished author, with several books to his name, including 'Rewild' which highlights the importance of the link between mental health and nature.

MV Hjalmar Bjørge

She is a 23m ex-Norwegian ice-class rescue vessel purchased by us in 2002. The correct Norwegian pronunciation for Hjalmar Bjørge is “YAL-MUH B'YOR-GAY” but we call her “HAL-MUH GEORGE” because it's easier (and our Norwegian accents are really rubbish). Since undergoing an extensive refurbishment this outstanding small ship combines luxury and comfort with seaworthiness. Hjalmar Bjørge is an ideal platform from which both individuals and groups can explore beautiful Northwest Scotland or further afield. The beauty of a vessel the size of Hjalmar Bjørge is that it's large enough to contain comfortable cabins and saloon but small enough to drop anchor in the most inaccessible and picturesque locations that guests on larger cruise ships can only dream about. If you'd like to share this experience with a small number of like-minded guests (no more than 10 in total) then you've come to the right place.

Hebridean Adventures

Hebridean Adventures are a Scottish-based cruise and tour company specialising in wildlife-watching and island-hopping adventures around the Inner and Outer Hebrides primarily, but also including the west coast of the Highlands and occasionally further afield (such as Shetland and Fair Isle in 2023).

They purchased the Northern Light Cruising Company along with the Hjalmar Bjørge in 2022 to add to their portfolio of cruising aboard the MV Monadhliath from Stornoway plus land tours of Lewis and Harris, as well as the SKYEFARI 4x4 Wildlife Tour business for private groups on Skye.

More Information

Please contact; -

Paul Sharman

Business Development Manager

Hebridean Adventures Ltd

paul@hebrideanadventures.co.uk

07948 730887

Photographs and logos can be supplied upon request.