Hebridean Adventures

Billy Heaney

Mark Henrys

Graham Savage

MV Hjalmar Bjørge

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Class of Ship

Micro Expedition Ship

Sustainability

Micro Ship

Berths

Ice Class

1A Rating

Class of Ship

Micro Expedition Ship

Sustainability

Micro Ship

Berths

Ice Class

1A Rating

Hebridean Adventures

Guests Dinghy Hjalmar Bjorge expedition ship

Passengers board the rib

Passengers onboard the MV Hjalmar Bjørge board the onboard rib to explore the location

Graham Savage

Hjalmar Bjorge at St Kilda

Billy Heaney

MV Hjalmar Bjørge

At anchor in a bay in Scotland

Mark Henrys

Hjalmar Bjorge and puffins at Flanans

A small group of islands in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, about 36 kilometer west of the Isle of Lewis.

Graham Savage

Hjalmar Bjorge In Village Bay

Village Bay is located on Hirta, the largest island in the remote archipelago of St Kilda, Scotland. St Kilda is in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) west of the Outer Hebrides.

Billy Heaney

Originally built in 1963, the Hjalmar Bjørge was designed as a Norwegian ice-class rescue vessel. It was extensively refurbished to modern standards to accommodate small groups of passengers in comfortable, cosy cabins. The ship is designed for seaworthiness and stability, ideal for the unpredictable Scottish west coast and North Atlantic waters. The MV Hjalmar Bjørge specialises in small-group expeditions, often carrying between 8 to 12 passengers, allowing for a more intimate and personal experience. Its size allows it to visit smaller harbours and secluded anchorages that larger ships cannot access, making it perfect for exploring hidden gems of the Scottish Isles. The vessel has a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for shore landings, wildlife viewing, and closer exploration of coastal areas.

Hebridean Adventures

The Hjalmar Bjørge operates in the Hebrides, including the Inner and Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, and remote islands such as the Monarch Isles, the Shiant Isles, and the Flannan Isles. It offers nature-focused trips where passengers enjoy spectacular landscapes, bird-watching (including puffins, eagles, and other seabirds), seal colonies, dolphins, whales, and other marine wildlife.

Billy Heaney

Micro Expedition Ship

As a Micro Expedition ship, MV Hjalmar Bjørge can get very close to land, and tendering is exceptionally flexible and focused on wildlife and other viewing opportunities.

MV Hjalmar Bjørge is shown here tendered directly beside Fingal's Cave, a sea cave located on the uninhabited island of Staffa, part of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland.

Have you tried the famous Stornoway black pudding?

Set yourself up right for your day of adventure with your choice of a hearty or light breakfast. Go full Scottish, maybe a bowl of porridge, or perhaps just some cereal, a yoghurt, fruit or toast to see you through to lunch. All are accompanied by coffee, tea and fruit juices.

Light Lunch

Whether we are ashore on a remote island excursion or anchored up listening to the sounds of seals and seabirds, our chef will have a light lunch ready for you, which might include soup, sandwiches, fruit or maybe a surprise!?

Hebridean Adventures

The experienced chefs will create sumptuous meals for you, crafted from local produce as often as possible and topped off with splendid desserts or a fruit plate to finish.

Billy Heaney

Perhaps the most dedicated wildlife-watching, live-aboard vessel based in Scotland and the rich waters of the Hebrides, one of Europe's recognised hotspots and home in season to porpoises, whales, dolphins, seals, eagles and seabirds galore (incl. puffins, shags, razorbills, guillemots, gannets, kittiwakes and more.) The ship is committed to providing amazing Scottish island cruises and responsible wildlife encounters, and as such, is proud to be a Wildlife Safe (WiSE) accredited operator. All whale and dolphin sightings are collected and submitted digitally via the Whale Track app to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT), also working with global cetacean conservation and research organisations such as Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and the Sea Watch Foundation.

Experts like Billy & James join certain wildlife-themed cruises. Billy is a zoologist, wildlife presenter, and filmmaker, who is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's Nature Table with Sue Perkins, and has over five years’ experience guiding on wildlife cruises out of Falmouth. He graduated from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Zoology and used remote cameras to study grey seal haul-outs along the Cornish coast for his Masters.

Rosie B Wild

Close to wildlife

The Hebrides are rich in eagles, seals, otters, gannets and puffins. They are also one of the best places in Europe to spot whales, dolphins and porpoises too? A 12-berth vessel gets you as close as possible to wildlife.