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8-Night St. Kilda & The Shiants on MV Hjalmar Bjørge

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-21 day expedition

Class of Ship

Micro Expedition Ship

Sustainability

Micro Ship

Berths

Zodiacs

Ice Class

1A Rating

Class of Ship

Micro Expedition Ship

Sustainability

Micro Ship

Berths

Zodiacs

Ice Class

1A Rating

8-Night St. Kilda & The Shiants on MV Hjalmar Bjørge

This expedition takes you to the remote St Kilda Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. St Kilda is home to the UK's second largest gannet colony (60,000 pairs), the largest fulmar colony (60,000 pairs) and 150,000 puffin pairs (25% of the UK population). St Kilda is also home to 90% of Britain's Leach's Petrels and the endemic St Kilda Wren. The itinerary also includes the Shiant Islands, known for their dramatic landscapes, thriving seabird colonies and abundant marine life. While the weather may occasionally alter plans, each anchorage promises a memorable experience.

St. Kilda & The Shiants

Day 1

Ullapool

Ullapool; An attractive important fishing town, bustling in the summer and the main ferry terminal and gateway to Lewis and Harris. Our departure point will be the pontoons in the heart of the town. We look to start boarding Hjalmar Bjorge at around 14:30, a short briefing introducing our new guests to life aboard ship, its safety procedures and getting you settled into your new home for the next 9 nights. Casting off at 15:30 then heading for the first nights anchorage at one of the Summer isles in Loch broom or round the corner at Loch Ewe. Great chance of White tailed eagles and Whales and dolphins.

Day 2

Sound of Harris

Steam for the Sound of Harris or North Uist and a sheltered anchorage for the night.

Day 3-4

St. Kilda

Early start for our voyage out to St Kilda, The crossing to the St Kilda group will take in the region of 6 hours and is subject to the weather and sea conditions. If the weather is clear, we will be able to see the silhouette of St. Kilda on the horizon, a memory that will stay with you. We should be entering village bay by the afternoon and be welcomed by the chorus of thousands of Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Gannets, auks and puffins. If conditions allow, a short time ashore before evening meal. We hope for a full day on the island. It must be borne in mind that conditions change rapidly out here and at the discretion of the skipper and your safety we may have to alter the length of time here.

Day 5-7

St. Kilda & The Shiants

A trip around the Stacks and Boreray, home to the majority of the Gannets in the St Kilda group, before heading back to the Sound of Harris and a nearby anchorage such as Taransay. Back into sheltered waters and make for the Shiant Isles, our 2nd large seabird colony and a miniature version of St Kilda. Different to St Kilda and an opportunity to get close to the nesting seabirds as we travel in our dinghy close to the shore.

Day 8

At sea

A morning on the Shiants, then head west towards the mainland for an overnight anchorage . This is such a good time for cetaceans and we are likely to get some good records of different species.

Day 9

Inverness

After a very hearty breakfast to see you on your way, it’s back to Ullapool for 10:30, breakfasted and ready to depart with fond farewells. Our transport will take you back to Inverness for around 1200.

Fares & Departure Dates

Sat 11 Jul 26 — Fri 19 Jun 26 (-21 days)

View all cabins, from £2,880pp

Standard Stateroom

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STARTING AT:

PER PERSON

There are six passenger cabins aboard the boat, two of which are generally reserved for single occupancy with a supplement.

Capacity Up to 2

Beds Single

Rooms 1 room

Footage 0 sq ft.

Windows Porthole

Balcony No

View

Location Lower deck forward

Suitable for Couples or solo travellers

Accessibility None

Amenities Each cabin has a mirror, bedside reading lamps and wardrobe for storage and hanging clothes. Hand and bath towels are supplied for all guests and there are hand soap dispensers in each cabin. All cabins are warm and cosy each having a thermostat controlled radiator. All duvets and pillows are hypoallergenic and the bed linen is cotton. There is natural light coming in through a porthole in all cabins.

More details

There is also a separate drying room for wet weather gear and boots. The cabins have electric plug sockets so you are able to charge any of your electrical equipment during the day. However, you can not charge devices overnight as the generator and engine will be off so that passengers can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the location.

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Your Ship

MV Hjalmar Bjørge

Hjalmar Bjorge in Scotland by Billy Heaney

Guests Dinghy Hjalmar Bjorge expedition ship

Image 50385409 Halmar Bjorg Billy Heaney 391

Hjalmar Bjorge At St Kilda By Graham Savage

Hjalmar Bjorge In Village Bay St Kilda By Graham Savage

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.