Landscape - the West of Scotland and the Hebrides

If you are tempted to discover for yourself the stunning natural landscapes of the Scottish Highlands with its wonderful scenery and variety of wildlife, one of the best ways to get really close to nature is on a Majestic Line cruise.

The West Coast of Scotland and the Hebrides have thousands of miles of coastline, home to a fantastic range of marine species, including seals, porpoises, dolphins, basking sharks and whales and large collections of seabirds. On shore, otters, red deer, red squirrels, wild goats are often spotted as well as many species of shore and woodland birds. The landscape on our cruises is incredibly diverse, from the white shell-sand beaches and iconic mountain ranges to huge sea lochs fringed with forests stretching far inland. Our Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal provides further variety with beautiful inland lochs and a chance to cruise the engineering wonder of the Caledonian Canal.

Sunsets and starry nights

Our vessels are the perfect size for anchoring off the most idyllic hidden inlets of the Hebridean coastline. Our Skippers know the best sheltered bays for viewing the perfect sunset or enjoying the complete peace where the only sound is the call of birds. Enjoy an alfresco drink on deck while soaking up the reflection of the moonlight on the water or the perfect starry night with no light pollution allowing the stars to shine their brightest.

Seasonal changes and highlights

On our most popular cruise "Mull and Her Inlets and Islands" guests love to go ashore from April to July to see nesting puffins and other seabirds at close quarters. On all our cruise itineraries, from August onwards, puffins, guillemots and razorbills are at sea and can easily be spotted floating in groups on the water or flying by, sometimes almost within touching distance.

From April to October, Golden and Sea Eagles are seen, with the ever-present gannets diving around our vessels and manx shearwaters skimming the waves. Nearer the shoreline, osprey, hen harriers and short-eared owls are common. Dolphins and otters are always around with basking sharks and Minke whales putting in an appearance from July onwards.

Red deer and wild goats are common, with deer being most visible and audible in the rutting season on our October cruises. There are plenty of pine marten and red squirrels around on land, but not always easily seen.

Natural environment, natural larder

The pristine waters of Argyll and the Isles provides some of the best seafood in the world which is served on board our vessels. Our vessels call in at producers en route for fresh mussels and fish, drop our own lobster pots and fish for mackerel from the decks. Dont worry if seafood isn't for you - we also provide beef, venison and lamb from the hills of Argyll and the Isles as well as a great range of other enticing food and drink products, including vegetarian and special diets.

We were delighted to be a Finalist in the Scotsman Food and Drink Awards in September 2019 in the 'Best Use of Scottish Produce' category, which recognises our commitment to using the best local Scottish produce across all four of our vessels and in all our menus.