Sailing holidays · West coast of Scotland
Discover Scotland by Sea: Sailing Holidays on the West Coast
Swap the hire car for a 100-year-old sailing ship. Explore the islands, lochs and wildlife of the west coast, with your cabin, your cook and your crew travelling with you.
HOW MOST PEOPLE SEE SCOTLAND
Most visitors fly or take the train into Glasgow or Edinburgh, then hire a car or a campervan. They drive to Skye, tackle the North Coast 500, take the ferry to Harris or Lewis, and some go looking for their ancestral homes. Along the way there's seafood in Oban and peaty whisky on Islay, and a different hotel or campsite most nights.
It's a wonderful trip, and every stop brings something new. But there's a different way to see our part of Scotland: the wild, beautiful west coast.
WHY THE WEST COAST IS BETTER BY SEA
The west coast of Scotland is a geographical wonder, forged over unimaginable time into a crinkly mayhem of lochs, mountains and islands.
On land, getting about takes ages. Roads wind round every sea loch and the ferries run to a timetable. By sea, everywhere is close at hand, and the way you see this rugged, remote wilderness changes completely. From a base on Provident, even the remotest places are quick to reach, and getting there under sail is half the fun.
GETTING AROUND
WHERE YOU SLEEP
DINNER
WHERE YOU CAN REACH
END OF THE DAY
BY ROAD
Long drives round the sea lochs, and planning around ferry times
A new hotel or campsite most nights
Find somewhere to eat, then drive back
Wherever the roads and ferries go
The journey back to base
BY SEA ON PROVIDENT
Sail straight across, with a hand on the helm if you'd like one
The same warm cabin all week. Your base travels with you
The same warm cabin all week. Your base travels with you
Quiet anchorages and small islands like Staffa, Lunga and the Shiants
You're already home
YOUR BASE TRAVELS WITH YOU
Provident is a Brixham sailing trawler, built in 1924 by Saunders & Co in Galmpton, Devon, and listed on the National Historic Fleet. Her traditional gaff rig makes her fun and exciting to sail. Everyone is welcome to join in, hoisting sails, taking the helm and learning to read the wind, or you can simply sit back and watch the coastline go by.
Below deck she's warm and comfortable. Four twin cabins sleep 8 to 10 guests, each with its own radiator. Every bunk has a memory foam mattress, cotton sheets, a reading light and a USB charging point, and there's a hot shower on board. A skipper, mate and cook look after you, all experienced sailors who love sharing what they know.
1924
BUILT IN DEVON
70+ ft
LONG
8–10
GUESTS
3 CREW
1 CHEF
WHERE A WEEK AT SEA CAN TAKE YOU
Our 2027 season runs twenty voyages between April and October, each five to ten nights long. Here are a few of them.
VOYAGE 02
THE ISLE OF JURA
Sail right round a wild island of just 130 people, tackle some exciting currents and explore deep into Loch Tarbert.
30 April – 6 May 2027
6 nights · Craobh Haven · £1,560
VOYAGE 05
UP TO THE SMALL ISLES
Eight days to go a wee bit further, north of Mull to Eigg, Rum, Canna and Muck.
25 May – 2 June 2027 · 8 nights · Craobh Haven · £2,080
VOYAGE 03
TO THE WEST OF MULL
Along Mull's south coast to Iona, then north to Fingal's Cave on Staffa and the puffin colony on Lunga.
8 – 14 May 2027
6 nights · Craobh Haven · £1,560
VOYAGE 08
FIVE NIGHT SUMMER TASTER
An easy-going first taste of traditional sailing to nearby Jura and Gigha. A good fit for part of a longer Scottish holiday.
25 – 30 June 2027 · 5 nights · Craobh Haven · £1,360
VOYAGE 04
ISLAY AND IT’S NEIGHBOURS
The whisky capital of the world, home to over a dozen distilleries, with calls at Gigha, Jura or Colonsay on the way.
17 – 23 May 2027
6 nights · Craobh Haven · £1,560
VOYAGE 11
THE SHIANT ISLANDS
From our summer base at Mallaig to the Shiants, a tiny, remote group of islands between Skye and Lewis.
19 – 26 July 2027 · 7 nights · Mallaig · £1,895
View voyage →
Fitting a voyage into your Scotland tripFITTING A VOYAGE INTO YOUR S
A voyage slots easily into a longer holiday in Scotland. Spend a few days in Edinburgh or Glasgow, take the train west, and join us for five to ten nights at sea. You don't need any sailing experience, and we're happy to help with travel and accommodation advice.
CRAOBH HAVEN
Our main anchorage. The marina is about twenty miles south of Oban, with free parking. When needed, we'll collect you from Oban station at 13:00.
08:22
Train from Glasgow Queen Street
11:27
Arrive Oban
MALLAIG
Summer voyages. Provident moors at the end of the Fish Pier, two minutes' walk from the station.
08:22
Train from Glasgow Queen Street
13:40
Arrive Mallaig
Embarkation is at 14:00 and we're back in harbour by 10:00 on the last day. Train times can change, so check them when you book. We'll be in touch before your trip to confirm your travel plans. Full travel and embarkation details.
Do I need sailing experience?
No. None of our voyages need any previous sailing experience. You can join in on deck as much or as little as you like.
Where do voyages start?
Most voyages start and finish at Craobh Haven Marina, about twenty miles south of Oban. In July and August some voyages start from Mallaig harbour.
Can I get to the boat without a car?
Yes. Oban and Mallaig are both reachable by train from Glasgow Queen Street. When needed, we provide a free transfer from Oban station to Craobh Haven.
How long are the voyages?
Voyages run from five to ten nights between April and October. The five-night trips fit neatly into a longer holiday in Scotland.
Is the route fixed?
No. We propose a route, then adjust it day by day depending on the weather and what guests would like to do.
More answers on our FAQ page.