Cruising the Clyde Inside this issue Wonders of the Natural World The Isle of Ulva Flavours of Scotland By appointment to HM The Queen. Provision of cruise holidays on Hebridean Princess. All Leisure Holidays trading as Hebridean Island Cruises. The HEBRIDEAN TIMES ISSUE EIGHTEEN | WINTER 2014
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Transcript
Cruising the Clyde
Inside this issue
Wonders of the Natural World
The Isle of Ulva
Flavours of Scotland
By appointment to HM The Queen.
Provision of cruise holidays on Hebridean Princess.
All Leisure Holidays trading as Hebridean Island Cruises.
TheHEBRIDEANTIMES
I S S U E E I G H T E E N | W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
02 T H E H E B R I D E A N T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
Contents
03 Welcome from the Chief
Operating Officer
Ken Charleson’s Foreword
04 View from the Bridge
by Captain Richard Heaton
05 News from the ship
Charity fundraising
Food and Travel Magazine Award
06 A Fond Farewell
by Christine Broadley, Office Manager
07 Doon the Watter
by Ken Charleson,
Chief Operating Officer
08 On the Move
by Mike Everett, Guest Speaker
09 Competition
Scottish Seabirds Anagram Quiz
Sea-changers
Over £10,000 raised for Marine
Conservation Projects
10 The Isle of Ulva
11 New cruise for 2015
Flavours of Scotland
12 The Elegant Way to cruise the
Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers
by Jonathan Moffatt, Sales
& Marketing Manager
13 What our guests say
14 Ilkley Literature Festival
Mini Kilt Tours e-books
15 Cruising with All Leisure Holidays
A host of holiday opportunities for you
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03T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S
Welcome from the Chief Operating Officer
AS you read this winter edition
of The Hebridean Times,
Hebridean Princess will
have just completed her 2014 cruising
season at Greenock and will be entering
dry dock for her annual visit. During
the winter months many of the crew
are hard at work overhauling the ship’s
engines as well as carrying out repairs
and maintenance work, in order to ensure
everything both front of house and
behind the scenes on board Hebridean
Princess is ready to welcome guests in
March 2015, for her 27th cruising season.
As we look back on the 2014 season, which
saw our successful return to Norway for
the first time since 2009, Captain Heaton
reflects on his personal highlights.
We feature the Firth of Clyde which,
over the last four years, has become a
popular addition to our regular cruising
area, both early and late in the season.
We also hear from Mike Everett, one
of our guest speakers, on what you
might encounter if you join him on The
Wonders of the Natural World cruise
departing from Greenock on 17th March.
We focus on one of our favourite islands,
Ulva, and give you an insight into what
some of our crew have been doing in
their efforts to raise money for charity.
We also thought you might be interested
in what some of your fellow guests had to
say about their Hebridean experience.
Jonathan Moffatt, our Sales & Marketing
Manager, (please note the new job title,
well done to Jonathan who has been
rewarded for all his hard work) focuses on
what will be our 4th season of European
river cruises on the Royal Crown,
featuring the Rhine, Main and Danube.
I hope you enjoy this, the 18th Edition of The
Hebridean Times, and we look forward to
welcoming you on board on either Hebridean
Princess or Royal Crown in 2015, if not both!
Ken Charleson – Chief Operating Officer
“ We focus on one of our favourite islands,
Ulva, and give you an insight into what
some of our crew have been doing in
their efforts to raise money for charity.
“
04 T H E H E B R I D E A N T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
FROM THE BRIDGEby Captain Richard Heaton
Well it has to be said
that this season really
has flown by and our
winter berth at James Watt Dock
seems like a distant memory.
As I write this there are only a
handful of cruises left this year and
I’d like to share with you some of
my highlights of the year so far...
In May we enjoyed a rare treat indeed,
as four white-tailed sea eagles were
spotted amidst the abundance
of sea birds at the Shiant Isles.
Pushing north to Handa Island we
enjoyed even closer encounters
with puffins and arctic skuas.
We certainly covered some mileage
in June; heading south to Northern
Ireland we ‘shot the rapids’, so to speak,
in Strangford Lough - taking in views
of an incredible feat of engineering
in the form of the world’s first
commercially installed tidal turbine.
Crossing over the Irish Sea, our Manx
friends made us feel welcome, as
always, in the sheltered harbour of Peel
on the Isle of Man. With the weather
on our side our guests enjoyed some
wonderful visits and views of the
island, but all too soon it was time to
leave - a real shame, as having lived on
the island I know only too well that this
little gem has plenty more to offer...who
knows what future itineraries will hold.
(Hebridean Princess is scheduled to
visit the Isle of Man on the
Gaelic Tapestry cruise
commencing 9th June 2015).
Back on the west coast again, we
embarked on our second St Kilda
cruise of the season, venturing out
into the Atlantic. With a pleasant
overnight passage, our early morning
arrival at the stacs was a bit misty,
but very atmospheric, as we cruised
the gannet colonies of Boreray, Stac
Armin and Stac Lee. As the morning
progressed, the sun won through
and made for a fantastic landing at
Village Bay on the main island, Hirta.
Returning through the stacs, we set
course for an alternative route back;
in recent years the charts and buoyage
for the Sound of Harris have been
greatly improved, so with favourable
weather and tidal conditions it seemed
the ideal opportunity to make use of
this passage - certainly a first for me.
Now we come to my favourite of the
year so far...Norway. It has been five
years since Hebridean Princess last
visited the Norwegian Fjords, and
what a fantastic time we had there.
Cruising deep into Sognefjord, fond
memories came flooding back as
we berthed alongside some of the
smallest piers, ran mooring lines
across gardens and rigged our
gangway by cafes and bars - much to
the fascination of the local populous
and passing tourists. It always serves
as a reminder when Hebridean
Princess visits these beautiful
secluded places, because at the end
of the day size isn’t everything and it
always brings a wry smile to my face
knowing that we can reach the parts
others cruisers can only dream of!
Returning across the North Sea from
Norway is always a challenge - the
weather and sea conditions can be
kind or equally harsh. This year it was
amazing, so much so that we enjoyed
a guest and crew BBQ out on the boat
deck. So far, 2014 has been mint!
CAPTAIN RICHARD HEATON
NORTH SEA BBQView
PE
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Crew News
05T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S
Charity fundraising
Many of you may have heard
of the Ice Bucket Challenge
which took the world by
storm earlier this year. Sometimes
called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,
it involved pouring a bucket of
iced water over someone’s head to
promote awareness of the disease
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
and to encourage donations to
research. It went viral on social
media during July–August 2014. In
the USA many people participated
for the ALS Association, and in the
UK many people participated for the
Motor Neurone Disease Association,
although some individuals opted
to donate the money from their Ice
Bucket Challenges to other charities.
Both of our Hebridean Princess
Captains, and a number of the
ship’s crew, took part in Ice Bucket
Challenges this summer.
Whilst the vessel was in Norway in
August, Captain Richard Heaton
and several crew members took
part in an Ice Bucket Challenge
in order to raise awareness for
Macmillan Cancer Support. It took
place in Fjaerland, Sognjefjord with
the back drop of Supphellebreen
and Boyabreen Glaciers.
Although this event was not openly
advertised to the guests, several did
hear about it and wished to add their
support. They banded together and
raised funds of their own free will,
raising a total of £540 for which
we would like to thank them.
Those taking part were:
Captain Richard Heaton (Master)
Caroline Palmer (First Officer)
David Indge (Chief Purser)
George Little (Sous Chef)
Lance Miller (Chef de Partie)
In a moment of wild enthusiasm,
Captain Trevor Bailey entered into
the world of Ice Bucket Challenges
during the Footloose to the Butt of
Lewis cruise in September, diving
into the sea off the Isle of Lewis,
before being ‘drowned’ in ice by one
of the guests. This challenge raised
just over £300 for the Macmillan
Cancer charity - many thanks to
the guests for their generosity.
Food and Travel Magazine Award
The 2014 Food and Travel
Magazine Reader Awards
were held at The Mandarin
Oriental Hyde Park on September 1st,
honouring the best of the best in the
worlds of food, drink and travel.
Hebridean Island Cruises was
delighted to be awarded winner of the
Adventure Cruise Line of the year and
the award was collected by Sales and
Marketing Manager, Jonathan Moffatt.
The award recognises the dedication
of all crew and staff afloat and ashore,
as well as the loyalty of our guests. Our
thanks go to each and every one of
them, as well as to the readers of Food
and Travel Magazine.
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JONATHAN COLLECTS THE AWARD
CA
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06 T H E H E B R I D E A N T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
I remember it well.
In those days I didn’t have my
own transport so was relying on
the local bus service to transport
me the short distance out of
town to my new employment.
I had carefully checked out how long
it would take to walk from my home
to the bus station in town; I had the
timetable and worked out which bus
I needed to catch, so I was confident
I would arrive on time – wrong!
What I hadn’t factored into my
calculations was the fact that the
bus might not arrive. It didn’t!
I waited, and waited – “This often
happens” exclaimed my fellow
passengers – no consolation.
My first day with Hebridean
and I was late!!
However, I must have been forgiven
because 22 years, 6 months and
17 days later I am still here!
How things have changed in that time;
in the first years I worked for Susan
and Tony Binns, founders of the
company who were inspired to create
Hebridean Princess. Since then, I’ve
seen Managing Directors come and go;
Captains come and go; moved offices
several times. There were challenging
times with the acquisition of Hebridean
Spirit; the number of staff at that time
grew from just nine initially to around
40, but now we’re back to a loyal
A Fond Farewellby Christine Broadley, Office Manager
From L to R, DAVID SMITH (former Business Development Manager) ALISON BANKS (former
Administration Director) SUSAN BINNS (Founder of the Company) CHRISTINE BROADLEY
(retiring Office Manager) TONY BINNS (Founder of the Company) LISA WHITE (Reservations
Manager) LOUISE PRATT (Sales Consultant) and ANDREW QUARRIE (former Chief Purser)
And now it’s time to ‘hang
up my boots’ as they say
and hand over the reins
to someone else, but I
guess it will take some
time to get ‘Hebridean’ out
of my system – if at all.
“
“
Along with other significant dates, birthdays and anniversaries,
16th March 1992 is firmly etched into my brain – my first day at
Hebridean Island Cruises.
team of ten, most of whom have been
with the company for many years.
My job has also changed directions
over the years; starting out as
Administration Assistant and
ending up as Office Manager with
responsibility for most things
printed – very much a ‘back of house‘
position but still contributing to
the experience that is Hebridean.
And now it’s time to ‘hang up my
boots’ as they say and hand over the
reins to someone else, but I guess it
will take some time to get ‘Hebridean’
out of my system – if at all.”
On Wednesday 24th September the
staff at the Skipton office surprised
Christine, our longest serving member
of shoreside staff, with a get-together
of personnel past and present,
including founders of the company,
Susan and Tony Binns, and the original
Chief Purser, Andrew Quarrie, when
she was presented with an engraved
Dartington Crystal clock. Reservations
Manager Lisa White baked and
decorated this beautiful chocolate
cake which was enjoyed by all.
07T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S
To many the River Clyde conjures
up visions of the heyday of
ship building; over 25,000
ships have been built on the river
since the founding of Scotts Shipyard
in Greenock in 1712; to others it is
synonymous with the industrial decline
of the second half of the 20th Century.
There is however another river, west of
the city, the one where Victorian workers
escaped the grime of the factories
and the shipyards and boarded the
Clyde Steamers to take them “Doon
the Watter” for their annual holiday.
While the Clyde, and more accurately
the Firth of Clyde, has featured in
Hebridean Princess itineraries from
as early as her first year in 1989, it
was not until 2010 that we started to
feature regular cruises on the Clyde,
mainly in March and November.
The Firth of Clyde is one of the deepest
coastal waterways in the UK, protected
from the Atlantic by the Kintyre
Peninsula, and contains a number of
sea lochs that penetrate deep into the
surrounding land, providing beautiful
scenic cruising areas including Lochs
Fyne, Long, Goil and Striven.
The firth is scattered with over 40
islands and skerries, including nine
main islands; Ailsa Craig, Arran,
Bute, Davaar, Great Cumbrae, Holy
Isle, Inchmarnock, Little Cumbrae
and Sanda. Today however only
four are inhabited - Arran, Bute,
Great Cumbrae and Holy Isle.
The Highland Boundary Fault,
which separates the Lowlands from
the Highlands, runs through the
middle of the Firth of Clyde creating
islands of great contrast, leaving
some islands in the Lowlands and
others in the Highlands, plus the
odd one split between both.
All along the firth there is an
abundance of wildlife to be found;
harbour porpoise, common and
grey seals are frequent visitors and
otters are commonly sighted.
Ailsa Craig, famous for the granite used
to make curling stones, also boasts an
internationally important gannetry.
The gannets, along with many other
seabirds, waders and ducks, either
breed or winter on the shores around
the Firth of Clyde and are often seen.
The Clyde has been an important
seaway since Viking times and, as
such, has been well defended. The
area boasts a number of medieval
castles, many in ruins, but others
still lived in or partially restored.
We visit a number of castles, from
the ruins of Robert the Bruce’s castle
at Tarbert and Robert II’s favourite
residence at Dundonald, to the
extended Kelburn Castle, still the
family home of Lord Glasgow.
Later developments saw elaborate
and elegant country homes built, a
number of which are still family homes
to this day, such as Ardgowan House,
Ardkinglas and Finlaystone House.
These properties are not open to the
general public but the owners allow
special access for Hebridean guests
offering a private tour of their homes,
often led by a member of the family.
Other properties, such as the
flamboyant Mount Stuart House on
Bute, the Duke of Argyll’s Inveraray
Castle and Dumfries House,
saved by the Duke of Rothesay
for the nation, open out of season
especially for Hebridean guests,
offering enlightening private tours.
A number of National Trust for Scotland
properties will also open outwith their
normal season for our guests, including
Brodick Castle, Culzean Castle and
Hill House, all of which offer exclusive
behind the scenes tours when visitors
are not generally made welcome.
The Firth of Clyde offers a fascinating
area to cruise, with scenic lochs,
elegant mountains, abundant
wildlife and an extraordinary history
of human settlement. In true
Hebridean style you get to experience
it in a unique way, far from the
hustle and bustle of the crowds.
Hebridean Princess is scheduled to cruise the Clyde on the following departures in 2015:2nd March – Outlook on the Clyde
6th March – Pearls of Argyll and Bute
10th March – Houses and
Castles of the Clyde
17th March – Wonders of
the Natural World
27th October – Voyage to the Clyde
3rd November – Grand
Houses of the Clyde
9th November - Outlook on the Clyde
13th November – Pearls
of Argyll and Bute
Prices from $1,699 per person
based on double occupancy of an
inside cabin.
GREAT CUMBRAE
Doon the Watterby Ken Charleson, Chief Operating Officer
08 T H E H E B R I D E A N T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
On the Moveby Mike Everett, Guest Speaker
Just after the middle of March,
Hebridean Princess begins a
journey that will, in effect, take
her out of winter quarters and on to
her base for the spring and summer
season. The timing is particularly apt;
at around the same time, the huge
turnover in bird populations that we
call “migration” will be getting under
way too. It likewise involves changes
of scene and different routines.
It is possible that we might encounter
one or two front-runners from the
hundreds of thousands of small
birds that will already be moving
out of Africa towards Scotland, but
where migrants are concerned we
will essentially be looking at birds
preparing to go the other way - from
winter in Argyll back to breeding
grounds far to the north, in many
cases in the brief but benign Arctic
summer. When we visit Islay, we should
be in plenty of time to see some
of the thousands of wild geese for
which Western Scotland is famous
in winter. These are Greenland
White-fronted Geese and the much
more numerous Barnacle Geese, also
from Greenland. The RSPB Reserve we
visit is an internationally important
refuge for these birds, and one that
is a working farm also specially
managed with their needs in mind.
Seabirds too will be much to the
fore during this trip. Many of them
will be migrants returning to breed
in Scotland, in their case having
wintered at sea, sometimes a long
way from home. We will not be all that
far, in Gannet terms at least, from
their huge and important colony on
Ailsa Craig. Gannets are common,
big and obvious, but we will probably
have to work a bit harder to sort out
Guillemots and Razorbills out on the
open sea - and perhaps a few Puffins
too. Black Guillemots are a lot easier
to see. They are common in the waters
we will be cruising, usually close
inshore and frequently inside harbours
themselves. And whenever we are in a
harbour, the big gulls there will merit
a close look; in western Scotland in
winter, there is always a chance of
finding either Glaucous or Iceland
Gulls, both visitors from the Arctic.
Close inshore, there will be Eiders
and Shags, and also Black-throated
and Great Northern Divers to look
for. These last two have a particular
liking for the area around Gigha,
and in fact the Sound of Gigha is
one of the most important wintering
areas in Britain for both of them.
The Great Northern is actually a very
scarce winter migrant to Britain, with
the total population not much in
excess of 300 individuals. The five-
year average count for the Sound of
Gigha stands at 88, but it is distorted
somewhat by the fact that in one
winter over 200 were counted there!
This is just a taster for what we ought
to see. Any guest speaker whose job
is also to show birds to people knows
better than to guarantee anything, but
we should see lots of birds, plus seals
and, with luck, perhaps an otter or two
as well. There ARE Golden Eagles in a
few places we will be visiting, and one
of Scotland’s rarest birds, the Chough,
is found on Islay: no promises, but
we will be keeping our eyes open...
Wonders of the Natural World departs from Greenock on
17th March 2015 for seven nights.
Prices from $5,499 per person
based on double occupancy of
an outside cabin with portholes.
GANNET BY JOHN NOORANI
PUFFINS
Wonders of the Natural World
09T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S
Your Generosity has now raised over £10,000 for Marine Conservation ProjectsHebridean Islands Cruises’ partnership
with marine conservation charity
Sea-Changers is now in its third year.
Many guests have chosen to add a
small donation to their booking, as
a way of giving something back to
protect the beautiful seas, shores
and marine wildlife that form such a
fundamental part of the experience
when cruising on board Hebridean
Princess. The total raised now exceeds
£10,000. Every penny donated goes
to fund vital marine conservation
projects, including: direct clean-
up activities; species protection
work; conservation research or
education and awareness-raising.
The charity’s activities have increased
in 2014 as a direct result of your
generosity. Sea-Changers has recently
supported important work in and
around the Garnock Valley and Irvine,
to make this part of Scotland an even
better place for marine wildlife. The
RSPB received funds to run wildlife
workshops at Irvine Harbour and
to conduct a community clean-
up around the nearby estuary to
improve this inter-tidal habitat for the
wintering and breeding shore birds.
This is just one example of recent
activities, in part made possible by
the generosity of Hebridean Island
Cruises’ guests. To find out more
about Sea-Changers’ work, visit
www.sea-changers.org.uk
Competition
The anagrams below are the names of 12 Scottish seabirds, many of
which could be spotted from a cruise on Hebridean Princess. Unscramble
the letters and email your answers, along with your name, address and