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The British Isles - A 40th Anniversary Cruise
Tour Code: GBR336A 13-day wildlife cruise around the British Isles in search of the seabirds, cetaceans and other coastal wildlife of our offshore islands.
£7,395
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
In 2026 we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary! It was in the summer of 1986 when our Founding Directors, David and Maryanne Mills, completed the very first Naturetrek brochure by candlelight from a small Berber house in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains (read more here!). The 40 years since have seen us grow into the UK’s leading operator of wildlife holidays, and we now offer over 700 tours annually to more than 100 different countries.
To mark this milestone, we plan to charter the 88-passenger Ocean Nova and operate a special, 12-night, 40th Anniversary Cruise around the British Isles in search of the seabirds, cetaceans and other coastal wildlife of our offshore islands. At each of these unique islands, we will enjoy the sights and sounds of some of the UK’s finest seabird colonies, packed full of Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins and Gannets, and look for cetaceans, seals and Otters along rocky coastlines and in the surrounding seas. We will visit some of our most remote and scenic outposts, including St Kilda and Fair Isle, walk on wildlife-rich islands and cruise beneath towering sea-cliffs.
Our floating hotel for this holiday will be the 88-passenger Ocean Nova, a very comfortable expedition vessel that carries enough zodiacs (landing craft) for everyone to leave the ship at the same time. We will be taking a full charter of the Ocean Nova for this holiday, filling it with Naturetrek clients and bringing along some of our most popular staff leaders to ensure that all aspects of natural history are covered and that all those joining us have a fabulous time. We also plan to run another departure in 2027 – please register interest via the button below. We look forward to welcoming you on board!
- Visit remote British islands including St Kilda, Rathlin, Calf of Man, Orkney & Shetland
- Join the vessel exclusively chartered for Naturetrek
- Spectacular coastal scenery
- Huge seabird colonies full of Gannets, Puffins, Razorbills & Common Guillemots
- Look for Otter, dolphins & Grey Seal
- Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, plus Great & Arctic Skuas
- Led by expert Naturetrek naturalists
Outline Itinerary
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Sara Frost
Sara works full time in Naturetrek's busy office as the Website and Marketing Manager. However, by training, she is a Zoologist, graduating from Newcastle University where she was also the president of the university's Zoological Society. Prior to working at Naturetrek she lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, as a wildlife rehabilitator caring for Black Bears, Coyotes, River Otters and Raccoons on a daily basis. When she wasn't providing medical care to injured wildlife she could be found hiking in the mountains, photographing wildlife, howling with wolves and avoiding bears (usually successfully). On her return to the UK she moved to the Scottish Hebrides, where she spent three years working at sea as a wildlife guide, finding Minke Whales, Otters, dolphins and eagles for her guests on a daily basis! She also spent her summers as the Senior Wildlife Officer on a ship in the North Sea, collecting sightings data on whales and dolphins, and delivering marine biology lectures to guests.
Always keen to be involved with media, Sara has presented on both live radio and TV, has had her writing and photos published in multiple wildlife and travel magazines and has worked as a guide for Ray Mears and TV film crews for several natural history documentaries. A keen cetacean spotter, Sara specialises in leading Naturetrek's cruises in the Hebrides, Indonesia, the Maldives, Baja California and Arctic, as well as our holidays in the Azores.
Please note that cabin grades are subject to availability. We recommend phoning the office before booking to confirm that your preference is available.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
