Scottish Island Golfing: Whisky and Wildlife

Scottish Island Golfing: Whisky and Wildlife

Everyone knows that Scotland is the home of golf and of course there are many famous courses - even one owned by Donald Trump! But what many golfers don’t know is that the beautiful Scottish Islands and Peninsulars on the west coast have some amazing courses with incredible scenery. We have put together a wonderful Inner Hebridean eight or ten night cruise. In most places golfing parties can enjoy a visit to a whisky distillery as well as a game of golf but we would suggest that the distillery visit is after the game! There is an abundance of wonderful wildlife as we travel to the courses and distilleries. 

Please note that your voyage is weather dependent. Weather doesn't just mean good or bad weather. There are many considerations such as tidal gates, wind direction and strength, the strength and direction of currents, overfalls, and fetch. Depending upon the weather and nature’s conditions, wildlife viewing varies.  

Example of the 8 night itinerary: 

Day 1: Your departure point will be Oban (Dunstaffnage Marina), the gateway to the Hebridean isles. After a short introduction to life on board our small ship we set sail to our first destination, Oban bay. Along the way we will enjoy an afternoon tea which consists of warm scones served with clotted cream and preserves.

Day 2: We can visit the Oban distillery and play the 18 hole Glencruitten Golf Club which is a wild-life rich, picturesque, challenging course situated in beautiful parkland. In the  afternoon we shall travel to Loch Spelve. The anchorage in this sheltered loch, which is surrounded by an ancient oak forest, gives us unparalleled views of the mountains of Mull. There are resident otters along its shoreline.  We can also pick up some local grown mussels in the morning before we leave to our next destination.

Day 3 and 4: We will sail the Sound of Luing to West Loch Tarbet on the Mull of Kintyre Peninsular. On the Kintyre Peninsular there are two, world-famous, golf courses. The Machrihanish golf course, one of the best links courses in the world with its infamous first hole played over the Atlantic Ocean, and the equally famous Machrihanish Dunes links course. Visits to these golf courses can include a tour of Campbeltown’s whisky distilleries.

Day 5 and 6: Next is the famous “whisky island” of Islay (eight distilleries) and here you can play one of Scotland’s oldest courses in one of the best locations in world golf – the Machrie Links.

Day 7: We will then start to head North again up to Luing. Passengers can be dropped off at the little village of Toberonochy and do the lovely walk to the Atlantic Islands Centre.

Day 8: Our last anchorage will be Loch Aline which is a delightful loch off the Sound of Mull. In Loch Aline there are woodland walks and, at the head of the loch, is ancient Ardtornish estate and woodland gardens.