Many thanks for deciding to sail with us! We look forward to welcoming you on board A Research Expedition!
By participating, you are actively contributing to the better understanding of Hebridean whales, dolphins and porpoises and their protection. We rely 100% on enthusiastic, dedicated and interested individuals – like you! - to help us undertake this vital monitoring work in the Hebrides.
When you embark on the expedition, you basically become a marine mammal field biologist for the duration: living, working and exploring the beautiful Hebrides from on board Silurian - our fully equipped research yacht. The west coast of Scotland is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world and exploring by sea is the best way to experience it – you will have an unforgettable time on board Silurian! Read the expedition brief to get a fuller idea of the experience on board and the impact this vital data collection programme is having.
Many thanks for securing a berth aboard Silurian. Karen, our Finance Officer, will issue you with a final payment reminder 80 days before the start of the expedition. Please note again that by paying your deposit and securing a berth on board, you have agreed to the Terms and Conditions of participating in an expedition.
For more information about what to expect during an expedition, this generic expedition itinerary will provides an overview of the daily schedule and a wee taste of the food we provide on board. If you have a specialised diet and have informed us of it in your booking form, we will have made provision for that when organising food for the expedition. If you have since adopted a more specialised diet since booking, please make Morven aware and she’ll inform the crew.
Check out the Silurian Kit List, which will be useful in helping you to prepare for the expedition. To help plan your travel arrangements to the rendezvous, Traveline Scotland is a great website to use for journey planning - it incorporates all the local public transport businesses as well as the national ones.
rendezvous in tobermory, isle of mull
The rendezvous is at the top of the pontoons in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Tobermory is not a large town and you should have no problems finding the rendezvous location. If travelling by bus, the terminus is a 2-minute walk from the rendezvous. If travelling by car, there is a car park right beside the rendezvous with free provision. What3words reference is: https://w3w.co/endearing.than.sandbags.
Tobermory is situated in the north end of the Isle of Mull. HWDT’s Discovery Centre is located on the Main Street; feel free to pop in and find out more about our work before boarding. Although, please note the centre is only open 7 days a week during the height of the season (June, July and August).
One of the crew will meet you at the top of the pontoons, next to the Tobermory Harbour Association building at 6pm on the start day of the expedition. You will disembark from the vessel at 9am on the last day of the expedition.
rendezvous in ullapool, wester ross
Ullapool, despite a small population of 1,500, is the largest settlement in the north west Highlands of Scotland; being a popular tourist destination, a thriving fishing port and the main ferry terminal from the mainland to the Isle of Lewis. Ullapool is the perfect rendezvous location for access to the more remote northern and western reaches of our study area. Ullapool can be accessed by public transport from all major cities in Scotland, although the only train line runs from Inverness. If travelling by car, the best location to park for the duration is the Tesco carpark, which is just up the road from the rendezvous location at the pontoons.
Rendezvous is at 6pm in the marquee on the pier (beside the Calmac ferry office) beside the pontoons. What3words reference is: https://w3w.co/decks.emerald.spurted. One of the crew will be in the marquee waiting on your arrival. You will disembark the vessel at 9am on the last day of the expedition.
rendezvous in mallaig, lochaber
With a population of nearly 800, Mallaig is one of the larger towns in the north west Highlands. Mallaig is one of the largest commercial fishing ports on the west coast of Scotland and has a ferry terminal which provides crossings to the Small Isles, Isle of Skye and South Uist. The train journey to Mallaig has been made famous by the Harry Potter films. Rendezvous is in the small carpark at the top of the pontoons. If travelling by train the station is 5 mins away from the rendezvous location. If travelling by car, there’s a free car park on the left just as you enter Fort William.
Rendezvous is at 6pm in the small car park at the top of the pontoons in Mallaig, where one of the crew will be to meet you and guide you to the vessel. What3words reference is: https://w3w.co/emulating.quibble.charging. You will disembark at 9am on the final day of the expedition.
WHAT NEXT?
A month before the start of the expedition, Morven will contact you with an expedition itinerary and some general info about the expedition. Then a couple of weeks before the start, you will be sent info about the crew who will be joining you for the adventure - our team are amazing and very approachable, please don’t be shy in asking any and every question that comes to mind! This email will also contain final joining instructions, such as who to contact if you run into issues on your journey to the rendezvous.
We’ll keep in touch with general Trust activities over the coming months via our quarterly e-newsletter. You can also follow updates via our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
If you have any specific questions that haven’t been answered or would like any advice at all, please get in touch with Morven.