Cruising Highlights

On Red Moon we offer bespoke itineraries to match the amount of time you have and how you’d like to fill it. Walking? Watching Wildlife? Visiting heritage sites? Simply pottering among the islands and along one of the most spectacular coastlines in the country? All of the above? One thing we are pretty confident about…regardless of wherever you’d like us to point the boat, you’ll enjoy an experience that will last long in fond memory.

Here we have outlined some themes to stir your imagination....

Wildlife

We can take you where the wild things are…cruising on a seaborne safari through the rich waters off Skye and the coastline north and south of the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Dolphins playing in Red Moon’s bow wave, the arrowing wake of an otter crossing a sea loch, seals basking on the shore, red deer on the hills, a golden eagle soaring overhead….anything is possible.

Wildlife is - well, the clue is in the name - wild and unpredictable, so we’d be reluctant to guarantee anything…. but Red Moon will carry you to the isolated locations where you are most likely to spot and marvel at the wealth of life inhabiting these waters off Skye...

From above; puffins, petrels, gulls, shearwaters, guillemots, gannets and, most spectacularly, the white tailed or sea eagle. It is Britain’s largest bird of prey and the cliffs around Skye – particularly near Portree – offer the best opportunities to see these magnificent creatures.

From below; minke whale, pilot whale, harbour porpoises, bottle nosed and common dolphins…and with luck, even orca or killer whales. We offer a wonderful mobile base for bird watching and ashore the region is a birder’s paradise. On Skye alone, more than 240 species have been recorded, 14 of which of high conservation concern currently breed on the island.

Walking & climbing

Whether your interests lie in strenuous climbing or hill-walking, a shore line stroll, in moor-land rambling or harbour-side ambling….Red Moon offers a luxurious floating base for visiting the most stunning locations on Skye, the Small Isles and the mainland coast north and south of Lochalsh.

Whatever the level of your ability, agility or ambition – you are truly spoilt for choice.On Skye, head for the jagged peaks of the Cuillin or; visit the Old Man of Storr from Portree or, on nearby, quiet Raasay, enjoy the network of paths across the island and hike to Dun Caan.

In Lochalsh, view Eilean Donan castle from the shore of Loch Duich, follow in Gavin Maxwell’s footsteps at Sandaig or explore Plockton’s crags and coral beach….

So much to see, so little time! If you like we can drop you off at one point (with an extremely good packed lunch!) and pick you up elsewhere at the end of the day, to relax those weary muscles aboard with a well-earned drink as a gourmet supper is prepared…

Romance

Steeped in folklore and history, the romantic grandeur of these islands lives on in the dramatic land and seascapes. Whoever said romance is dead has never visited delightful Skye and the coastline and lochs around the Kyle of Lochalsh and north into Wester Ross. Red Moon Cruises capture their heart and soul.

Imagine….approaching it on a charming, characterful and beautifully-presented vessel of your own, ferrying you where you wish through idyllic sea and landscapes.

By day, ambling around quaint harbours or taking brisk coastal walks, sharing a picnic on a remote beach, spotting seals while seabirds wheel overhead. By night, candlelit gourmet suppers conjured from the finest locally-sourced fresh ingredients; perhaps followed by a nightcap, sipped under the sparkling canopy of stars while rocking gently at anchor in a sheltered sea loch beneath the stark silhouette of dramatic peaks.

We can offer whole boat charter for couples at reasonable cost. Whether you yearn to briefly exchange the rat-race for pampered adventure, to take an unforgettable honeymoon or anniversary cruise, or to simply rediscover yourselves together, the Red Moon offers peace, privacy and tranquillity with attentive yet unobtrusive personal service. The perfect venue for a secret and special elopement!

We can’t control the weather – but we can help create the ambiance for a totally relaxing break together. Explore or unwind. It’s your time – and we will endeavour to ensure it’s a magical time.

Photography & Art

Skye and Lochalsh have long been places of pilgrimage for photographers and artists….justifiably, as virtually anywhere you point a lens or set up an easel offers astounding images. Red Moon Cruises open new vistas of these iconic coasts and shores.

Mountain ranges and coral beaches; otters, seals and eagles; fishing boats and ruined crofts; heather-clad hills and harbour villages….ever-changing weather moods on long, long summer days lit dimly ‘til midnight. Whichever your medium and whatever your focus, you are guaranteed sublime challenges to your skills.
We provide artistic breaks with a difference, offering a fresh perspective on these glorious land and seascapes. Red Moon will carry you off the beaten track, anchoring in sheltered sea lochs and dropping you ashore to explore at your own pace. Skye in particular, is extraordinarily accessible from the sea – despite its size, nowhere is more than five miles from the coast.

You can devise your own tailor-made itinerary to match your interests and at the end of those long days capturing the beauty, ensure the creature comforts of fine food and a relaxing atmosphere.

History & Genealogy

If you are planning a trip to explore your roots in Skye and West Scotland, Red Moon can help put you in touch with your past, cruising to the lands your ancestors lived, loved and fought in, and exploring the history and places. Sail in luxury and gain a unique perspective, whether as a standalone experience or as part of a wider holiday in Scotland. There is so much to see and we guarantee a warm welcome ‘home’ – both aboard and ashore.

Many around the globe celebrate their kinship with the clans and families of Skye and West Scotland. McDonald, MacLeod, Mackinnon and Mackenzie, McAskill, MacCrimmon, MacArthur, MacLennan, MacRae, Beaton, Martin, MacInnes…the descendants of those who sought new opportunities in the New Worlds, fled warfare or were cruelly driven from their homes during the Clearances.

If you are planning a trip to explore your roots, we can help put you in touch with your past, cruising to the lands your ancestors lived, loved and fought in, and exploring the history and places.

Sail to the ramparts of Eilean Donan castle, spectacularly sited on an island at the meeting of three sea lochs, and then perhaps on to the Museum of the Isles at Armadale Castle on Skye…. Or if you have researched your family tree and found branches reaching into this wonderful region – but have then been left stumped – perhaps continue your search for long-lost relatives at the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree.

Cruise in luxury on Red Moon and gain a unique perspective, whether as a stand - alone experience, or as part of a wider holiday in Scotland. There is so much to see and we guarantee a warm welcome ‘home’ – both aboard and ashore.