A voyage to one of Scotland’s forgotten whaling grounds sold out almost immediately after being made available, cruise operators have said. Hebridean Cruises launched the trip as part of their calendar of excursions for next year, taking tourists to the Rockall Trough north and west of St Kilda. The operator said that berths on the 10-day sailing, titled ‘In Search of Giants’, sold out within 10 minutes of it going online.
The area is an important migratory corridor for large baleen whales and sperm whales, and the excursion is led by expert guide Dr Conor Ryan - who has conducted important studies on the ecology of whales and the history of whaling in Scotland . On this year’s inaugural expedition in August, the team conducted 17 cetacean surveys and recorded sightings of 35 groups of common dolphins, 23 groups of harbour porpoises and 10 minke whales, alongside four separate encounters with humpback whales and three fin whales. The rea was a hunting ground for whalers in the 19th century, who almost drove many large species of whales to extinction.
Since whaling was banned, their numbers have slowly begun to rebound. Hebridean Cruises offer voyages around the West Coast (Image: Hebridean Cruises) Hebrides Cruises, Scotland’s leading operator of luxury wildlife small cruise experiences around the west coast, said there had been "unprecedented demand” for their 2025 itineraries. The company has taken the step to release their calendar early to ensure guests have a.