Isle of Rona Cruise with Seafood Lunch, Isle of Skye

Discover the remote Hebridean island of Rona on this six-hour excursion that pairs you with a luxury motor yacht and an experienced Skye skipper. After casting off from Portree, you'll skirt rugged coastline dotted with seals and puffins as you cruise east to the isolated shores of Rona, uninhabited save for a lone caretaker. Here you'll drop anchor for a delightful seafood lunch (caught fresh that morning), before stepping ashore to explore the island's hidden beaches, quiet trails, abandoned crofters' villages, and tiny museum at your own pace.

This six-hour excursion begins when you head to Portree Harbour and meet your skipper, a Skye local who comes from a long line of fishermen. He'll welcome you aboard the MV Seaflower, a luxury 40-foot (12 m) catamaran motor yacht, and you'll join the rest of your small group on deck as you cast off for the neighboring island of Rona. Take in views of Skye's Old Man of Storr rock formations and the jagged peaks of the Cuillins, listen to stories about the Hebrides' traditional culture and fishing practices, and keep an eye out for abundant wildlife, including seals, dolphins, puffins, and white-tailed sea eagles.

When you reach the sheltered Acarsaid Mhor (Rona Harbour), it's time to drop anchor and sit down to a simple lunch of seafood caught fresh that morning—enjoyed either on deck or in the cozy wheelhouse. Seasonal choices might include langoustines, lobster, hot and cold-smoked salmon, homemade Scottish oatcakes, and a crisp green salad, accompanied by beer, wine, or soft drinks. Afterward, you'll have the rare opportunity to step ashore for two hours, exploring the remote island of Rona at your own pace.

With a population of just one (a full-time island caretaker), this peaceful island offers plenty of easy hikes through pristine Hebridean nature, including a route that takes you to the ruins of a settlement that dates back to the Scottish Clearances, or up to the Church Cave, an ancient place of worship that was used by islanders until 1912. To learn more about Rona's history, make sure to stop by its tiny museum, a labor of love created a former caretaker, which charts the island's history and its people through firsthand accounts. As evening nears, you'll head back to the pier for the return cruise to Portree.