A PARA HANDY HOLIDAY FOR YOU AMONG THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS
Enjoy the nostalgia of genuine steamboat cruising and relive the romance of a generation gone. If Dougie were here, he would tell you himself that this is a true escape from the pressures of a cluttered world.
At a steady six knots, between the strangely beautiful islands, little can equal the peace of silent steam, on deck before the smokestack in good weather or in the saloon if you desire shelter.
The ever varying light on the hills, the pure-air of the sea lochs, the Hebridean sunsets , the small towns and fishing villages beneath the heather – all will give you, rain or sun, a holiday unequalled anywhere else in the world
THE HOLIDAY
Each week begins and ends at the places indicated on the cruising calendar, with guests coming on board after 3.30 pm on Sunday for the five day cruises.
All cruises end on Friday afternoon. We will not be steaming away until the Monday morning, thus giving you an opportunity to get to know the boat and use her as a base to explore the surrounding area.
During your holiday you may just relax on board or stroll ashore, but those who wish may participate in berthing and casting off, steering by compass or landmark in the wheelhouse, studying charts –or even helping the engineer to keep up steam by shovelling coal.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A typical day starts after a leisurely breakfast, when the steam whistle resounds over the hills to wake the sluggish, and we steam silently along the canal or loch until lunch, when we are either moored at our destination for the day or still gently pottering through the water. The afternoon is usually spent exploring quayside, countryside or town life ashore.
If you enjoy walking or hill climbing, you can venture into a glen and see the view, or bird-watchers can observe the wide variety of migrants seen in Scotland; and we have dinghies for picnic expeditions or fishing. You never know, even if you don’t fish, you may catch the Loch Ness Monster!
These holidays are for any age group, but a modicum of physical and mental agility is necessary. VIC32 is not a luxury liner; it is a comfortable passenger puffer.
Whatever happens, potentially this could be the holiday of a lifetime.
The price includes continental breakfast with Scottish nuance, morning coffee, buffet lunch, afternoon tea with home-made cakes, and three course dinner from Sunday afternoon until the following Friday tea.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meals will include a number of Scottish foods and we are renowned for our high standard of cooking. At times there may be the opportunity to serve fish or cockles fresh from a deep-sea fishing boat.
Drinks may be purchased from a small bar, including some traditional malt whiskies rarely found outside Scotland.
All bed linen (but no towels) and harbour and canal dues are included.
The skipper reserves the right to make any changes in the proposed schedules necessitated by weather conditions or any other factors beyond his control, though of course, every effort will be made to keep to schedule.
THE BOAT
On the main deck is a roomy saloon with comfortable and friendly seating shared with our companionable crew near an enclosed wood-burning stove for chilly days, together with a long table where meals from the adjacent galley are served beneath a traditional oil lamp
On the lower deck there are six cabins, four with twin berths and two with double berths, together with two washrooms with WC, washbasin and shower with hot and cold water and shaver points.
