A holiday afloat for family harmony

As families reassess their finances and values, a unique new wildlife boating adventure holiday closer to home could be the answer; lots of fun, educational, healthy, relaxing and very affordable.

Sail away with St Hilda Sea Adventures on a 45ft traditional wooden ketch to the stunning shores of Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland and enter a natural world of tranquillity and family harmony! The wildlife is all around and the St Hilda quietly anchors in among it, to get the best viewpoint.

Charter the whole boat with skipper Michael and cook Colette on board, for a unique, unforgettable holiday; 6 people for 6 nights is only £2,700 all-inclusive, including eating for dinner the lobster you caught yourself! The holiday provides easy, no-hassle access – within one hour of Glasgow airport you escape to one of the most spectacular natural environments in Europe.

The pace of life will slow right down as you are introduced to the sheltered, pristine waters of South Argyll. The cruising area is the spectacularly beautiful sheltered sea lochs of the Cowal Peninsula and the Islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae. If you want to be active you can take your own bike, kayak and windsurfer. For those who like wildlife its very likely you will see seals, porpoises, otters, red squirrels, deer and a wide range of rare birdlife as well as being able to check out the wealth of shore-life pulled in from lobster pots and in rock pools. You have a good chance of spotting a basking shark and even the odd whale.

The holiday provides a fantastic experience for all ages of children; skipper and owner Michael is keen to educate young people on all things maritime, from sailing and navigating the boat to trying out water borne activities and investigating the local wildlife and environment.

For the parents, there is the joy of having onboard cook Colette provide and serve up gourmet meals as well as relaxing in the knowledge that the younger members of the family are having a ball. As evening falls, the only sound will be the lapping of the waves on the bows of the boat and the calls of the birds. Simple pleasures are rediscovered; sitting on deck with a cool drink watching a glorious west coast sunset, the moon reflected in the water and a bright starlit sky free of light pollution.

The combination of stunning scenery, boat environment, lots of wildlife, healthy activities, personal attention and time to recharge the batteries makes this the holiday that will suit the whole family whatever the age, and ensure they return home invigorated and renewed.

For more information, log on to Sthildaseaadventures.co.uk.