St Kilda & Shiants Seabird Photography Expedition

St Kilda & Shiants Seabird Photography Expedition - in collaboration with Hebridean Adventures

In collaboration with Hebridean Adventures

There are few places in Europe where the wild and free spirit of seabirds can still be experienced on such an immense scale as St Kilda. Rising from the Atlantic more than forty miles west of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, these remote islands are home to towering sea cliffs, vast seabird colonies and landscapes that feel almost untouched by time. Join award-winning seabird photographer Rachel Bigsby and the expert crew of Hebridean Adventures on a remarkable expedition to two of the most spectacular seabird destinations in the British Isles; St Kilda and the Shiant Isles. Designed for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike, this small-group voyage offers a rare opportunity to witness and photograph extraordinary seabird colonies in some of the most dramatic island scenery in the North Atlantic.

Spaces on this special departure are limited in order to maintain a small group environment and ensure every guest receives meaningful photographic guidance throughout the voyage. £100.00 per person will be donated to the Scottish Seabird Centre.

👉 For full itinerary details and booking information, please visit: https://www.hebrideanadventures.co.uk/cruises/focus-on-st-kilda-2027/

What awaits you...

Intimate small-group voyages, exclusive to just 8 guests

Access to some of the UK’s most remote marine environments

Curated itineraries for optimal wildlife photography

Balance exploration at sea and carefully chosen landings

Golden evenings in secluded anchorages

Personalised on-board learning experiences

Expert field guidance

Tuition focused on action, behaviour and environment

Exploration of ‘natural artistry’ and creative techniques

1:1 image reviews

Creative dialogue throughout the voyage

Pre and post-expedition online support

Further information about the Expedition

Hosted by Rachel Bigsby in partnership with Hebridean Adventures, this carefully designed itinerary maximises time on Hirta, the main island of the St Kilda archipelago, allowing guests the rare opportunity to step ashore and explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site in depth. Towering sea cliffs, sweeping Atlantic vistas and vast seabird colonies make this one of the most remarkable wildlife destinations anywhere in the British Isles.

St Kilda is home to one of the largest seabird concentrations in Europe, and nowhere is this more spectacular than on the neighbouring sea stacks of Boreray, Stac Lee and Stac an Armin. These vertical cliffs support immense colonies of Northern Gannets, with tens of thousands of birds circling the stacks in constant motion.

From the water, guests will witness an unforgettable spectacle: Gannets gliding effortlessly on Atlantic winds, wheeling above the cliffs before plunging into the ocean in their iconic high-speed dives. The sheer density of birds, combined with the dramatic scale of the sea stacks, offers extraordinary photographic opportunities; from intimate behavioural moments to sweeping environmental compositions showing seabirds within their vast ocean landscape.

This journey also includes the breathtaking Shiant Isles, often referred to as the “Enchanted Isles.” Rising from the sea southeast of Lewis, the Shiants are famed for their dramatic basalt cliffs and astonishing seabird density. Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes crowd the ledges, while an estimated 60,000 pairs of Puffins nest across the grassy slopes, creating one of the most vibrant seabird spectacles in the UK.

On our final evening, we will find ourselves at rest alongside the Treshnish Isles, where more seabirds, including the graceful Manx Shearwater, can often be seen rafting and gliding across the evening seas around the vessel.

A Photography Expedition Designed for Opportunity

This voyage has been designed with photographers in mind. The flexibility of the expedition vessel allows us to position ourselves carefully around seabird cliffs and sea stacks, maximising photographic opportunities throughout the day.

By joining this expedition, you will experience:

• Close encounters with immense seabird colonies

• Opportunities to photograph Gannets in flight, diving behaviour and cliff nesting scenes

• Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills at the Shiant Isles

• Dramatic island landscapes and towering sea cliffs

• Seabirds interacting with the ever-changing Atlantic light

Equally important are the quieter photographic moments the voyage offers. With long summer days in the Hebrides, we often experience soft golden evening light, atmospheric sunrises, and peaceful twilight hours when seabirds continue to move around the cliffs and waters. Early mornings may bring calm seas and gentle light over the islands, while evenings can reveal glowing skies behind the dramatic silhouettes of the St Kilda stacks, perfect conditions for creating powerful, atmospheric imagery. The rhythm of the voyage allows space for creative freedom, encouraging guests to experiment with composition, light and storytelling while immersed in these extraordinary environments.

Photographic Guidance with Rachel Bigsby

Throughout the expedition, Rachel will work closely with guests in a relaxed small-group setting, offering personalised guidance tailored to all levels of photographic experience. Drawing on years of experience photographing seabirds in remote environments across the Arctic, Antarctic and the wild coastlines of the British Isles, Rachel will help guests develop both their technical approach and creative vision in the field.

With Rachel, you can expect:

• Practical field tuition while photographing seabirds in their natural environment

• Guidance on photographing flight behaviour and colony dynamics

• Advice on composition, storytelling and capturing natural artistry

• Opportunities for image review and creative discussion during the voyage

By the end of the expedition, guests will return home not only with a portfolio of striking images, but with a deeper understanding of seabirds and the wild Atlantic islands they inhabit. Few experiences rival witnessing tens of thousands of seabirds wheeling above the cliffs of St Kilda, and fewer still offer the chance to photograph it in such an intimate and immersive way.

Spaces on this special departure are limited in order to maintain a small group environment and ensure every guest receives meaningful photographic guidance throughout the voyage. £100.00 per person will be donated to the Scottish Seabird Centre.

👉 For full itinerary details and booking information, please visit: https://www.hebrideanadventures.co.uk/cruises/focus-on-st-kilda-2027/

For more information about the vessel, click here.