24 – 30th May 2025, Oban – Oban, £895
As Spring unfolds across Argyll and the Inner Hebrides, an abundance of plants shoot towards the sunlight, both above and below the ocean waves.
Join us in the discovery of the wild delicacies springtime has to offer, in the sea and on land.
We will explore kelp forests, rocky sea shores, calm lagoons and waterside meadows for edible kelp and other seaweeds and flowering coastal plants.
Scotland’s coasts are burgeoning with life, and provide diverse habitats for a wide range of herbs, blossoms, fungi and seaweeds. The surrounding seas are also rich habitats for many species of fish, and we will try our hand at a spot of fishing, learning which species are sustainable and which to avoid. We will also explore shellfish, though they are out of season for eating during the summer months.
Foraging, harvesting and preparing delicious, nutritious and fresh ingredients, we will immerse ourselves in this bountiful ecosystem and in the often forgotten knowledge and history of eating local, eating with the seasons and making all of nature’s resources count.
Daytime will be spent harnessing the power of the wind and sailing to somewhere new. We’ll get everyone involved with the sailing to experience the thrill of being at sea, and steering an ocean going yacht through the waves. During the evenings we will explore different topics related to the ocean – seaweed, foraging, ecosystems, evolution etc. All whilst sharing in the delights and flavours of food and drink we harvest ourselves.
Topics we’ll cover:
- Identification, responsible harvesting and preparation of seaweed and kelp
- 1+ billion years of evolution, seaweed as pioneer life form
- Seaweed and climate change – carbon sink and alternative food source
- Marine protected areas
- History of seaweed use in the area – including recipes and vikings
- Sea urchins – discussion of overfishing, sea urchin barrens and relationship to seaweed
Activities that we might get up to during the week:
- Seaweed harvesting along the shore
- Rockpooling
- Snorkelling and kelp foraging
- Preparing food over a fire – fish wrapped in kelp if we can catch some! – and dulse seaweed burgers on the BBQ
- Small hikes on land, to stretch our legs and forage coastal plants
Like all the sailing we do, this is a physically demanding trip, and a good level of fitness is required. This is not a ‘catered’ trip, so participants should have a willingness to help with food preparation and cooking in the galley. We think that’s all part of the fun! Please see our page about Life Onboard.
The trip will begin at 3pm on Saturday 24th May at the North Pier Pontoons in Oban, and will end back in Oban at 12 noon on Friday 30th. The crew will send details with exactly where to find Merlin on the day of arrival.
The trip fee covers the cost of the boat, crew, all equipment and training you’ll need onboard, as well as your meals and a cosy bunk onboard. Not included is your travel to and from the start/end points of the voyage, travel insurance, and any expenses ashore, although these tend to be very limited out in the wilds!