Where Sea Feeds The Soul

The waters of the Inner Hebrides offer fresh seafood to enjoy on a unique gourmet cruise

- DANIELLA THEIS

WHEN on holiday, good food is something that many of us will look forward to and make sure to include in our itineraries.

In recent years, many Scottish food producers and places have made offering this a priority - and for seafood lovers especially, a brand-new cruise combining leisure, scenery and fresh seafood has launched this year.

Run by Hebrides Cruises, the four-day Hebridean Gourmet Cruise sets sail from Oban - often referred to as Scotland's seafood capital - and takes passengers around the Inner Hebrides, whose clear waters are especially renowned for delicious fare.

The tour takes people around some of the area's most beautiful sights, while also letting travellers tuck into fresh catch.

Preparing it all is chef William Rocks, who uses his passion and knowledge of the local cuisine from being chef patron at Tigh an Truish on the Isle of Seil, a two-AA-Rosette restaurant less than 30 minutes from Oban by car.

“As an experienced chef, I like to bring passion for Scottish seafood that shines through in every dish,” the chef, who made his TV debut in Masterchef, The Professionals in 2022, says. “Trying to elevate the simplest ingredients — like hand-dived scallops, langoustines, lobster, oyster and crab — without losing their purity.

“The ethos for it is simple. When the produce is that good and fresh, your job as a chef is to do your best to create something that preserves that natural beauty of the sea’s produce.”

Despite its culinary hook and offering, this cruise is not one for those on board to simply sit back and enjoy their meals.