The Scottish islands cruise where you can spot dolphins in the wild

THEIR silky backs sparkle in the sunshine as they leap from the waters.

Dolphins are not a regular sight when you’re cruising the Scottish Isles, but here they were, literally out of the blue, dancing in the wake of our boat.

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The pod of four 8ft-long bottlenose dolphins were obviously showing the ropes to a smaller, paler calf.

Our skipper, Ted Creek, a marine biologist explained that the pod were usually spotted travelling up and down the west coast but had stuck around the Clyde Bay since the youngster was born last year.

Ted has been running Argyll Cruising since taking over the business last year, having previously ferried travellers from the bottom tip of South America to Antarctica.

Our home for the four-day trip around the isles of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae is an elegant, repurposed fishing vessel, a vintage 1950s trawler called Splendour.

There’s room for just eight guests, offering an intimate opportunity to sail the stunning waters in style.

Ted gave us a safety briefing as we set sail from Holy Loch Marina, Dunoon.

While we sipped champagne and tucked into baked treats, he explained our route.

After the debrief, we were taken to our charming cabins with wood-panelled walls and porthole windows.

There was also tartan pillows and blankets, as well as central heating and en-suite bathroom.

After a gorgeous meal cooked by the chef Tom Canning, we were gently rocked to sleep in the comfortable bed, with nothing but the splashing of water and surrounding wildlife to listen to, after docking next to Arran overnight.

In the morning, we headed to Holy Isle — a tiny island inhabited solely by residents of a Buddhist monastery.

They share the land with wild animals, including Eriskay ponies and Saanen goats.

But it is perhaps most famous for its sea life, as seen in David Attenborough’s BBC documentary Wild Isles.

Otter-spotting

Once on dry land, we explored the monastery’s gardens and shrines.

Given all the Tibetan flags and Buddhist rock paintings, you would be forgiven for thinking the island was named after its current inhabitants.

But it has long been a spiritual place, with the sixth-century Christian monk St Molaise said to have survived off water from a holy well on the isle when he was shipwrecked.

Back on mainland Arran, Ted suggested we choose between heading to an area known for otter-spotting or making our way to the Lochranza Distillery.

Thankfully, some of us were able to do both — catching glimpses of the water mammals before enjoying a dram of Arran Whisky.

It is the same whisky offered in the onboard bar.

You can also sip a selection of beers from Fyne Ales Brewery on the mainland or perhaps pick up a bottle of gin from an all-female distillery on Cumbrae.

Chef Tom makes a variety of dishes, including salmon in a saffron sauce, traditional lamb and haggis, neeps and tatties, of course.

While you go on excursions to the islands, he stays on board and fishes to see what fresh produce he can add to the menu.

One day, he spotted a fisherman with a boat full of langoustine and “squatties” — squat lobster that is local to the area.

And that became our dinner that night, cooked in a garlic butter sauce.

All meals are enjoyed with your fellow passengers in the main cabin or outside on deck if you are lucky with the weather.

Social butterflies will love the communal feel, dining and drinking together until Ted switches off the engines for bed.

And when you wake up, maybe you’ll see our dolphin friends too.

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