Join Sessions and Sail on an unforgettable musical journey to the stunning Firth of Clyde. This trip offers a unique blend of music, sailing, and scenic anchorages. All levels of musicians are welcome, with sail-along tutors offering workshops and guidance throughout. In the evenings, gather around the saloon table for tunes, songs, and stories with the crew.

A perfect adventure for those looking to combine musical creativity with the joy of sailing in one of Scotland’s most beautiful coastal regions.

Sessions and Sail head to the Firth of Clyde for the first time in May 2025, offering a unique blend of music, fine sailing, and exploration of the Scottish coast. Aboard the two-masted brigantine Lady of Avenel, all instruments and musical abilities are welcomed. Musicians can take part in workshops led by sail-along tutors, collaborate with others, and be inspired by the ever-changing landscapes. Sailors and non-sailors alike are invited to help set sails, steer, or simply enjoy the scenery. The ship will be a floating home for a week, offering comfortable accommodation and opportunities to explore beautiful anchorages, harbours, and coastal wildlife.

The voyage is open to musicians of all levels, and no sailing experience is required.

S+S Video

 You  will be allocated a berth aboard the brigantine 'Lady of Avenel',  in one of our six double cabins. For solo  travellers, cabins will be allocated on a same-sex basis; if two people  travelling together wish to share a cabin, we recommend booking early to  ensure availability.

There are two showers and three toilets in the accommodation; these are shared.

Meals  are prepared in the modern upper deck galley; these are of a high  standard and prepared by our own chef. Meals, tea and coffee are  included in the price of the trip. 

The  upper deck saloon provides an ideal place to socialise and, with the  tables cleared away, will be the perfect session space for the evenings  we spend aboard. Should the weather be fair enough, we may be able to  play sessions on deck.

 Girvan

Girvan can be reached by rail from Glagow: trains run from Glasgow Central Station every hour on week-days, taking 1.5 hours to reach Girvan.  www.thetrainline.com/www.scotrail.co.uk

If travelling by train on joining day, there is a train departure from Glasgow at 1200 that gets into Girvan at 1331, and this will get you onboard in time to start the trip.

There is a bus network that can get you to Girvan from Glasgow but we recommend checking bus networks carefully before choosing this method of travel.

Oban

Oban is connected by bus from Inverness/Fort William as well as Glasgow – see Citylink for more information. http://www.citylink.co.uk

There are normally four trains daily to Glasgow www.thetrainline.com/www.scotrail.co.uk . Trains may be less regular if travelling on a Sunday.

 We recommend you bring the following:

• Warm jumper/fleece
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Long trousers
• Boots/waterproof footwear
• Sunglasses
• A soft bag (no suitcases please!) 
• Passport
• Thermal layers 
• A waterproof cover/case for your instrument
• Thick socks
• Sufficient cash to last the week 

You may also be glad to have:

• Binoculars 
• Midgie repellent (we like Smidge) 
• Sun Cream
• A RYA logbook if you have one.

This itinerary is a only a suggestion of how the trip may take  form; all destinations are subject to change, are weather dependant, and are at the discretion of the Captain.  

Join the Lady of Avenel at the quay in Girvan, with the town still buzzing on the third day of the 50th  Girvan Folk Festival. After lunch on board, an introduction to the crew  and a safety talk from the Skipper, the ship gets ready to sail on the  afternoon high tide.

If weather is good, we depart the harbour with tunes on deck, giving Girvan a spirited ‘see you later’!

Out  the harbour we sail, passing close by Ailsa Craig before turning to  starboard and heading up the Firth of Clyde. Finding a sheltered spot  off Arran to drop an anchor. We have dinner then play some tunes,  getting to know each other round the Lady of Avenel’s saloon table.

Today we plan to sail through the famous Kyles of Bute, the favourite  destination of the ‘doon the watter’ steamer trips out of Glasgow. We make an early departure, passing Arran over breakfast. Our tutors run  the first workshop of the voyage as we cross the channel between Arran and Bute; and by lunch time we are heading up the East Kyle. 

You will be keen to spend as much time as possible on deck to enjoy the scenery; ideally the weather will be good and we will play tunes as we go.

By  evening we have sailed down the West Kyle and are approaching Arran  once more. We drop anchor in beautiful Loch Ranza in time for dinner andan onboard session.

 We have the morning to enjoy Loch Ranza – a walk ashore, followed by a  workshop on board the Lady where you have the chance to learn an Arran  tune and/or song, potentially from an Arran based musician.

We then raise anchor after lunch, heading south towards Campbeltown. This  23 mile sail is covered in less than 6 hours, and with the Lady tied up  alongside the pier in Campeltown, the group heads ashore for a session  in one of Campbeltown’s pubs.

We depart Campbeltown Harbour early; the tide is king today as we cross the North Channel. We’ll want to be across or well around the Mull of Kintyre before it turns against us, at around 1300. 

If  conditions are comfortable, our onboard tutors will get a workshop going as we navigate. and we will learn or arrange a few tunes.

The  weather will dictate where we’re headed – Rathlin Island, off the coast  of Northern Ireland, is an option; so is Gigha on the Scottish side.  Even Sanda Island, off the end of the Mull itself could be an option.  But with strong tides and weather to consider, the safest choice will be  taken. Either way, by evening we’re at a stunning anchorage or harbour with a session either aboard or ashore to look forward to.

After breakfast on board, we depart and head for the Sound of Jura. (Depending on weather, we may choose to sail north through the Sound of Islay instead). Today is a great chance to consolidate what you’ve learned – whether  working up one of our new tunes with a shipmate, learning a new song from our tutors, getting involved with the sailing of the ship or taking  a turn at the wheel. 

By early afternoon, the mountains of Jura are very close. We pull into Craighouse Bay and drop anchor, pick up a tutor from ashore and settle in to learn some local  music, before dinner and a jaunt ashore for a session.

 Raising anchor after breakfast, we sail north up the Sound of Jura –  passing the legendary Great Race, the Corryvreckan Narrows, in the late  morning. 

We are now preparing a tune, song or item for  tonight’s final evening; you are encouraged to collaborate with one or  more of your shipmates to arrange a tune or piece of music. (This is  non-compulsory and the less experienced will be given only gentle  encouragement!)

Anchoring the Lady at Ardencaple Bay,  we have dinner then perform our music for each other around the Lady’s  saloon table. Afterwards, a general session continues.

It’s the last morning; we depart our anchorage at 0730 and head back to to Oban,  having breakfast together on the way. A last tune or a farewell before leaving the Lady, and it's time to set off on the next adventure!