Today we make a decision, based on the weather forecast. 

If the Atlantic is suitably flat and settled, we may set out on a 65-mile passage to St Kilda, once the most remote inhabited island in the British Isles, and now home to some incredible populations of puffins, gannets and the unique and hostoric Soay Sheep. This will take us all day, so settle in for a day at sea, to be rewarded by evening by the sight of St Kilda's breathtaking volcanic ridges and jagged shorelines.

If  we have a fair wind, you can help the crew set sail; our tutors will set a songwriting task for the crossing,

If St Kilda is ruled out due to weather or swell in the Atlantic, we will sail south to gorgeous Mingulay, also abandoned in the 1930s and featuring gorgous sandy beaches and an evening gathering of grey seals in their hundreds.

After dinner we share and chat about some of our musical ideas over a few songs. 

Today we have the unique opportunity to explore an island that few get to visit. 

If we're in St Kilda, wander ashore through the houses in Village Bay, imagining life here in bygone days, and how it may have felt to look out to sea and watch ships departing. Make a hike to the top of the hill for incredible vistas across 360 degrees of ocean. Or walk by the rocks and watch hundreds of puffins returning from the fishing.

Or, if it's Mingulay, consider the lives of the population here - fishing, battling dangers from the sea and a hard living off the land; climb to the top of the hill and look up the chain of the Hebrides or across the sea towards Skye or Rum, or take your notebook to the sandy beach and be inspired to write.

After another delicious dinner aboard the Lady, we compare what we've written during the day and discuss the next writing task.

We sail today, headed further down the chain if we're in the Hebrides; or, if we're at St Kilda, to explore 'The Stacks', the gannet-covered rocks at Boreraigh.

More collaboration, writing and creative tasks for the day will be set by our tutors.  

The west coast of Mingulay is wild and rocky; full of mystery, caves and indentations; and further south is the lighthouse-topped Barra Head. Bottlenose dolphins, whales and porpoises abound in this part of the Hebrides so it will be worth keeping an eye out for these as we sail by.

We're anchored again by evening; after a good day of sailing and writing, we are ready to enjoy a peaceful anchorage and share some of our projects with the group.

We make the crossing back towards the Hebrides, if we've made St Kilda; or to the machair islands south of Barra - Pabbay and Sandray. These islands are glorious for exploring, hiking, beachcombing; look out for fins and whales in the seas and sounds.

As  we sail along we are set a further writing task by our tutors; contemplate this as you watch the Hebrides approach. 

We arrive in the evening, and find a gorgeous anchorage either in the outlying Monach Islands, or off a golden sandy beach on Sandray or Pabbay.

It's time to start considering our final evening - tonight we plan to  hold a last-night event where we may perform a couple of songs for each  other. Our tutors and sailing crew may be persuaded to give us a  performance as well! 

We depart our anchorage, and set the sails on the Lady of Avenel; you may like to get involved, hauling on a haliard with the crew, or taking a turn at steering the ship; or just to take some photos as we get this impressive square-rigged ship under sail.

Back in Castlebay, Barra, we enjoy our last dinner together, then clear away and prepare for the performance in the Lady's cosy saloon.

It’s the last morning - we enjoy a breakfast aboard before heading our separate ways.

If you're catching the ferry this morning, you'll say goodbye early as departure is around 0730; sail onwards, with instruments in hand, a wad of new songs, and a wealth of experiences, memories and new friends made.