Sessions and Sail Songwriting 2025

Sessions and Sail Songwriting 2025 - Oban to Oban

May 11th - 17th 2025

Price: £1,640 per person; this price includes all food, accommodation, sessions and workshops throughout the trip.

We're excited to announce that, after a great inaugural Songwriting voyage in May 2024, we will partner with Shetland Songwriting Festival again in 2025 to bring ace Scottish songwriter Jenny Sturgeon, and Louis Abbott of Admiral Fallow.

Join us aboard two-masted brigantine Lady of Avenel, taking inspiration from the stunning coast of Scotland. Explore the anchorages and harbours we pause in along the way.

On this retreat-style voyage, you can expect two workshop sessions a day, as conditions allow,  where you will write songs, collaborate with your shipmates and improve your writing skills under the guidance of Jenny and Louis.  Workshops will focus on the tools of songwriting - including song structure, lyrics, melody, meter, song subject, story songs and much more!

These sessions will be interspersed with sailing - departing or arriving from anchorages, passing iconic stretches of Scottish coast, or helping the crew manoeuvre the ship under sail.

Aboard, you will find a welcoming and encouraging environment in which you may explore your own songwriting, collaborate with others, or draw inspiration from the voyage and the ever-changing scenes and moods of your surroundings.

You may choose to get involved in the sailing - helping the Lady's crew set sails, steering the ship, or discussing navigation over a coffee with the skipper; or you may prefer to watch the scenery glide past, or look out for whales, dolphins or eagles from the foredeck.

Rest up when you need to in your comfortable twin-

The ship will be your base and your floating home for a week-long voyage of exploration, creativity and music.

The trip and the workshops are open to EVERYONE, from complete beginners to experienced songwriters. No sailing experience is required.

​We look forward to having you join us!

 

Book now!

Oban

Start and end your voyage in Oban, gateway to the Hebrides! Known for its beautiful bay, regular CalMac ferries, a lively music scene, and the colloseum-esque MacCaig's Tower on the hillside, Oban is the ideal place to set out from.

The Garvellachs

These uninhabited islands have a very special atmosphere all of their own. WIth monastic 'bee-hive' structures from the 6th Century AD, visited by St Brendan the Navigator, this peaceful place looks across at mainland Scotland, Mull, and the firth of Lorne.

Iona Sound

White sands, rocky shores and an anchorage overlooked by the famous Abbey; Iona is a very special place indeed; home to a welcoming community of around 170.

Staffa

Staffa is home to the famous Fingal's Cave. The basalt columns that make up this island are spectacular; as are the acoustics in the cave...need we say more?!

Treshnish Isles

Photo by Rob Schulze: "Three Puffins on Lunga, Treshnish Isles" by somekindofrob is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Uninhabited except by a colony of puffins, some exceptionally friendly seals and a wonderful array of other wildlife, we will drop anchor here amid the Treshnish Islands if weather conditions are good.

Who is the trip aimed at?

If you have an interest in songwriting, and the desire to learn new tools and techniques, this trip is for you. Instrumentalists are welcome of course, but we don't require you to play an instrument. 

No sailing experience is necessary, but those keen to participate will be encouraged to join in the sailing of the ship should they wish to, whether steering, helping set and trim the sails, or even climbing the mast for the finest view of all.

Accommodation on board

You will be allocated a berth 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.