Scotland

Arrive in Inverness and transfer to the hotel for a welcome reception and dinner with fellow travelers.

Enjoy a hearty Scottish breakfast at the hotel before venturing to Cawdor Castle, built for the third Thane of Cawdor at the end of the 14th century. After lunch, visit Leanach Farm, a working sheep farm, and watch a sheep dog demonstration before returning to Inverness for a free evening.

Spend the morning exploring Inverness on our own before gathering for lunch at a local pub prior to embarking Lord of the Glens. 

Before we set sail on the Caledonian Canal, venture to Culloden, the battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated in 1746. Learn about the mass expulsion of Catholic clansmen that followed, known as the Highland Clearances. Afterward, visit nearby Clava Cairns to see the standing stones and passage tombs of this sacred burial site from the Bronze Age. Return to our ship and set off for Loch Ness, where we learn about the legendary monster said to inhabit the loch. Ascend an impressive flight of locks that run through the heart of Fort Augustus to moor at the top of the village. 

Continue along the Caledonian Canal, ascending to 106 feet at Laggan Lock after gliding along the tree-lined canal known as Laggan Avenue. Sail onward across picturesque Lochs Oich and Lochy before descending Neptune's Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks dropping 64 feet to the sea loch at Corpach. From there, drive to Glenfinnan to explore the spectacularly scenic location now famous for Harry Potter, or choose to explore Loch Linnhe by kayak from our moorings in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.

We sail through Loch Linnhe today to reach Oban, set on a picturesque bay on the Firth of Lorn. Explore the lively town on foot, visiting a whisky distillery and McCaig’s Folly, a monument on a hill overlooking the town and bay that was inspired by the Roman Colosseum. Gather onboard this evening for a whisky tasting.

This morning, sail to the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. Drive across the island and catch a ferry to Iona to visit the medieval abbey ruins and rebuilt church, then stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal graveyard where Scottish kings, including Macbeth, are buried. Back on Mull, visit Duart Castle, the ancestral home of Clan MacLean that was built in the 13th century and is still lived in by the MacLean family. Re-join our ship in the afternoon and set sail across the dramatic Sound of Mull for our overnight berth at the picturesque fishing community of Tobermory.

Sail north to either Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. The islands have small populations of fewer than one hundred people. Watch for marine animals and birdlife, including Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, and dolphins. On Eigg, walk or cycle around the island trails, enjoy views of the imposing crag of Sgurr and talk with the local residents. Alternatively on Rum, we visit fanciful Kinloch Castle. Then sail to the tiny village of Inverie, where we enjoy a drink at the British Isles’ most remote pub, the Old Forge.

Journey north today to the Isle of Skye. At the Museum of the Isles, trace the legacy of the 1,300-year-old Clan MacDonald, the Lords of the Isles, who once ruled the west coast of Scotland. Visit the ruins of their ancestral home at Armadale Castle before continuing on to Kyle of Lochalsh. There, opt for a guided coastal walk or an excursion to nearby Eilean Donan Castle. Toast our voyage this evening with a farewell dinner onboard the ship.

Disembark in Kyle of Lochalsh and transfer to the airport for homeward-bound flights or continue on to Edinburgh to join the post-trip extension.