Scotland’s Highlands & Islands

Arrive at the Scottish Highlands City of Inverness and transfer to Kyle of Lochalsh to embark Lord of the Glens overlooking the Isle of Skye. Tonight, enjoy a reception and welcome dinner on board, followed by a concert of Scottish traditional music by local musicians.

This morning, explore Kyle of Lochalsh. Set out on a guided walk on the Balmacara Estate, affording spectacular coastal and mountain views. Alternatively, explore nearby Eilean Donan Castle, which sites on a tidal island at the confluence of three lochs, and is connected by a causeway to the mainland. A Jacobite stronghold, it was destroyed by government forces in 1719 but restored in the early 20th century. Return to the ship for lunch while sailing over the sea to the Isle of Skye.

This afternoon, visit the Museum of the Isles, tracing the legacy of the 1,300-year-old Clan MacDonald, the Lords of the Isles who once ruled the west coast of Scotland. See the ruins of Armadale Castle, the ancestral home of the MacDonalds, and take a walk through the beautiful woodlands and gardens. Then sail to the tiny village of Inverie and stop at the Old Forge, the most remote pub in the British Isles, where you can chat with Inverie’s residents over a pint of local ale.

This morning, sail south to the Small Isles to land on Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. The islands have small populations of fewer than one hundred souls, but they teem with wildlife. Look for marine animals and birdlife, including Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, basking sharks and harbor porpoises, and one of the largest colonies of Manx shearwaters in northern Europe. If a visit to Eigg is in order, enjoy the chance to walk or cycle around the island trails, enjoy views of the imposing crag of An Sgurr, and talk with the local residents. If today’s stop is in Rum, then visit fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 as the home of Sir George Bullough, who had purchased the island with money earned as a textile magnate. The castle is now managed by Scottish National Heritage.

Continue aboard Lord of the Glens to the picturesque town of Tobermory. The colorful village was established in 1788 and is famous for the brightly painted houses that line its waterfront, located at the bottom of a cliff face. In the afternoon, explore the town and visit its small whisky distillery. This evening, plan to meet with a member of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust to learn about their efforts to protect marine mammals in these waters.

This morning, sail along the coast of Mull to Craignure, then drive to the ferry that leads to Iona. Explore this picturesque island, which is of vital historic importance. Saint Columba arrived here in 563 with twelve followers, built a church, and began the process of converting the peoples of the area to Christianity. Iona became famous as a place of learning and as a pilgrimage site. Visit the medieval abbey ruins and the rebuilt abbey church. Stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal graveyard, where generations of Scottish kings (including Macbeth), the Lords of the Isles, and High Kings of Norway were buried. Enjoy a home-cooked lunch in the Saint Columba Hotel.

On the way back to Craignure, visit Duart Castle. The ancestral home of Clan MacLean—an impressive fortress with a dungeon and dramatic views over the Sound of Mull—was built in the 13th century and is still lived in by the MacLean family. Then, sail across the Sound of Mull to the bustling town of Oban, set on a picturesque bay on the Firth of Lorn, and stay for the evening. Those who wish may walk all the way up to McCaig’s Folly, a monument on a hill overlooking the town and bay that was inspired by the Roman Colosseum. This evening, have a whisky tasting on board.

This morning, sail to Corpach and enter the Caledonian Canal, built between 1803 and 1822 to connect Loch Linnhe with the three other lochs that lie in the slip fault of the Great Glen. Kayak from the Corpach moorings in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Or choose to drive to beautiful Glenfinnan, along Loch Sheil and surrounded by mountains, where Bonnie Prince Charlie first raised the Jacobite standard on mainland Britain in 1745. Explore the spectacularly scenic location, home to the Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct on the West Highland Railway line, made famous in the Harry Potter movies. Moor at Corpach for the night.

From Corpach, ascend Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks rising 64 feet from the sea lock at Corpach. Sail into Loch Lochy, glide along the tree-lined canal known as Laggan Avenue, sail across picturesque Lochs Lochy and Oich, and descend an impressive flight of locks that run through the heart of Fort Augustus. Seeing the process of getting the ship through the locks is always exciting, and Lord of the Glens is purpose-built to fit in the locks’ narrow confines. The ship is always an object of curiosity among local residents and other visitors as she transits. This evening, moor at Fort Augustus, with a chance to take an exploratory hike through the surrounding countryside.

Enter Loch Ness, cruise past the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, a Norman castle on an Iron Age site, and learn about the legendary Loch Ness Monster, which is said to inhabit the loch in this vicinity. Continue through Loch Dochfour to Inverness.

This afternoon, visit Culloden, the infamous battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated on April 16, 1746. The battle was brief but bloody and decisive, with as many as 2,000 Jacobites killed or wounded. It had drastic consequences for Scotland’s Highlands and was followed by the infamous Highland Clearances that saw the mass expulsion of Catholic clansmen from their homes, and in many cases from their country. Visit both the battlefield and the award-winning visitor center, the National Trust for Scotland’s flagship site. Continue to the evocative burial chambers and standing stones of Clava Cairns, dating from the early Bronze Age. The impressive structures of this sacred site were developed for over a thousand years.

Tonight, enjoy a reception and dinner on board, with a special after-dinner performance in the lounge by a local troupe of junior Scottish dancers.

Disembark in Inverness and transfer to the airport for homeward-bound flights.