Ancient Isles: England, Ireland & Scotland

Fly overnight to London. Embark in the city center in time for lunch as we set sail down the Thames. (Day 2: L,D)

Visit the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and climb inside the HMS Victory, and visit the partially restored Tudor warship Mary Rose, deployed by King Henry VIII. Alternatively, join our naturalists for a drive to the lively estuary at Titchfield Haven to walk the trails and look for visiting birds. (B,L,D)

Stroll the medieval streets of Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) before visiting the Eden Project, a botanical garden with vast biomes. In the afternoon, visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, left derelict after WWI and recently restored, or choose to explore Fowey’s town center. (B,L,D)

See Tresco Abbey Garden’s flourishing garden, filled with historic ruins and subtropical plants. (B,L,D)

Arrive in colorful Cobh, a place steeped in maritime history. Visit the fascinating Heritage Centre and walk in the footsteps of the many Irish who fled the hardships of 19th century Ireland and immigrated to America. (B,L,D)

Sail by Skellig Michael, a Celtic Christian hermitage where beehive huts and remains of a 7th-century monastery still stand. Spend the afternoon discovering the picturesque seaside town of Dingle. (B,L,D)

Visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Known for its religious and cultural heritage, we make a visit to Dun Aengus, a Celtic stone fort perched on a cliff’s edge. (B,L,D)

Today we discover northwestern Ireland: a wild and windswept region where Gaelic is still spoken. Steeped in history and folklore,
the dramatic landscape of counties Sligo and Donegal inspired the works of W.B. Yeats. (B,L,D)

Visit the sacred island of Iona and its 13th Century abbey, believed to be the origin of the Book of Kells. Explore Staffa Island, famed for its geometric basalt columns, and Zodiac into dramatic Fingal’s Cave. (B,L,D)

Visit the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, boasting incredible seabird colonies. Conditions permitting, we hope to make a landing at uninhabited St. Kilda, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This morning, set out on a birdwatching tour. From puffins to white-tailed eagles, Orkney's birdlife is remarkably varied. Or take a walking tour of Kirkwall, Orkney’s largest town. In the afternoon, discover the Stone Age megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone slab village of Skara Brae. Step into medieval St. Magnus Cathedral, crafted from local red and yellow sandstone.

The Shetland Islands archipelago is characterized by incredible cultural traditions and dramatic landscapes. Experience this for yourself as we step ashore at one of the many remote islands in the region. (B,L,D)

Drive through a rolling landscape with Shetland ponies. Explore the ruins at Jarlshof, which reveal 4,000 years of near-continuous settlement. (B,L,D)

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)