Explore Scotland as few people have on an enchanting voyage to the region’s highlights and some seldom-seen wildness. Purpose-built for these waters, our gracious ship, Lord of the Glens, is able to fit through narrow canals and stepped locks in the heart of the country and also navigate among the islands and their small communities along the coast. The result is a panoramic voyage, a rare expedition that offers an immersive, in-depth experience at a comfortable pace. Named a National Geographic Traveler magazine "Tour of a Lifetime" for its authenticity, immersion, sustainability, and connection, our Highlands and Islands expedition offers the most encompassing way to explore Scotland. You’ll walk among ancient stone monuments, weave your way through ruins of fantastic castles, and stroll through a sacred abbey. Learn the legacy of 1,300-year-old clans and visit the cemetery of Scottish monarchs. Experience the charm of modern Scotland through live music on board and a special visit to the tiny Isle of Eigg, home to about 90 souls.
Sail the Caledonian Canal, which bisects the country, plus explore the beautiful outlying islands of the Inner Hebrides
Kayak Loch Linnhe, see the storied battlefield of Culloden, beautiful Glenfinnan, the historic Isle of Iona, and the isles of Mull, Eigg, and Skye
Travel to hauntingly beautiful moorlands, grand castles, sacred abbeys, and sweeping mountains
Wave to the locals who turn out to watch Lord of the Glens descend Neptune's Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks that the ship is perfectly sized to squeeze into
Each Scottish Highlands expedition aboard Lord of the Glens is crafted to offer a holistic, panoramic experience of the sweep of Scottish history and the beauty of its moorlands and islands. To get the most out of the experience, you’ll travel in the company of a veteran Scotland expedition leader, a historian, and a naturalist/certified photo instructor. Flexibility is a hallmark of our expeditions, and our daily itineraries will sometimes adjust to take advantage of unique opportunities.
Fly overnight and arrive in Inverness. Board Lord of the Glens and settle into your cabin. Gather for a reception and dinner on board, and a performance by junior Scottish dancers. (Day 2: D)
Day 3
Culloden / Clava Cairns / Loch Ness / Fort Augustus
Visit Culloden, the infamous battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated in 1746. The battle was brief but bloody and decisive, with as many as 2,000 Jacobites killed or wounded. It had drastic consequences for the Scotland Highlands and was followed by the infamous Highland Clearances that saw the mass explusion of Catholic clansmen from their homes, and in many cases, from their country. Our visit includes both the battlefield and the award-winning visitor center, the National Trust for Scotland's flagship site. See the standing stones and passage tombs of Clava Cairns, dating from the early Bronze Age. The impressive structures of this sacred site were developed for over a thousand years. This afternoon, set sail on 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. Enter Loch Ness, where we’ll 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. Set out on a hike this evening. (B,L,D)
Day 4
Laggan Locks / Corpach / Glenfinnan
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 Corpach, drive to Glenfinnan to explore the spectacularly scenic location now famous for Harry Potter, or chose to explore Loch Linnhe by kayak from our moorings in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain. (B,L,D)
Day 5
Loch Linnhe / Oban
Sail through Loch Linnhe to the town of Oban, set on a picturesque bay on the Firth of Lorn. There is time to explore this 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. This evening, we have a whisky tasting onboard ship. (B,L,D)
Day 6
Sound of Mull / Iona / Duart Castle / Tobermory
Sail to the Isle of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides. Drive across Mull, then cross to Iona by ferry to explore this picturesque island. Explore the 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 Scottish kings, including Macbeth, are buried.
On Mull, visit Duart Castle. The ancestral home of Clan MacLean—an impressive fortress (with a dungeon!) with dramatic views over the Sound of Mull—was built in the 13th century, and is still lived in by the MacLean family. Re-joining our ship, we sail the dramatic Sound of Mull for our overnight berth at the picturesque fishing community of Tobermory. This evening, we 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. (B,L,D)
Day 7
Tobermory / Isle of Eigg or Isle of Rum / Inverie
Sail north to either Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. The islands have small populations of fewer than one hundred souls, but teem with wildlife. Look for marine animals and birdlife, including Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, basking sharks and harbour porpoises, and one of the largest colonies of Manx shearwaters in northern Europe. If we visit Eigg, we’ll have the chance to walk or cycle around the island trails, enjoy views of the imposing crag of Sgurr, and talk with the local residents. If we visit Rum, we’ll visit fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 as the home of Sir George Bullough, who had purchased the island with money he had earned as a textile magnate. The castle is now managed by Scottish National Heritage.
Then sail to the tiny village of Inverie, where you can have a drink at the Old Forge, the most remote pub in the British Isles. (B,L,D)
Day 8
Isle of Skye / Kyle of Lochalsh
Continue north 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. See the ruins of Armadale Castle, ancestral home of the MacDonalds, and take a walk through the beautiful woodlands and gardens.
Then sail for 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 causeway to the mainland. A Jacobite stronghold, it was destroyed by government forces in 1719 but restored in the early 20th century.
Celebrate your voyage with a farewell dinner onboard. (B,L,D)
Day 9
Kyle of Lochalsh / Disembark / Inverness / U.S.
Disembark in Kyle of Lochalsh and drive through the highlands to Inverness. Then transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
Alternative Route
Each Scottish Highlands expedition aboard Lord of the Glens is crafted to offer a holistic, panoramic experience of the sweep of Scottish history and the beauty of its moorlands and islands. To get the most out of the experience, you’ll travel in the company of a veteran Scotland expedition leader, a historian, and a naturalist/certified photo instructor. Flexibility is a hallmark of our expeditions, and our daily itineraries will sometimes adjust to take advantage of unique opportunities.
Embark
Disembark
Day 1-2
Arrive / Inverness / Kyle of Lochalsh
Arrive in Inverness, transfer to Kyle of Lochalsh, and embark Lord of the Glens overlooking the Isle of Skye. Tonight, enjoy a reception and welcome dinner onboard, followed by a concert of Scottish traditional music by local musicians. (Day 2: D)
Day 3
Kyle of Lochalsh / Isle of Skye / Inverie
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 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 as we sail 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.
We 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. (B,L,D)
Day 4
Isle of Eigg or Isle of Rum / Tobermory
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 teem with wildlife. Look for marine animals and birdlife, including Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, basking sharks and harbour porpoises, and one of the largest colonies of Manx shearwaters in northern Europe. If we visit Eigg, we’ll have the chance to walk or cycle around the island trails, enjoy views of the imposing crag of Sgurr, and talk with the local residents. If we visit Rum, we’ll visit fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 as the home of Sir George Bullough, who had purchased the island with money he had earned as a textile magnate. The castle is now managed by Scottish National Heritage.
We 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. This afternoon, explore the town and visit its small whisky distillery. This evening we 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. (B,L,D)
Day 5
Sound of Mull / Iona / Duart Castle / Oban
This morning, sail along the coast of Mull to Craignure, then drive to the ferry that will take us 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. We’ll visit the medieval abbey ruins and the rebuilt abbey church. Stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal graveyard, were generations of Scottish kings (including Macbeth), the Lords of the Isles, and High Kings of Norway were buried.
On the way back to Craignure, visit Duart Castle. The ancestral home of Clan MacLean—an impressive fortress (with a dungeon!) with 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, where we stay for the evening. If you wish, 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, we have a whisky tasting onboard. (B,L,D)
Day 6
Corpach / Glenfinnan / Oban / Loch Linnhe
This morning, Lord of the Glens sails to Corpach, where we 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 our 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. We moor at Corpach for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 7
Corpach / Laggan Locks / Fort Augustus
From Corpach, we ascend Neptune's Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks rising 64 feet from the sea lock at Corpach. We 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 we make our transit. This evening, we moor at Fort Augustus, with a chance to take an exploratory hike through the surrounding countryside. (B,L,D)
Day 8
Loch Ness / Culloden / Clava Cairns / Inverness
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, we 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. Our visit includes both the battlefield and the award-winning visitor center, the National Trust for Scotland’s flagship site. We 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 onboard, with a special after-dinner performance in the lounge by a local troupe of junior Scottish dancers. (B,L,D)
Day 9
Inverness/U.S.
Disembark in Inverness and transfer to the airport for homeward-bound flights. (B)
Alternative Route
Each Scottish Highlands expedition aboard Lord of the Glens is crafted to offer a holistic, panoramic experience of the sweep of Scottish history and the beauty of its moorlands and islands. To get the most out of the experience, you’ll travel in the company of a veteran Scotland expedition leader, a historian, and a naturalist/certified photo instructor. Flexibility is a hallmark of our expeditions, and our daily itineraries will sometimes adjust to take advantage of unique opportunities.
Travel aboard Lord of the Glens on any voyage and we will cover your bar tab and all tips for the crew.
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
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BRINGING THE KIDS
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TRAVELING AS A GROUP
Special Offers
Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.
From the ancient castle and historic houses of the Royal Mile to the elegant Georgian terraces and crescents of the New Town, Edinburgh embodies much of Scotland’s history and culture. In the words of the historian Murdo Macdonald, “Edinburgh is a city that makes you think about what a city should be." Visit the ancient Edinburgh Castle and see the Stone of Destiny—an oblong block of red sandstone used for centuries in the coronation of monarchs of Scotland. Enjoy the spectacular Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a celebration of music and culture set against the famous backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. You’ll also see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Palace of Holyrood House, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and we’ll make sure you have time to explore on your own.
We awoke to clear skies and light air with the sure prospect of a fine day ahead. As we sailed “over the sea to Skye” during breakfast, out of Loch Nevis, with the town of Mallaig on the mainland and the Isle of Eigg on our port quarter, we experienced exceptional visibility. An hour’s sailing brought us to the pierhead at Armadale on the Isle of Skye, the largest of the Hebridean islands, rich in history and with a varied landscape that has made it a mecca for hillwalkers. From our mooring, we could walk to the Clan Donald Centre, an excellent museum that offered a revision course in some of the major themes in Scottish history covered on our voyage: the arrival of the Gaels from northern Ireland in the middle of the first millennium; the coming of Christianity, also from Ireland; the establishment of the medieval thassalocracy, known as the Lordship of the Isles. There was time to enjoy the gardens, containing many specimens brought back to Scotland by the Scottish plant hunters of the early nineteenth century. Over lunch we sailed between Skye and the mainland, navigating the treacherous tidal race of the Kyle of Lochalsh, the narrowest point between Skye and the mainland where, before the Skye bridge was opened in 1992, a short ferry ride connected Skye with the mainland. In 1897 a railway was constructed from Inverness to Lochalsh—quite an engineering feat, particularly in its latter stages, when the railway had to be chiseled through hard rock to enter the town. At Kyle, we had two afternoon options for activities. One group visited the much-photographed Eilean Donan Castle, the ancestral home of the McCrae clan, that was attacked from the sea during the short-lived Jacobite rebellion of 1719. A second group hiked on the trail in the direction of Plockton for spectacular views of the Cuillin Mountains. We gathered in the evening sunshine for a group photograph followed by our Farewell Dinner, enlivened by the piping in of the haggis and the traditional “Address to the Haggis” composed by the Scots poet, Robert Burns. After dinner, we were entertained by two traditional musicians playing the fiddle and the concertina. An entrancing end to a wonderful voyage.
We woke in Tobermory to a showery day, with the morning to explore this colorful waterfront town. Despite the rain, a group walked out to a nearby lighthouse, following a trail through the Celtic rainforest, with moss, lichen, and ferns coating the trees along the way. Our endpoint was a picturesque Stevenson lighthouse, designed by the family of Robert Louis Stevenson. Those who didn’t take the walk spent the morning shopping in town, perusing offerings from chocolates to books. Our afternoon sail was a wee bit rough, but our views were spectacular as we rounded Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on mainland Scotland where an Egyptian-style lighthouse stands on the rocky shore. Though the captain tried, we unfortunately couldn’t put in at the Isle of Eigg due to the winds and waves. We did get a good view of Eigg, with its imposing peak named An Sgurr (Gaelic for “The Rocky Crag”) dominating the island’s skyline. An Sgurr was formed around 50 million years ago during a volcanic period. A flow of lava filled an ancient riverbed and the surrounding rock subsequently eroded down, leaving the peak as it stands today. After viewing Eigg, we ventured straight to Inverie, on the Knoydart peninsula, our berth for the night. Inverie is a small village accessible only by foot or boat, and has the feel of a distant, inaccessible island. The rain let up, and the evening light made for wonderful atmosphere as we disembarked to stroll along the shore. A few even ventured into the Old Forge Inn, the most remote on mainland Scotland. As dinner was served, a local bagpiper played a few traditional tunes, and thus ended another eventful day aboard Lord of the Glens .
The high winds of yesterday that had led to widespread ferry cancelations in the
Hebrides had died away, enabling us to venture out of the sheltered anchorage
of Oban bay to make for the Isle of Mull, the second largest of the Inner
Hebridean islands and one with an exceptionally long, highly indented
coastline. It is an island celebrated for its wildlife, golden and white-tailed
eagles, shorebirds, and rich marine life, including minke whales, orcas, and
seasonal basking sharks. We disembarked at Craignure and drove in a long
diagonal across the island, along a single-track road with passing places, to
Fionnphort where we met the ferry for Iona. Iona
has emblematic significance in northwest Europe. It was
there in 563AD that Columba brought Celtic Christianity to Scotland from
Ireland. He established a monastic community on the island that was famed for
its learning and its craftsmanship. The Book of Kells, one the treasures of
modern Ireland that is today housed in the library of Dublin’s Trinity College,
was produced on Iona and taken to Kells Abbey in Ireland to preserve it from
Viking raids in the eigth century. We walked to the restored Benedictine abbey,
passing one of Britain’s best-preserved mediaeval nunneries and one of
Thomas Telford’s ‘Parliamentary Kirks’ on the way, to view St Martin’s Cross. In
situ since the eighth century, this is the original Celtic Cross from which all
others derived their distinctive design. We also explored the abbey, its
cloister, a
museum of high crosses, and numerous craft shops. A highlight
of the day was a performance in the abbey by the Doric String Quartet, part of
the 2019 Mendelssohn on Mull Festival. After
a hearty lunch at the St Columba Hotel, we took the ferry back to Fionnphort
and recrossed the Isle of Mull, passing the island’s two munroes, Ben Talla and
Ben Mhor, both meeting the requirement of being more than 3,000 feet tall.
Detouring to Duart, we visited the ancestral pile of the Clan Maclean, a
filmset of a Scottish castle perched on a rocky crag strategically situated
overlooking the Sound of Mull. We took a tour of the castle, complete with a prisoner
in the dungeon, sound effects, and a stroll around the site that includes a
burial ground for Hanoverian soldiers billeted at Duart after the 1745 Jacobite
Rebellion. Then we drove to Tobermory to rejoin the ship. Before
dinner, we heard a lively presentation from a member of staff of the Hebridean
Whale and Dolphin Trust.
We left the Caledonian Canal and ventured into the sea, passing through the last lock of the trip. For the remainder of our week we will be sailing through saltwater, exploring the Inner Hebrides on our way over to the Kyle of Lochalsh. As we traveled from Corpach to Oban along Loch Linnhe, we were still within the Great Glen Fault, though beyond the stretch of the canal. As we sailed to our day’s destination of Oban, we heard a talk on the different populations that came into the country and the advent of Celtic Christianity to Scotland, preparing us for our eventual trip to Iona. At midday, we arrived at the bustling town of Oban in a burst of beautiful sunshine. Oban is a transport hub and service area for the region. Ferries, trains, and buses meet here, and shops and stores provide for the surrounding area. Shortly after arriving in Oban, a distillery tour was offered—a wonderful chance to learn about the creation of Scotland’s iconic whisky. The distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland, established in 1794. The buildings remain much the same as they were in the 1890s when the business was renovated and updated. The tour ended with a delicious sample. It was a windy day, with blustery breezes raising whitecaps on the sea. But the sun was out, and so it was a good afternoon to explore the town. A few walkers ventured up to McCaig’s Tower. Also known as McCaig’s Folly, the construction looks like a ruined Roman coliseum. The building was constructed by the wealthy banker John Stuart McCaig starting in 1895 but was left unfinished upon McCaig’s death in 1902. Before dinner, there was more whisky on the schedule, along with a tasting led by a local expert. With clear skies and drifting clouds, it was an atmospheric evening to end the day.
Over breakfast we cast off at the top of the flight of locks in Fort Augustus in sunshine and heavy showers, completing our transit of the Caledonian Canal. Although we were held up at Laggan Locks which were under repair, we enjoyed a few presentations by staff as we advanced along the canal to its highest point at Loch Oich before crossing the shallow Loch Lochy over lunch. By early afternoon we had arrived at the top of Neptune’s Staircase—an impressive flight of eight locks that lowers the canal down to the Atlantic sea lock at Corpach. We overnighted in the Corpach basin beneath the great massif of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain on mainland Britain. Our afternoon activities were centered on Glenfinnan where a National Trust for Scotland visitor center was established to commemorate the place where ‘Bonnie’ Prince Charlie first raised his standard on the Scottish mainland at the start of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Today the site has been re-branded to celebrate Harry Potter, for the railway viaduct behind the center is the one over which the Hogwarts Express travels in the movies. One group took a longer hike which approached the viaduct from above before passing beneath it to return to the visitor center. A gentler walk was offered from the center itself over a boardwalk viewing wetland flora: birch, willow, alder, and a variety of ferns. So much rain had fallen over the past week that whole sections of the boardwalk were underwater. After dinner we were privileged to hear a presentation by Alasdair Gibson, the Glenfinnan estate manager who enthralled and amused by turns with his accounts of deer stalking on the estate.
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