Exploring the Scenic British Isles

• Day 1 Southampton

  Some of the best moments of cruising are the days spent at sea where you can relax and enjoy the wonderful programme of events and activities we have planned for you.

• Day 3 Belfast

  A vibrant city with a rich history and blend of traditional and modern culture, Belfast offers you the chance to not only explore its strong maritime links with the Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the RMS Titanic was built, before she set sail on her ill-fated maiden voyage from Southampton on 10^th April 1912, but also as gateway to the impressive rock formations of the Giant’s Causeway, discovering its links to the mythological giant, Finn McCool. You can stroll through the city’s streets, alive with music and traditional Irish pubs, admire the urban street art, or visit the Titanic Distillery and learn of its whiskey tradition and why it disappeared, before sampling a few Irish spirits at Belfast’s first working distillery in 90 years

• Day 4 Tobermory, Isle of Mull

  Tobermory is a charming, colourful village on Scotland’s Isle of Mull, known for its brightly painted buildings lining the harbour. The surrounding hills and bays offer incredible views and peaceful walks, making it a haven for nature lovers during the summer, while the Mull Museum on the main street celebrates the island’s history with artefacts that include working tools used by local craftsmen. Legend has it that the village’s sheltered bay is where one of the Spanish Armada ships sank in 1588 carrying gold bullion. As you wander through the tiny streets, you can stop to enjoy fresh seafood or sample locally distilled whisky, or venture further afield to go in search of the golden eagle, white-tailed sea eagle and otters on wildlife tours from your ship.

• Day 5 Cruise Loch Broom

  Loch Broom, which translates as ‘Loch of rain showers’, is located on the west coast of Scotland, and is where the charming town of Ullapool is also situated on the eastern shore. The loch is also lined by lush-green landscapes, the 2,438ft-high Ben Mor Coigach mountain and the 2,083ft-high Beinn Ghobhlach Marilyn. The latter is located at the head of the peninsula, overlooking the entrance to the loch; offering views across to Gruinard Bay

• Day 6 Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

  Kirkwall promises an intriguing mix of nature, history, and traditional Scottish pastimes, with opportunities to discover Orkney’s haven for seals, puffins, and seabirds during the summer months on hikes that will also include remarkable views of the island’s rugged coastline. During a stroll of the town, you can explore the striking red and yellow sandstone construction of St. Magnus Cathedral or the Italian church, built by World War II prisoners of war. Venture further afield to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Skara Brae or the mysterious Ring of Brogdar, offering incredible insights into Neolithic life in the Orkneys. Amidst your explorations of Kirkwall, relish opportunities to savour authentic Scottish cuisine, such as Orkney cheese and beef, and sample a wee dram at one of the island’s whisky distilleries.

• Day 7 Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

  Located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway is a thriving town with a busy port, best seen from the top of ‘Gallow’s Hill’ – reached by the impressive grounds of Lews Castle. Originally built in 1847, the castle has had some well-known owners, including Lord Leverhume, who founded the company now known as Unilever. He gave the castle to the people of Stornoway, where it served as a naval hospital and college, but is now a noteworthy museum.

• Day 8 Cruise Past Fingals Cave

  Fingal’s Cave is an iconic structure comprised of basalt rock, renowned for its distinctive symmetrical columns that soar out of the ocean. Famed for its naturally arched roof that creates eerie sounds from the echoes of the waves as they tumble against its walls, it was said to be Mendelssohn’s inspiration for the ‘Hebrides Overture’. According to legend, the giant Finn McCool built Fingal’s Cave as a place of refuge from his archenemy, Benandonner, and the road connects to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, both formed from the same ancient lava flow. In August, the cave is a popular place for wild swimming in its clear waters, so you may spot bathers from the decks of your ship snorkelling amongst the hexagonal columns. 

• Day 8 Cruising by Dutchman's Cap (Bac Mòr)

  Bac Mòr, also known as Dutchman’s Cap due to its unique mushroom-like shape, is one of the most iconic of the Scottish Treshnish Isles. Sailing alongside this geological spectacle offers a unique perspective from the sea, as the striking appearance of this uninhabited island appears before your ship, creating a rugged silhouette against the skyline. During September and the summer months, you’ll be able to witness rich grasslands and an abundance of wildflowers on the island; as well as nesting puffins, guillemots, fulmars, and razorbills, as it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

• Day 9 Galway

  Marking the halfway point on the 2,500-kilometre-long Wild Atlantic Way, Galway is considered to be one of the jewels of Western Ireland. Known as the ‘City of the Tribes’, due to merchant families running the town in the 15th century, Galway still holds many structures dating back to those times. Nowadays, the city is a continuing to thrive as a centre for culture and the arts, with its University and many festivals.

• Day 9 Cruise by the Cliffs of Moher

  The Cliffs of Moher sit alongside the unique landscape of the Burren on one side and the Wild Atlantic Ocean on the other. Rising out of the Atlantic and running along the coast of Clare for almost 8 miles, the cliffs were formed over 320 million years ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. 30,000 pairs of seabirds nest at the cliffs during the breeding season, where the site is also home to rare wildflowers.

• Day 10 Cobh

  Situated at the entrance of Cork Harbour, Spike Island is one of the most important sites in Irish history. Originally a Monastic settlement in the 7th century, the island became – thanks to its ideal strategic location – an important site for defence and imprisonment, and is now often referred to as ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’. The island is now a protected haven for various species of flora and fauna.

  Cobh, situated on Great Island in Cork Harbour, has a strong maritime background and is perhaps most notably remembered for being the final port of call for the ill-fated RMS Titanic as she began her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912. Close to Cobh is Blarney Castle, where legend has it that those who visit must uphold the tradition of kissing the Blarney Stone; said to bestow the gift of eloquence on all who do so.

• Day 12 Southampton

Exploring the Scenic British Isles Itinerary