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'The
Heart of the Highlands'
A ten night cruise aboard the deluxe MV Lord of the Glens
navigating a course through the beautiful Highlands, Islands, Glens and Lochs of
Scotland.
Inverness to Kyle of
Lochlash
(Map
of itinerary)
Day 1)
INVERNESS Embark
Lord
of the
Glens at the top of the Muirtown
Locks in
Inverness
.
Evening Captain’s welcome reception and dinner. Moor Inverness overnight.
Day 2)
INVERNESS / FORT AUGUSTUS Drive after
breakfast to Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield followed by a panoramic tour of
the town of
Inverness
.
Sail at lunchtime through a man-made section of the
Caledonian
Canal
to Loch Dochfour and then into Loch Ness.
Approximately halfway across the loch pause in front of Urquhart Castle for
photos before continuing to Fort Augustus. Later ascend a series of 6
inter-connected locks that run through the centre of the town and moor
overnight.
Day 3)
FORT AUGUSTUS / LAGGAN Morning free to explore the town of
Fort
Augustus
and the
British
Waterways
Museum
dedicated to the construction of the Canal. Sail at lunchtime through various
man-made sections of the Canal, beautiful Loch Oich and a tree-lined section
called ‘Laggan Avenue’ as far as Laggan Locks where we moor overnight in the
wilds of the Scottish Highland scene. At Laggan there is an interesting walk to
a nearby settlement and a unique facility of a floating pub. Those interested in
a healthy stroll, can walk the short section between
Fort
Augustus
and re-embark at Kytra Locks.
Day 4)
LAGGAN
/ BANAVIE Depart
Laggan Locks at breakfast time and enter Loch Lochy as far as the Gairlochy
Locks. Here those whose wish can walk the
last section of the Canal towpath alighting at Gairlochy and then re-embarking
at Banavie, in the shadow of Ben Nevis – Britain’s highest mountain. After
lunch drive to the hauntingly beautiful Glencoe with its impressive Visitor
Centre. Moor Banavie overnight.
Day 5)
BANAVIE
/ After breakfast descend ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ a series of 8
inter-connected locks, and two further locks that lowers the vessel to sea level
at Corpach. Later enter
Loch Linnhe
and sail as far as Oban. Since everything is close to hand, an afternoon guided
walking tour of Oban has been arranged, to include a visit to the local whisky
distillery and McCraig’s Folly. Moor
Oban overnight.
Day 6)
OBAN / ISLE OF MULL Morning sail
across
Loch Linnhe
and enter the Sound of Mull to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Later visit
Duart
Castle
home of the Maclean Clan Chiefs for over 700 years and more latterly renowned as
the location of the movie ‘Entrapment’. One of the delights of any visit to
Duart
Castle
is to have mid-morning ‘elevenses’ of tea and home baked cakes. Sail at
lunchtime up the Sound of Mull to the lovely fishing
port
of
Tobermory
whose striking feature is the gaily painted houses that line the quayside.
Afternoon free to explore Tobermory. Moor Tobermory overnight.
Day 7)
ISLE OF MULL / ISLE OF IONA / ISLE OF MULL After
breakfast drive to the Isle of Iona.
For more than 1000 years, the
island
of
Iona
has been a place of deep
spiritual significance. No less than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried here,
including Duncan, Macbeth’s victim. St Columba came here from
Ireland
in 563 AD and early
Christianity spread through northern
Britain
from this remote island
community.
Visit
Torosay
Castle
on way back to the vessel.
Return to the vessel at Tobermory and overnight.
Day 8)
ISLE
OF MULL / ISLE OF EIGG Morning
free to explore Tobermory before sailing northwest to the Isle of Eigg for a
short exploratory visit to observe the local marine and birdlife of this remote
island community. There are numerous Atlantic seals usually seen sunbathing on
the rocks whilst in the sea around Eigg – one of the so called ‘Small
Isles’ there also can be seen minke whales, common and bottlenose dolphins and
porpoises. Being an island there are a large number of seabirds, many of whom
nest on the island or on the rocks and small islands off it, including Manx
shearwaters, guillemots, razor bills, cormorants, shags, fulmars, gannets, terns
besides numerous gulls. Moor Eigg overnight.
Day 9)
ISLE
OF EIGG / INVERIE After
breakfast sail into the Sound of Sleat to Armadale on the
Isle of Skye
. Later visit the Clan Donald Centre and Gardens before
sailing to the remote community of Inverie in beautiful Loch Nevis for the
night. Inverie in having no roads into or out of the settlement has the
distinction of having (according to the Guinness Book of Records) the remotest
pub in
Great Britain
– the Old Forge.
Day 10)
INVERIE
/ KYLE OF LOCHALSH After
a leisurely stroll around Inverie sail the Sound of Sleat and Kyle Rhea to Kyle
of Lochlash. Scenic drive to
Inverewe
Gardens
. Evening Captain’s farewell
reception and dinner. Moor Kyle of Lochalsh overnight.
Day 11)
KYLE
OF LOCHALSH / INVERNESS Disembark
after breakfast and drive to
Inverness
.
Deck Plan
& Pricing
EXCURSION DESCRIPTIONS:
FULL DAY EXCURSION OF THE ISLE OF MULL & IONA.
Duration: All day
Highlights: For more than 1000 years, the island of Iona has been a place of deep spiritual significance. No less than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried here, including Duncan, Macbeth’s victim. St Columba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianity spread through northern Britain from this remote island community. Also includes a visit to Duart Castle home of the Clan Maclean Chiefs for nearly 700 years.
VISIT TO THE CLAN DONALD CENTRE AND GARDENS
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: Explore the wonderful gardens and look round the old house.
VISIT THE SPLENDID INVEREWE GARDENS.
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: An amazing collection of exotic trees and shrubs.
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