Heart of the Highlands
Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness

  (Map of itinerary)

   
May 21R, 31; June 10 R,  20;  Sept 6, 23R

To the north and west of Glasgow - the historic gateway to the Highlands, lie the magnificent mountains, glens ,lochs, fretted shoreline and lonely isles that epitomises Scotland of the popular imagination. Anyone that has contemplated the journey north has had to confront a complex geography and the fragmented nature of the transportation system that permits only a limited area of the country to be visited in a reasonable allotted amount of time. At each stop there is something to interest the traveller be it beautiful gardens warmed by the Atlantic drift, historic houses & castles, world renown distilleries, independent explorations on foot and all the while a scenery to take the breath away.

Day 1) INVERNESS / KYLE  Departure by coach from Inverness Airport is at 12.30 on 20^th June. Passengers are taken to Inverness Railway Station (centre of Inverness ). The coach driver will retain luggage on board so that passengers are free to wander around Inverness and/or have lunch. He will rendezvous with them again at 14.30 hours, plus collect any passengers who are travelling in by train or who have stayed the previous night in Inverness, for the 1 ½ hour coach journey to Kyle of Lochalsh. Embarkation being at 16.00 hours.
Embark the ‘Lord of the Glens’ at Kyle of Lochalsh. Evening Captain’s welcome reception and dinner. Moor overnight.

Day 2) KYLE / INVERIE  Morning drive to the famed gardens at Inverewe. Here amongst the loch-side scenery visit the splendid Inverewe Gardens where windbreaks made of local pines provide shelter for an amazing collection of exotic trees and shrubs. Sail in the afternoon around Loch Alsh, Kyle Rhea and the Sound of Sleat to Inverie in beautiful Loch Nevis. 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. Moor overnight.

Day 3) INVERIE / ISLE OF SKYE  Morning sail across the Sound of Sleat to Armadale on the Isle of Skye . The afternoon is reserved for the visit to the nearby Clan Donald Centre and Gardens. Moor Armadale overnight.

Day 4)  ISLE OF SKYE / ISLE OF MULE  Morning sail around Ardnamuchan Point – the most westerly point of mainland Britain and enter the Sound of Mull to the Isle of Mull and Tobermory - its most striking feature being the gaily painted houses that line the quayside. Afternoon at leisure to independently explore the town or alternatively to participate in a walk around the headland to the Tobermory Lighthouse. Moor Tobermory overnight.

Day 5)   ISLE OF MULE /  CRAIGNURE  After breakfast sail to Craignure and alight for the 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. The return drive brings us to where the vessel is moored and Duart Castle home of the Clan Maclean Chieftains for over 700 hundred years. Return to the vessel at Craignure and moor overnight.

Day 6) CRAIGNURE / LOCH LINNHE  Morning sail across Loch Linnhe and sail as far as Oban. In the afternoon there will be a guided walking exploration of Oban since everything is close at hand, to include a visit to the local whisky distillery and McCraig’s Folly. During the evening cruise Loch Linnhe . Moor overnight.

Day 7) LOCH LINNHE / BANAVIE  after breakfast sail the length of beautiful Loch Linnhe to Corpach – the entrance to the Caledonian Canal . Later ascend Neptune ’s Staircase’ a series of 8 inter-connected locks that lifts the vessel to Banavie in the shadow of Britain ’s highest mountain – Ben Nevis . Moor Banavie overnight.

Day 8) BANAVIE / LAGGAN  after breakfast drive to the hauntingly beautiful Glencoe with its impressive Visitor Centre before re-joining the vessel at Banavie. Sail after lunch via a man-made section of the Canal and later cruise Loch Lochy to arrive at Laggan Locks in the wilds of the Highland scene. Here there is an interesting walk to a nearby settlement and the unique feature of a floating pub. Moor Laggan overnight.

Day 9) LAGGAN / FORT AUGUSTUS  Sail after breakfast along ‘Laggan Avenue’ a tree-lined and man-made section of the Canal and Loch Oich before reaching Kytra Locks and Fort Augustus (this section can be walked observing the vessel as she navigates the Canal). Here a series of 6 inter-connected locks lowers the vessel to the shores of Loch Ness. In Fort Augustus explore the town on foot and or visit the British Waterways Museum dedicated to the construction of the Canal. Moor Fort Augustus overnight.

Day 10) FORT AUGUSTUS / INVERNESS Morning sail across Loch Ness pausing approximately halfway in front of Urquhart Castle before entering Loch Dochfour and arriving at Inverness. Afternoon visit to Fort George , Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield followed by a panoramic tour of Inverness City . Evening Captain’s farewell reception and dinner. Moor Inverness overnight.

Day 11) INVERNESS  Disembark after breakfast.

Deck Plan

2008 Per Person Cruise Only Fares*

*Rate includes full board, shore excursions, transfers, port taxes.

EXCURSION DESCRIPTIONS:

FORT GEORGE, CLAVA CAIRNS & CAWDOR CASTLE
Duration: 2 hours 
Highlights: A morning tour of Fort George, Clava Cairns & Cawdor Castle

ARDUAINE GARDENS
Duration: 2 hours 
Highlights: Arduaine has many tender species and hybrids which flourish in the moist, mild climate which is home to a diversity of plants from all over the world.

GLASGOW
Duration: 2 hours 
Highlights: Afternoon city tour of Glasgow and the Burrell Collection at Pollock House.

EDINBURGH
Duration: 2 hours 
Highlights: Morning tour of the City of Edinburgh..