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Cruising the British Isles: Scotland, Ireland & England
Tour Description:
Voyage beyond mainland Scotland,
Ireland and England for a completely
unique experience exploring spectacular
coastlines, natural landscapes and historic
treasures. Joined by A&K’s famed Expedition
Team, discover the velvet-green Orkney
archipelago, wild Hebrides, UNESCO-designated
St. Kilda and ravishing cliffs of
Donegal and Moher. Enjoy luxury pre- and
post-cruise stays with one night in Edinburgh
and two nights in London.
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Destination & Sightseeing
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 - Edinburgh, Scotland
Arrive in Edinburgh and transfer to your landmark luxury
hotel, The Balmoral. This evening, gather for a welcome
briefing and themed dinner at your hotel.
Day 2 - Edinburgh
Edinburgh embodies the Scottish national heritage like
few other places. After a morning at leisure, tour Scotland’s
vibrant capital, taking in Edinburgh Castle and inspiring city
views. Later, board your expedition vessel and set sail on the
Firth of Forth. Conditions permitting, view Bass Rock, home
to the world’s largest gannet colony.
Day 3 - Invergordon
Northern Scotland is legendary for its dramatic, windswept
mountains, wooded hills and rich history. Today, explore
the magnificent Highlands, choosing from excursions that
may include a visit to Inverness, a private cruise on mythic
Loch Ness and stop at Urquhart Castle, an exploration of
Culloden’s battlefield, or a whisky tasting at Glenmorangie
Distillery.
Day 4 - Orkney Islands
Rich in Viking heritage, the landscapes of the Orkneys span
rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and wave-swept sea caves. Today,
you might explore historic Kirkwall; Skara Brae, one of the
best-preserved Stone Age settlements in Western Europe; or
the spine-tingling Ring of Brodgar, a circle of standing stones
dating to 2700 BC.
Day 5 - Outer Hebrides
Framed by wild, windswept beaches, Scotland’s Western
Isles span the rolling moorlands of Lewis and the towering mountains of Harris. Today, you might opt for a drive
through the moorlands, stopping to explore the Calanais
Standing Stones and the island’s crofting traditions, or drive
the Golden Road, pausing to visit a Harris tweed weaver and
a local distillery.
Day 6 - Outer Hebrides
Inhabited for over 2,000 years, Hirta, the largest of the St.
Kilda islands, harbored an isolated, hardscrabble agricultural
community until 1930. Conditions permitting, pass the
island’s staggering sea stacks and come ashore to explore
the deserted stonework settlement, the highest cliffs in all of
Britain, and a vital seabird habitat.
Day 7 - Inner Hebrides
The approach to Staffa by sea is breathtaking, with great
basalt columns flanking the deep caves of the island.
Conditions allowing, enjoy a Zodiac experience near
Fingal, a sea cave formed by hexagonally jointed basalt.
Continue cruising to the tranquil island of Iona, where
you might discover Iona Abbey, an ancient center of Gaelic
monasticism.
Day 8 - Donegal, Ireland
Today, your Captain charts a course past Ireland’s Killybegs
to County Donegal, a rugged enclave of deep-sea inlets,
sandy beaches and spectacular mountains. Once ashore, you
may opt for a scenic tour of Donegal Town; drive through
the countryside to the Slieve League Mountains; visit Sligo,
the mecca of “Yeats Country”; or cross into Northern
Ireland’s walled city of Londonderry to reflect on the legacy
of “Bloody Sunday” and “The Troubles.”
Day 9 - Galway
Today, arrive in Galway, a lively cultural enclave renowned
for its vibrant lanes, colorful houses and thriving arts scene.
You might enjoy a culinary walking tour and Irish whiskey
tasting, explore the Burren’s vast karst landscape with a
botanist and visit a local sheep farm, or spend the day amid
Connemara’s jagged, filigreed shoreline. Later, take in iconic
vistas from the atmospheric Cliffs of Moher.
Day 10 - At Sea
Relish a day at sea, relaxing with new friends and attending
lectures to enrich your discoveries.
Day 11 - Plymouth, England
Come ashore in Plymouth, a Devon port city renowned
for its rich maritime heritage. Here, you might choose to
tour the city’s Mayflower Museum, Barbican architecture,
Plymouth Hoe and Royal William Yard. Alternatively, head
out to Dartmoor National Park, pausing in Princetown for
a Devonshire cream tea, or savor tea and cake at Cornwall’s
Mount Edgcumbe House, former seat of the Earls of Mount
Edgcumbe.
Day 12 - London
Bid farewell to your Captain and crew as you approach the
White Cliffs of Dover and disembark. Once ashore, you
might visit Canterbury’s prestigious cathedral; tour Leeds
Castle, home to six English queens; or opt for a stop at
Chartwell, the former residence of Winston Churchill. Your
excursion ends at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten
Trinity Square, where you dine this evening.
Day 13 - London
Today, explore a city that defies all introductions — a global
hub of commerce, culture and empire dating back to Roman
times. Your excursions might include a tour featuring the
Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey
and the London Eye; a visit to Buckingham Palace; a culinary
experience with a former executive chef to the Royal Family;
or a visit to the Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War
Museums.
Day 14 - London
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or
continue on a group extension to the Cotswolds.
