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H E B R I DE A N P R I Nc E s s
2015 c RuI s E DI R E c toRy
Highlands & Islands of Scotland England, Northern Ireland, Wales & Eire The Channel Islands & The Isles of Scilly Northern France
By appointment to HM The Queen Provision of cruise holidays on Hebridean Princess All Leisure Holidays Ltd, trading as Hebridean Island Cruises
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Welcome to the Hebridean Princess 2015 Cruise Directory The word unique is greatly overused these days, but Hebridean Princess is undoubtedly one of a kind. A Hebridean cruise, as some of you will already know, is truly unforgettable; in a world where mediocre standards are all too common you will be assured of the best of service from a hand-picked crew, for whom supreme attention to detail is the norm. The majority of our guests are repeat travellers and their trust and confidence are not easily won. We work hard to ensure that a Hebridean Princess cruise is the most relaxing, stress-free and therapeutic experience you will ever enjoy – until of course, you find yourself back on board for a subsequent visit. So, at the end of your holiday, we hope that you will return home utterly refreshed and this is perhaps the reason why so many of you return to us time and time again. Welcome to a true voyage of discovery – welcome to the unique atmosphere of Hebridean Princess.
Lord Sterling Chairman
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Scotland and Northern Ireland
Cape Wrath
Butt of Lewis St Moluag’s Church An Gearrannan Black Houses
HANDA ISLAND
Carloway Broch Callanish Stones
cruise itinerary map
Loch a’ Chairn Bhain Lochinver
Stornoway
LEWIS
SUMMER ISLES Tanera Mòr
ATLANTIC OCEAN
SHIANT ISLES
Tarbert HARRIS
St KILDA Hirta
NORTH UIST Lochmaddy Barpa Langass Burial Chamber Pobull Fhinn Stone Circle
Trotternish peninsula
North Minch
Uig
Ullapool Corrieshalloch Gorge
Inverewe Garden Gairloch
Inner Sound
Shieldaig Dunvegan RAASAY Dunvegan Castle Loch Carron SKYE Portree and Gardens Attadale Gardens Loch Harport Plockton Kyle of Oyster Farm SOUTH Lochalsh Eilean Donan Castle UIST Loch Coruisk Little Minch Armadale Loch Hourn ERISKAY Armadale Castle CANNA and Gardens Inverie BARRA RUM The Old Forge Pub Castlebay Kinloch Sound of Sleat VATERSAY Kisimul Castle Castle S C O T L A N D Loch Nevis PABBAY EIGG Aonach MINGULAY An Sgurr MUCK Fort William M`or BERNERAY Sea of the Glenmore Bay Loch Linnhe Hebrides Loch Leven Salen COLL Glencoe Visitor Centre Loch Sunart Tobermory Ballachulish Sound Ardtornish of Mull Gardens TIREE Fingal’s ULVA Cave Skerryvore MULL Ardchattan Priory Gardens Sheila’s Lighthouse Craignure Dunstaffnage Cottage Duart Castle Museum OBAN KERRERA IONA Iona Abbey Ardkinglas House Craobh Haven Inveraray Arduaine Garden Ardfern Inveraray Castle Crarae e Loch Goil n Crarae Gardens COLONSAY Loch Long Fy Crinan h Colonsay House c Loch Holy Loch Crinan Canal Gardens Lo Striven Benmore Botanic Garden JURA Ormsary Loch Gruinart GREENOCK House Gardens RSPB Reserve Loch na Mile Loch Finlaystone House Portavadie Craighouse Tarbert Thorn BUTE Tarbert Castle Rothesay Ardgowan House ISLAY Largs Mount Stuart House Kelburn Castle Kildalton Cross Laphroaig Distillery Great Cumbrae Island Lochranza GIGHA Cathedral of the Isles Port Ellen Achamore Arran Distillery Troon Gardens Brodick Dundonald Castle Brodick Castle Holy Isle ARRAN Glenbarr Abbey Dumfries House
Fir
th
of
Lo
rn
BENBECULA
Campbeltown
RATHLIN ISLAND Ballycastle Giant’s Causeway
Firth of Clyde
Sanda Island
North Channel
Londonderry
Loch Ryan Stranraer Logan Botanic Garden
Belfast City Titanic Exhibition
Bangor
Mount Stewart House Strangford Loch
IRISH SEA
ISLE OF MAN Peel
Tynwald
NORTH SEA
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or n
OBAN
th
of L
British Isles, Eire and Northern France
Fir
ATLANTIC OCEAN
cruise itinerary map Firth of Clyde North Channel
Belfast
Peel ISLE OF MAN
NORTH SEA
Dublin
IRISH SEA
Holyhead Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens
Fishguard St David's Pembroke Pembroke Castle Colby Woodland Garden
Greenwich Maritime Museum Cutty Sark Canterbury Chatham Cathedral Chatham Docks Leeds Castle Dover Dover Castle
LONDON
Poole Kingston Lacy Teignmouth Compton Castle Falmouth Truro Cathedral Lost Gardens of Heligan
Fowey
PORTLAND
Dartmouth Greenway House Plymouth Edgcumbe House
Portsmouth Historic Naval Dockyard Mary Rose Museum Cowes ISLE OF Osborne House WIGHT
Newhaven Monks House
ENGLISH CHANNEL Dieppe Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
ISLES OF SCILLY St Mary’s Tresco Abbey Gardens
ALDERNEY Alderney Railway Cherbourg GUERNSEY Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House Sausmarez Manor
SARK Le Seigneurie Gardens JERSEY St Hellier Mont Orgueil Castle
Sainte-Mère-Église Utah Beach Ouistreham Museum of the Atlantic Wall
Rouen Honfleur St Catherine's Church
FRANCE
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Contents All inclusive
2
Crew
3
Life on board : public rooms
45
ining and cuisine Going ashore
67 9
Themed cruises, guides and guest speakers
10 11
Partnerships
12
The Royal Scotsman
13
Islands A
14 17
Cruise itineraries
1 93
Cabins
94 100
Good Connections
101
n board A
102 103
hat you need to know
104
Cabin Facilities eck plans
100
105 106
of our guests have told us they had an enjoyable holiday
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have told us they would consider cruising on Hebridean Princess again
9
of our guests would recommend Hebridean Princess to others
*Percentages are based on our 2013 cruising season and are calculated from the total of returned After-Cruise Questionnaires.
Hebridean Princess, anchored off Rum with the Black Cuillin behind
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All-Inclusive Hebridean Princess cruises are all-inclusive. Not an empty promise, but a Hebridean promise to ensure that you have a carefree holiday both on board and ashore. Each cruise includes...
Meals and drinks
Extra activities
All meals on board and ashore, snacks and picnics as shown in the itineraries and fresh fruit from baskets around the ship. Champagne, wines (excluding those from the Library Wines list), plus beers, spirits, soft drinks, tea, coffee and other hot drinks.
At no extra charge, your holiday can be made even more enjoyable with fishing trips and speedboat rides, which can be arranged by request.
Guides and guest speakers Knowledgeable guides accompany all cruises, both on board and on the tours ashore, with three experienced guides on the Footloose walking itineraries. Guest speakers feature on selected cruises.
Shore visits Entrance fees to all castles, gardens and other places of interest on our cruises, as well as transfers between the ship and each destination ashore, as shown in the itineraries.
Bicycles Use of the ship’s bicycles to explore ashore.
Port taxes All pier and harbour dues.
Gratuities Hebridean operates a strict ’no tipping’ policy.
A celebration If you plan to mark a special occasion on board, perhaps a wedding anniversary or birthday, we will be only too happy to help you celebrate by arranging for Champagne, a cake or canapés, to enjoy in the privacy of your cabin, or maybe share with family and friends in the Library. To celebrate these happy moments in true Hebridean style, please place a special request through our reservations staff.
Travel with family and friends Internet Free use of the internet including Wi-Fi access.
If you would prefer to holiday with your family and friends, why not invite them to join you on board Hebridean Princess, the ultimate cruising experience?
Transfers and car parking Private coach transfers from the local airport or train station to and from Hebridean Princess. For those wishing to drive, secure parking is provided at the port, with the exception of London.
Charters Alternatively enjoy the ultimate private party afloat and charter Hebridean Princess for up to 50 guests.
Not included Insurance Single trip travel insurance. Please note restrictions may apply.
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• Travel to and from our private coach transfer points • Wines from the Library Wines list • Any private shore visits organised by request and which are not part of the cruise itinerary • Personal telephone calls • Items purchased from the Hebridean Princess shop • Personal laundry
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Captain Richard Heaton
Captain Trevor Bailey
Crew At Hebridean Island Cruises we believe it is simply not possible to look after large numbers of guests properly and give them the really personal service that differentiates an extraordinary holiday from a merely good one. That is why, on
Hebridean Princess, you will find only 50 like-mined souls and no fewer than 38 crew to look after you.
If you would like to be known by your name within moments of coming on board, to have your smallest preferences remembered, then mass-market style cruising will never be a satisfactory alternative. Everything we do receives the same level of care and attention; from the carefully conceived shore visits to the spectacular overnight anchorages, the exquisite menus and the unique and individually designed cabins, every little detail aims to ensure that the whole experience is so complete that you will never even notice. Discreet service is the bedrock of our reputation and the uncannily accurate anticipation of your needs is a skill that our crew has developed into almost an art form. For us, resoluteness in the pursuit of perfection is something for which, in our view, there is no alternative. Behind the scenes we will be striving day and night to ensure that yours is the best holiday you have taken. Your job is to simply sit back, relax and slow down – Hebridean style!
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Life on board – public rooms After an energetic walk ashore, the comfort and homeliness of Hebridean Princess welcomes you back as though to your own home; and that is how we, and more importantly our guests, like to think of this unusual little ship. ‘Like home but better’ is how she has previously been described.
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Tiree Lounge
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The Tiree Lounge, with its intimate bar, is the social focal point of Hebridean Princess; beautifully designed and filled with soft armchairs and cosy sofas grouped around perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the ship – a brick inglenook fireplace! ‘A Floating Country House’ is how we have described Hebridean Princess for many years and remain true to the original description. Fifty like-minded guests mix in a convivial atmosphere and create a house party mood.
If a spot of solitude appeals, then the peaceful, wood-panelled library, with its fine selection of reference and general interest books can be enjoyed from a wing backed chair or Chesterfield sofa. The portside Look-Out Lounge and starboard Conservatory afford unrivalled sheltered views from their large panoramic windows as some of the World’s most dramatic and beautiful scenery gently glides by.
The emphasis on low key entertainment is complemented by the gentle art of conversation and the certain knowledge that fellow guests have chosen this style of holiday as much for what it doesn’t offer as for what it does.
Library
Impromptu musical evening
Conservatory
5
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Table decor
Parading the haggis
Gourmet cuisine
Dining and Cuisine The Columba Restaurant, with its cherry-wood panelling, fine artworks and discreet lighting is a romantic venue to enjoy the genial ambiance. Singlesitting dining means that your designated table for two awaits and, for solo travellers, the senior Officers invite guests to join them in convivial groups.
It is said that sea air stimulates the appetite and it is certainly our experience that, after a morning or afternoon ashore, guests are eager to be taken to the very finest destinations of haute cuisine created by a talented brigade of chefs and lead by Scotland’s finest culinary artists. Only the freshest and finest ingredients are used in our menu choices, most of which are procured from local suppliers. Dinners and most lunches are served in the elegant Columba Restaurant, through whose large windows the scenery glides by as you dine. On occasions, lunch may be served al fresco and, on certain cruises, Chef will take his skills ashore and produce a legendary Hebridean picnic – an extraordinary contrast to the rugged scenery in which it will be served.
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Breakfasts are informal and are as healthy or as hearty as you choose with fresh fruit, home-baked breads, cooked Scottish fayre and of course, Chef’s own take on that Scottish staple (porridge), with or without a wee dram! Our Gala Dinners are sparkling occasions, from the Champagne reception in the Tiree Lounge to a gourmet dinner – and no cruise would be complete without a traditional recital of Robert Burns’ Address to a Haggis!
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Barbe0ue on the Skye deck
ecadent dessert
Columba Restaurant
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Going ashore Unlike most cruise ships, a Hebridean Princess cruise includes all shore visits. From cultural to historical, serious walking and biking to simply strolling around the bay, the opportunities to experience the peace are endless.
Main image Beach landing on Rum 9 Insets left to right Hebridean Princess bicyles
ur speedboat
ur tenders
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On most days Hebridean Princess berths or anchors in different locations both morning and afternoon, whilst the ship’s tenders are on hand to operate a shuttle service ashore. Should you choose to wander at will, the small boats are always available to transport you back on board if the yearning for a glass of something or the pastry chef’s morning cakes prove too hard to resist.
Some of the islands we visit are so off the beaten track that no landing place is available. We will then use our special beach landing craft for an exciting chance to wander an uninhabited island or headland. The effects of the Gulf Stream bring a warmth and a fertility to this region that make it quite unlike any other in the British Isles.
Our long-standing connections in this remote corner of the kingdom enable us to arrange visits to privately owned castles and gardens, with an opportunity to talk to the owners and enjoy the different dimension of a visit that is personal. Small numbers and common interests ensure that visits ashore are fascinating, instructive and utterly enjoyable.
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Themed Cruises, Guides and Guest Speakers Themes Whilst our ‘Footloose’ walking programme has been a feature of our sailing calendar for many years now, its success has inspired the inclusion of other themed itineraries for
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2015 including gardens, classical music, golf and the best of Scottish food and drink.
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Footloose Walking
A LK I N W
Footloose walking cruises are accompanied by three highly experienced guides, two of whom are specialist walking guides with an intimate knowledge of the terrain. These exhilarating itineraries cater for all; whether you are a seasoned walker, prefer to stroll, or wish to vary the pace from day to day.
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Relish the magnificent splendour of some of Britain’s most beautiful gardens, cossetted by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream; a true horticultural extravaganza.
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Gardens
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Golf
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& DR I OD
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L GO F A
Scotland is renowned for some of the freshest and mouth watering cuisine throughout the world and this new cruise will introduce you to some of the finest restaurants in the Western Isles, coupled with a cookery demonstration from Michelin starred chef, Marcello Tully of Kinloch Lodge.
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Food and Drink
TE R E
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7th to 14th April 2015 Page 30-31
Footloose over The Minch 19th to 26th May 2015 Page 42-43
Footloose to Sutherland 23rd to 30th June 2015 Page 52-53
Footloose to the Channel Isles 23rd July to 1st August 2015 Page 60-61
Footloose to the Western Isles 29th September to 6th October 2015 Page 78-79
West Coast Gardens
ORLD W
CLA S
As home of golf, Scotland can justifiably boast some of Britain’s best courses and our unique golfers’ and non-golfers’ itinerary features some of the ‘hidden gems’.
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Explore the Inner Hebrides with classical music recitals in some of the most inspiring locations imaginable and visit Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, the inspiration for Mendelssohn and Turner.
U ISE
A LK I N W
Classical Music
10
U ISE
Footloose to the Inner Isles
ERES
12th to 19th May 2015 Page 40-41
St Kilda and the Outer Isles & The Ouposts of St Kilda 2nd to 9th & 16th to 23rd June 2015 Page 46-47 & 50-51
Classical Music Sojourn 30th June to 7th July 2015 Page 54-55
Links, Lochs & Sounds 8th to 15th September 2015 Page 72-73
Flavours of Scotland 13th to 20th October 2015 Page 82-83
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Knowledgeable Guides No cruise on board Hebridean Princess would be complete without our specially selected guides, who have
TORICA IS
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Footloose at Loch Shieldaig
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e lif
Nat u
& Wil d re
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ere st
Nicholas Merchant Authority on Historic Houses, Porceline and Antiques
Mike Everett Authority on Ornithology
A highly knowledgeable and experienced guide accompanies guests for the duration of each cruise, with three on ‘Footloose’ walking itineraries, always there to offer information and an occasional helping hand. Single guests can enjoy their company at dinner, when they join an Officer’s table in the Columba Restaurant. After-dinner talks over coffee and petit fours are enjoyable moments, outlining the next day’s activities and shedding fresh light on the unique regions through which we sail.
Wonders of the Natural World 17th to 24th March 2015 Page 24-25
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Trail of the Young Pretender 7th to 14th July 2015 Page 56-57
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Professor Mark Horton Authority on Archaeologyy
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Grand Celtic Voyage 14th to 23rd July 2015 Page 58-59
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of expertise and interest to enrich your stay on board and make your holiday
Tim Roberton Authority on Jacobean History
TE R EST
contributing their particular spheres
Houses and Castles of the Clyde 10th to 17th March 2015 Page 22-23
TORICA IS
TE R EST
sailed with us for a number of years,
experience even more special.
Rear Admiral John Lippiett Authority on Naval History
Enriching Guest Speakers
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The Beaches of Normandy 1st to 10th August 2015 Page 62-63
The enrichment of discovery and thrill of knowledge put Hebridean Princess cruises in a category of their own.
TORICA IS
Adrian Tinniswood OBE Authority on British Heritage
IN
Celtic Coasts 26th August to 4th September 2015 Page 68-69
Our on board speakers are chosen precisely because they are among some of the best authorities in their field. Passionate about their subject, these captivating orators bring each cruise alive and are delighted to share their knowledge with their fellow guests – a true meeting of minds.
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Michael Cull Authority on Astronomy Voyage to the Clyde 27th October to 3rd November 2015 Page 86-87
Lucinda Chetwode Authority on Historic Interiors and Social History
During our 2015 season Guest Speakers will accompany the eight specially selected cruises, shown opposite.
Grand Houses of the Clyde 3rd to 9th November 2015 Page 88-89
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Parnerships
Inveraray Castle Ardkinglas House Crarae
Loc
hF yne
NADFAS LE
GREENOCK
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Rothesay Mount Stuart House
AP
Hebridean Island Cruises is proud to be associated with NADFAS; a
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prestigious association which has great synergies with Hebridean. Not
Ardgowan House
BUTE
only are members entitled to a 5% saving on any Hebridean
Princess or Hebridean River cruise*, they will also be helping
Largs Kelburn Castle
Glenbarr Abbey YRE
Our NADFAS recommended cruise in 2015 is Houses & Castles of the Clyde featuring NADFAS lecturer, Nicholas Merchant who has had a life-long interest in antiques. Please refer to page 22-23 for full details of this cruise.
I N V E R C LY D E
Lochranza
KINT
to support NADFAS by booking a Hebridean cruise.
Finlaystone House
Troon Dundonald Castle
Brodick Brodick Castle
Dumfries House
ARRAN
Campbeltown Springbank Distillery
Firth of Clyde
* Not combinable with any other offer
OBAN Ardfern Arduiane Garden
National Trust As part of All Leisure Holidays, Hebridean Island Cruises has teamed up
Belfast Titanic Exhibition
Peel ISLE OF MAN
with the National Trust to offer members a wonderful range of cruises in 2015. Not only will members be entitled to a 5% saving off any Hebridean
Princess or Hebridean River cruise*, they will also be helping to support
Holyhead Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens
the National Trust by booking a Hebridean cruise. Our National Trust partnership cruise, Celtic Coasts, features Adrian Tinniswood, author of twelve books on architectural and social history and well-known as an author, lecturer and broadcaster in Britain and America. Please refer to page 68-69 for full details of this cruise. * Not combinable with any other offer
Bangor Mount Stewart House
Fishguard Pembroke Pembroke Castle Colby Woodland Garden
t Falmouth Truro Cathedral
Lost Gardens of Heligan
PORTLAND
Plymouth Fowey Edgcumbe House
Sea-Changers The preservation of the cruising environment in which Hebridean Princess operates, and the marine life which it supports, is of great importance to Hebridean Island Cruises. For that reason we are delighted to continue our dedicated partnership with the marine conservation charity, Sea-Changers. Sea-Changers is a charity with the mission of raising funds for marine conservation, primarily in the UK. Their vision is to create a world where seas and shores are clean and healthy, marine species are protected and where, far from damaging the oceans, those who use the sea for travel or their leisure pursuits, positively contribute to the sustainability of the marine environment. Since the introduction of a voluntary donation model Hebridean Princess guests have raised over ÂŁ8,000 to support marine conservation work in the UK. For more information on Sea-Changers please call our reservations staff on 01756 704704 or visit www.sea-changers.org.uk 12
Registered Charity England and Wales No 1142119
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The Royal Scotsman Hebridean Princess and the Royal Scotsman train have teamed up to offer the ultimate luxury tour of Scotland. The cruise extension package includes 2 or 3 nights on the Royal Scotsman; overnight at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh together with a chauffeur driven transfer to our private coach in Glasgow.
A )ourney on The Royal Scotsman takes you straight to the heart of the Scottish Highlands The train s interior is designed as a lu7urious home from home and )ust guests travel through Scotland s finest countryside in private cabins decorated in country style There are glorious views from every window, but to get really close to the scenery and feel the bracing air, head to the open deck observation carriage at the rear Life on board this lu7ury train is rela7ed and indulgent, with gastronomic dining in the two dining cars where you will be treated to the delicious cuisine of the on board chefs
Service is attentive but never intrusive and colourful touches, such as being welcomed on board at Edinburgh averley Station by a Highland Piper add to the thrill of the e7perience Along the way, guests disembark to meet local personalities, talk to e7perts on sub)ects from salmon fishing to whisky and take part in fun activities : truly a Scottish rail vacation par e7cellence
" !
01756 704704 !
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Scottish islands A-Z The wildly beautiful coast of Scotland is scattered with hundreds of islands and islets shaped by the relentless pounding of the sea and the ever-changing weather. Sublimely secluded, all are unique, forming a world apart that is little-known and accessible to the very few – yours to explore from the comfort of our delightfully small ship, Hebridean Princess. Experience their magic and mystery; revel in their rich diversity from the Firth of Clyde to the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Come and discover these precious island gems.
Arran
Coll
Firth of Clyde Islands
Inner Hebrides
Influenced by the mild North Atlantic Drift, Arran is a wildlife haven rising to high peaks, including four Corbetts. At the foot of the highest, Goatfell, nestles 16th century redsandstone Brodick Castle, close to Brodick town. Fifteen miles (24 km) to the north, the 14th century ruined castle of Lochranza was once a royal hunting lodge.
The rocky, wild and virtually treeless island of Coll was first settled in the Stone Age. Dotted with ruined cottages, this bird haven is picturesquely clad in flower-dotted machair, fringed by silver-white beaches, and offers refreshing bike rides and walks.
Please see pages 19, 20, 23, 24, 90 and 93
Please see pages 43 and 55
Hebridean Princess, Kyles of Bute
Inner Hebrides
Firth of Clyde Islands
Another bird-haven, home to some 200 bird species including the elusive corncrake, and 400 species of flora, Colonsay is a landscape of many contrasts from machair to woods, moors to green fields and rocky to sandy cliff-backed shores. Its finest beach is dramatic Kiloran Bay and inland lie the exotic woodland gardens of Colonsay House.
Crossed by the Highland Boundary Fault, Bute is an isle of distinctly contrasting landscapes from the bare, rounded and craggy uplands of the north to the lower, undulating and fertile south. Golden beaches fringe the west coast, many with views over the Sound towards Arran. The Victorian resort of Rothesay is the only town. Castle Bay, Barra
Barra
Please see pages 19, 20, 23, 24, 87, 88, 90 and 93
Canna, Small Isles
Outer Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
Named after a 6th century saint and worldfamous for its unique beach airport, Traigh Mòr, Barra is a beautiful, tranquil island with a fascinating history. Golden beaches backed by sandy, wild flower-dotted machair surround a more rugged interior. The main centre is the once prosperous herring port of Castlebay, where the MacNeils’ medieval fortress, Kisimul Castle, perches on a rock outcrop offshore.
Joined to Sanday by a causeway, secluded Canna lies less than 5 miles (8 km) off Rum. Dubbed the ‘Garden of the Hebrides’, this elongated, green and grassy isle is capped by magnetic Compass Hill at 458 feet (140 m) in the north. Canna was one of the earliest Christian settlements, associated with St Columba, who was later adopted as its patron saint.
Please see pages 36, 75, 78 and 81
Colonsay
Bute
Please see pages 36, 44, 51, 52, 76 and 78
Please see pages 28, 35, 40, 70, 75 and 82
Cumbraes Firth of Clyde Islands The contrasting Cumbraes afford fine views to the mainland, Arran and Bute. Green and undulating Great Cumbrae is home to the only town at Millport, elegantly lining Millport Bay. Here the tiny but beautiful Cathedral of the Isles, regarded as Britain’s smallest cathedral, seats only 100 worshippers. Rough and rocky Little Cumbrae, held by the Hunters and later by the Montgomeries, was maintained as a royal hunting forest. Its surviving ruins include the castle demolished by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1650 and a small chapel dedicated to St Beya. Please see pages 19 and 90
14 Arran from Ettrick Bay
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Eigg, Small Isles
Iona
Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
Bought out by its islanders in 1997, Eigg has been settled since prehistoric times and was once the seat of the Lord of the Isles. Its rich past is marked by Iron Age forts, a 6th century church, Viking burial mounds and a graveyard that is a moving testament to the 395 MacDonalds massacred in a cave by the MacLeods in 1577. Rising sheer above the plateau of this wildlife reserve, columnar pitchstone An Sgurr adds magic and mystery.
The exiled Irish prince and missionary St Columba reached Iona in 563 to found his community, landing at pebbled St Columba’s Bay in the south, as the legend goes. Originally dating from the 12th century, the restored abbey remains a much-revered place of pilgrimage. An enjoyable walk across the windswept machair leads to the Bay at the Back of the Ocean, with its Spouting Cave, facing the open Atlantic and America.
Please see pages 26, 30, 35, 44, 51, 52 and 76
Handa
Please see pages 26, 28, 35, 55, 70, 75 and 82
Inner Hebrides
Rum and Eigg from Arisaig
Eriskay
Erstwhile seat of the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, mild Islay is renowned for the peaty single malts of its eight operating distilleries. Islay abounds in birdlife at the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve, hub of a barnacle geese colony and historic treasures from the 18th century round church at Bowmore to the late 9th century High Cross of Kildalton.
Please see page 39
Jura
Please see pages 36, 43, 51, 57, 72, 75, 78 and 80
Gigha Inner Hebrides Three miles (4.8 km) west of Kintyre, green and fertile Gigha, ‘God’s’ or ‘Good Island’, is now owned by its community. In addition to dairy farming, goats are reared to produce a distinctive, fruit-shaped cheese – one of the isle’s main exports. Ardminish is the only village and site of Achamore House set in 50 acre (20 ha) gardens planted by Sir James Horlick. Please see pages 24
Inner Hebrides
Please see pages 24, 35, 48, 55, 70, 82 and 87
Inner Hebrides
Outer Hebrides The reputation of the tiny, hilly yet wellpopulated Isle of Eriskay extends far beyond its shores. Home to a rare pony breed, once used in the mines, it was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie first stepped onto Scottish soil in 1745. Eriskay is also famed as the site of the sinking of the SS Politician offshore in 1941, which inspired Compton MacKenzie’s novel and the 1949 film, ‘Whisky Galore’.
Islay
This small, rock isle sits across the Sound of Handa from the wildly beautiful west coast of Sutherland. Magnificent, horizontally stratified rocks of Torridonian sandstone to the north-west, weathered through time into ledges, form a perfect habitat for nesting seabirds, making Handa one of the largest colonies in north-western Europe. Puffin have returned, and other species include the redthroated and black-throated diver, eider and shell duck. The island was abandoned by its eight resident families in 1847.
Harris Outer Hebrides Historically and geographically apart from Lewis, Harris is a small region of many contrasts, offering wonderful walks and the beauty of Luskentyre beach on its sandy western shores. Rodel boasts the finest Pre-Reformation church in the Western Isles and the Harris Tweed produced here is world-famous. Although tenacious Gaelic strongholds today, Harris and neighbouring Lewis were the last of the Hebrides to adopt the language.
Crowned by the landmark Paps, Jura is a place of wild beauty offering a haven to a wide range of wildlife, including some 6,500 red deer. Glaciated raised beaches are a marked feature of its western shores, with the treacherous Corryvreckan Whirlpool to the north. Jura has one tiny village of 200 residents, Craighouse, where the small Jura Distillery has produced a unique single malt since 1810. Please see pages 24, 35, 55, 70 and 87
Please see pages 36, 39, 43, 44, 72, 76, 78 and 81
Paps of Jura
Iona Abbey 15
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Kerrera
Rum, Small Isles
Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides Capped by Askival (2,664 ft/ 812 m) in the rocky Cuillin, the wildlife haven of Rum is a National Nature Reserve and research centre. Owned by Scottish Natural Heritage since 1957, it was bought by the Lancashire industrialist John Bullough in 1879. At the turn of the 20th century, his playboy son, Sir George built the folly of Kinloch Castle, which remains a time-capsule of those headier Edwardian days.
Tiny Kerrera tranquilly guards the entrance to Oban from its two sheltered harbours at Ardentrive Bay and Horse Shoe Bay. Historically a stepping-stone for cattle drovers between Mull and the mainland, this fertile and hilly isle is crowned by the Renaissance MacDougall stronghold of Gylen Castle. Please see pages 35 and 48
Muck
Lewis Outer Hebrides Lewis is the largest and most northerly of the Hebrides, forming one island with Harris. Most of its wild landscape, rising to 1,800 feet (549 m) in the south, is cloaked in peat bog – hence its Gaelic name ‘Leodhas’, meaning ‘marshy’. The Callanish Standing Stones and well-preserved Carloway Broch 5 miles (8 km) to the north stand testament to its occupation since prehistoric times. The port of Stornoway is the only town. Please see pages 43, 47, 51, 57, 72, 78 and 81
Mingulay, Berneray and Pabbay Outer Hebrides At the south tip of the Hebrides, these three uninhabited Bishop’s Isles, swathed in white sandy beaches and flower-scattered machair, are awe-inspiring from the sea. Around Berneray 600 feet (183 m) cliffs, nested by thousands of seabirds, tower up dramatically from the sea. In the north, the Lewisian gneiss ‘Hermit Island’ of Pabbay, settled by an early Christian community, as its Old Norse name implies, is an ideal spot on which to land. Please see pages 47 and 57
Muck, Small Isles Inner Hebrides The flat and fertile Isle of Muck scattered with wild flowers and rimmed by silver shell-sand beaches, is a peaceful haven for puffin, kittiwake, fulmar, shearwater, sea-eagle and the porpoises that swim off its shores. Port Mòr is the only village, where the tearoom and craft shop serves delicious home baking. Please see pages 35, 36, 40, 52, 75 and 78
Mull Inner Hebrides Fringed by an indented 300 miles (480 km) coastline, Mull is an island of sweeping moors broken occasionally by picturesque clearings. Colourful Georgian-fronted Tobermory is the capital and Craignure the main port, south-east of which lie Scottish Baronial Torosay Castle and ancient Duart Castle, seat of the MacLeans.
St Kilda Outer Hebrides The last 36 Gaelic-speaking residents of St Kilda evacuated the main island of Hirta at their own request in 1930, thereby ending some 5,000 years of continuous settlement. Behind them they left a deserted village that survives today as an outdoor museum, roamed by Soay sheep. Renowned for its awe-inspiring bird cliffs and stacs, St Kilda’s remote and exposed Atlantic location makes visits weather-dependent. The archipelago is now a double UNESCO World Heritage Site. Please see pages 47 and 51
Sanda
Raasay
Firth of Clyde Islands Sanda, ‘Sandaigh’ in Gaelic, is a small, privately-owned island off the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula. An important bird migration and breeding point, it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), housing the first bird observatory on the west coast of Scotland. Although the island is treeless today, north-western Wood Hill indicates that this was not always so.
Inner Hebrides
Please see page 24
Please see pages 26, 28, 30, 32, 35, 40, 52, 55, 57, 70, 75 and 82
Located between Skye and the mainland, Raasay, ‘Isle of the Roe Deer’, is relatively lowlying in the north and mountainous in the south, rising to 1,453 feet (443 m) on central Dun Caan. Visited by Boswell and Johnson in 1773, the island is most famous as the birthplace of Scottish Renaissance poet Sorley MacLean. The main village is Inverarish. Please see pages 26, 30, 36, 51, 52 and 57
Hebridean Princess, Mingulay
Please see pages 30, 47, 72, 75 and 81
Scaplay Outer Hebrides Connected by bridge since December1997, Protestant Scalpay is a thriving, privately-owned island 984 feet (300 m) off Harris. Its peaty moor lands, scattered with small lochans, are home to ground-nesting birds. Eilean Glas Lighthouse on the west coast, dating from 1788, was the first to be built in the Western Isles. Please see page 43
16 Callanish Standing Stones, Lewis
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Shiant Isles
The Uists
Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
Privately owned by the Nicolson family since 1937, the Shiant Isles are geologically outliers of Skye, ringed by basalt rocks, reminiscent of Staffa and the Giant’s Causeway, that teem with thousands of seabirds. Mythically haunted by kelpies, the isles are a renowned wildlife haven for common seals, basking sharks, puffin, herring gull, oyster catcher, eider, shag and many more.
A paradise for walkers, the tranquil Uists abound in geological and historical contrasts. The low-lying bird-haven of North Uist, scattered with green-blue lochans, is Norse and Protestant by tradition, and a world apart from the Catholic and Gaelic stronghold of South Uist. The second-largest of the Outer Isles, South Uist’s softer, undulating landscape is carpeted in flower-decked machair and fringed by dunes.
Please see pages 36, 39, 43, 44, 47 and 76
View of Staffa from Hebridean Princess
Staffa
Please see pages 36, 43, 47, 57 and 72
Inner Hebrides
Quiraing
Staffa, named ‘Stave’ or ‘Pillar Island’ by the Vikings, lying 6 miles (10 km) west of Mull, was formed volcanically at the same time as the Giant’s Causeway, cooling into mainly hexagonal black basalt columns. Cliffs rising to 131 feet (40 m) are riddled with caves, the most famous of which is Fingal’s Cave at Staffa’s southern tip, discovered by Sir Joseph Banks on 13th August 1772 en route to Iceland and named after legendary Irish hero, Finn MacCool. Please see pages 28, 55 and 75
Skye Inner Hebrides
Tanera Mòr, Summer Isles
The largest of the Inner Hebrides, Skye was connected to mainland Scotland by the Skye Bridge in 1996. Created volcanically some 60 million years ago in the unique Black Cuillin, its awe-inspiring landscapes extending to the more rounded Red Cuillin and MacLeod’s Tables, are a paradise for walkers and climbers. Bizarre rock formations punctuate The Quiraing, with the Old Man of Storr, Trotternish to the north-east and Vaternish to the north-west. Enclosed by an indented 356 miles (570 km) long coastline, nowhere on Skye is more than 5 miles (8 km) from the sea.
Highland Isles
Please see pages 26, 32, 39, 40, 43, 44, 51, 52, 57, 72, 75, 76, 78 and 82
Tanera Mòr is the largest of the Summer Isles, a cluster of scenic islets located off the coast of Ullapool. Atop a lush, grassy hill, the flat summit of Meall Mòr commands panoramic views over the surrounding area. The unique private post office issues its own stamps, and opens out of hours especially for our visits. Please see pages 44 and 76
Ulva Inner Hebrides Situated off Mull, the tiny isle of Ulva is a traffic-free haven covering barely 2 square miles (5 km2) and home to only 16 permanent residents. One of the most ancient settlements in the Western Isles and erstwhile seat of Clan MacQuarrie, the island is now privately owned by the Howard family. Ulva’s past is well documented at Sheila’s Cottage Museum on the west coast. Please see pages 26, 28, 30, 55 and 70
Vatersay Outer Hebrides The most southerly of the inhabited Outer Isles, Vatersay is sliced in two by a narrow bar of sand and machair. With dramatic beaches, spectacular wildlife and a history dating from the Bronze Age, this beautiful isle has much to offer. The population of just over 70 residents is centred mainly around Vatersay town in the south. Please see page 36
Tiree Inner Hebrides Enjoying long hours of sunshine, mild, fertile Tiree is the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides. This wild flower and birdlife haven, with shell-sand blown machair and surfwashed beaches, is much favoured by artists for its natural beauty and colour. Duns and brochs bear witness to its ancient history, while the white Thatched House Museum in Sandaig reveals its more recent crofting past. Please see pages 35 and 78
Vatersay
Hebridean Princess, Ulva 17
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Main image: Brodick Bay | Insets left to right: Benmore Botanic Garden; Mount Stuart House; Loch Long
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Greenock – Greenock ne
y hF
Loch Goil
Loch Long
c Lo
Benmore Botanic Garden Holy Loch Loch Striven East Kyle
Outlook on the Clyde
GREENOCK I N V E R C LY D E
BUTE Rothesay Mount Stuart House
Monday 2nd to Friday 6th March 2015
Great Cumbrae Island Cathedral of the Isles Little Cumbrae Island
4 nights including Welcome Cocktail Party and 1 Gala Dinner This itinerary also departs on 9th November 2015 ARRAN Brodick
Join us for our first cruise of the 2015 season cruising the
Firth of Clyde Holy Isle
sheltered waters of the lower Clyde and Argyll Lochs and take in the breathtaking beauty and tranquillity of the area, all from the luxurious comfort of Hebridean Princess.
Set sail from Greenock to the beautiful island of Cumbrae, home to Britain’s smallest cathedral, The Cathedral of the Isles, commissioned by the 6th Earl of Glasgow, George Boyle, designed by William Butterfield and completed in 1849. Our next port of call is the Isle of Bute which lies on the geographical fault of the Highland Line creating an island of two halves with the northern end in the Highlands and the low lying southern end in the Lowlands. Marvel at Mount Stuart, a flamboyant Victorian Neo-Gothic creation of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, testament to his eclectic tastes, which includes the breathtaking Marble Hall and Chapel. From Bute we head to the largest of the Clyde islands, Arran, to enjoy a scenic tour of this popular island retreat before cruising around its smaller neighbour, Holy Isle, where there has been a spiritual heritage dating back to the 6th century. Our afternoon cruise continues through the narrow East Kyle and Loch Striven; during World War Two the loch was used for the training of the X-Craft midget submarine crews which were deployed to attack the Tirpitz - the loch was chosen for its similarity to the Kåfjord where the battleship was moored.
Travel Plan – 4 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Monday 2nd March – Embarkation in Greenock. Tuesday 3rd March – Morning; The Cathedral of the Isles at Great Cumbrae. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Wednesday 4th March – Morning; Island tour of Arran. Afternoon; Cruise East Kyle and Loch Striven. Thursday 5th March – Morning; From Holy Loch explore Benmore Botanic Gardens. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Long and Loch Goil. Friday 6th March – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Highlights ●
Cathedral of the Isles
●
Mount Stuart House
●
Benmore Botanic Garden
●
Loch Long and Loch Goil
From Holy Loch we visit Benmore Botanic Garden with its avenue of giant Redwoods and refurbished Victorian Fernery. Our last afternoon is spent enjoying the breathtaking scenery as we cruise Loch Long and Loch Goil running deep into the Argyll hills.
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Greenock – Greenock Crarae Crarae Gardens
Pearls of Argyll and Bute
ne
ch
Fy
Lo
Rothesay Mount Stuart Portavadie House
Tarbert Tarbert Castle
Friday 6th to Tuesday 10th March 2015
GREENOCK I N V E R C LY D E
BUTE
4 nights including Welcome Cocktail Party and 1 Gala Dinner This itinerary also departs on 13th November 2015
Lochranza Arran Distillery ARRAN
As we emerge into spring enjoy the contrasts of the new
Firth of Clyde
season; cruise Scotland’s longest sea loch; visit remote villages, a wonderful garden, a ruined castle, a neo-Gothic Victorian masterpiece and an island distillery.
Cruise past the island of Bute and north into Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch, where we visit Portavadie; a place of great contrast with its modern marina which owes its sheltered anchorage to an ill-fated attempt in the 1970s to regenerate the area by building oil platforms. A short trip across the loch to the fishing village of Tarbert where its ruined castle, once occupied by Robert the Bruce, stands over the harbour entrance. As we continue further up Loch Fyne we visit the fabulous Crarae, 40 acres of Himalayan woodland garden planted on the steep banks of the Crarae Burn. The garden was started by Grace, Lady Campbell in 1912 and taken over by the National Trust for Scotland in 2002. Following a morning at the gardens we relax and spend the afternoon on board enjoying the wonderful scenery as we cruise Loch Fyne. Arran is the largest of the Clyde islands and we visit the north west of the island at Lochranza, a lovely tranquil setting for a very modern distillery. Opened in 1995, the Isle of Arran Distillery boasts a welcoming Visitor Centre and a number of excellent whiskies. From Arran we cross to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and the Victorian neo-Gothic masterpiece that is Mount Stuart House; built by the 3rd Marquess it stands today as a real tribute to his eclectic taste.
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Travel Plan – 4 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Friday 6th March – Embarkation in Greenock. Saturday 7th March – Morning; Walks ashore at Portavadie. Afternoon – Walks ashore and visit castle ruins at Tarbert Sunday 8th March – Morning; Crarae Gardens. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Fyne. Monday 9th March – Morning; Isle of Arran Distillery from Lochranza. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Tuesday 10th March – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Highlights ●
Portavadie
●
Tarbert Castle
●
Crarae Gardens
●
Isle of Arran Distillery
●
Mount Stuart House
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Main image: Tarbert Castle | Insets left to right: Arran Distillery; Crarae Gardens; Loch Fyne
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Main image: Dumfries House | Insets left to right: Ardgowan House; Glenbarr Abbey; Inveraray Castle
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Greenock – Greenock
Inveraray Castle Ardkinglas House
yne Loc hF
Ardgowan House
TE R EST
AP KN
Tuesday 10th to Tuesday 17th March 2015
brings together a rich tapestry of medieval castles and grand
BUTE
I N V E R C LY D E
Largs Kelburn Castle
Glenbarr Abbey YRE
gems of the Clyde. The area’s long and often turbulent past
Finlaystone House
Lochranza
KINT
This ever popular cruise takes in some of the architectural
Rothesay Mount Stuart House
DA
Houses and Castles of the Clyde 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
GREENOCK
LE
IN
L
H
Crarae TORICA IS
Troon Dundonald Castle
Brodick Brodick Castle
Dumfries House
ARRAN
Campbeltown Springbank Distillery
mansions, some of which are still family homes today.
Firth of Clyde
Hebridean guests have a rare private tour of many, often by a family member, giving a unique insight into their history.
From our berth in Greenock we visit Finlaystone House, home to the McMillan family who are on hand to give a warm welcome. The flamboyant Mount Stuart on Bute stands testament to the eclectic tastes of the 3rd Marquess. The private apartments at the fairy tale Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, will be opened for us. Lunch is taken at the original Loch Fyne Oyster Bar from where we visit Ardkinglas House, designed by Sir Robert Lorimar and built in 1905. Cruising Loch Fyne to Arran, largest of the Clyde islands, we go ashore at the sheltered anchorage of Lochranza and enjoy an island tour. At Campbeltown we take a tour of Springbank Distillery, founded in 1828. A warm welcome is assured from Lady Glenbarr, Jeannie Macalister, at Glenbarr Abbey. We have a ‘behind the scenes’ private tour of Brodick Castle before crossing back to the mainland at Troon from where we visit Dumfries House; designed by Robert Adam and little changed by time, the house still boast much of the original furnishings. Dundonald Castle is now a ruin, but was once a Royal Residence, built for Robert II when he became King in 1371. From Largs we visit Georgian Ardgowan House; set in 400 acres and built between 1798 and 1801. Our final visit is to Kelburn Castle, home to Patrick Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow, originally built in the 13th century and extended in the 16th century but now features rather unusual graffiti.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 10th March – Embarkation in Greenock. Wednesday 11th March – Morning; Private tour of Finlaystone House. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Thursday 12th March – Morning; Private apartments at Inveraray Castle, lunch ashore. Afternoon; Private tour of Ardkinglas House. Friday 13th March – Morning; Tour of Arran from Lochranza. Afternoon; Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown. Saturday 14th March – Morning; Clan Macalister Centre at Glenbarr Abbey. Afternoon; Private behind the scenes tour of Brodick Castle. Sunday 15th March – Morning; From Troon, Dumfries House with lunch. Afternoon; Dundonald Castle. Monday 16th March – Morning; Private tour of Ardgowan from Largs. Afternoon; Private tour of Kelburn Castle from Largs. Tuesday 17th March – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Guest speaker Nicholas Merchant will be accompanying this cruise Nicholas has had a life-long interest in antiques, and during his career has been a valuer for the auctioneers, Sotheby’s and Phillips, and a cataloguer of furniture, silver, plate, books and porcelain. He is a member of the Furniture History Society and has a special interest in the opulent coastal dwellings of the western Mediterranean.
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Greenock – Oban
In t
ere st
Wonders of the Natural World Tuesday 17th to Tuesday 24th March 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Leaving the Clyde and heading north we take this last opportunity to enjoy the Clyde islands in spring. The Kintyre
Tayvallich Loch Sween JURA Loch na Mile Craighouse
Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve ISLAY
estuary. Rounding the Mull of Kintyre we make our way to our home port of Oban and our first visit of the year to some of the Hebridean islands.
Craobh Haven Arduaine Garden Ardfern Kilmartin Glen Kilmartin House Museum Crinan Crinan Canal GREENOCK
GIGHA Achamore Gardens
BUTE
ARRAN Machrihanish Bird Observatory
Rothesay Mount Stuart House
Lochranza Arran Distillery
Port Ellen
peninsula is part of the mainland and protects the Clyde
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OBAN
e lif
Nat u
MULL & Wil d re
Mull of Kintyre
Campbeltown Sanda Island
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Our first port of call is the Victorian town of Rothesay on Bute and the neo-Gothic mansion of Mount Stuart. There follows a tour of the Arran Distillery at Lochranza where we often encounter seals in the sheltered bay and roaming deer on the hills. The privately owned Sanda island is an important bird migration stop and breeding area. From Campbeltown we visit Machrihanish famous for its golf course and the Machrihanish Bird Observatory where seabirds and migrants can be observed and otters have regularly been seen. Rounding the Mull of Kintyre, our first Hebridean island of the season is the tiny, community-owned Isle of Gigha with its famous Achamore Gardens laid out be Sir James Horlick. Crossing to Port Ellen on Islay our morning visit is to the Loch Gruinart Reserve where we hope to see the last of the wintering geese. During lunch we sail to neighbouring Jura to visit the only settlement on the island at Craighouse. A cruise of Loch Sween takes us to the picturesque village of Tayvallich with time ashore before the short cruise to Loch Crinan and walks along the Crinan Canal, first opened in 1801 as a short cut to avoid the long journey round the Mull of Kintyre. Kilmartin Glen boasts one of the largest collections of Neolithic remains on the Scottish mainland with Kilmartin House museum at its heart. Marvel at the plantsman’s paradise of Arduaine Garden before arriving at our home port of Oban.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 17th March – Embarkation in Greenock. Wednesday 18th March – Morning; Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Afternoon; Isle of Arran Distillery from Lochranza. Thursday 19th March – Morning; Walks ashore on the private Isle of Sanda. Afternoon; Machrihanish Bird Observatory. Friday 20th March – Morning; Cruise the Mull of Kintyre. Afternoon; Achamore Gardens on the Isle of Gigha. Saturday 21st March – Morning; Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve on Islay. Afternoon; Craighouse on Jura. Sunday 22nd March – Morning; Walks ashore at Tayvallich, Loch Sween. Afternoon; Crinan Canal at Loch Crinan. Monday 23rd March – Morning; Kilmartin Glen and Kilmartin House Museum. Afternoon; Arduaine Garden from Craobh Haven. Tuesday 24th March – Disembarkation in Oban.
Guest speaker Mike Everett will be accompanying this cruise Mike Everett worked for 39 years for the RSPB in various aspects of ornithology conservation. Author of several bird books, he is a regular contributor to a variety of journals and other publications. He has lectured widely, both at home and overseas and has led or co-led bird watching tours in the UK, Europe and Egypt. Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Greenock at the start of the cruise, and from Oban to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise. Valet parking is available at Greenock and a complimentary transfer will be provided from Oban to Greenock on disembarkation.
Main image: Kilmartin Glen | Insets top to bottom: Crinan Canal; Loch Gruinart RSBP Reserve; Achamore Gardens
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Oban – Oban
Trotternish peninsula
Seasons of the Inner Isles
SKYE Portree
Little Minch
Tuesday 24th to Tuesday 31st March 2015
RAASAY Plockton Kyle of Lochalsh Eilean Donan Castle Sound of Sleat
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners RUM
Sea of the Hebrides
As we set sail from Oban for the first time in 2015 we head
EIGG MUCK
north through Kyle Rhea and onto Plockton. Enjoy a mix of mainland visits with a number of Inner Hebridean islands,
COLL
including Skye and Raasay, heading south for the Small Isles,
ULVA Sheila’s Cottage
Ulva, the sacred Isle of Iona and its larger neighbour Mull.
IONA Iona Abbey
We spend the morning cruising north through Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge to visit the National Trust for Scotland’s conservation village of Plockton with palm trees and an open air church. Onto Skye and the largest settlement of Portree, from where we tour the Trotternish peninsula and have lunch at Flodigarry Country House Hotel, part of which was once the home of Flora MacDonald. From Portree we make the short sail down the Sound of Raasay to the island of the same name. Sailing under the Skye Bridge we return to the mainland and our overnight berth at Kyle of Lochalsh from where we visit the iconic Eilean Donan Castle which lay in ruins from 1719 until it was fully restored between 1911 and 1932 by John MacRae-Gilstrap. Returning to Skye at Armadale, experience Armadale Castle and the Clan Donald Centre before visiting the community owned Isle of Eigg, dominated by the mile long pitchstone ridge of An Sgurr. Cruising past the Treshnish islands, the Isle of Staffa and the famous Fingal’s Cave, we stop at the holy island of Iona where St Columba first landed in 563. An afternoon on Ulva follows with the opportunity to visit Sheila’s Cottage Museum and one of Thomas Telford’s Parliamentary Churches. On our last full day we cruise to Loch Sunart to go ashore at Salen for strolls among the ancient Sunart Oakwoods before a final island call on Mull at the colourful harbour of the island capital, Tobermory.
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Armadale Clan Donald Centre
Salen Ancient Sunart Oakwoods Tobermory Sou nd of Mu l OBAN MULL l
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 24th March – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 25th March – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea and the Narrows. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Plockton on Loch Carron. Thursday 26th March – Morning; Tour Trotternish peninsula on Skye with lunch ashore. Afternoon; Explore Portree. Friday 27th March – Morning; Walks on the Isle of Raasay. Afternoon; Eilean Donan Castle from Kyle of Lochalsh. Saturday 28th March – Morning; Clan Donald Centre from Armadale on Skye. Afternoon; Walks ashore on Eigg. Sunday 29th March – Morning; Isle of Iona to the abbey. Afternoon; Sheila’s Cottage and Telford Church on the Isle of Ulva. Monday 30th March – Morning; Walks in ancient Sunart Oakwoods from Salen. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Tuesday 31st March – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Conservation Village of Plockton
●
Portree, Skye
●
Eilean Donan Castle
●
Armadale Castle
●
Iona Abbey
●
Sheila’s Cottage Museum
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Main image:
uiraing, Trotternish, Skye | Insets left to right: Sheila’s Cottage; Arisaig; Eilean Donan Castle
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Oban – Oban Fort William
Easter in the Hebrides Tuesday 31st March to Tuesday 7th April 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Experience the unique atmosphere of Glen Coe, scene of the famous massacre in 1692. Visit a modern Highland estate and cruise through one of the largest whirlpools in the world, the Corryvreckan. On Easter Sunday, experience the tranquillity of the holy Isle of Iona and its restored Abbey. Wonder at the natural splendour of Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, inspiration to composers, poets and painters.
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ULVA Sheila's Cottage STAFFA Fingal's Cave IONA Iona Abbey
Salen Ancient Sunart Oakwoods Loch a'Choire Kingairloch Estate Tobermory MULL Lochaline Ardtornish Estate and Gardens
Aonach M!r Ballachulish Glencoe Visitor Centre
OBAN Ardmaddy Castle Garden Corryvreckan
COLONSAY Colonsay House Gardens
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Fort William lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis and boasts Britain’s only mountain gondola rising to over 2,000ft on the north face of Aonach Mòr. At Ballachulish enjoy the majesty that is Glen Coe while learning about its tragic history at the Glencoe Visitor Centre. Cross Loch Linnhe to Loch a’Choire and Kingairloch Estate for a guided walk as we learn how the estate has adapted to modern times. Cruising south to Seil Sound we visit Ardmaddy Castle Garden before sailing west through the Corryvreckan whirlpool and onto Colonsay House Gardens owned by the Strathcona family for over 100 years.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 31st March – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 1st April – Morning; Gondola ride on Aonach Mòr. Afternoon; Glencoe Visitor Centre from Ballachulish. Thursday 2nd April – Morning; Kingairloch Estate on Loch a’ Choire. Afternoon; Ardmaddy Castle Garden in Seil Sound. Friday 3rd April – Morning; Cruise the Corryvreckan. Afternoon; Colonsay House Gardens on the Isle of Colonsay. Saturday 4th April – Morning; Ardtornish Estate Gardens on Lochaline. Afternoon; Walks in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods from Salen.
We then tour the Ardtornish Estate and Garden on the Morvern peninsula, a first for Hebridean. The estate boasts over 25 acres of gardens with wonderful vistas of sea and mountain. Salen has a sheltered pontoon where we can go ashore and walk in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods.
Sunday 5th April – Morning; Easter Sunday at Iona Abbey. Afternoon; Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa.
On Sunday morning, weather permitting, we will land on the holy isle of Iona in time to join the Easter Sunday service at the restored abbey before we set out in a local boat to view and land at Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, formed by the same volcanic movement as the Giant’s Causeway in Antrim. On Ulva, visit Sheila’s Cottage, a traditional thatched crofting cottage, restored to house a history of the island. Our last afternoon is spent on the Isle of Mull in the Georgian town of Tobermory to enjoy the colourful frontage or possibly visit the local distillery.
Highlights
Monday 6th April – Morning; Sheila’s Cottage and Telford Church, Isle of Ulva. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 7th April – Disembarkation in Oban.
●
Gondola ride, Aonach Mòr ● Kingairloch Estate
●
Ardmaddy Castle Garden ● Corryvrecken Whirlpool
●
Colonsay House Gardens ● Iona Abbey
●
Ardtornish Estate Gardens ● Fingal’s Cave
●
Tobermory
Main image: Hebridean Princess, Iona Insets top to bottom: Sunart Oakwoods; Ardmaddy Castle Garden
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Oban – Oban Knockan Crag Ullapool Corrieshalloch Gorge Gairloch
Inverewe Garden G
A LK I N W
U ISE
Footloose in the Inner Isles
Shieldaig
RAASAY Little Minch
So un do fS lea t
CR
SKYE
Tuesday 7th to Tuesday 14th April 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners Sea of the Hebrides
RUM
EIGG An Sgurr
MUCK
Our first Footloose cruise of the season visits the Inner Hebrides which form a wonderful tapestry of landscapes in
COLL
the sheltered waters off the west coast of Scotland.
Lip na Cloiche Garden
Experience the diverse landscapes and amazing wildlife that
Sou
ULVA Sheila’s Cottage
make these islands unique. Enjoy some spectacular walking
nd
of
Mu
MULL
ll
OBAN
among this breathtaking landscape
The small island of Rum is our first port of call with the chance to visit Kinloch Castle or walk with our guides before our afternoon cruise of Kyle Rhea and the Narrows to Loch Torridon. Ashore at Shieldaig, the walkers set off on a full day walk from Slattadale to Tollie; strollers enjoy time ashore before cruising to Gairloch to visit Inverewe Garden, planted by Osgood Mackenzie in 1862 and recognised as one of the world’s great gardens. Proceeding north to Loch Broom and our berth at Ullapool, walkers can again enjoy a full day’s walk at Knockan Crag; strollers enjoy time ashore and a visit to the local museum; after lunch on board, visit Corrieshalloch Gorge and the spectacular Measach Falls. We take a morning cruise to the isle of Raasay off the east coast of Skye with walks ashore for all. Continuing our journey south to the Small Isles we visit the community owned Isle of Eigg where walkers can tackle the mighty An Sgurr while strollers enjoy time ashore. Our afternoon will be spent on Muck with walks and the chance to visit the island’s renowned tea room. On our last full day walkers will have a full day walk round the island of Ulva visiting the croft where Dr Livingstone’s grandparents lived; strollers will enjoy a morning ashore visiting the Telford church and Sheila’s Cottage and an afternoon visit to Lip na Cloiche Garden on Mull, a fascinating private garden created in rather inhospitable terrain.
30
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 7th April – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 8th April – Morning; Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum. Afternoon; Cruise Kyle Rhea. Thursday 9th April – Morning; Walks ashore at Shieldaig. Afternoon; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Friday 10th April – Morning; Time ashore or visit the Museum in Ullapool. Afternoon; Corrieshalloch Gorge and Measach Falls. Saturday 11th April – Morning; Cruise the Sound of Raasay. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Raasay. Sunday 12th April – Morning; Time ashore on the Isle of Eigg. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Monday 13th April – Morning; Sheila’s Cottage and Telford Church, Isle of Ulva. Afternoon; Lip na Cloiche Garden on the Isle of Mull. Tuesday 14th April – Disembarkation in Oban.
Walking Highlights ●
Full day walk from Slattadale to Tollie
●
Full day walk at Knockan Crag
●
An Sgurr, Isle of Eigg
●
Full day walk, Isle of Ulva
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Main image: Knockan Crag | Insets left to right: Corrieshalloch Gorge; An Sgurr, Eigg; Inverewe Garden
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Oban – Oban Trotternish peninsula
Inverewe Garden Gairloch
RAASAY
West Coast Explorer Tuesday 14th to Tuesday 21st April 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Relax and enjoy Scotland’s west coast as we cruise north to Gairloch exploring remote villages, world renowned gardens, castles, ancient woodlands and some of the most breathtaking scenery Scotland has to offer, all from the comfort of Hebridean Princess.
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Little Minch
Portree SKYE
Armadale Clan Donald Centre Sea of the Hebrides
Shieldaig Plockton Kyle of Lochalsh Eilean Donan Castle Inverie The Old Forge Pub
RUM EIGG Fort William MUCK Salen Glenfinnan Monument Ancient Sunart Oakwoods COLL Ballachulish Tobermory Glencoe Visitor MULL Centre OBAN
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Cruise the spectacular Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge to Portree from where we tour the Trotternish peninsula, Skye’s northernmost peninsula and home to the Quiraing, largest landslip in Britain. Cruise Loch Torridon to the remote village of Shieldaig before continuing north to Gairloch to visit Inverewe Garden on the same latitude as Hudson Bay in Canada. Visit the conversation village of Plockton on Loch Carron before cruising under the Skye Bridge to our overnight berth at Kyle of Lochalsh, from here we visit the iconic Eilean Donan Castle which lay in ruins from 1719 until it was fully restored between 1911 and 1932 by John MacRae-Gilstrap. Armadale on the south east of Skye is home to the Clan Donald Centre and the Museum of the Isles where we learn of the history of the region through the strongest of its clans. Inverie on Knoydart is the largest settlement on the UK mainland not connected to the road network, only accessible by sea or on foot, home to the most remote pub on mainland Britain as well a large number of red deer. At Salen on Loch Sunart we walk in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods before visiting the Georgian town of Tobermory on Mull. Cruising Loch Linnhe to Ballachulish, visit the spectacular Glen Coe, an area of outstanding beauty with a dark past. Continuing along Loch Linnhe to Fort William, we visit the Glenfinnan Monument at the top of Loch Sheil raised to commemorate where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 14th April – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 15th April – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea. Afternoon; Tour the Trotternish peninsula from Portree. Thursday 16th April – Morning; Walks ashore at Shieldaig. Afternoon; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Friday 17th April – Morning; Walks ashore at Plockton on Loch Carron. Afternoon; Eilean Donan Castle from Kyle of Lochalsh. Saturday 18th April – Morning; Clan Donald Centre from Armadale on Skye. Afternoon; The Old Forge Pub, Inverie, Knoydart. Sunday 19th April – Morning; Walks in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods from Salen. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Monday 20th April – Morning; Glencoe Visitor Centre from Ballachulish. Afternoon; Glenfinnan Monument from Fort William. Tuesday 21st April – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Trotternish peninsula ● Inverewe Garden
●
Conservation village of Plockton
●
Eilean Donan Castle ● Old Forge Pub
●
Ancient Sunart Woodlands ● Tobermory, Isle of Mull
●
Glenfinnan Monument
Main image: Glenfinnan Monument | Insets top to bottom: Old Forge Pub, Inverie; Portree; Eilean Donan Castle
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Main image: Duart Castle | Insets left to right: Laphroaig Distillery; Iona Abbey; Eigg
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Oban – Oban
EIGG MUCK
COLL TIREE
Inner Hebridean Odyssey
MULL
Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum
Craignure Duart Castle OBAN Kerrera
IONA Iona Abbey
Tuesday 21st to Tuesday 28th April 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
COLONSAY Colonsay House Gardens
The Inner Hebrides form a wonderful tapestry of landscapes in the sheltered waters off the west coast of Scotland.
JURA
Experience the diverse landscapes and amazing wildlife that
Loch na Mile
make these islands unique. ISLAY
Tayvallich Loch Sween Ormsary Ormsary House Gardens Loch Caolisport
Craighouse Port Ellen Laphroaig Distillery
Our first port of call is Ormsary on Loch Caolisport, a maiden call for Hebridean Princess, with a rare opportunity to visit Lady Lithgow’s garden at Ormsary which is not normally open to the public. Our afternoon visit is the picturesque village of Tayvallich on Loch Sween. Our first Hebridean island visit is to Jura where, from our anchorage at Loch na Mile, we visit the only settlement at Craighouse. The neighbouring island of Islay is famous for its peaty single malt whisky and from Port Ellen we have the opportunity to visit Laphroaig one of the island’s famous distilleries. We cruise the Sound of Islay, the narrow stretch of water which separates the islands of Islay and Jura, and on to Colonsay House Gardens. Our next visit is to the sacred island of Iona where we visit the beautifully restored Benedictine Abbey. On Tiree at Hynish we learn the story of the construction of the Skerryvore Lighthouse, a remarkable feat of 19th century engineering. We have a morning ashore on Muck, one of the Small Isles, before moving to another of the Small Isles the community owned Isle of Eigg dominated by the pitchstone ridge An Sgurr. Our last full day starts at Craignure on Mull where we visit Duart Castle, home to Clan MacLean and their current chieftain, Sir Lachlan MacLean. In the afternoon we visit Kerrera the island that protects the entrance to Oban Bay which has an abundance of birds and a population of feral goats.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 21st April – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 22nd April – Morning; Ormsary House Gardens on Loch Caolisport. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Tayvallich, Loch Sween. Thursday 23rd April – Morning; Isle of Jura from Loch na Mile. Afternoon; Laphroaig Distillery from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Friday 24th April – Morning; Cruise the Sound of Islay. Afternoon; Colonsay House Gardens, Isle of Colonsay. Saturday 25th April – Morning; Isle of Iona to the abbey. Afternoon; Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum, Hynish Isle of Tiree. Sunday 26th April – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Afternoon; Time ashore on the Isle of Eigg. Monday 27th April – Morning; Duart Castle from Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Kerrera. Tuesday 28th April – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Ormsary House Gardens
●
Laphroaig Distillery
●
Colonsay House Gardens
●
Iona Abbey
●
Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum
●
Duart Castle
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Oban – Oban Tarbert HARRIS
Islands of Contrast Tuesday 28th April to Tuesday 5th May 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Wonder at the contrasts of Scotland’s isles. From the Inner
SHIANT ISLES
NORTH UIST Lochmaddy Pobull Fhinn Barpa Langass BENBECULA
RAASAY
SOUTH UIST Lochboisdale
Little Minch
ERISKAY Prince’s Bay BARRA VATERSAY
Plockton
SKYE
Kyle Rhea
CANNA Loch Hourn
RUM Sea of the Hebrides
Hebridean Isle of Canna, owned by the National Trust for
EIGG MUCK
Scotland, to the Outer Isles of Barra, Eriskay and Harris and
COLL
the bird paradise of the Shiants or the Small Isle of Muck, TIREE
each island has their own social and geological history.
Sou
nd
of
MULL
Our first port of call is to the Small Isle of Canna, given to the National Trust for Scotland by the great Gaelic scholar, John Lorne Campbell in 1981. For the first time this season we cruise across the Sea of the Hebrides to the Outer Isles and Castlebay on Barra from where we visit the most southerly inhabited of the Outer Hebrides, Vatersay. Cruising north to Eriskay we visit Prince’s Bay, the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on British soil to reclaim the Scottish and English crowns for his father, James Edward Stewart. From Lochboisdale we tour South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist, visiting Barpa Langass and Pobhull Finn with a picnic ashore. From Tarbert on Harris we tour the island and visit one of the famous Harris Tweed Weavers for a demonstration of this ancient skill. The Shiants are a privately owned collection of uninhabited islands in The Minch, boasting wonderful sea cliffs which are the nesting site for a large number of seabirds including puffins. As we cross The Minch we visit the island of Raasay, once home to a Prisoner of War Camp and the island where poet Sorley McLean was born. Our only mainland landing on this cruise is the conservation village of Plockton in Loch Carron before we cruise south though the spectacular Kyle Rhea and Loch Hourn. Our last island visit is the Small Isle of Muck our last chance for a stroll in the Hebrides before returning to Oban.
36
Mu
ll
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 28th April – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 29th April – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Canna. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Thursday 30th April – Morning; Walks on the Isle of Vatersay from Castlebay on Barra. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Friday 1st May – Morning; Tour the Uists from Lochboisdale on South Uist. Afternoon; Re-join the ship in Lochmaddy, North Uist. Saturday 2nd May – Morning; Tour the Isle of Harris including a Tweed Weaving Demonstration. Afternoon; Beach landing on the Shiant Isles. Sunday 3rd May – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Raasay. Afternoon; Time ashore at Plockton on Loch Carron. Monday 4th May – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea and Loch Hourn. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Tuesday 5th May – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Isle of Canna
●
Prince’s Bay
●
Tweed weaving demonstration, Isle of Harris
●
Beach landing on the Shiant Isles
●
Conservation village of Plockton
●
Isle of Muck
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Main image: "atersay | Insets left to right: Shiant Isles; Puffin, Harris; Canna
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Main image: Guillemots, Shiant Isles | Insets left to right: Luskentyre beach; Dunvegan Castle; Puffin Bay, Handa Island
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Oban – Oban
HANDA
Tarbert Luskentyre Beach HARRIS
Rugged North West
Dunvegan Castle
SHIANT ISLES Little Minch
SKYE Loch Dunvegan
Tuesday 5th to Tuesday 12th May 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Shieldaig
Talisker Distillery CANNA RUM Sea of the Hebrides
Experience the great wilderness that is the north west coast as we cruise as far north as Lochinver and out to the Western Isles visiting world important seabird colonies, remote gardens and castles and some the most magnificent beaches to
So
un
do
fM
ull
TIREE MULL
After an absence of several years, we return to Loch a’Chàirn Bhàin and have time ashore at this remote spot on the Sutherland coast. The privately owned island of Handa is our next port of call, operated as a Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve famous for its magnificent seabird cliffs. Lochinver is a remote fishing port in the north west and here we visit the Highland Stoneware workshop. A cruise across The Minch takes us to the tweed Isle of Harris where we indulge in a tour which includes a visit to one of the island’s famous beaches. The Shiant Isles lie just off the coast of Harris and we cruise close by the sea cliffs to view this great seabird city which, at this time of year, plays host to over 250,000 breeding seabirds including the iconic puffins. Dunvegan Castle on Skye, home of the chieftain of Clan MacLeod for 800 years, boasts wonderful gardens and clan history. Continuing along the south west coast of Skye we visit the island’s only legal distillery, Talisker. Our last afternoon is spent cruising through the Small Isle.
Kyle Rhea
EIGG
COLL
be found anywhere.
Our first morning is spent relaxing on board Hebridean Princess as we cruise Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge on our adventure north. Cruise Loch Torridon to Loch Shieldaig and go ashore at the conservation village of the same name. Continuing north we anchor in Loch Ewe, used as a deep water anchorage for the Atlantic and Arctic convoys in World War Two. Here we visit the world renowned Inverewe Garden.
Loch a’ Chàirn Bhàin Lochinver Highland Stoneware Pottery Loch Ewe Inverewe Garden
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 5th May – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 6th May – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea and the Narrows. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Shieldaig on Loch Shieldaig. Thursday 7th May – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Loch Ewe. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Loch a’Chàirn Bhàin. Friday 8th May – Morning; Visit the seabird cliffs on Handa island. Afternoon; Highland Stoneware Pottery at Lochinver. Saturday 9th May – Morning; Cruise across The Minch. Afternoon; Island tour of Harris from East Loch Tarbert. Sunday 10th May – Morning; Cruise the seabird cliffs of the Shiant Isles. Afternoon; Dunvegan Castle and seal colony from Loch Dunvegan on Skye. Monday 11th May – Morning; Talisker Distillery Loch Harport, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Cruise the Small Isles. Tuesday 12th May – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Inverewe Garden
●
Loch a’ Chàirn Bhàin
●
Handa Island
●
Highland Stoneware Pottery, Lochinver
●
The Shiant Isles
●
Dunvegan Castle and Seal Colony
●
Talisker Distillery
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Oban – Oban Inverewe Garden Gairloch RDEN GA
IN
Plockton Attadale Gardens Kyle of Lochalsh Balmacarra Estate
TE R EST
West Coast Gardens
SKYE Armadale Armadale Castle Gardens
Tuesday 12th to Tuesday 19th May 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
EIGG MUCK
Scotland’s west coast boasts a diverse collection of gardens
Salen Ancient Sunart Oakwoods
COLL
from the world renowned Inverewe and Arduaine to the
Lochaline Ardtornish Estate and Garden
Lip na Cloiche Garden
hidden gems of Lip na Cloiche and Attadale. A vast collection
MULL
of plants from around the world in one of the most
OBAN
spectacular natural settings.
Craobh Haven Arduaine Garden COLONSAY Colonsay House Gardens
From Craobh Haven we visit the plantsman’s paradise that is the National Trust for Scotland’s Arduaine Garden before cruising to Colonsay to visit Colonsay House Gardens which have been in the Strathcona family for over 100 years. From Colonsay we head for the west coast of Mull and the hidden gem that is Lip na Cloiche Garden, a private, self made garden in an extremely remote spot. Cruising north we stretch our legs ashore on the Isle of Muck. On Skye we visit Armadale Castle Gardens, home to the Clan Donald Centre, with attractive gardens set in the grounds of the ruined castle. From our overnight berth at Kyle of Lochalsh we visit the woodland garden of the Balmacarra Estate where the woodland, part of the Coille Mhor oak and birch wood, forms an important part of Scotland’s natural heritage. Cruising to Loch Carron and Plockton we enjoy Attadale Gardens with its sunken Fern Garden, created when a 19th century drain was uncovered. We spend the afternoon cruising north to Gairloch from where we visit the jewel in the crown of Highland gardens, Osgood Mackenzie’s masterpiece, Inverewe Garden, now under the stewardship of the National Trust for Scotland. Cruising south under the Skye Bridge and through Kyle Rhea we reflect on the gardens visited while admiring the wonderful natural scenery. On our final full day we go ashore at Salen and walk in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods before visiting Ardtornish Estate and Garden on the Morvern peninsula.
40
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 12th May – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 13th May – Morning; Arduaine Garden from Craobh Haven. Afternoon; Colonsay House Gardens, Isle of Colonsay. Thursday 14th May – Morning; Lip na Cloiche Garden, Isle of Mull. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Friday 15th May – Morning; Armadale Castle Gardens, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Balmacarra Estate and Woodland Garden from Kyle of Lochalsh. Saturday 16th May – Morning; Attadale Gardens from Plockton. Afternoon; Cruise the Inner Sound. Sunday 17th May – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Afternoon; Cruise Kyle Rhea and the Small Isles. Monday 18th May – Morning; Walks in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods from Salen. Afternoon; Ardtornish Estate and Garden on Lochaline. Tuesday 19th May – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Arduaine Garden
●
Colonsay House Gardens
●
Lip na Cloiche Garden
●
Balmacarra Estate and Woodland Garden
●
Attadale Gardens
●
Inverewe Garden
●
Ardtornish Estate and Garden
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Main image: Inverewe Garden | Insets left to right: Colonsay House Gardens; Arduaine Garden; Armadale Castle Gardens
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Main image: Druidibeg, South Uist | Insets left to right: Plockton; Butt of Lewis; Carloway Broch
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Butt of Lewis St Moluag’s Church
Oban – Oban
Carloway Broch Stornoway
Callanish Stones G
A LK I N W
Tarbert CR
U ISE
SHIANT ISLES The Minch Trotternish peninsula Uig
HARRIS
Footloose over The Minch Tuesday 19th to Tuesday 26th May 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Lochmaddy Pobull Finn Barpa Langass NORTH UIST BENBECULA
Portree SKYE
SOUTH UIST CANNA
RUM
The Minch to the Outer Isles where we combine some old
EIGG
Sea of the Hebrides
favourites with new walks as well as visits to the outstanding historical sites the Western Isles have to offer, giving
COLL
something for everyone - walkers and non walkers alike.
Kyle Rhea
SCALPAY
ERISKAY Prince’s Bay
Our second Footloose cruise of the season takes us over
Plockton
So
un
do
fM
ull
TIREE MULL
Our first morning is spent cruising Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge to Loch Carron and the conservation village of Plockton. Across the sea to Skye we disembark at Portree where you can choose to take a full day walk on the Trotternish peninsula or tour the area in more comfort with lunch at the Flodigarry Country House Hotel. All guests re-join the ship in Uig as we cross The Minch to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Walkers again have the opportunity to take a full day walk on Lewis with our two guides; others may spend the morning with our third guide exploring the north of the island to the Butt of Lewis and St Moluag’s Church, with lunch on board and an afternoon visit to the famous Callanish Standing Stones and Carloway Broch. Enjoy a gentle cruise south past the Shiants with their sea cliffs full of nesting seabirds at this time of year. Berthing at Tarbert on Harris walkers set out on a half day walk while strollers take a tour of Scalpay, where we visit a traditional Harris Tweed maker. As we continue our journey though the Outer Hebrides we go ashore on North Uist where walkers set off for a full day walk and strollers enjoy a tour of the Uists through Benbecula and South Uist to the Isle of Eriskay.
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 19th May – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 20th May – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea. Afternoon; Time ashore at Plockton on Loch Carron. Thursday 21st May – Morning; Tour Trotternish from Portree, Isle of Skye including lunch ashore. Afternoon; Re-join ship in Uig, Isle of Skye. Friday 22nd May – Morning; Butt of Lewis and St Moluag’s Church, Isle of Lewis. Afternoon; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Saturday 23rd May – Morning; Cruise the seabird cliffs of the Shiant Isles. Afternoon; Visit the Isle of Scalpay from Tarbert, Isle of Harris. Sunday 24th May – Morning; Tour the Uists from Lochmaddy with a picnic lunch ashore. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Monday 25th May – Morning; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Afternoon; Beach landing on the Isle of Coll. Tuesday 26th May – Disembarkation in Oban.
Walking Highlights ●
Full day walk on Trotternish peninsula
●
Full day walk on Lewis
●
Half day walk on Harris
●
Full day walk on The Uists
As we cruise back across the Sea of the Hebrides, weather permitting, we make a beach landing on Coll to enjoy time ashore.
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Oban – Oban Tarbert HARRIS
Hebridean Explorer Tuesday 26th May to Tuesday 2nd June 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners This itinerary also departs on 22nd September 2015
Dunvegan Castle
Little Minch
CANNA Sea of the Hebrides
SHIANT ISLES
Skye, the Small Isles of Canna and Eigg, the Outer Isle of Harris and the privately owned, uninhabited Shiant Isles as well as Tanera Mòr, largest of the Summer Isles.
44
Ullapool Corrieshalloch Gorge
The Minch
Inverewe Inverewe Garden
SKYE Loch Dunvegan Loch Harport Oyster Farm
Kyle Rhea
Armadale Clan Donald Centre
RUM EIGG
Join Hebridean Princess as she explores a number of the Hebridean islands and remote mainland outposts, including
SUMMER ISLES Tanera M•r
COLL
Sou
nd
of
Mu ll MULL
OBAN
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Canna, one of the Small Isles, was given to the National Trust for Scotland by the great Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell. From Canna we cruise to Skye and the remote Loch Harport where we visit the Isle of Skye Oyster Farm and learn more about how they are grown.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 26th May – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 27th May – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Canna. Afternoon; Isle of Skye Oysters, Loch Harport.
We continue along the south west coast of Skye to Loch Dunvegan, home to Clan MacLeod at Dunvegan Castle, an excellent location to witness the resident seal population. As we cross The Minch we make a beach landing on the Shiant Isles, a world renowned breeding colony of seabirds, including puffins. East Loch Tarbert on Harris is our next port of call where we enjoy a tour of the island and witness a Harris Tweed making demonstration.
Thursday 28th May – Morning; Dunvegan Castle, Loch Dunvegan, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Beach landing on the Shiant Isles.
Returning across The Minch we arrive at Lochewe an important naval base during the war years and now famous for its gardens at Inverewe where we land directly into the gardens. Our overnight berth is at Ullapool from where we visit the dramatic box canyon that is Corrieshalloch Gorge. The following morning takes us to Tanera Mòr, largest of the Summer Isles, which boast its own post office and issues its own stamps, one of which features Hebridean Princess. Cruising south under the Skye Bridge to the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale we learn the history of this once powerful Clan. Our final visit is the Small Isle of Eigg, now owned by its community following a buy out in 1997.
Tuesday 2nd June – Disembarkation in Oban.
Friday 29th May – Morning; Island tour of Harris including Tweed weaving demonstration. Afternoon; Cruise across The Minch. Saturday 30th May – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Loch Ewe. Afternoon; Corrieshalloch Gorge and Measach Falls from Ullapool. Sunday 31st May – Morning; Walks ashore on the private island of Tanera Mòr. Afternoon; Cruise the Inner Sound. Monday 1st June – Morning; Clan Donald Centre from Armadale on Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Eigg.
Highlights ●
Isle of Skye Oysters ● Dunvegan Castle and Seal Colony
●
Shiant Isles ● Tweed Weaving Demonstration
●
Inverewe Garden
Corrieshalloch Gorge and Measach Falls ● Tanera Mòr ●
Main image: Luskintyre beach, Harris | Insets top to bottom: Summer Isles; Oysters, Loch Harport; Hebridean Princess, Eigg
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Main image: Callanish Stones, Lewis > Insets left to right: Hebridean Princess, $illage Bay, Hirta; Eriskay Ponies; North Uist
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Butt of Lewis St Moluag’s Church
Oban – Oban
Carloway Broch Callanish Stones LEWIS
Stornoway
ORLD W H
ER
I TA G
E
St Kilda and the Outer Isles
ST KILDA Hirta
Tuesday 2nd to Tuesday 9th June 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
HARRIS Lochmaddy Pobull Finn Barpa Langass NORTH UIST BENBECULA
The Minch
Inverewe Garden Gairloch
SOUTH UIST
t
SHIANT ISLES
SKYE
ERISKAY BARRA
This is the first of two planned visits this year to the mysterious land of St Kilda, the United Kingdom’s only
BISHOP’S ISLES
double UNESCO World Heritage Site, lying approximately
Sea of the Hebrides
120 miles off the west coast of mainland Scotland, where man
RUM Kinloch Castle EIGG COLL
lived in the harshest of conditions up until 1930. We also
So
After an afternoon cruise to the Outer Isles we land on Eriskay for a tour of the Uists and Benbecula. Continuing north to Stornoway, we have a full day to explore Lewis; in the morning take a trip to the most northerly point at the Butt of Lewis, including St Moluag’s Church and in the afternoon we visit the famous Standing Stones at Callanish and the 2,000 year old Carloway Broch. A beach landing on the uninhabited Shiant Isles allows us to admire the myriad of breeding seabirds. On to Gairloch to tour Osgood Mackenzie’s Inverewe Garden, a world renowned garden set on a barren bluff. Cruising south through the Narrows and Kyle Rhea we head for the Small Isle of Rum. The eclectic Kinloch Castle on Rum, once the summer home of Lancastrian Industrialist, Sir George Bullough, is our next exploration; the island and castle were given to the forerunner of today’s Scottish Natural Heritage who continue preservation of the island and its wildlife.
do
fM
ull
TIREE
explore the Western Isles from south to north, a true adventure.
On this voyage to the furthest reaches of St Kilda we cross the Sea of the Hebrides, and weather permitting, land on one of the Bishop’s Isles at the very southern tip of the Outer Hebrides. Sailing overnight to St Kilda, we arrive early morning to cruise the seabird colonies between the island of Boreray and Stac Lee before anchoring in Village Bay. Weather permitting we land on the main island of Hirta where the 19th century village is preserved exactly as it was when abandoned 80 years earlier.
un
MULL
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 2nd June – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 3rd June – Morning; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Afternoon; Beach land on one of the Bishop’s Isles, cruise overnight. Thursday 4th June – Morning; Cruise the Stacs and land at Village Bay, Hirta, St Kilda. Afternoon; Cruise towards Barra. Friday 5th June – Morning; Tour the Uists from Isle of Eriskay with a picnic lunch ashore. Afternoon; Re-join ship in Lochmaddy North Uist. Saturday 6th June – Morning; St Moluag’s Church and the Butt of Lewis from Stornoway. Afternoon; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Sunday 7th June – Morning; Beach landing on the Shiant Isles. Afternoon; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Monday 8th June – Morning; Cruise the Narrows and Inner Sound. Afternoon; Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum. Tuesday 9th June – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Beach landing, Bishop’s Isles
●
Double UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda
●
The Uists
●
St Moluag’s Church and The Butt of Lewis
●
Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch
●
Beach landing on the Shiant Isles
●
Inverewe Garden
●
Kinloch Castle
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Oban – Oban
KERRERA
OBAN Ardfern Kilmartin Glen Kilmartin House Museum
ISLAY Port Ellen Laphroaig Distillery
Gaelic Tapestry Tuesday 9th to Tuesday 16th June 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Loch Foyle Londonderry
Ballycastle Giant’s Causeway
Visit three Gaelic nations, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man all with a shared history yet with such diversity;
Belfast Titanic Exhibition
encompassing the oldest parliament in the world, great industrial heritage, walled cities and tranquil islands - a real
ISLE OF MAN
voyage of discovery awaits.
Cruising south we go ashore on the whisky Isle of Islay to Laphroaig, one of the famous Islay distilleries. Continuing south to Northern Ireland and the city of Belfast, we spend the day exploring this wonderful city with its recent turbulent past and mighty shipbuilding heritage, including a visit to Queen’s Island, the birth place of the Titanic. Crossing the Irish Sea to our third Gaelic nation we berth at Peel on the Isle of Man, home to the oldest continuous parliament in the world. Returning to Northern Ireland we anchor at Ballycastle to marvel at the Giant’s Causeway, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago or, according to local legend, the start of a bridge for giants linking Ireland to Scotland. Londonderry is situated on the banks of the Foyle and we take a tour of the city including the magnificent City Walls. As we set sail from Londonderry we enjoy the scenic cruise from the river to Loch Foyle and onto the North Channel as we head back to Scotland. At Ardfern on the Scottish mainland, we visit Kilmartin Glen and Kilmartin House Museum full of Neolithic monuments and artefacts. Our final port of call is the island of Kerrera which protects the entrance to Oban Bay and has abundant wildlife, including a number of feral goats.
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Peel
Tynwald
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 9th June – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 10th June – Morning; Laphroaig Distillery, Isle of Islay. Afternoon; Cruise to Belfast. Thursday 11th June – Morning; City tour of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Afternoon; Titanic Exhibition, Queen’s Island Belfast. Friday 12th June – Morning; Cruise to Peel, Isle of Man. Afternoon; Island tour including the Tynwald. Saturday 13th June – Morning; Cruise the Antrim coast. Afternoon; Giant’s Causeway from Ballycastle. Sunday 14th June – Morning; City tour of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Foyle and the North Channel. Monday 15th June – Morning; Kilmartin Glen and Kilmartin House Museum from Ardfern. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Kerrera. Tuesday 16th June – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Laphroaig Distillery
●
City of Belfast
●
Titanic Exhibition
●
Isle of Man
●
Antrim Coast and the Giant’s Causeway
●
Londonderry
●
Kilmartin Glen and Kilmartin House
●
Isle of Kerrera
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Main image: Giant s Causeway > Insets left to right: Titanic Exhibition; Kilmartin Glen; Peel Castle
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Main image: $illage Bay, Hirta, St Kilda > Insets left to right: Inverewe Garden; Puf?n; Portree
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Butt of Lewis St Moluag’s Church
Oban – Oban
Carloway Broch
t
Callanish Stones
ORLD W H
ER
I TA G
Stornoway
LEWIS
E
HARRIS
ST KILDA Hirta
The Outposts of St Kilda
Inverewe Garden
The Minch
Gairloch
NORTH UIST BENBECULA
Tuesday 16th to Tuesday 23rd June 2015
RAASAY Portree SOUTH Aros Centre UIST SKYE ERISKAY Prince’s Bay CANNA BARRA RUM Sea of the Hebrides EIGG
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
St Kilda is one of the most atmospheric locations you can visit without leaving the British Isles. When you add spectacular gardens, Neolithic standing stones and medieval castles, this makes for an experience of a lifetime.
COLL
So
un
do
fM
ull
TIREE
MULL
Cruise Kyle Rhea and the Narrows to the Isle of Raasay sheltered in the lee of Skye before crossing the Sound of Raasay to Skye’s largest town, Portree, site of the last meeting place of Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Aros Centre at Portree includes exhibitions on the history of the island from 1700, together with sea eagle and heron exhibitions. Osgood Mackenzie’s Inverewe Garden stands on a rocky promontory overlooking Loch Ewe on latitude further north than Moscow. Across The Minch to Stornoway where our morning is spent exploring the Butt of Lewis, north of the island, and St Moluag’s Church. Wonder at the Callanish Standing Stones and the well preserved Dun Carloway Broch; much mystery surrounds the origins of brochs, they represent some of the most sophisticated stone structures of the Iron Age. Cruising overnight to St Kilda we arrive early morning to cruise between Stac Lee and Boreray with around 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannets before circumnavigating the main island of Hirta to Village Bay, where the 19th century village lies abandoned by the last 36 inhabitants when they were evacuated at their own request in 1930. Walk at Prince’s Bay on Eriskay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil on 23rd July 1745. On our final full day we visit two of the Small Isles, Canna, owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1981, and Eigg, communityowned following a buy-out in 1997, now boasting the first wind, water and sun powered electricity grid in the world.
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 16th June – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 17th June – Morning; Cruise the Sound of Sleat and Kyle Rhea. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Raasay. Thursday 18th June – Morning; Aros Centre Portree, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Friday 19th June – Morning; St Moluag’s Church and the Butt of Lewis from Stornoway. Afternoon; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch from Stornoway Isle of Lewis. Saturday 20th June – Morning; Cruise the Stacs and land at Village Bay, Hirta, St Kilda. Afternoon; Cruise towards Barra. Sunday 21st June – Morning; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Monday 22nd June – Morning; Time ashore on the Isle of Canna. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Eigg. Tuesday 23rd June – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Aros Centre, Portree
●
Inverewe Garden
●
St Moluag’s Church and The Butt of Lewis
●
Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch
●
Double UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda
●
Prince’s Bay, Eriskay
●
Isles of Canna and Eigg
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Oban – Oban SUMMER ISLES
Lochinver
G
A LK I N W
CR
Ardvreck Castle Calda House U ISE
Footloose to Sutherland
Inverewe Garden Gairloch RAASAY Portree
Tuesday 23rd to Tuesday 30th June 2015
So un do fS lea t
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners SKYE Loch Coruisk CANNA
A new Footloose cruise that heads north to Sutherland, not
Sea of the Hebrides
forgetting to take in some of the fascinating islands and mainland gems on the way. With new walks and exciting
RUM MUCK
EIGG An Sgurr
So un COLL d of Tobermory M
visits, yet including some old favourites, this is surely a cruise that has something for all.
ull
MULL
Our first call is to the island of Muck with walks and strolls for all before we head further north though Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge to Gairloch. From Gairloch walkers head off on a full day walk from Slattadale while strollers enjoy Inverewe Garden before everyone re-joins the ship in Lochewe to cruise the Summer Isles on our way to Lochinver. From Lochinver walkers tackle the Elphin walk while strollers visit the ruins at Ardvreck Castle and Calda House. Following lunch on board walkers walk to Inverkirkaig Falls while strollers have the opportunity for strolls through the hazel woods and the chance to visit the most remote bookshop on mainland Britain, Achins. On Raasay walkers head off for a full day walk while strollers enjoy a morning at Portree on Skye before cruising across Raasay Sound to join the walkers on the Isle of Raasay. From our anchorage at Loch Scavaig we take in the awe and wonder that are the Black Cuillin from Loch Coruisk, an unforgettable location whether walking or strolling. Canna was home to the great Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell who left the island to the National Trust for Scotland in 1981. Another of the Small Isles, Eigg, is dominated by the pitchstone ridge of An Sgurr which will only be tackled by the fittest of our walkers. Our last afternoon is spent at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull with walks and strolls around this delightful Georgian town.
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OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 23rd June – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 24th June – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Afternoon; Cruise Kyle Rhea and the Inner Sound. Thursday 25th June – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Afternoon; Re-join the ship in Loch Ewe and cruise the Summer Isles. Friday 26th June – Morning; Ardvreck Castle and Calda House from Lochinver. Afternoon; Visit hazel woods and Britain’s most remote book shop from Lochinver. Saturday 27th June – Morning; Portree, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Walks on the Isle of Raasay. Sunday 28th June – Morning; Loch Coruisk from Loch Scavaig Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Walks ashore on Canna. Monday 29th June – Morning; Time ashore on the Isle of Eigg. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 30th June – Disembarkation in Oban.
Walking Highlights ●
Full day walk from Slatterdale
●
Half day Elphon walk
●
Half day walk to Inverkirkaig Falls
●
Full day walk, Isle of Raasay
●
An Sgurr, Isle of Eigg
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Main image: Loch Scavaig > Insets left to right: An Sgurr; Tobermory; Ardvreck Castle
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Fort William Salen Ancient Sunart Aonach Oakwoods M!r
AL SIC M
IN
IC US
CLA S
Oban – Oban
COLL TE R EST
Classic Music Sojourn Tuesday 30th June to Tuesday 7th July 2015
Tobermory MULL STAFFA Fingal's Cave
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Explore the Inner Hebrides combining wonderful vistas with
Craignure ULVA Duart Sheila's Castle Cottage IONA
COLONSAY
live classical music in some of the most inspiring locations JURA
imaginable. Visit Fingal’s Cave, inspiration behind Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and be entertained by musicians from the Cantilena Festival on Islay and the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival.
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Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve ISLAY Port Ellen Kildalton Cross Laphroaig Distillery
Loch na Mile
Lochaline Ardtornish Estate and Gardens OBAN
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From Loch na Mile we visit Craighouse, the only settlement on Jura, before cruising to Islay and a visit to the RSPB reserve at Loch Gruinart where we hope to catch the last of the breeding seabirds. At our overnight berth in Port Ellen we enjoy an on board concert from musicians of the Cantilena Festival. The following morning we visit the Laphroaig Distillery before we depart Islay and cruise the Sound of Islay and the west coast of Mull. On Ulva, we visit Sheila’s Cottage, a restored crofting cottage now the island’s museum, then on to one of Thomas Telford’s ‘Parliamentary Churches’. From the sacred Isle of Iona we take a local boat to Staffa and Fingal’s Cave, inspiration to composers, artists and poets since Victorian times. On Coll we land by beach boat before an evening in Tobermory to be entertained at a concert from the young musicians of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival. Crossing the Sound of Mull to Loch Sunart we go ashore to enjoy walks in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods. From Lochaline we visit the Ardtornish Estate on the Morvern peninsula then cruise Loch Linnhe to Fort William with the opportunity to ride the gondola to Aonach Mòr in the Nevis Range. Returning to Mull at Craignure we enjoy a Champagne reception at Duart Castle hosted by Sir Lachlan MacLean, Chieftain of Clan MacLean, before another concert by the musicians of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 30th June – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 1st July – Morning; Craighouse from Loch na Mile Isle of Jura. Afternoon; Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Thursday 2nd July – Morning; Laphroaig Distillery from Port Ellen. Afternoon; Cruise the Sound of Islay and west coast of Mull. Friday 3rd July – Morning; Sheila’s Cottage and Telford Church, Isle of Ulva. Afternoon; Fingal’s Cave, Isle of Staffa. Saturday 4th July – Morning; Beach landing on the Isle of Coll. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Sunday 5th July – Morning; Walks in the ancient Sunart Oakwoods from Salen. Afternoon; Ardtornish Estate and Garden on Lochaline. Monday 6th July – Morning; Gondola ride at Aonach Mòr from Fort William. Afternoon; Duart Castle from Craignure, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 7th July – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve ● Laphroaig Distillery
●
Concert from musicians of the Cantilena Festival
●
Fingal’s Cave ● Ancient Sunart Oakwoods
●
Ardtornish Estate and Garden ● Gondola ride, Aonach Mòr
●
Champagne reception at Duart Castle
●
Young musicians of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival
Main image: Hebridean Princess, Staffa Insets top to bottom: Hebridean Princess, Tobermory; Kildalton Cross
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Main image: Portree, Skye > Insets left to right: Barpa Langlass; Duart Castle; Bishops Isles
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Butt of Lewis St Moluag’s Church Carloway Broch
Oban – Oban
IN
Stornoway
LEWIS
L
H
Callanish Stones TORICA IS
TE R EST
Trail of The Young Pretender Tuesday 7th to Tuesday 14th July 2015
Lochmaddy Pobull Finn Barpa Langass NORTH UIST BENBECULA SOUTH UIST
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Explore the Inner and Outer Hebrides and remote west coast
ERISKAY Prince’s Bay BARRA
where Bonnie Prince Charlie once raised his standard and Highland clans in an attempt to reclaim the thrones of Scotland, England and Ireland in the name of his father,
The Minch Trotternish peninsula
Portree RAASAY Flodigarry Hotel SKYE
Sea of the Hebrides
CANNA RUM
BISHOPS ISLES
Glenfinnan Monument Glenuig
Ardnamurchan Point COLL Craignure Tobermory Duart Castle TIREE MULL OBAN
James Francis Edward Stuart.
We cruise round Ardnamurchan, most westerly point of the British mainland, on our way to Glenuig Bay to view the Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard to gather the Jacobite Clans for his ‘45 rising. Across the sea to Skye we go ashore at Portree, where The Royal Hotel is the site of MacNab's Inn, the last meeting place of Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746.
HARRIS
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 7th July – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 8th July – Morning; Cruise round Ardnamurchan Point. Afternoon; Glenfinnan Monument from Glenuig Bay. Thursday 9th July – Morning; Tour the Trotternish peninsula from Portree Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Raasay.
A tour of the Trotternish peninsula allows us to take coffee at the Flodigarry Country House Hotel, part of which was Flora MacDonald’s house. We cross the Sound of Raasay to the Isle of Raasay where Bonnie Prince Charlie hid from the British troops after his defeat at Culloden.
Friday 10th July – Morning; Butt of Lewis and St Moluag's Church from Stornoway. Afternoon; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Cross The Minch to Lewis where we explore St Moluag’s Church and the Butt of Lewis to the north and the Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch. As we continue our cruise through the Outer Hebrides we go ashore at Lochmaddy on North Uist and pick up the Prince’s trail through the Uists to Eriskay and Prince’s Bay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on British soil on 23rd July 1745. Re-joining the ship in Eriskay we head to the Bishop’s Isles where we land by beach boat. Across the Sea of the Hebrides to the Isle of Mull, we stop at Tobermory before heading to Craignure; from here we visit Duart Castle, home to Clan MacLean, great Jacobite supporters, where we enjoy a reception hosted by the current Clan Chief, Sir Lachlan MacLean.
Monday 13th July – Morning; Time ashore at Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Afternoon; Duart Castle from Craignure, Isle of Mull.
Saturday 11th July – Morning; Tour of the Uists from Lochmaddy, North Uist with picnic lunch. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Sunday 12th July – Morning; Beach landing on one of the Bishop’s Isles. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides.
Tuesday 14th July – Disembarkation in Oban.
Guest speaker Tim Roberton will be accompanying this cruise Graduating with an MA from Trinity College Dublin, Tim spent many years in London as a Chartered Surveyor before becoming the Chairman of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Property Trust and advisor to one of the Great Twelve Livery companies. As a member of the Moidart Local History Group he is a great contributor of articles to their website and is the editor of a local history book. Tim lives with his wife Sally and owns a cottage in Moidart where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745.
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Oban – Portland FROM OBAN Stranraer Logan Botanic Garden
TORICA IS
IN
L
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Bangor Mount Stewart House Strangford Lough
ISLE OF MAN
TE R EST
Grand Celtic Voyage
Dublin City Tour
Tuesday 14th to Thursday 23rd July 2015 9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Join us as we head south from Oban to the south coast of England and on our journey, take in a Scottish botanical garden, a stately home in Northern Ireland, Dublin City and the magical Isles of Scilly. Teignmouth Compton Castle
PORTLAND Falmouth Lost Gardens Fowey of Heligan Dartmouth ISLES OF SCILLY Greenway House St Mary’s Tresco Abbey Truro Cathedral Gardens
As we leave Oban to head to the south coast for the first time since 2011 we cruise through the North Channel to Stranraer where we visit the Logan Botanic Garden, regional garden of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. Crossing the Irish Sea to Bangor we visit Mount Stewart House with a guided tour of the house and lunch before re-joining the ship in Strangford Lough. Continuing down the east coast of Ireland we cruise along the River Liffey to the City of Dublin where we enjoy a tour of the city and time to explore on our own. After a full day at sea we anchor for the evening off the Isles of Scilly in preparation for our morning visit to Tresco Abbey Garden. Our first English port of call on the mainland is Falmouth from where we visit Truro with its magnificent cathedral before enjoying lunch ashore and a visit to one of Cornwall’s great gardens, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years and one of the most mysterious estates in England. We re-join the ship in Fowey to cruise further east along the south coast to Dartmouth and a visit to Greenway House, former home of the author Agatha Christie. From Teignmouth we tour the dramatic, medieval fortress of Compton Castle where the original manor house dates from the 14th century. Our final afternoon is spent cruising the south coast to our disembarkation port of Portland. Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Oban at the start of the cruise, and from Portland to Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport at the end of the cruise.
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Travel Plan – 9 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 14th July – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 15th July – Morning; Cruise the North Channel. Afternoon; Logan Botanic Garden from Stranraer. Thursday 16th July – Morning; Bangor, Northern Ireland and Mount Stewart House with lunch. Afternoon; Re-join the ship in Strangford Lough. Friday 17th July – Cruise east coast of Ireland and River Liffey. Afternoon; Tour the City of Dublin. Saturday 18th July – Full day; cruising from Ireland to the Isles of Scilly. Sunday 19th July – Morning; Visit Tresco Abbey Garden on the Isles of Scilly. Afternoon; Cruise to Falmouth. Monday 20th July – Morning; Visit Truro Cathedral with lunch ashore from Falmouth. Afternoon; Lost Gardens of Heligan. Tuesday 21th July – Morning; Cruise the south coast of England to Dartmouth. Afternoon; Visit Agatha Christie’s Greenway House. Wednesday 22nd July – Morning; From Teignmouth visit Compton Castle. Afternoon; Cruise to Portland. Thursday 23rd July – Disembarkation in Portland.
Guest speaker Professor Mark Horton will be accompanying this cruise Mark Horton is Professor in Archaeology at the University of Bristol. Educated at Cambridge University, he is an expert on maritime and coastal archaeology. He has worked extensively in both Britain and overseas, directing excavations in the Caribbean, East Africa and Egypt. He is well known as one of the team of presenters on BBC Coast, which has been airing since 2005. Before Coast, Mark presented Timeflyers and was involved in the early episodes of Time Team.
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Main image: St Mary s, Isles of Scilly > Insets left to right: owey; Mount Stewart House; Liffey river with Ha penny Bridge
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Main image: Hauteville House, Guernsey > Insets left to right: Cowes; Sark, La Coupee; Cherbourg
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Portland – Portland Cowes Osborne House
Poole Kingston Lacy
ISLE OF WIGHT
G
A LK I N W
CR
PORTLAND
U ISE
Footloose to the Channel Isles Thursday 23rd July to Saturday 1st August 2015 9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Experience the picturesque Channel Islands and enjoy walks
ALDERNEY GUERNSEY Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House Sausmarez Manor SARK
and visits around Poole and Cherbourg on either side of the Channel. Take the opportunity to visit four of the Channel Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark.
Cherbourg
FRANCE
La Seigneurie Gardens JERSEY
St Hellier Mont Orgueil Castle
From Portland our first call is along the south coast at Poole where there are local walks or the chance to visit Kingston Lacy before we spend the afternoon crossing the English Channel.
Travel Plan – 9 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Thursday 23rd July – Embarkation in Portland.
From the French port of Cherbourg, we have time to explore the city or enjoy a full day walk with packed lunch. A morning at sea takes us to our first and the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey, where we can enjoy an afternoon walk or a visit to Orgueil Castle overlooking the picturesque harbour at Gorey. Take a tour of Wartime Jersey including the German Command Centre and War Tunnels or enjoy a full day walk on the island. The second of our Channel Islands is Guernsey where we enjoy a tour, including Sausmarez Manor, the only privately owned stately home on the island where the present Seigneur is descended from the original Fief of the Manor; alternatively embark on a full day’s walk on the island. From Guernsey we cross by local ferry to the island of Sark, where the only motorised transport is the tractor. Enjoy a tour in the horse drawn vehicles and visit La Seigneurie Gardens before returning to the ship. On Alderney we travel on the only working railway in the Channel Islands, where diesel locomotives pull London Underground carriages to the Alderney Lighthouse. Crossing the Channel we stop at the Isle of Wight and enjoy a visit to Queen Victoria’s Osborne House or local walks.
Friday 24th July – Morning; Kingston Lacy from Poole. Afternoon; Cruise the English Channel. Saturday 25th July – Morning; Tour of Cherbourg. Afternoon; Free time to explore Cherbourg. Sunday 26th July – Morning; Cruise to Jersey. Afternoon; Mont Orgueil Castle, Gorey. Monday 27th July – Morning; Tour wartime Jersey including the German Command Centre. Afternoon; Time to explore St Helier. Tuesday 28th July – Morning; Tour Guernsey including Sausmarez Manor. Afternoon; Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House, Guernsey. Wednesday 29th July – Morning; Horse drawn tour of the island of Sark. Afternoon; La Seigneurie Gardens on Sark. Thursday 30th July – Morning; Ride on the Channel Island’s only working railway in Alderney. Afternoon; Cruise the English Channel. Friday 31st July – Morning; Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Afternoon; Cruise to Portland. Saturday 1st August – Disembarkation in Portland.
Walking Highlights ●
Walks at Poole
●
Full day walk at Cherbourg
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Full day walk on Jersey
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Walks on Guernsey
●
Walks on the Isle of Wight
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Portland – Portland Portsmouth Historic Naval Dockyard Mary Rose Poole Kingston Lacy
VA NA L
PORTLAND HI
ISLE OF WIGHT
S T O RY
The Beaches of Normandy Saturday 1st to Monday 10th August 2015 9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Explore the past on this adventure across the English Channel to the Beaches of Normandy and sail the River Seine
Cherbourg
before taking in our Naval History at the historic Portsmouth Dockyard including the Mary Rose Museum which opened in 2013.
Sainte-Mère-Église Utah Beach Ouistreham Museum of the Atlantic Wall
Rouen Honfleur St Catherine’s Church
FRANCE
Departing from Portland we cross the English Channel to the port of Cherbourg. Here we tour the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, an important crossroads in the Allied campaign before visiting Utah Beach where the majority of US forces landed on D-Day in 1944. From Cherbourg we cruise the Normandy coast past the D-Day beaches to the port of Ouistreham to visit the Museum of the Atlantic Wall; this open air museum is a unique historical site of modern fortification with underground trenches, bunkers and remains of German coastal batteries, the observation points and gun sites are among the best preserved along the Atlantic coast.
Travel Plan – 9 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Saturday 1st August – Embarkation in Portland. Sunday 2nd August – Morning; Cruise the English Channel. Afternoon; Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah Beach from Cherbourg. Monday 3rd August – Morning; Cruise the Normandy coast. Afternoon; Museum of the Atlantic Wall, Ouistreham. Tuesday 4th August – Morning; Visit D-Day beaches from Ouistreham. Afternoon; Cruise the Seine to Rouen. Wednesday 5th August – Morning; City tour of Rouen. Afternoon; Time ashore to explore Rouen. Thursday 6th August – Morning; Cruise the Seine to Honfleur. Afternoon; Visit Saint Catherine’s Church, Honfleur. Friday 7th August – Full Day; Cruise the English Channel.
After lunch we view a number of the D-Day beaches where the UK and Commonwealth troops landed. A cruise of the Seine takes us to Rouen for a city tour, one of France’s most ancient cities, where Joan of Arc was executed in 1431. Returning down the Seine to Honfleur, we visit the 15th century Saint Catherine’s Church, the largest surviving wooden church in France. Relax on a day cruising the English Channel to Portsmouth to spend the morning touring the Historic Naval Dockyard where the famous flagships HMS Victory and HMS Warrior are located. Enjoy the afternoon in the company of our guest speaker, Vice Admiral Lippett, at the Mary Rose Museum, of which he is Curator. Conclude our exploration with walks at Poole or visit the elegant country mansion of Kingston Lacy and a cruise of the English coast.
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Saturday 8th August – Morning; Historic Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth. Afternoon; Mary Rose Museum Portsmouth. Sunday 9th August – Morning; Kingston Lacy from Poole. Afternoon; Cruise the English coast. Monday 10th August – Disembarkation in Portland.
Guest speaker Rear Admiral John Lippiett will be accompanying this cruise John Lippiett had a 36 year career in the Royal Navy which included command of three ships at different seniorities, a frigate squadron, and the School of Maritime Warfare, and culminating in three appointments at flag rank. He took early retirement in 2003 and became Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust. John lectures extensively on the Mary Rose story and more generally about maritime history.
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Main image: Normandy Landings, remains of arti?cial port at Arromanches les > Insets left to right: Rouen; HMS $ictory; Hon@eur
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Main image: Portsmouth Dockyard > Insets left to right: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; Hebridean Princess, Tower Bridge;
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sbourne House
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Portland – London
Greenwich Maritime Museum Canterbury Cutty Sark Cathedral LONDON Chatham Chatham Docks Leeds Castle Dover Portsmouth Historic Naval Dockyard Cowes Mary Rose Museum Osborne House Newhaven ISLE OF PORTLAND Monk’s House WIGHT
Historic Maritime Discovery Monday 10th to Tuesday 18th August 2015 8 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Uncover the great seafaring heritage of a nation. Take in the historic Naval Dockyard at Portsmouth, the Naval Museum at Chatham, World Heritage Site of Greenwich and a cruise of the Thames.
Cruise past the Needles to our first port of call and Queen Victoria’s hideaway, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight. Returning to the mainland and Portsmouth’s Historic Naval Dockyard, we spend the morning touring the docks and visit HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Our afternoon is spent at the recently opened Mary Rose Museum. As we cruise the south east coast we visit Newhaven and Monk’s House a tranquil 17th century weatherboarded cottage, home to the novelist, Virginia Wolf, and jam packed with character and the spirit of the many artists and writers who visited. Continuing to Dover, we visit historic Canterbury and its famous cathedral. Cruise into the Thames estuary and the river Medway to Chatham Docks, a unique 80-acre site comprising historic buildings, museums, galleries and the warships HMS Gannet, a Victorian Royal Navy Sloop which has recently undergone a major refurbishment; HMS Cavalier, the Royal Navy’s last operational Second World War destroyer and HMS Ocelot, a submarine from the Cold War era and the last warship to be made for the Royal Navy at Chatham. After spending a night alongside in Chatham we visit the Historic Leeds Castle before continuing along the Thames to our berth at West India Dock. From here we cross the river to the World Heritage Site of Greenwich and the Maritime Museum with lunch ashore before a visit to the Cutty Sark, launched in Scotland in 1869. We then cruise the Upper Thames to Tower Bridge before disembarkation on the Thames.
Travel Plan – 8 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Monday 10th August – Embarkation in Portland. Tuesday 11th August – Morning; Cruise past the Needles. Afternoon; Osborne House, Isle of Wight. Wednesday 12th August – Morning; Historic Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth. Afternoon; Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth. Thursday 13th August – Morning; Cruise the south coast. Afternoon; Monk’s House, Newhaven. Friday 14th August – Morning; Cruise the south coast. Afternoon; Canterbury Cathedral. Saturday 15th August – Morning; Cruise the Thames and River Medway. Afternoon; Chatham Docks. Sunday 16th August – Morning; Historic Leeds Castle. Afternoon; Cruise the Thames. Monday 17th August – Morning; Greenwich Maritime Museum from West India Docks. Afternoon; Lunch ashore and Cutty Sark. Tuesday 18th August – Disembarkation in London.
Highlights ●
Cruise past the Needles ● Osborne House, Isle of Wight
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Portsmouth Historic Naval Dockyard
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Mary Rose Museum ● Monk’s House
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Historic Canterbury Cathedral ● Chatham Docks
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Leeds Castle ● Greenwich Maritime Museum
●
Cutty Sark ● Cruise the Upper Thames to Tower Bridge
Coach transfers will be provided from Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport to Portland at the start of the cruise, and from Hebridean Princess to central London railway terminals at the end of the cruise.
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London – Portland
Thames River LONDON Dover Dover Castle
Jewels of the English Channel Tuesday 18th to Wednesday 26th August 2015
ISLE OF WIGHT
PORTLAND
8 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Dieppe Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
As we leave from the Thames, join us on a cruise taking in both sides of the English Channel as well as those fascinating Channel Islands that are closer to France but remain resolutely part of the British Isles.
Relax and settle in to life on board Hebridean Princess as we cruise the Thames to Dover. We visit the medieval Dover Castle, spectacularly situated above the White Cliffs of Dover, which has guarded our shores from invasion for twenty centuries and includes secret wartime tunnels situated beneath the cliffs. Spend the afternoon cruising the English Channel to the French port of Dieppe where we enjoy a tour of the NotreDame-de-Bon-Secours, built in 1879 on a cliff in memory of sailors lost at sea. We cruise the French coast to the River Seine and the picturesque town of Honfleur where we find the famous 15th century Saint Catherine’s Church, largest surviving wooden church in France. Continuing along the Normandy coast to the town of Cherbourg, we enjoy a tour of the town before heading to the Channel Island of Guernsey. From Guernsey we cross by local ferry to the island of Sark, where the only motorised transport is the tractor. Enjoy a tour in the horse drawn vehicles and visit La Seigneurie Gardens before returning to Guernsey where we visit Victor Hugo’s Hautville House. On Alderney we travel on the only working railway in the Channel Islands, where diesel locomotives pull London Underground carriages to the Alderney Lighthouse.
ALDERNEY Alderney Railway
Cherbourg
SARK La Seigneurie GUERNSEY Gardens Hautville House
Honfleur St Catherine’s Church
Travel Plan – 8 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 18th August – Embarkation in London. Wednesday 19th August – Full day; Cruise of the Thames including Tower Bridge Thursday 20th August – Morning; Dover Castle from the Port of Dover. Afternoon; Cruise the English Channel. Friday 21st August – Notre-Dame-de Bon-Secours, Dieppe. Afternoon; Cruise the French coast to the River Seine. Saturday 22nd August – Morning; Saint Catherine’s Church, Honfleur. Afternoon; Cruise the Normandy coast. Sunday 23rd August – Morning; City tour of Cherbourg. Afternoon; Cruise to Guernsey. Monday 24th August – Morning; Horse drawn tour of the island of Sark. Afternoon; Victor Hugo’s Hautville House, Guernsey. Thursday 25th August – Morning; Ride on the Channel Island’s only working railway in Alderney. Afternoon; Cruise the English Channel. Thursday 26th August – Disembarkation in Portland.
Highlights ●
Cruise of the River Thames
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Dover Castle
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Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, Dieppe
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Saint Catherine’s Church
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Horse drawn tour of Sark
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Hautville House, Guernsey
●
Ride on the Channel Island’s only working railway on Alderney
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Main image: HonBeur | Insets left to right: Dover Castle; Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel; La Coupee, Sark
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Main image: Titanic Exhibition, Belfast | Insets left to right: Peel Castle, Isle of Man; Gannet; Pembroke Castle, Wales
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OBAN Ardfern Arduaine Garden
TORICA IS
IN
Belfast Titanic Exhibition
L
H
Portland – Oban
Peel ISLE OF MAN
TE R EST
Celtic Coasts
Holyhead Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens
Wednesday 26th August to Friday 4th September 2015 9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Fishguard Pembroke Pembroke Castle Colby Woodland Garden
Hebridean Princess sails from Portland, our temporary home on the south coast, as we set our course north for our home
t Falmouth
port of Oban. Take in wonderful small ports along the south coast and visit Wales, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland before returning to the familiar waters of Scotland’s west coast.
Bangor Mount Stewart House
Truro Cathedral
Lost Gardens of Heligan
PORTLAND
Plymouth Fowey Edgcumbe House
As we prepare to leave the south coast we bid farewell to Portland and head west to Plymouth from where we visit the Tudor Mount Edgcumbe House built in 1547.
Travel Plan – 9 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Wednesday 26th August – Embarkation in Portland.
Continuing along the south coast to Fowey we tour one of Cornwall’s great gardens, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years and one of the most mysterious estates in England. After lunch ashore, we visit Truro and its magnificent cathedral, re-joining the ship in Falmouth. Following our overnight cruise, we find ourselves in Pembroke where we berth alongside for our morning visit to Pembroke Castle. A visit to the National Trust’s Woodland Garden at Colby follows prior to cruising the Welsh coast to our next port of call at Fishguard where we visit the smallest city in Britain, St Davids. We continue along the Welsh coast to Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens from Holyhead before crossing to Peel on the Isle of Man for an island tour. Across the Irish Sea to Bangor in Northern Ireland, we visit Mount Stewart House where we have a guided tour and lunch. The City of Belfast and the Titanic Exhibition on Queen’s Island hold our attention before re-joining the ship in Belfast. As we continue our journey north, we cruise through the North Channel for our final port of call at Ardfern to conclude our travels at Arduaine Garden. Coach transfers will be provided from Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport to Portland at the start of the cruise and from Oban to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise.
Thursday 27th August – Morning; Cruise the south coast. Afternoon; From Plymouth visit Edgcumbe House. Friday 28th August – Morning; At Fowey visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Afternoon; Truro Cathedral, re-join the ship in Falmouth. Cruise overnight to Pembroke. Saturday 29th August – Morning; Guided tour of Pembroke Castle. Afternoon; National Trust’s Woodland Garden at Colby. Sunday 30th August – Morning; Cruise Welsh coast to Fishguard. Afternoon; City of St Davids. Monday 31st August – Morning; Cruise to Holyhead. Afternoon; Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens. Tuesday 1st September – Morning; Cruise to the Isle of Man. Afternoon; Tour the Isle of Man from Peel. Wednesday 2nd September – Morning; Guided tour of Mount Stewart House with lunch. Afternoon; Belfast City tour and Titanic Exhibition. Thursday 3rd September – Morning; Cruise the North Channel. Afternoon; Arduaine Garden. Friday 4th September – Disembarkation in Oban.
Guest speaker Adrian Tinniswood will be accompanying this cruise Adrian Tinniswood is the author of 12 books on architectural and social history and is wellknown as an author, lecturer and broadcaster in Britain and America. He is a member of the National Trust's Learning Panel and South West Regional Advisory Board, and a Visiting Fellow in Heritage at Bath Spa University. He serves on the boards of the Bath Preservation Trust, the Holburne Museum and the Bishop's Palace Wells. In June 2013 Adrian was awarded an OBE for services to heritage.
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Oban – Oban
Tobermory MULL
Hebridean Sampler
ULVA Sheila’s Cottage
OBAN
IONA Iona Abbey
Friday 4th to Tuesday 8th September 2015 4 nights including Welcome Cocktail Party and 1 Gala Dinner
COLONSAY Colonsay House Gardens JURA
Following our return from the south we have a short four night cruise offering a sample of what a cruise on
Hebridean Princess has to offer and an ideal way for those wishing to experience a Hebridean cruise for the first time.
Our first port of call is the island of Jura where, from our anchorage in Loch na Mile, we visit the only settlement on the island, Craighouse.
ISLAY Port Ellen Laphroaig Distillery
Loch na Mile Craighouse
Travel Plan – 4 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Friday 4th September – Embarkation in Oban.
The neighbouring Isle of Islay is famous for its whisky and from Port Ellen we sample one of the island’s distilleries at Laphroaig. On Colonsay we tour Colonsay House and Garden that have been in the Strathcona family for over 100 years. Our next port of call is the sacred Isle of Iona, birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. Ulva is home to Sheila’s Cottage, a restored thatch roofed crofter’s cottage now the island’s museum and one of the Telford ‘Parliamentary Churches’. Our final port of call is to Tobermory, Georgian capital of Mull. A true example of what a Hebridean cruise has to offer.
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Saturday 5th September – Morning; Craighouse from Loch na Mile on the Isle of Jura. Afternoon; Laphroaig Distillery from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Sunday 6th September – Morning; Colonsay House and Garden. Afternoon; Iona Abbey. Monday 7th September – Morning; Sheila’s Cottage and Telford Church, Isle of Ulva. Afternoon; Time ashore at Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 8th September – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ● Craighouse, Jura ● Laphroaig Distillery, Islay ● Colonsay House Gardens ● Iona Abbey ● Sheila’s Cottage Museum ● Tobermory, Isle of Mull
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Main image: Laphroaig Distillery, Islay | Insets left to right: Iona Abbey; Sheila’s Cottage; Red Deer, Jura
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Butt of Lewis St Moluag's Church
Oban – Oban
Carloway Broch Callanish Stones
A
VA
E
L GO F ILABL
Links, Lochs and Sounds Tuesday 8th to Tuesday 15th September 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Join us for a cruise with a difference. Combine wonderful visits with the opportunity to play golf in some of the most remote parts of Scotland. Mix regular visits with 9 and 18
Tarbert HARRIS The Isle of Harris Golf Course Minch Lochmaddy Trotternish Pobull Finn peninsula Barpa Langass NORTH UIST Portree BENBECULA Isle of Skye Golf Club SOUTH UIST Sea of the Lochboisdale SKYE Hebrides Askernish Golf Club CANNA ERISKAY RUM Prince's Bay Am Politician Kinloch Castle EIGG
hole golf courses that could only exist in the home of golf. COLL
As with all of our themed cruises, there is no need to be an expert to enjoy this wonderful cruise.
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Stornoway Stornoway Golf Club
Inverewe Garden Gairloch Gairloch Golf Club
So
un
do
fM
ull
TIREE MULL
OBAN
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Our first morning is spent cruising through Kyle Rhea and under the Skye Bridge to Portree where guests can choose from a tour of the Trotternish peninsula or 9 holes at the Isle of Skye Golf Club. Continuing north to Gairloch, guests can visit the world renowned Inverewe Garden or golf at the rather unknown Gairloch Golf Club. Across The Minch to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, guests are given the option of tours of the Callanish Stones, Carloway Broch, St Moluag’s Church and the Butt of Lewis or, for golfers, the opportunity to play 18 holes at Stornoway Golf Club in the grounds of Lews Castle. South through the Outer Hebrides to Harris for a tour of the island including a Harris Tweed weaving demonstration or, for those wishing to golf, enjoy 9 holes at the picturesque Isle of Harris Golf Course. We then embark on a tour of the Uists, including Benbecula, before returning to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we tour the Isle of Eriskay including Prince’s Bay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on British soil. For those wishing to golf there is the opportunity to play on a rediscovered ‘Old Tom Morris’ designed course at Askernish - a true hidden gem for the golfer. On our final full day we cruise across the Sea of the Hebrides to the Isle of Rum and Kinloch Castle built in Annan Sandstone by the Lancastrian Industrialist Sir George Bullough as his country retreat.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 8th September – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 9th September – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea. Afternoon; Tour Trotternish peninsula from Portree. Thursday 10th September – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Gairloch. Afternoon; Cruise across The Minch. Friday 11th September – Morning; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch from Stornoway. Afternoon; St Moluag’s Church and Butt of Lewis from Stornoway. Saturday 12th September – Morning; Island tour of Harris including Tweed weaving demonstration. Afternoon; Cruise the east coast of the Outer Hebrides. Sunday 13th September – Morning; Tour of the Uists from Lochboisdale. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Monday 14th September – Morning; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Afternoon; Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum. Tuesday 15th September – Disembarkation in Oban.
Golf Highlights ●
Isle of Skye Golf Club - 9 holes
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Gairloch Golf Club - 9 holes
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Stornoway Golf Club - 18 holes
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Isle of Harris Golf Course - 9 holes
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‘Old Tom Morris’ designed course, Askernish - 18 holes
Main image: Isle of Skye Golf Club Insets top to bottom: Butt of Lewis; Prince’s Bay, Eriskay
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Main image: Fingal’s Cave, Staffa | Insets left to right: Colonsay House Gardens; Rum from Muck; Dunvegan Castle
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Oban – Oban
Loch Dunvegan Dunvegan Castle
Secrets of the Western Isles
ERISKAY Prince’s Bay
Loch Harport Talisker Distillery
Sea of the Hebrides
BARRA
RUM Kinloch Castle
Tuesday 15th to Tuesday 22nd September 2015
MUCK EIGG
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
COLL
Secrets of the Western Isles explores island gardens, sacred isles, awe inspiring sights, ancient castles and Outer Hebridean beaches. Visit some of the human diversity that
STAFFA Fingal’s Cave IONA Iona Abbey
makes these islands special, both the ancient form of weaving to the rather more modern oyster farming.
Sailing south from Oban our first exploration is Colonsay House and Garden before stopping at the holy island of Iona where St Columba first landed in 563, and visit the restored Benedictine Abbey. Making the short crossing from Iona to Mull at Bunessan, we witness the traditional Ardalanish Weavers before, weather permitting, landing by local boat on the island of Staffa to explore the magical Fingal’s Cave; formed by a series of basalt columns it has been the inspiration for poets, painters and composers including Mendelssohn and Turner. Sailing north we go ashore at the Small Isle of Muck before cruising the Sea of the Hebrides to the Outer Isles and Barra for our overnight berth. On Barra we enjoy an island tour before moving to Princes’s Bay on Eriskay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on British soil to reclaim the Scottish and English crowns for his father, James Edward Stewart. Loch Dunvegan lies to the west coast of Skye, overlooked by Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of the Chieftain of Clan MacLeod for 800 years. Cruising south west along the coast of Skye to Loch Harport, we enjoy a visit to the Isle of Skye Oyster Farm. Continuing south we call at the largest of the Small Isles, Rum; dominated by the Rum Cuillin, this island is home to the longest running study of red deer anywhere in the world. Tobermory is the colourful Georgian capital of Mull where we can enjoy local walks or possibly visit the local distillery.
Tobermory
MULL Bunessan Ardalanish Weavers
OBAN
COLONSAY Colonsay House and Garden
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 15th September – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 16th September – Morning; Colonsay House and Garden. Afternoon; Iona Abbey. Thursday 17th September – Morning; Ardalanish Weavers, Bunessan, Isle of Mull. Afternoon; Fingal’s Cave, Isle of Staffa. Friday 18th September – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of the Hebrides. Saturday 19th September – Morning; Island tour of Barra. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Sunday 20th September – Morning; Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Isle of Skye Oysters, Loch Harport. Monday 21st September – Morning; Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum. Afternoon; Time ashore in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 22nd September – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Colonsay House and Garden
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Iona Abbey
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Ardalanish Weavers
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Fingal’s Cave
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Prince’s Bay
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Dunvegan Castle
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Isle of Skye Oysters
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Kinloch Castle
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Oban – Oban Tarbert HARRIS
Dunvegan Castle
Hebridean Explorer
Little Minch
Tuesday 22nd to Tuesday 29th September 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners This itinerary also departs on 26th May 2015
CANNA Sea of the Hebrides
SUMMER ISLES Tanera Mòr
SHIANT ISLES
Ullapool Corrieshalloch Gorge
The Minch
Inverewe Inverewe Garden
SKYE Loch Dunvegan
Kyle Rhea
Loch Harport Oyster Farm
Armadale Clan Donald Centre
RUM EIGG
Join Hebridean Princess as she explores a number of the Hebridean islands and remote mainland outposts, including
COLL
Skye, the Small Isles of Canna and Eigg, the Outer Isle of
Sou
nd
Harris and the privately owned, uninhabited Shiant Isles as well as Tanera Mòr, largest of the Summer Isles
Canna, one of the Small Isles, was given to the National Trust for Scotland by the great Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell. From Canna we cruise to Skye and the remote Loch Harport where we visit the Isle of Skye Oyster Farm and learn more about how they are grown.
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of
Mu
MULL
ll
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 22nd September – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 23rd September – Morning; Walks ashore on the Isle of Canna. Afternoon; Isle of Skye Oysters, Loch Harport.
We continue along the south west coast of Skye to Loch Dunvegan, home to Clan MacLeod at Dunvegan Castle, an excellent location to witness the resident seal population. As we cross The Minch we make a beach landing on the Shiant Isles, which have been in the Nicholson family since 1937. East Loch Tarbert on Harris is our next port of call where we enjoy a tour of the island including a demonstration of Harris Tweed making.
Thursday 24th September – Morning; Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Beach landing on the Shiant Isles.
Returning across The Minch we visit Lochewe an important naval base during the war years and now famous for its gardens at Inverewe where we land directly into the gardens. Our overnight berth is at Ullapool from where we visit the dramatic box canyon that is Corrieshalloch Gorge. The following morning takes us to Tanera Mòr, largest of the Summer Isles, which boasts its own post office and issues its own stamps, one of which features Hebridean Princess. Cruising south under the Skye Bridge we visit the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale and learn the history of this once powerful Clan. Our final visit is the Small Isle of Eigg, now owned by its community following a buy out in 1997.
Tuesday 29th September – Disembarkation in Oban.
Friday 25th September – Morning; Island tour of Harris including Tweed weaving demonstration. Afternoon; Cruise across The Minch. Saturday 26th September – Morning; Inverewe Garden from Loch Ewe. Afternoon; Corrieshalloch Gorge and Measach Falls from Ullapool. Sunday 27th September – Morning; Walks ashore on the private island of Tanera Mòr. Afternoon; Cruise the Inner Sound. Monday 28th September – Morning; Clan Donald Centre from Armadale, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Eigg.
Highlights ●
Isle of Skye Oysters
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Dunvegan Castle and Seal Colony
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Shiant Isles
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Tweed Weaving Demonstration
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Inverewe Garden
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Tanera Mòr
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Corrieshalloch Gorge & Measach Falls
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Main image: Corrieshalloch Gorge | Insets left to right: Luskentyre Beach, Harris; Inverewe Garden; Tanera MCr
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An Gearrannan Black Houses
Oban – Oban
Carloway Broch
Stornoway Lews Castle Museum
LEWIS G
A LK I N W
Tarbert CR
HARRIS
U ISE
Footloose to the Western Isles
NORTH UIST
Our final Footloose cruise of the season takes us back to the
SKYE Loch Dunvegan Dunvegan Castle
BENBECULA SOUTH UIST ERISKAY Prince's Bay BARRA Kisimul Castle
Tuesday 29th September to Tuesday 6th October 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
The Minch
VATERSAY
Little Minch CANNA Sea of the Hebrides
Museum of the Western Isles within historic Lews Castle at Stornoway.
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RUM EIGG MUCK
Western Isles with some old favourites and some new walks combined with ancient monuments, castles and the new
Loch Harport Oyster Farm
COLL TIREE Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum
So
un
do
fM
ull
MULL
OBAN
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Spend the morning on Tiree where walkers can enjoy one of the coastal walks while strollers learn about the construction of the Skerryvore Lighthouse at Hynish. Relax in the afternoon as we sail across the Sea of the Hebrides to Barra for walks on the most southerly inhabited of the Outer Isles, Vatersay or a visit to the former MacNeil stronghold of Kisimul Castle guarding Castle Bay. On the neighbouring island of Eriskay walkers and strollers enjoy the wonderful sands at Prince’s Bay. A morning cruise along the east coast of the Uists brings us to Tarbert on Harris; here walkers can tackle the Postman’s Walk and strollers can enjoy a Harris Tweed weaving demonstration on an island tour. From our overnight berth in Stornoway walkers enjoy a morning walk at Dalmor while strollers visit Black Houses at An Gearrannan and the Carloway Broch. Following lunch on board there are local walks or a visit to the Museum of the Western Isles, newly opened at Lews Castle, containing the history and culture of the Outer Hebrides. Crossing The Minch to Skye there is a full day walk from Dunvegan while strollers visit Dunvegan Castle before cruising over lunch to visit the Oyster Farm at Loch Harport. The morning is spent on the National Trust for Scotland’s Isle of Canna with its famous tea shop followed by an afternoon of walks and strolls for all on the Isle of Muck, considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Small Isles.
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 29th September – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 30th September – Morning; Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum Hynish, Isle of Tiree. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of The Hebrides. Thursday 1st October – Morning; Kisimul Castle, Castlebay, Isle of Barra. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Friday 2nd October – Morning; Cruise the east coast of the Outer Hebrides. Afternoon; Island tour of Harris including Tweed weaving. Saturday 3rd October – Morning; Black Houses at An Gearrannan and Carloway Broch. Afternoon; Lews Castle Museum, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Sunday 4th October – Morning; Dunvegan Castle and Seal Colony. Afternoon; Isle of Skye Oysters, Loch Harport. Monday 5th October – Morning; Time ashore on the Isle of Canna. Afternoon; Walks ashore on the Isle of Muck. Tuesday 6th October – Disembarkation in Oban.
Walking Highlights ●
Morning walk on Tiree
●
Walks on Vatersay
●
Postman’s Walk, Harris
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Morning walk at Dalmor
●
Full day walk from Dunvegan
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Walks and strolls on the Isle of Muck
Main image: Sand dunes on Harris Insets top to bottom: Hebridean Princess, Kisimul Castle; Loch Harport, Skye
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Main image: Hebridean Princess, Shieldaig | Insets left to right: Old Forge Pub; Kinloch Castle; Carloway Broch
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Oban – Oban Carloway Broch Stornoway
Callanish Stones
Tarbert The Minch
HARRIS
Hebridean Panorama
NORTH UIST
Tuesday 6th to Tuesday 13th October 2015
SOUTH UIST
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Enjoy the panorama as Hebridean Princess crosses to the
ERISKAY Prince’s Bay
Shieldaig
Sea of the Hebrides
Plockton
SKYE
Loch Hourn
CANNA
RUM Kinloch Castle BARRA Kisimul Castle
Outer Isles for the last time this season. Enjoy autumnal colours as we explore the Inner and Outer Hebrides from Iona to Harris.
COLL
Inverie The Old Forge Pub EIGG
So
un
do
fM
ull
TIREE MULL
On Rum, Kinloch Castle stands testament to a forgotten time when the island was the playground of the rich. Cruise across the Sea of the Hebrides as we make our last venture of 2015 to the Outer Isles. On Barra explore the former MacNeil stronghold of Kisimul Castle, standing guard over Castlebay. On Eriskay walk at Prince’s Bay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on British soil on 23rd July 1745. Continuing our journey north along the eastern seaboard of the Outer Isles, our next port of call is Tarbert on Harris where we enjoy a weaving demonstration of the world-famous Harris Tweed on an island tour. From Stornoway on Lewis we wonder at the famous Callanish Standing Stones and the 2,000 year old Carloway Broch before setting sail to cruise past the privately owned, uninhabited Shiant Isles, breeding ground for a myriad of seabird, and across The Minch to Loch Torridon and the conservation village of Shieldaig. At Loch Carron we go ashore at the picturesque village of Plockton before cruising Kyle Rhea and Loch Hourn, one of the most scenic of Scottish sea lochs. On Knoydart we go ashore at Inverie famous as the largest settlement on mainland Britain not connected to the road network and home to the most remote pub on mainland Britain.
OBAN
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 6th October – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 7th October – Morning; Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum. Afternoon; Cruise the Sea of The Hebrides. Thursday 8th October – Morning; Kisimul Castle, Castlebay, Isle of Barra. Afternoon; Prince’s Bay, Isle of Eriskay. Friday 9th October – Morning; Cruise the east coast of the Outer Hebrides. Afternoon; Island tour of Harris including Tweed weaving. Saturday 10th October – Morning; Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch, Isle of Lewis. Afternoon; Cruise the Shiant Isles and The Minch. Sunday 11th October – Morning; Walks ashore at Shieldaig on Loch Torridon. Afternoon; Time ashore at Plockton on Loch Carron. Monday 12th October – Morning; Cruise Kyle Rhea and Loch Hourn. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Inverie in Knoydart on Loch Nevis. Tuesday 13th October – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Kinloch Castle, Rum
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Kisimul Castle, Barra
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Harris Tweed weaving demonstration
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Callanish Standing Stones and Carloway Broch
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The conservation villages of Shieldaig and Plockton
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Oban – Oban
Dunvegan Dunvegan Castle SKYE
& DR I OD
NK
I
NT
CANNA T
FO
Three Chimneys Restaurant
Shieldaig Torridon Hotel
ERES
RUM EIGG
Flavours of Scotland
Armadale Kinloch Lodge
MUCK Tobermory Isle of Mull Cheese
COLL
Tuesday 13th to Tuesday 20th October 2015
MULL
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners IONA Iona Abbey
Scotland is rightly proud of the reputation it has gained for having a wonderful natural larder and those who produce
Craignure Duart Castle
COLONSAY Colonsay Oysters and Honey
mouth watering creations. Join Hebridean Princess as we
OBAN
JURA
explore the wonderful culinary offerings of the Highlands and Islands.
Islay has a reputation for big, peaty whiskies and from Port Ellen we visit one of the island’s famous distilleries, Laphroaig. On Colonsay we meet the man who supplies Hebridean Princess with oysters but also learn about his other passion - honey and the black bees that he keeps. Columba’s sacred Isle of Iona is our next port of call, birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. Cruising the west coast of Mull and the Small Isles to Armadale on Skye, we go ashore for lunch at the Michelin starred Kinloch Lodge before cruising to our overnight berth at Kyle of Lochalsh. A morning cruise under the Skye Bridge takes us to Loch Torridon where we enjoy walks ashore at the conservation village of Shieldaig before lunch at the three AA Rosette Torridon Hotel, beautifully located overlooking the loch. At Loch Dunvegan on Skye we visit Dunvegan Castle and enjoy lunch at the world renowned Three Chimneys Restaurant. Following lunch, delight in the Small Isles as we cruise south towards Mull and our next port of call at the island capital of Tobermory. Here we visit Isle of Mull Cheese, a small, family farm and the only dairy farm on the island, and learn how the local cheeses are made by hand. Our final port of call is Craignure on Mull where we round off our culinary adventure with a Champagne reception at Duart Castle, hosted by Sir Lachlan MacLean, Chieftain of Clan MacLean.
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ISLAY Port Ellen Laphroaig Distillery
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 13th October – Embarkation in Oban. Wednesday 14th October – Morning; Laphroaig Distillery from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Afternoon; Colonsay Oysters and Honey, Isle of Colonsay. Thursday 15th October – Morning; Iona Abbey. Afternoon; Cruise the west coast of Mull and the Small Isles. Friday 16th October – Morning; Kinloch Lodge from Armadale, Isle of Skye. Afternoon; Kyle of Lochalsh. Saturday 17th October – Morning; Cruise under the Skye Bridge to Shieldaig for walks ashore. Afternoon; The Torridon Hotel from Shieldaig. Sunday 18th October – Morning; Dunvegan Castle and Three Chimneys Restaurant, Loch Dunvegan. Afternoon; Cruise the Small Isles. Monday 19th October – Morning; Isle of Mull Cheese from Tobermory. Afternoon; Champagne reception at Duart Castle from Craignure, Isle of Mull. Tuesday 20th October – Disembarkation in Oban.
Highlights ●
Laphroaig Distillery
●
Lunch at Kinloch Lodge
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Lunch at the Torridon Hotel
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Lunch at the Three Chimneys Restaurant
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Isle of Mull Cheese
●
Champagne Reception at Duart Castle
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Main image: Three Chimneys Restaurant | Insets left to right: Haggis; Seafood assiette; Oysters
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LEWIS HARRIS
SHIANT ISLES
The Minch
NORTH UIST
Inner Sound
BENBECULA
Sle at
Little SKYE Minch
of
SOUTH UIST
So u
nd
CANNA BARRA RUM PABBAY Sea of the MINGULAY BERNERAY Hebrides MUCK So un do COLL fM TIREE
MULL
ull OBAN
JURA ISLAY
Oban – Oban
Hebridean Surprise Tuesday 20th to Tuesday 27th October 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
A voyage into the unknown, join Hebridean Princess on our annual ‘Surprise’ cruise where the Captain will decide the itinerary. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of Scotland’s west coast and Hebridean islands as the Captain decides the course on a daily basis. While the itinerary is unknown the level of comfort and service on board Hebridean Princess is assured.
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Main image: Ballochroy across the Sound of Jura, Kintyre | Insets left to right: Crarae Gardens; Laphroaig Distillery; Tarbert
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Oban – Greenock OBAN
Y
Craobh Haven Arduaine Gardens
ERES
Voyage to the Clyde
Tayvallich Loch Sween JURA Loch na Mile Craighouse ISLAY
Join Hebridean Princess as she says farewell to her home port of Oban for another season. Cruise south to Greenock taking in some wonderful gardens, eccentric houses and the final Hebridean islands of the year.
Port Ellen Laphroaig Distillery
Tarbert Tarbert Castle
GIGHA Sound of Gigha Glenbarr Abbey
Mull of Kintyre
As we leave Oban and head towards the Clyde our first port of call is Craobh Haven from where we visit Arduaine Garden full of autumn colours.
Loch Long
GREENOCK
Portavadie
YRE
Tuesday 27th October to Tuesday 3rd November 2015 7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Loch Crarae Goil Crarae Gardens
KINT
I
NT
T
A
MULL RONOM ST
BUTE
Rothesay Mount Stuart House
Kilbrannan Sound ARRAN Campbeltown
Travel Plan – 7 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 27th October – Embarkation in Oban.
Cruising Loch Sween we have time to go ashore at the picturesque Tayvallich. Our final Hebridean islands of the season are Jura and Islay. Explore Craighouse, Jura’s only settlement before visiting one of Islay’s famous distilleries, Laphroaig. A cruise of the Mull of Kintyre takes us to Campbeltown where we visit the Clan MacAlister Centre at Glenbarr Abbey and remain berthed alongside overnight. Cruising north through the Kilbranan Sound and Loch Fyne we stop at the fishing village of Tarbert, where the ruins of a Robert the Bruce Castle stands guard high above the harbour entrance. Crarae Gardens, built on the steep banks of the Crarae Burn, offers wonderful colours at this time of year. Across Loch Fyne to Portavadie, we go ashore at the marina. Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute is a Victorian neo-Gothic masterpiece which stands testament to the eclectic taste of its founder, the 3rd Marques of Bute. Our final afternoon is spent cruising Loch Long and Loch Goil; so close to the once industrial Clyde, we can relax and enjoy the wonderful remoteness of these lochs. Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Oban at the start of the cruise, and from Greenock to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise. Valet parking is available at Greenock and a complimentary transfer will be provided from Greenock to Oban on the day of embarkation for guests wishing to utilise the car parking facility in Greenock.
Wednesday 28th October – Morning; Arduaine Garden from Craobh Haven. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Tayvallich on Loch Sween. Thursday 29th October – Morning; Craighouse from Loch na Mile, Isle of Jura. Afternoon; Laphroaig Distillery from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Friday 30th October – Morning; Cruise the Mull of Kintyre. Afternoon; Clan MacAlister Centre Glenbarr Abbey from Campbeltown. Saturday 31st October – Morning; Cruise Kilbranan Sound. Afternoon; Tarbert Castle, Tarbert. Sunday 1st November – Morning; Crarae Gardens on Loch Fyne. Afternoon; Walks ashore at Portavadie on Loch Fyne. Monday 2nd November – Morning; Mount Stuart House from Rothesay, Isle of Bute. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Long and Loch Goil. Tuesday 3rd November – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Guest speaker Michael Cull will be accompanying this cruise Michael was involved in the Apollo Space program during the late 1960s and 1970s and the development of both electronic and optical equipment that was used for the Apollo 11 moon landing mission. He has worked on the modification of both radio and optical telescopes for space missions and when contracted to NASA, became involved in astronomical telescopes and proposed landing sites on the moon. Always fascinated by astronomy, Michael built his own observatory containing a three inch refractor and a ten inch Newtonian Reflector. Michael now lecturers extensively around the world.
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Greenock – Greenock Inveraray Castle
yne
TE R EST
Loc hF
IN
Crarae
L
H
Ardkinglas House TORICA IS
GREENOCK
LE
Grand Houses of the Clyde
AP
DA
Rothesay Mount Stuart House
KN
Tuesday 3rd to Monday 9th November 2015 6 nights including 2 Gala Dinners
Ardgowan House
BUTE
Finlaystone House I N V E R C LY D E
Largs Kelburn Castle
A slightly shorter six night version of this ever popular cruise
tapestry of medieval castles and grand mansions some of which are still family homes today. Hebridean guests have a rare private tour of many, often by a family member.
From our berth in Greenock we visit Finlaystone House, home to the McMillan family who are on hand to give a warm welcome. The flamboyant Mount Stuart House on Bute stands testament to the eclectic tastes of the 3rd Marquess. The private apartments at the fairy tale Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, will be opened for us. Lunch is taken at the original Loch Fyne Oyster Bar from where we visit Ardkinglas House, designed by Sir Robert Lorimar and built in 1905. A warm welcome is assured from Lady Glenbarr, Jeannie MacAlister, at Glenbarr Abbey. From Troon we visit Dumfries House, designed by Robert Adam; little changed by time, the house still boasts many original furnishings.
ARRAN
YRE
area’s long and often turbulent past brings together a rich
Glenbarr Abbey
Troon Dundonald Castle
KINT
takes in some of the architectural gems of the Clyde. The
Campbeltown
Firth of Clyde
Dumfries House
Travel Plan – 6 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Tuesday 3rd November – Embarkation in Greenock. Wednesday 4th November – Morning; Private tour of Finlaystone House. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute. Thursday 5th November – Morning; Private apartments of Inveraray Castle, lunch ashore. Afternoon; Private tour of Ardkinglas House. Friday 6th November – Morning; Cruise Loch Fyne and Kilbranan Sound. Afternoon; Clan MacAlister Centre at Glenbarr Abbey. Saturday 7th November – Morning; From Troon, Dumfries House with lunch. Afternoon; Dundonald Castle. Sunday 8th November – Morning; Private tour of Ardgowan House. Afternoon; Private tour of Kelburn Castle. Monday 9th November – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Dundonald Castle is now a ruin, but was once a Royal Residence, built for Robert II when he became King in 1371. From Largs we visit Ardgowan House, home to the Shaw Stewart family and our guest speaker Lucinda Chetwode; this Georgian House was built between 1798 and 1801 and designed by Hugh Cairncross, former assistant to Robert Adam. Our final visit is to Kelburn Castle, home to Patrick Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow, originally built in the 13th century and extended in the 16th century but now features rather unusual graffiti.
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Guest speaker Lucinda Chetwode will be accompanying this cruise Lucinda is the resident owner of Ardgowan House, and is an authority on historic interiors and social history. When her marriage brought her to Ardgowan, she joined the Executive of the National Trust for Scotland, and eventually became Vice-President of the Trust. In January 2008 she was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Renfrewshire. She is a trustee of Sir William Burrell's Trust as well as a trustee of the Chatsworth House Trust and currently chairs the Textile Conservation Centre in Glasgow. Lucinda runs courses at Ardgowan on architecture and collections, and also has an antiques business which is based in the house.
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Main image: Inveraray Castle | Insets left to right: Ardgowan House; Kelburn Castle, Loch Fyne; Ardkinglas House
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Greenock – Greenock e
yn
F ch
Loch Goil
Loch Long
Lo
Outlook on the Clyde
Benmore Botanic Garden Holy Loch Loch Striven East Kyle
Great Cumbrae Island Cathedral of the Isles Little Cumbrae Island
4 nights including Welcome Cocktail Party and 1 Gala Dinner This itinerary also departs on 2nd March 2015
Lochs and take in the breathtaking beauty and tranquillity of the area, all from the luxurious comfort of Hebridean Princess.
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I N V E R C LY D E
BUTE Rothesay Mount Stuart House
Monday 9th to Friday 13th November 2015
Cruise the sheltered waters of the lower Clyde and Argyll
GREENOCK
ARRAN Brodick
Firth of Clyde Holy Isle
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Set sail from Greenock to the beautiful island of Cumbrae, home to Britain’s smallest cathedral, The Cathedral of the Isles, commissioned by the 6th Earl of Glasgow, George Boyle, designed by William Butterfield and completed in 1849. Our next port of call is the Isle of Bute which lies on the geographical fault of the Highland Line creating an island of two halves with the northern end in the Highlands and the low lying southern end in the Lowlands. Marvel at Mount Stuart, a flamboyant Victorian neo-Gothic creation of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, testament to his eclectic tastes which includes the breathtaking Marble Hall and Chapel. From Bute we head to the largest of the Clyde islands, Arran, to enjoy a scenic tour of this popular island retreat before cruising around its smaller neighbour, Holy Isle, where there has been a spiritual heritage dating back to the 6th century. Our afternoon cruise continues through the narrow East Kyle and Loch Striven; during World War Two the loch was used for the training of the X-Craft midget submarine crews which were deployed to attack the Tirpitz – the loch was chosen for its similarity to the KåFjord where the battleship was moored.
Travel Plan – 4 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Monday 9th November – Embarkation in Greenock. Tuesday 10th November – Morning; The Cathedral of the Isles, Great Cumbrae. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute. Wednesday 11th November – Morning; Island tour of Arran. Afternoon; Cruise East Kyle and Loch Striven. Thursday 12th November – Morning; From Holy Loch explore Benmore Botanic Garden. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Long and Loch Goil. Friday 13th November – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Highlights ●
Cathedral of the Isles
●
Mount Stuart House
●
Benmore Botanic Garden
●
Loch Long and Loch Goil
From Holy Loch we visit Benmore Botanic Garden with its avenue of giant Redwoods and refurbished Victorian Fernery. Our last afternoon is spent enjoying the breathtaking scenery as we cruise Loch Long and Loch Goil running deep into the Argyll hills.
Main image: Portencross, looking across to Arran Insets top to bottom: Mount Stuart House crest; Benmore Botanic Garden
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Main image: Crarae Gardens | Insets left to right: Otter, Arran; Portavadie, Loch Fyne; Isle of Arran Distillers
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Greenock – Greenock Crarae Crarae Gardens
Pearls of Argyll and Bute
ne
ch
Fy
Lo
Rothesay Mount Stuart Portavadie House
Tarbert Tarbert Castle
Friday 13th to Tuesday 17th November 2015
GREENOCK I N V E R C LY D E
BUTE
4 nights including Welcome Cocktail Party and 1 Gala Dinner This itinerary also departs on 6th March 2015
Lochranza Arran Distillery ARRAN
Firth of Clyde
Ablaze with the colours of autumn, cruise Scotland’s longest sea loch. Visit remote villages, a wonderful garden, a ruined castle, a neo-Gothic Victorian masterpiece and an island distillery.
Cruise past the island of Bute and north into Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch, where we visit Portavadie, a place of great contrast with its modern marina which owes its sheltered anchorage to an ill-fated attempt in the 1970s to regenerate the area by building oil platforms. A short trip across the loch to the fishing village of Tarbert where its ruined castle, once occupied by Robert the Bruce, stands over the harbour entrance. As we continue further up Loch Fyne we visit the fabulous Crarae Gardens, 40 acres of Himalayan Woodland Garden planted on the steep banks of the Crarae Burn. The garden was started by Grace, Lady Campbell in 1912 and taken over by the National Trust for Scotland in 2002. Following a morning at the gardens we relax and spend the afternoon on board enjoying the wonderful scenery as we cruise Loch Fyne. Arran is the largest of the Clyde islands and we visit the north west of the island at Lochranza, a lovely tranquil setting for a very modern distillery. Opened in 1995, the Isle of Arran Distillery boasts a welcoming Visitor Centre and a number of excellent whiskies. From Arran we cross to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and the Victorian neo-Gothic masterpiece that is Mount Stuart House; built by the 3rd Marquess, it stands today as a real tribute to his eclectic taste.
Travel Plan – 4 nights Please refer to the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for prices Friday 13th November – Embarkation in Greenock. Saturday 14th November – Morning; Walks ashore at Portavadie. Afternoon – Walks ashore and visit castle ruins at Tarbert Sunday 15th November – Morning; Crarae Gardens. Afternoon; Cruise Loch Fyne. Monday 16th November – Morning; Isle of Arran Distillery from Lochranza. Afternoon; Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Tuesday 17th November – Disembarkation in Greenock.
Highlights ●
Portavadie
●
Tarbert Castle
●
Crarae Gardens
●
Isle of Arran Distillery
●
Mount Stuart House
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Hebridean Princess cabins
Isle of Staffa
Elegantly decorated and furnished, Hebridean Princess
All cabins offer ample wardrobe space, including a small
cabins are individually designed to make the most of
personal safe, drawers and a dressing table, hairdryer,
the available space. Poetically named after Scottish
trouser press, iron and ironing board and tea coffee-making
isles, castles, lochs and sounds, they are amongst the
facilities. There is also a refrigerator stocked with a selection
most spacious for vessels of her size.
of soft drinks with fresh milk supplied daily. For your added comfort and rela9ation, bathrobes, slippers and a wide range of lu9ury toiletries are also provided. Each cabin is e2uipped with a television should you wish to view a D D in your cabin, a number of D D players are available for this purpose and a selection of D Ds may be borrowed from the Library. All our guests en+oy e9actly the same high standard of service irrespective of cabin grade. Please note that smoking is not allowed in the cabins.
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Promenade deck
Isle of Staffa bathroom
Isle of Berneray
Isle of Bute
Isle of Iona
Balcony cabins Isle of Berneray Isle of Bute
Isle of Iona Isle of Staffa
Bed: King-size or twin Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower
Bed: King-size or twin Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower Cabin category
Cabin category
The roomy Isle of Berneray and Isle of Bute are situated on the port and starboard sides, towards the after end of the Promenade Deck. The private balconies in these cabins ensure total privacy as they cannot be overlooked from the ship, and with teak tables and chairs, they are the perfect place to sit back, relax and take in the breathtaking landscapes. These cabins contain king-size beds, which can be re-arranged as twins. The bathrooms are generous in size with full-size baths and thermostatic showers.
Situated on the port and starboard sides of the Promenade Deck, towards the after end of the ship, these two superb cabins are fitted with comfortable king-size beds convertible into twins. Large picture windows are perfect for watching the landscapes unfold. Spacious bathrooms contain full-size baths with thermostatic showers.
Isle of Raasay
Isle of Raasay Bed: Double Bathroom: Thermostatic shower Cabin category
An excellent port-side cabin in a quiet corner on the same level as the Tiree Lounge and the Library. This extremely comfortable cabin has open views from its windows and is well-equipped with private facilities, including a thermostatic shower.
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Princess deck
Isle of Arran Suite, bedroom
Isle of Arran Suite, day room
Isle of Benbecula
Isle of Benbecula bathroom
Isle of Arran suite Bed: King-size or twin Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower Cabin category
The ship’s largest cabin, the Isle of Arran Suite, is located on the port side of the Princess Deck and, as all windows are on the ship’s side, privacy is assured. It comprises a large, separate day room, a spacious bedroom and a well-equipped bathroom with bath and thermostatic shower. The bedroom contains a king-size bed, which can be re-arranged as twins, generous wardrobes, drawers, dressing table and a second television.
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Balcony cabins Isle of Barra Isle of Benbecula Bed: Double Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower
Isle of Coll
Isle of Coll Isle of Colonsay Bed: King-size or twin Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower Cabin category
Cabin category
The Isle of Barra and Isle of Benbecula are located on the port and starboard sides forward on the Princess Deck. The balconies, which afford total privacy as they cannot be overlooked from the ship, are fitted with teak tables and chairs for you to enjoy the magnificent scenery. The bathrooms are generous in size with full-size baths and thermostatic showers.
Located on the same deck as Reception and the Columba Restaurant, these roomy, forward-facing cabins, at the forward end of the Princess Deck, are fitted with three large picture windows offering excellent views ahead over the bow. The king-size beds can be re-arranged as twins. A well deck, some 40 feet (12 m) in length, between the cabins and the forecastle, ensures privacy. Large bathrooms feature full-size baths with thermostatic showers.
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Isle of Danna
Isle of Muck
Bed: King-size or twin Bathroom: Thermostatic shower
Bed: Double Bathroom: Thermostatic shower
Cabin category
A roomy cabin that is excellent value for money and in great demand with returning guests, the Isle of Danna is tucked into a quiet corner on the port side of the Princess Deck. It contains a king-size bed, which can be converted into twin beds, and two comfortable chairs from which to enjoy panoramic views through full-size picture windows. Charming private facilities include a thermostatic shower.
Cabin category
Isle of Canna Isle of Eigg Isle of Rum Bed: Single Bathroom: Thermostatic shower
This popular, double-bedded cabin, located on the starboard side of the Princess Deck, has three full-size picture windows, which afford superb views and give the room a bright, airy feel. Private facilities include a thermostatic shower.
Isle of Danna
Isle of Eigg
Isle of Muck
Isle of Rum
Cabin category
These well-appointed cabins lie on the starboard side of the Princess Deck, enjoying good views from their windows. With a charming home-from-home feel for the single traveller, they are much in demand. The private facilities include thermostatic showers.
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Waterfront deck
Duart Castle
Kinloch Castle
Duart Castle Kinloch Castle Torosay Castle Beds: King-size or twin Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower
Duart Castle bathroom
Torosay Castle
Ardvreck Castle Lews Castle Beds: Double Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower Cabin category
Cabin category
Very roomy and excellent value for money, these elegant cabins on the Waterfront Deck are connected by a flight of stairs to the Princess Deck, offering easy access to the embarkation area on the same level for the small boats when going ashore. While Kinloch and Torosay Castle cabins are fitted with two opening portholes, Duart Castle also has a forward-facing porthole. All feature spacious bathrooms with full-size baths and thermostatic showers.
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Very roomy and excellent value for money, these elegant cabins on the Waterfront Deck are connected by a flight of stairs to the Princess Deck, offering easy access to the embarkation area on the same level for the small boats when going ashore. Both these cabins are fitted with two opening portholes and feature spacious bathrooms with full-size baths and thermostatic showers.
Lews Castle
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Sound of Islay
Sound of Jura shower room
Sound of Jura
Sound of Islay Sound of Jura Sound of Mull Sound of Sleat Bed: Single Bathroom: Thermostatic shower Cabin category
Sound of Mull
Sound of Sleat
Situated on the starboard side of the Waterfront Deck, these are roomy single cabins, fitted with two opening portholes. The private facilities feature thermostatic showers. A single staircase links these rooms to the Princess Deck, with direct access by a flight of three steps to the embarkation area for the small boats when going ashore.
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Hebridean deck Loch Crinan Loch Harport Loch Torridon Beds: King-size or twin Bathroom: Thermostatic shower Cabin category
These charming, interchangeable king-size or twin-bedded cabins on the port and starboard sides of the Hebridean Deck are generous in size and attractively priced. Although there are no windows or portholes, fresh air is circulated day and night by the ship’s forced-air ventilation system. Spacious private facilities include a thermostatic shower.
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Loch Buie Loch Scavaig Bed: Single Bathroom: Full-size bath with thermostatic shower Cabin category
These charming, well-appointed cabins, located on the starboard side of the Hebridean Deck, offer spacious bathrooms and full-size baths with thermostatic showers. As they are not fitted with windows or portholes, fresh air is supplied by the ship’s forced air ventilation system.
Loch Crinan
Loch Harport
Loch Scavaig
Loch Scresort
Loch Scresort Bed: Single Bathroom: Thermostatic shower Cabin category
This delightful cabin, located on the starboard side of the Hebridean Deck, is well-appointed and offers the single traveller excellent value for money. Fresh air is supplied by the ship’s forced-air ventilation system, as this cabin does not have windows or portholes. Loch Scresort has good-sized private facilities with a thermostatic shower.
Loch Torridon
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Good Connections
mean an easy start to your cruise
Cruises that start and finish in different ports For cruises that embark and disembark in different ports, trouble-free arrangements have been made by our reservations staff. 17th March 2015
Our experienced reservations staff can assist you with all your UK travel arrangements, including individually tailored packages, to make your journey to and from Hebridean Princess as relaxed and as stress-free as possible. Whether you would prefer the convenience of a chauffeur transfer, or the comfort of a airport lounge, we will be only too pleased to cater for your requirements.
Flights
For cruises starting and/or ending in London the nearest transport terminals are London Kings Cross, London Euston and London St Pancras Railway Stations.
Private coach transfers Guests travelling by rail or air to embark in Greenock, Oban or Portland will be collected at the railway stations or airports listed above and transported by private coach to join Hebridean Princess. For cruises starting in London a transfer service will be available from central London railway terminals to Hebridean Princess.
Secure car parking
Our reservations staff can advise and arrange flights from most UK airports to the airport nearest to your port of embarkation in order to meet with our private coach.
A valet car parking facility is provided for cruises staring and ending in Oban and secure car parking is available for Greenock and Portland departures.
Rail
Door-to-door transfers
We can arrange standard or first class rail travel from/to your local UK railway station, together with seat reservations where available, to the station nearest to the port of embarkation in order to meet with our private coach.
As an added touch of luxury, our door-to-door service makes it possible for you to enjoy the comfort of chauffeur driven travel from most places in the UK to your embarkation port, or any UK railway station or airport.
Airports and railway stations
Hotels
For cruises starting and/or ending in Oban and Greenock the nearest transport terminals are Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport.
You may prefer to extend your cruise with a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay. We have negotiated favourable rates with a number of hotels, some of which are members of Connoisseurs Scotland or Pride of Britain, and we are pleased to pass these on to you. Our reservations staff can also recommend hotels elsewhere in the UK.
For cruises starting and/or ending in Portland the nearest transport terminals are Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport.
Wonders of the Natural World Greenock to Oban
Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Greenock at the start of the cruise, and from Oban to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise. Secure parking is available at Greenock and a complimentary transfer will be provided from Oban to Greenock on disembarkation.
14th July 2015
Grand Celtic Voyage Oban to Portland
Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Oban at the start of the cruise, and from Portland to Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport at the end of the cruise.
10th August 2015
Historic Maritime Discovery Portland to London
Coach transfers will be provided from Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport to Portland at the start of the cruise, and from Hebridean Princess to central London railway terminals at the end of the cruise.
18th August 2015
Jewels of the English Channel London to Portland
Coach transfers will be provided from central London railway terminals at the start of the cruise, and from Portland to Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport at the end of the cruise.
26th August 2015
Celtic Coasts Portland to Oban
Coach transfers will be provided from Weymouth Railway Station and Southampton Airport to Portland at the start of the cruise and from Oban to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise.
27th October 2015
Voyage to the Clyde Oban to Greenock
Coach transfers will be provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station and Glasgow International Airport to Oban at the start of the cruise, and from Greenock to Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Railway Station at the end of the cruise. Secure parking is available at Greenock and a complimentary transfer will be provided from Greenock to Oban on the day of embarkation for guests wishing to utilise the car parking facility in Greenock.
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Going ashore
Columba Restaurant
On board A-Z Animals
Dress and footwear
Electricity supply
We regret that no animals are permitted on board the vessel other than assistance dogs accompanying disabled passengers.
Daytime: During the day dress is casual. It is advisable to bring suitable clothing for the area in which you will be cruising.
Binoculars
Evening: For dinner in the evening, guests prefer to dress more formally, with a jacket and tie for gentlemen and the equivalent for ladies.
The electricity supply on Hebridean Princess is 240v AC and standard UK 3-pin sockets are provided in cabins. If guests wish to use 110v equipment, a transformer will be required – a limited supply is available on board for loan. The ship also carries adaptors for European and US style plugs, obtainable from the Housekeeper.
Wildlife lovers may wish to bring binoculars as there are only a limited number on board for loan.
Communications There is an internet facility in the Library for use by guests. Wi-Fi access is also available. Mobile phones should be switched off in public rooms. The cellular system in the Highlands and Islands is somewhat patchy and reception can be irregular. In an emergency, the ship can be reached by satellite phone, full details of which will be forwarded prior to your cruise.
Dining and restaurant arrangements The Columba Restaurant is sufficiently large for all guests to dine at the same time. The majority of tables are for two, but should guests wish to dine together we will be delighted to reserve a table for a maximum of eight. Guests travelling on their own will be seated at a larger table, usually hosted by an Officer, unless they indicate otherwise.
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Special diets: We can cater for most dietary preferences, with the exception of strict kosher and one or two other regimes. Special requests should be included in the Pre-Cruise Questionnaire; our reservations staff will be pleased to advise you.
Gala evenings: The recommended dress code for Gala evenings is black tie for gentlemen and evening wear for ladies, although this is by no means mandatory. On these evenings, the Officers will wear formal dress. The number of Gala evenings depends on the length of the cruise, but as a guideline, two formal Gala Dinners will be held during a seven-night cruise. Footwear: Non-slip shoes should be worn on deck and in the ship’s small boats when going ashore. Some cruises visit remote locations where heavy-soled shoes or walking boots are recommended for shore visits and serious walking. Footloose cruises: In addition to walking boots, we recommend that guests protect themselves against the unpredictable weather with waterproof clothing; we would stress that jeans are considered unsuitable. A reasonably sized rucksack would also be useful.
Refreshments on a Footloose cruise
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Going ashore
On board leisure
Smoking
Since many of the places on our itineraries are unsuitable for berthing alongside, Hebridean Princess is equipped with sturdy and seaworthy tenders to transport guests ashore. Buoyancy aids are provided and must be worn in all small boat operations. Please note, however, that use of the ship’s tenders does require a certain degree of agility. If in doubt, guests with physical disabilities and elderly or infirm passengers should contact our reservations staff before booking.
Hebridean Princess boasts a well-stocked library, together with a range of board games, jigsaws, chess and backgammon. Gym equipment is available on the Waterfront Deck. There is no organised gambling, apart from the occasional ‘frog race’ to raise money for charity. Each cabin is equipped with satellite television; should you wish to view a DVD in your cabin, a number of DVD players are available for this purpose and DVDs may be borrowed from the Library.
Smoking is not allowed inside the vessel at any time and is not permitted in cabins. Smoking is allowed only on the outer decks, and guests occupying balcony cabins are asked to show consideration to other balcony users.
Our itineraries are planned to allow frequent visits ashore to interesting and unusual places, but participation is by no means compulsory. The emphasis is on pleasing one’s self. As alternatives, we can usually suggest an independent stroll or a more serious walk ashore, perhaps a bike ride or, as many guests have discovered, the relaxation of staying on board.
Payment of shipboard accounts
Gratuities Hebridean operates a strict ‘no tipping’ policy.
Hebridean shop There is a small shop on board selling souvenirs and a basic supply of essentials. Cigarettes and tobacco products are not sold on board. As many of the areas we visit are remote, it may not be possible to purchase specialised items such as specific camera equipment, batteries, etc.
Whisky selection
The currency on board is pounds sterling. Payment of shipboard accounts may be made in sterling, either debit or credit Visa or Mastercards, or cheques; sterling travellers cheques are also accepted.
Sailing
Stairs Please note that there are no lifts (elevators) on board Hebridean Princess and, although well equipped with handrails, some of the ship’s stairways are steep, particularly those from the Princess Deck to the Waterfront and Hebridean Decks.
Valuables A small safe is provided in your cabin to secure valuables. Hebridean cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to guests’ valuables.
Most sailing on Hebridean Princess is scheduled to take place over breakfast and lunch, apart from overnight sailings to St Kilda on 2nd and 16th June cruises and from Portland to Oban on 26th August departure. Smaller ships tend to have a certain amount of vibration and some noise is inevitable when the main engines are running. At night, a sound insulated generator supplies domestic power to the vessel.
Tiree Lounge
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What you need to know Disabled facilities
Itinerary detail and variations
If wheelchair users wish to cruise with us, they must be accompanied by a farepaying able-bodied companion to assist them on board and ashore. Wheelchair access may be limited. Entrances to the vessel have raised coamings and almost all cabins have a raised lip or step from bedroom to bathroom. Please note that bedroom doors are no wider than 70cm. As the vessel does not carry a supply of narrow wheelchairs for general use, guests should check that their own chair is of a suitable width.
Cruise itineraries are published in good faith but may have to be altered on board to take into account climatic, geographical, political and other factors over which Hebridean or its agents have no control. We shall do our best to minimise alterations and their potential effect on guests.
Although well equipped with handrails, some of the ship’s stairways are steep, particularly those from the Princess Deck to the Waterfront and Hebridean Decks. As there are no lifts (elevators), the severely disabled or handicapped may find their enjoyment of the cruise impaired if they experience difficulty in moving between decks and over coamings between cabins and bathrooms.
Fitness on board and ashore Many of our visits ashore call for reasonable walking ability if guests are to gain maximum enjoyment from the cruise. As many are to lesser-known and remote places, there are frequently landing stages, steps, slopes and rough ground to contend with. We therefore reserve the right not to take a guest on a particular visit if we feel that it would be beyond his or her capabilities or might affect the enjoyment of fellow guests. If you are uncertain of your ability to participate in these activities, please contact our reservations staff to discuss the route in detail before confirming your booking. Those requiring wheelchairs and/or regular assistance in order to participate in shore visits must be accompanied by a fare-paying, able-bodied companion to assist them. We can usually organise alternative selfguided walks ashore for less agile guests to enjoy at their own pace, or make other arrangements, including taxis, at guests’ own cost.
Health When booking, guests must advise Hebridean of particular health conditions necessitating special precautions and of any subsequent change. It is the responsibility of each guest to inform Hebridean of any prevailing condition which may affect them on board or ashore and, equally, other guests’ ability to enjoy to the full any shore visits during their cruise. Please refer to the section ‘Fitness on board and ashore’ relating to the requirements for able-bodied companions.
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While the Captain will do his utmost to follow the itinerary, he will, where appropriate, adapt the route to suit the prevailing and forecast weather conditions. The Captain’s decision is always final. If such amendments need to be made at short notice, we cannot make any financial adjustments. Please see page 4 of the 2015 Cruise Diary & Tariff for our Conditions of Business.
Medical facilities Guests are advised to pack all necessary medical supplies, as our ports of call are generally off the beaten track and may lack facilities. If guests intend to bring any electrical or electronic medical equipment, they should first check with our reservations staff that it is compatible with the ship’s 240v electricity supply. Hebridean Princess does not routinely carry a doctor as she is never far from land. Guests should ensure that, to their knowledge, they are fit to take a holiday during which immediate medical assistance may not be available. Arrangements to consult a doctor on land can be made at relatively short notice and assistance can be summoned quickly in the event of an emergency. Any medical and repatriation costs will be charged to the guest’s account. The ship’s Officers are trained in first aid and a comprehensive medical supply is kept for emergency use.
Minors We regret that children under the age of nine cannot be accommodated.
Single room occupancy Ten of our cabins are designed and let on a single occupancy basis. Once these cabins have been booked, solo guests requesting a double cabin for single occupancy will be charged a supplement of 85% of the per-person fare for that cabin grade. Please refer to the Cabin Facilities and Dimensions Guide in the inside back cover or contact our reservations staff for further details.
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Cruising and touring with All Leisure Holidays
Hebridean River Cruises
Swan Hellenic
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A collection of relaxing cruises along Europe's picturesque rivers the Rhine, Main and Danube.
World-wide small ship discovery cruises with inclusive shore excursions and renowned Guest Speaker programmes.
Our award-winning river cruise programme features journeys along the Danube, the Rhone and the Sa么ne.
To book or request a brochure call: 01756 704704
To book or request a brochure call: 0844 209 9000
To book or request a brochure call: 0844 209 9000
www.hebridean.co.uk
www.swanhellenic.co.uk
www.swanhellenic.co.uk
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Cover 5:Layout 1 09/06/2014 15:53 Page 1
Cabin Facilities and Dimensions Guide • British flag and management • British officers • Lloyd’s registered • Twin screw
BOAT DECK PROMENADE DECK PRINCESS DECK WATERFRONT DECK HEBRIDEAN DECK
• 2,112 gross registered tons • Fully stabilised • 5 passenger decks • Maximum of 50 passengers • Quick launch & recovery
The ship was especially designed and built to sail in the waters of the
Bath with shower Walk in shower (m2)
Bath with shower Walk in shower (sq ft)
Day room/ balcony (m2)
Day room/ balcony (sq ft)
163.6
4.0
43.1
12.4
133.4
31.6
340.1
17.7
190.5
3.3
35.5
5.0
53.8
26.0
279.8
Total private floor size (sq ft)
Bedroom (sq ft)
15.2
Total private floor size (m2)
Bedroom (m2)
Interchangeable twin/king size bed
Single bed
Double/king size bed
Bath
Portholes
Windows
Private balcony
Separate day room
Deck location
Cabin category
Shower
Scottish Western Isles and has proven her ability over the years.
tender system
Double/Twin Cabins Isle of Arran Suite Isle of Berneray Isle of Bute Isle of Barra Isle of Benbecula Isle of Coll Isle of Colonsay Isle of Iona Isle of Staffa Isle of Danna
• • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Duart Castle Kinloch Castle Torosay Castle Ardvreck Castle Lews Castle Isle of Muck Isle of Raasay
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• •
Loch Crinan Loch Harport Loch Torridon
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
17.7
190.5
3.3
35.5
5.0
53.8
26.0
279.8
12.8
137.7
4.8
51.6
4.8
51.6
22.4
240.9
12.8
137.7
4.8
51.6
4.8
51.6
22.4
240.9
15.2
163.6
4.1
44.1
19.3
207.7
15.2
163.6
4.1
44.1
19.3
207.7
19.3
207.7
3.3
35.5
22.6
243.2
19.3
207.7
3.3
35.5
22.6
243.2
19.8
213.1
2.8
30.1
22.6
243.2
11.5
123.7
4.2
45.2
15.7
168.9
13.4
144.2
4.8
51.6
18.2
195.8
13.0
139.9
4.8
51.6
17.8
191.5
12.2
131.3
2.9
31.2
15.1
162.5 162.5
12.2
131.3
2.9
31.2
15.1
13.1
141.0
3.0
32.2
16.1
173.2
11.9
128.1
3.1
33.3
15.0
161.4
14.0
150.6
3.4
36.5
17.4
187.1
12.9
138.8
3.3
35.5
16.2
174.3
11.1
119.4
3.1
33.3
14.2
152.7
8.6
92.5
2.7
29.0
11.3
121.5
8.6
92.5
2.9
31.2
11.5
123.7
9.2
99.0
1.9
20.4
11.1
119.4
11.0
118.4
2.2
23.6
13.2
142.0
10.5
113.0
2.4
25.8
12.9
138.8
11.0
118.4
2.2
23.6
13.2
142.0
9.9
106.5
2.2
23.6
12.1
130.1
9.0
96.9
3.0
32.3
12.0
129.2
9.0
96.9
3.0
32.3
12.0
129.2
10.2
109.7
3.2
34.4
13.4
144.1
Single Cabins Isle of Canna Isle of Eigg Isle of Rum Sound of Islay Sound of Jura Sound of Mull Sound of Sleat Loch Buie Loch Scavaig Loch Scresort
• • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
All sizes are approximate
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Deck Plans Port Motor Lifeboat Loungers & chairs
Guests’ forward viewing area
Funnel
Open deck area
Loungers & chairs Loungers & chairs
Starboard
Guests’ forward viewing area
Motor Lifeboat
Boat Deck (No 5 Deck level)
Port Promenade Deck (partially covered)
Look-Out Lounge Library
Isle of Raasay
Isle of Iona
Ladies Tiree Lounge
Skye Deck (open deck with tables and chairs)
Skye Bar
Isle of Bute
Balcony
Gents
Promenade Deck (partially covered)
Promenade Deck
Conservatory
Tiree Bar
Isle of Staffa
Isle of Berneray
Balcony
Starboard
(No 4 Deck level) B
Isle of Arran Suite
Isle of Danna
Viewing Balcony Balcony
Port Isle of Barra
Shop
Columba Restaurant
Isle of Coll
Reception Foyer
Isle of Canna
Isle of Eigg
Isle of Rum
Isle of Muck
Princess Deck
Isle of Colonsay
Isle of Viewing Balcony Balcony Benbecula
Starboard
(No 3 Deck level) L
Port Duart Castle
Lews Castle
Ardvreck Castle
Sound of Mull
Sound of Islay
Sound of Sleat
Sound of Jura
Landing stage for small boats through side of ship
Kinloch Castle
Torosay Castle
Landing stage for small boats through side of ship
Starboard
Gym equipment
Waterfront Deck (No 2 Deck level)
Port Loch Torridon
Loch Crinan
Loch Scresort
Loch Harport
Loch Loch Buie Scavaig
Starboard
Hebridean Deck (No 1 Deck level)
Hebridean Island Cruises Tel: 01756 704704 | www.hebridean.co.uk
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Cruise Calendar 2015 Spring
page
March
2nd 6th 10th 17th 24th 31st
Outlook on the Clyde Pearls of Argyll and Bute Houses and Castles of the Clyde Wonders of the Natural World Seasons of the Inner Isles Easter in the Hebrides
4 nights 4 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
18 20 22 24 26 28
April
7th 14th 21st 28th
Footloose in the Inner Isles West Coast Explorer Inner Hebridean Odyssey Islands of Contrast
7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
30 32 34 36
May
5th 12th 19th 26th
Rugged North West West Coast Gardens Footloose over The Minch Hebridean Explorer
7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
38 40 42 44
Summer
page
June
2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th
St Kilda and the Outer Isles Gaelic Tapestry The Outposts of St Kilda Footloose to Sutherland Classical Music Sojourn
7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
46 48 50 52 54
July
7th 14th 23rd
Trail of The Young Pretender Grand Celtic Voyage Footloose to the Channel Isles
7 nights 9 nights 9 nights
56 58 60
August
1st 10th 18th 26th
The Beaches of Normandy Historic Maritime Discovery Jewels of the English Channel Celtic Coasts
9 nights 8 nights 8 nights 9 nights
62 64 66 68
Autumn
page
September
4th 8th 15th 22nd 29th
Hebridean Sampler Links, Lochs and Sounds Secrets of the Western Isles Hebridean Explorer Footloose to the Western Isles
4 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
70 72 74 76 78
October
6th 13th 20th 27th
Hebridean Panorama Flavours of Scotland Hebridean Surprise Voyage to the Clyde
7 nights 7 nights 7 nights 7 nights
80 82 84 86
November
3rd 9th 13th
Grand Houses of the Clyde Outlook on the Clyde Pearls of Argyll and Bute
6 nights 4 nights 4 nights
88 90 92
Answering your queries and making your reservation Our reservations staff are available to help you from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm. They can give detailed information on all aspects, including the various itineraries, cabins, food and travel arrangements to the ship. Telephone numbers: UK Office: 01756
704704 US Office: (877) 600 2648 Email: reservations@hebridean.co.uk Website: www.hebridean.co.uk Alternatively contact your preferred travel agent or cruise specialist.
Hebridean Island Cruises 路 Kintail House 路 Carleton New Road Skipton 路 North Yorkshire BD23 2DE 路 United Kingdom