Embark on a journey with a unique difference in 2016, as you discover a land of mountain wildernesses, glacial glens and lochs, on a journey through the UK’s northernmost country, Scotland.
Hebridean Island Cruises sail just one vessel, Hebridean Princess and they sail her to some superb locations – she has even been chartered by the Queen. The line states that the word unique is greatly overused, and it is, but Hebridean Island Cruises really is one of a kind and with an all-inclusive approach, one of the finest small vessels afloat and a focus on some of Scotland’s most beautiful hidden gems, you really are in for a special cruising experience.
Discover Scotland Aboard Hebridean Princess
In 2016, Hebridean Princess offers a vast selection of itineraries with stops including: Bute, Troon, Greenock, Portavadie, Crarae, Oban, Tarbert, Skye, St Kilda and Muck. In short, just about every “off the beaten track” destination you could ever wish to visit in Scotland is on offer and each voyage comes with included shore excursions – just one of the benefits of Hebridean Island’s all-inclusive approach to Scottish exploration.
You can see the entire 2016 collection by visiting our website, but these are some of our favourite Scottish voyages for 2016 and we have lovingly hand-picked each and every one of them.
Spirit of Scotland – Departing 15 March 2016 for 7-nights.
Itinerary: Greenock | Rhu Marina | Bute | Sanda | Islay | Port Ellen | Ardfern | Oban
The name of the cruise may have given it away, but we picked this itinerary because of the visits to several distilleries. If you are a Scotch drinker then this is certainly the option for you. Distillery visits include: Glengoyne, Arran, Springbank, Jura and Oban. Leisurely walks ashore are also offered, as is a visit to the 13th century Rothesay Castle on the isle of Bute and the beautiful Arduaine Botanical Garden in Oban.
Escape to the Highlands and Islands – Departing 29 March 2016 for 7-nights.
Itinerary: Oban | Fort William | Loch a’Choire | Colonsay | Iona | Coll | Salen | Oban
One of the shore options included on this voyage is a visit to Ardmaddy Castle in Oban, where nature and wildlife await, and the location itself is truly stunning. Colonsay House Gardens are also included as is a visit to Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Duart Castle, built in 1360, is sited on a high crag at the end of a peninsula jutting into the Sound of Mull. It commands the channel between Mull and the mainland, entrances to Lochs Linne and Etive and the neck of the Firth of Lorne as it meets the Sound of Mull.
Footloose Through the Inner Isles – Departing 26 April 2016 for 7-nights.
Itinerary: Oban | Rum | Raasay | Gairloch | Ullapool | Inveraray |Eigg | Oban
This will be Hebridean Princesses first “footloose” cruise of the 2016 season visiting the Inner Hebrides. Shoreside adventures include walks at Loch Coruisk, Flowerdale Glen, Old Forge Pub, Inverewe Garden and Ullapool Museum. This cruise also features 2 onboard Gala dinners.
St Kilda, Islands On The Edge – Departing 31 May 2016 for 7-nights.
Itinerary: Oban | Bishop’s Isles | St Kilda | Eriskay | Stornoway | Skye | Muck | Oban
This is the first of two visits in 2016 to the mysterious archipelago of St Kilda, the United Kingdom’s only double UNESCO World Heritage Site, lying approximately 120 miles off the west coast of mainland Scotland and where man lived in the harshest of conditions up until 1930. This itinerary is one of our personal favourites because not only can you explore St Kilda, but you can also enjoy a visit to Dunvegan Castle which is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years.
Stone Age Scotland – Departing 8 August 2016 for 8-nights.
Itinerary: Invergordon | Kirkwall (overnight in port) | Grutness | Westray | Stornoway | Lochmaddy | Ardfern | Oban
This voyage will explore some of the area’s most inspiring archaeological sites and uncover the myriad secrets of ancient history hidden for millennia. Uncover Maes Howe and Ring of Brodgar in Orkney, enjoy an island tour in Westray and visit the prehistoric archaeological site of Jarlshof with its oval-shaped Bronze Age houses, Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, Viking long houses, medieval farmstead and 16th century laird’s house.
For more information on any of the voyages featured in our blog today, or to enquire about other routes and itineraries, please call one of our Luxury Cruise Experts on 0800 008 6677.
