Scotland's Highlands & Islands Aboard Lord of the Glens
Take this purpose-built ship through the wilds of Scotland exploring these rugged landscapes in a way other ships can't replicate. National Geographic-level guides complete the experience.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.2*
ECO SCORE
54
PASSENGERS
9
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Scotland: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Lord of the Glens
Explore Scotland as few people have on an enchanting voyage to the region’s highlights and some seldom-seen wildness. Purpose-built for these waters, your gracious ship, Lord of the Glens, is able to fit through narrow canals and stepped locks in the heart of the country and also navigate among the islands and their small communities along the coast. The result is a panoramic voyage, a rare expedition that offers an immersive, in-depth experience at a comfortable pace. Named a National Geographic Traveler magazine "Tour of a Lifetime" for its authenticity, immersion, sustainability, and connection, your Highlands and Islands expedition offers the most encompassing way to explore Scotland.
- • Sail the Caledonian Canal, which bisects the country, plus explore the beautiful outlying islands of the Inner Hebrides.
• Kayak Loch Linnhe, see the storied battlefield of Culloden, beautiful Glenfinnan, the historic Isle of Iona, and the isles of Mull, Eigg, and Skye.
• Get deep insights from National Geographic-level experts on both the human and natural history of Scotland.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
SPECIAL OFFER:
Rates:
From $8,340 per person
Cancel your expedition at least 14 days before departure and receive 100% future travel credit. Policies and protocols provided before you book.
May 28-June 5, 2023
June 11-19, 2023
July 9-17, 2023
July 16-24, 2023
July 23-31, 2023
July 30-Aug 7, 2023
Aug 6-14, 2023
Ask us for later dates.
May - Aug 2023
Hover here for specific dates
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
CARBON
Fantastic advances in minimizing carbon footprints at locations.
ENERGY
On the East African Energy Renewal Board
EDUCATION
Runs local educational facilities for children.
Itinerary
This itinerary sometimes operates in reverse:
Day 1-2 -Fly to Inverness, Embark
Fly overnight and arrive in Inverness. Board Lord of the Glens and settle into your cabin. Tonight, enjoy a reception and dinner on board, with a special after-dinner performance in the lounge by a local troupe of junior Scottish dancers.
Day 3 - Culloden/Clava Cairns/Loch Ness/Fort Augustus
Visit Culloden, the infamous battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated in 1746. The battle was brief but bloody and decisive, with as many as 2,000 Jacobites killed or wounded. It had drastic consequences for the Scotland Highlands and was followed by the infamous Highland Clearances that saw the mass explusion of Catholic clansmen from their homes, and in many cases, from their country. Our visit includes both the battlefield and the award-winning visitor center, the National Trust for Scotland's flagship site.
See the standing stones and passage tombs of Clava Cairns, dating from the early Bronze Age. The impressive structures of this sacred site were developed for over a thousand years. This afternoon, set sail on theCaledonian Canal, built between 1803 and 1822 to connect Loch Linnhe with the three other lochs that lie in the slip fault of the Great Glen. Enter Loch Ness, where we’ll learn about the legendary monster said to inhabit the loch. Ascend animpressive flight of locks that run through the heartof Fort Augustus to moor at the top of the village. Set out on a hike this evening.
Day 4 - Laggan Locks/Corpach/Glenfinnan
Continue along the Caledonian Canal, ascending to 106 feet at Laggan Lock, after gliding along the tree-lined canal known as Laggan Avenue. Sail onward across picturesque Lochs Oich and Lochy before descending Neptune's Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks dropping 64 feet to the
sea loch at Corpach. From Corpach, drive to Glenfinnan to explore the spectacularly scenic location now famous for Harry Potter, or chose to explore Loch Linnhe by kayak from our moorings in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.
Day 5 - Loch Linnhe/Oban
Sail through Loch Linnhe to the town of Oban, set on a picturesque bay on the Firth of Lorn. There is time to explore this lively town on foot, visiting a whisky distillery and McCaig’s Folly, a monument on a hill overlooking the town and bay that was inspired by the Roman Colosseum. This evening, we have a whisky tasting onboard ship.
Day 6 - Sound of Mull/Iona/Duart Castle/Tobermory
Sail to the Isle of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides. Drive across Mull, then cross to Iona by ferry to explore this picturesque island. Explore the island, which is of vital historic importance. Saint Columba arrived here in 563 with twelve followers, built a church, and began the process of converting the peoples of the area to Christianity. Iona became famous as a place of learning and as a pilgrimage site. Visit the medieval abbey ruins and the rebuilt abbey church. Stroll through St. Oran’s Chapel and the royal graveyard where Scottish kings, including Macbeth, are buried.
On Mull, visit Duart Castle. The ancestral home of Clan MacLean—an impressive fortress (with a dungeon!) with dramatic views over the Sound of Mull—was built in the 13th century, and is still lived in by the MacLean family. Re-joining our ship, we sail the dramatic Sound of Mull for our overnight berth at the picturesque fishing community of Tobermory. This evening, we plan to meet with a member of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust to learn about their efforts to protect marine mammals in these waters.
Day 7 - Tobermory/Isle of Eigg or Isle of Rum/Inverie
Sail north to either Eigg or Rum, depending on weather conditions. The islands have small populations of fewer than one hundred souls, but teem with wildlife. Look for marine animals and birdlife, including Atlantic seals, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, basking sharks and harbour porpoises, and one of the largest colonies of Manx shearwaters in northern Europe. If we visit Eigg, we’ll have the chance to walk or cycle around the island trails, enjoy views of the imposing crag of Sgurr, and talk with the local residents. If we visit Rum, we’ll visit fanciful Kinloch Castle, completed in 1900 as the home of Sir George Bullough, who had purchased the island with money he had earned as a textile magnate. The castle is now managed by Scottish National Heritage. Then sail to the tiny village of Inverie, where you can have a drink at the Old Forge, the most remote pub in the British Isles.
Day 8 - Isle of Skye/Kyle of Lochalsh
Continue north to the Isle of Skye. At the Museum of the Isles, trace the legacy of the 1,300-year-old Clan MacDonald, the Lords of the Isles, who once ruled the west coast of Scotland. See the ruins of Armadale Castle, ancestral home of the MacDonalds, and take a walk through the beautiful woodlands and gardens. Then sail for Kyle of Lochalsh. Set out on a guided walk on the Balmacara Estate, affording spectacular coastal and mountain views. Alternatively, explore nearby Eilean Donan Castle, which sites on a tidal island at the confluence of three lochs, and is connected by causeway to the mainland. A Jacobite stronghold, it was destroyed by government forces in 1719 but restored in the early 20th century. Celebrate your voyage with a farewell dinner onboard.
Day 9 - Kyle of Lochalsh/Disembark/Inverness/Depart
Disembark in Kyle of Lochalsh and drive through the highlands to Inverness. Then transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Please Note: Please confirm arrival and departure dates prior to booking flights. Some departures may travel in reverse.
Special Offer (Subject to change): Travel aboard Lord of the Glens on any voyage and this operator will cover your bar tab and all tips for the crew.
Children: Take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.
Group Rates: Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from regular policies.
Lord of the Glens
Lord of the Glens is a spectacularly unique ship. She was built for one purpose—to fit through the network of locks and canals that cut through the heart of the Scottish highlands. So, she is the only ship of her kind that is able to offer a voyage through the Caledonian Canal, which connects the North Sea to the Atlantic and goes through the very heart of the Scottish Highlands. Add to that her ability to navigate the coastline and venture to the islands of the Inner Hebrides and you have the basis for a singularly unique and striking expedition.
Life aboard Lord of the Glens feels like a cross between relaxing in a stately country manor and taking a voyage aboard a private yacht with friends. It is the perfect way to explore the Scottish countryside. She is paneled in polished wood, with teak decks, offering gourmet cuisine, and exceptional personal service. Lord of the Glens is small enough to come alongside daily in charming locations and to moor overnight in small welcoming communities such as the fishing village of Inverie which, although on the Scottish mainland, has no access by road with any other community in Scotland. The ship is outfitted with bicycles and even kayaks allowing guests to pedal into these small towns and explore the countryside at a leisurely pace, or have a unique opportunity to kayak in Loch Ness.
• Capacity: 54 guests
• Cabins: 26 cabins
• Specialists: National Geographic-level Experts, National Geographic Photography Coach
ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 Travel + Leisure - "Best Small Ship Ocean Cruise Line"
"The Lord of the Glens is the only ship that offers this in-depth look at Scotland's waterways, locks, and coastlines. Her dark wood paneling and casual cabins are reminiscent of a 19thC hunting lodge. As long as you're prepared for a more casual, older ship, the experience of Scotland she offers with National Geographic-level guiding and an enthusiastic crew is outstanding."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
Click to enlarge
Questions?
Rates
Questions?
This expert operator has been refining this program for over 2 decades. I highly recommend you take advantage of their expertise and insider access!
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Meals as indicated; coffee and tea with included meals; soft drinks such as sodas and fruit juices aboard ship; tours as shown in the itinerary services of a
Lindblad Expeditions expedition leader and two expedition staff members aboard Lord of the Glens; local guides on all excursions; tips to local guides and bus drivers; porterage; arrival and departure transfers in Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh.
NOT INCLUDED
Travel insurance, air transportation; meals not shown in itinerary; tips to ship’s crew; items of a personal nature; alcoholic beverages other than first and last nights aboard Lord of the Glens.
