Wildlife & Traditions of the Scottish Isles - 4 July 2024
Highlights:
- Enjoy birdwatching as Balmoral sails past Sumburgh Head
- Search for whales with help from ORCA
- Marvel at the Isle of Skye's scenery
Connoisseur Exclusive! Free Home Transfers within 30 miles of Rosyth Port!
Enjoy some of Scotland’s wildest and most scenic island landscapes, which provide a haven for wildlife and boast a long and fascinating history.
Balmoral will divert away from the main coastal routes to take you past a host of remarkable sights, from the Small Isles archipelago to the basalt columns of Fingal’s Cave.
You can enjoy birdwatching as you sail past Sumburgh Head and RSPB Troup Head, and search for whales from your ship with the help of wildlife charity ORCA.
Ashore you can marvel at the Isle of Skye’s scenery, including the Old Man of Storr; learn about Shetland’s local farming traditions; visit the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae in Orkney; and discover Harris’s Gaelic culture.
Price Includes:
DINING & LOUNGES
- À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Daily buffet dining options
- Late night Supper Club
- Afternoon tea
- Self-service tea & coffee
- In-cabin dining & snacks
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
- Evening shows
- Live music & dancing
- Dance classes
- Lectures & talks
- Cookery demonstrations
- Traditional deck games
- Daily games & quizzes
RELAXATION & FITNESS
- Swimming Pools
- Jacuzzis
- Fitness Centre
- Fitness Classes
Itinerary
-
4 July Departing Rosyth, Scotland
-
6 July Lerwick, Scotland
Capital of the Shetland Islands, Lerwick is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its stunning coastlines. Close by are the soaring cliffs of Sumburgh Head, which are perfect for spotting various examples of marine life, such as minke whales, orcas and dolphins; and as an RSPB nature reserve - guillemots, shags and fulmars. In the town, the An Tuireann Arts Centre celebrates the Gaelic heritage of this fascinating seaport.
-
7 July Kirkwall, Scotland
The Orkneys archipelago, around 70 islands in the far north of Scotland, were once the centre of innovation in the British Isles, where farmers in the Stones Ages brought various cattle, pigs and sheep, thus establishing farmsteads on the islands. Today, Skara Brae is a preserved settlement, along with excavated burial and ceremonial sites. Kirkwall stands as the capital of the islands, and is the perfect starting point for exploring Orkney’s fascinating historical sites.
-
8 July Portree, Scotland
Largest town on the Isle of Skye, Portree is set within a natural harbour surrounded with brightly-coloured houses and rocky cliffs. Serving as gateway to the rock formations at Trotternish Ridge, the Tusdale ruins and Dunvegan Castle – seat of the Clan MacLeod since the 13th century. Close by is Loch Coruisk, home to puffins, golden eagles, oystercatchers and occasional sea eagles.
-
10 July Stornoway, Scotland
Located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway is a thriving town with a busy port, best seen from the top of ‘Gallow’s Hill’ – reached by the impressive grounds of Lews Castle. Originally built in 1847, the castle has had some well-known owners, including Lord Leverhume, who founded the company now known as Unilever. He gave the castle to the people of Stornoway, where it served as a naval hospital and college, but is now a noteworthy museum.
-
12 July Return to Rosyth Port, Scotland