From $6,090 per person
7 days
Scotland Barge Cruises
Scotland makes up the northern third of the Island of Great Britain. Other than neighbouring England in the southeast, the coast of Scotland is surrounded by nothing but the vast Atlantic Ocean. The Scottish Highlands are truly underrated and underappreciated by a majority of the world, Scotland is full of charm, character, history, and spectacular scenery.
The waters of Scotland are among the most beautiful and breathtaking in the world. Our luxury hotel barges cruise through the magical Great Glen, located between the historic city centre of Inverness, regarded as the capital of the Highlands, and the historic town of Fort William stretching the east to the west coast of Scotland. Everything about this cruise will leave you with everlasting memories of your hotel barging holiday.
On the boat’s journey, you will be able to take in the charming heather-clad hilltops and ancient castles that decorate the Scottish canals. Over the duration of your holiday, we will be serenely cruising through some of the most stunning lochs that Scotland has to offer such as the infamous Loch Ness and Loch Oich, as well as navigating through the complex Caledonian Canal, a true engineering masterpiece.
You will also get the chance to pass through the infamous Loch Ness, giving you the unique opportunity to get your own sighting of the mythical Loch Ness Monster. The Loch is not just about its mythical stories, it has stunning scenery and architecture such as Urquhart Castle, making it a destination that you just cannot miss. The enchanting scenery and the history of the Scottish Highlands make this truly one of the most phenomenal inland cruising experiences in the world.
Scottish Highlander Canal Boat Holiday
Mimicking a stunning traditional Scottish country home, the Scottish Highlander canal boat features gorgeous tartan furniture, and landscaping paintings to remind you of the spectacular Highlands that surround you. The 117 feet long barge incorporates both space and luxury harmoniously through its high-quality elegant finishes that allow you to enjoy the glorious Highlands in divine opulence.
The warm and welcoming furnishings give a traditional and cosy feel to the observation deck, wheelhouse, and cabins for your short breaks. The boat also features a fully stocked bar at all times serving the most glorious single malt whisky that Scotland has to offer to allow you to truly immerse yourself in the experience.
The Scottish barge features stunning accommodation for up to eight guests, with three twin/double staterooms and a large junior suite. Each of the cabins is centrally heated with stunning ensuite facilities.
Hotel Barge Spirit of Scotland
This stunning boat was purpose-built less than twenty years ago as a hotel barge, however, traditional steamer boats, which she was modelled after having been occupying and navigating these lochs for generations.
With numerous comfortable and elegant public areas both inside and outside, you have the perfect viewing points to watch the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands. The Spirit of Scotland can accommodate up to 12 guests in luxurious comfort in its 6 beautiful, air-conditioned cabins. The cabins offer either twin or double beds and are complimented with beautifully designed bathrooms.
The glorious interior truly defines The Spirit of Scotland with a bright and spacious dining area, a fully stocked bar, and a wheelhouse that provides uninterrupted views of the glorious route ahead. Outside is luxury defined as it features a heated spa pool, covered outdoor dining areas, and recliner seats so that you can take in the fresh air in comfort.
A crew of 6 will accompany you on board to ensure that you have the full 5-star treatment. They will be serving the finest Scottish cuisine, fine wines, and a wide range of Scottish whiskys.
Scotland Barge Cruise Highlights
The Scottish canal cruises on board The Scottish Highlander and The Spirit Of Scotland travel through some of the country’s most amazing scenery. Thanks to its vast canals, lochs and rivers that run through the enchanting countryside, Scotland is undoubtedly one of the best countries to see from the water in the world.
On board our luxury vessels Scotland’s stunning lochs and Caledonian Canals are fully accessible, allowing you to unlock the beauty of the waterways, no matter what the weather. There is no better way to travel the waters than in one of our incredibly luxurious barge hotels.
Over the course of the cruise, we will travel between the northeastern coastal city of Inverness and the mountainous town of Fort William, deep within the highlands. A popular stop along our cruises is at the many castles along our journey. You will get to experience the beauty of castles such as Cawdor Castle, immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, as well as the stunning Urquhart Castle ruins.
Whisky Trail In Scottish Highlands
On both The Scottish Highlander and The Spirit Of Scotland we offer whisky cruises, with a specialised itinerary that allows whisky lovers to visit several of Scotland’s oldest distilleries and to test some of the finest whiskys to come out of the Highlands.
For years, Scotland has been producing some of the world’s highest quality whisky and single malt whiskys in the world. The highlands are synonymous with phenomenal whisky, in 2021 whisky accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports. This is because of the work that these family-run distilleries are doing throughout the country and have been doing for centuries.
You will be taken to numerous fantastic distilleries such as Benromach Distillery, Tomatin Distillery, and the Cairngorms National Parks Distillery. At these wonderful distilleries, you will moor up and embark on in-depth tours before sitting down for your private tasting of the world-renowned whisky.
Other Themed Cruises Scotland
If you charter out the vessel then there are a number of fascinating and unique themed cruises that will help you see even more of the amazing opportunities that this breathtaking country has to offer.
On our Golf Cruise you will get the chance to play at some of Scotland’s most exclusive courses. Your days will be full of beautiful scenery like Ben Nevis and Neptune’s Staircase in Banavie, stunning Scottish cuisine, local single malt whisky, and countless rounds of golf.
We also offer Garden Cruises that will take you to some of the country’s most beautiful gardens and locations. You will get the chance to explore the stunning gardens of the famous Cawdor Castle. These picture gardens have been listed among the UKs top 100. Cawdor castle has been immortalised in the Shakespear ‘Scottish Play’, Macbeth.
Day-by-day description of your cruise and cruise activities.
Muirtown
Guests are met at Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness** and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Scottish Highlander. Champagne Welcome and if you wish, an early evening stroll to the sea lock with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths. Then perhaps savour one of the hotel barge’s many single malts before your first dinner on board.
Dochgarroch
Our first cruise will take us up the Muirtown lock flight and through the Tomnahurich swing bridge, with an option to walk alongside River Ness to the hamlet of Dochgarroch. After lunch on board, we enjoy a visit to Cawdor Castle, forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”, Macbeth. The picturesque gardens have been listed amongst the top 100 in the UK. The castle contains a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furnishings and the Dowager Countess of Cawdor still lives there for part of the year. Dinner on board.
Fort Augustus
This morning we enjoy a visit to Culloden Moor, scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746 where English Government troops faced the Highlanders of “Bonnie Prince Charlie”. If time allows, then we take a tour of Clava Cairns, a pre-historic clan chieftain burial site dating back to 2,000 B.C and setting for the Outlander TV series. After lunch onboard, we cruise through Loch Dochfour and across Loch Ness, where en-route we pass Urquhart Castle, navigating closely beneath its spectacular 13th century ruins, before continuing our cruise to Fort Augustus. Dinner on board.
Kytra
After breakfast, we visit the private Highland Club, a spectacular exclusive set of residences and a former 19th century Benedictine Monastery. Here we are treated to a falconry and birds of prey demonstration** on the banks of Loch Ness, and the majesty of the swooping birds against the backdrop of the sweeping Scottish Highlands is not easily forgotten. There is time to explore the pretty village of Fort Augustus before lunch on board, after which our cruise takes us up the “flight”, as the locals call it, at Fort Augustus and then on to our pretty mooring at Cullochy. This evening we are given a tutored private whisky tasting at charming The Glenmoriston Arms Hotel, followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Laggan
This morning’s cruise can be partially walked as we cross the very scenic Loch Oich, perhaps stopping en route for a spot of fishing, and onto the pretty Laggan Avenue. As we approach Laggan, our Highland Piper may greet us with a stirring rendition of traditional Scottish music. After lunch on board we take in some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer as we drive to one of its best known and most photographed castles, Eilean Donan, which has featured in movies such as “Highlander” and James Bond’s “The World Is Not Enough” and overlooks three sea lochs. Dinner on board.
Banavie
Today, our final cruise will see us pass through Moy Bridge, the last fully hand-operated bridge on the canal, before mooring at Banavie beneath Ben Nevis and a stroll from Neptune’s Staircase leading down to Loch Eil. After lunch on board, our tour today takes us to the Dalwhinnie Distillery for a tour and private tasting of several single malts. Captain’s Farewell Dinner and of course, the opportunity to enjoy another wee dram or two.
Banavie
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Inverness*.
* Other locations available for Private Charter bookings
** Weather dependant
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
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