Scotland’s Wild Isles: Shetlands, Orkneys and Inner Hebrides

Arrive in Dublin and transfer from the airport to the city center. More living museum than city, traces of Dublin’s past are on display at every turn with medieval castles, cathedrals and one of the oldest universities in Europe: Trinity College. Experience the city at your own pace before embarking the ship this afternoon.

Start your expedition on Rathlin Island, home of Northern Ireland’s largest puffin colony, perched precariously on seaside cliffs. It is also home to thousands of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. Take the shuttle up to the cliffs and home to the Rathlin West Light, the “upside down lighthouse”, built between 1912 and 1917. From here you can peer over the cliffs and observe the seabirds that call these dramatic drops home. After getting your fill of the cliffs and panoramic sea views, hike along the country lane back to the harbor and witness daily island life around you.

Sail through the Sea of the Hebrides to the Isle of Skye, known for its rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles. Enjoy an expedition day along its coast, exploring inlets and villages that this region is known for—and possibly a wee dram of the local libations. The next day, move further up the coast to Loch Ewe, inhabited over the centuries by crofting villages and used as a gathering point for maritime trade and military convoys. Today, one of the best known highlights of the Loch is Inverewe Gardens, initially curated by a private land owner and currently looked after by the National Trust of Scotland. Enjoy a relaxed morning amongst the gardeners tending the early season beds, while keeping an eye out for the Scottish Big Five of red squirrel, red deer, otter, seal and golden eagle that call this area of the world home.

Rounding the most northern region of the United Kingdom, spend the next three days winding your way south through the Shetland and Orkney Islands. The Shetland Islands are comprised of 16 individual islands and offer the chance to delve into their Viking and Norwegian roots, as well as their farming cultural on the edge of the ocean. The Orkney Islands offer their own highlights, including the capital of Kirkwall and the famed harbor of Scapa Flow. Your expedition team will make the most of these days by calling at remote piers and beaches by Zodiac. Explore ancient brochs overlooking the North Sea and hike across island trails.   

Disembark in Edinburgh and transfer to the airport for flights home.