Embark MS Spitsbergen in the spring for an exhilarating island hopping adventure, taking you to several islands in the Hebrides, as you seek out history, culture, wonders and wildlife.
Sailing from Fairlie, outside of Glasgow, you'll call at the beautiful Isle of Arran, Islay - known as the 'Whisky Isle' - and the small island of Gigha, often referred to as the Hebrides' slice of paradise.
Visit the Isle of Mull, known for its colourful houses that line the port of Tobermory and experience Scotland's answer to Stonehenge on the Isle of Lewis and Harris, when you visit the Callanish Standing Stones.
Further highlights include Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye before exploring some of the Small Isles and the sacred Isle of Iona, home to the restored 6th century abbey.
The region is teeming with wildlife and there will be plenty of opportunity to spot seabirds and marine life - from whales, porpoises and dolphins on the Isle of Colonsay to over 200 species of birds, including oystercatchers, gannets and Golden Eagles on Islay.
You'll be joined by a knowledgeable Expedition Team, who will host in-depth lectures and discussions on board, as well as ashore on guided landings and excursions. You'll also enjoy the company of travel journalist and broadcaster Monty Hall, who knows these shores well - from filming Monty Halls' Great Hebridean Escape.
To mark 130 years of exploration, HX have appointed Monty Halls an official brand ambassador and he will join both dates in their entirety. Drawing on his deep knowledge of the region's natural and cultural heritage, his insights will prove invaluable during your cruise.
"I'm looking forward to helping guests discover the incredible history, wildlife and landscapes of the Scottish Western Isles. It's going to be a truly exciting journey."
A former Royal Marines Officer who worked for Nelson Mandela in the early '90s, Monty left the forces to pursue a career in expeditions, travel journalism, and marine biology. He has presented award-winning documentaries, including the series Monty Halls' Great Hebridean Escape.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a lead in (Polar Inside) cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit 30%. Price shown does not include discount. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL-bonded) and HX Group Ltd.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a lead in (Polar Inside) cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit 30%. Price shown does not include discount. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL-bonded) and HX Group Ltd.
A former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hotspot, packed with museums, galleries and parks. Discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh before your expedition cruise begins. You'll embark your ship MS Spitsbergen in Fairlie, a small community outside of Glasgow. Lying on the shores of the Firth of Clyde and nestled against a backdrop of the North Ayrshire Hills, this area is known for coastal towns that boast both Viking heritage and scenic walks. Get to know the ship before meeting the Expedition Team - your guides for the adventure ahead. Enjoy your first on board dinner as we set sail.
Welcome to the Isle of Arran with its heather-cloaked landscapes. Known as 'Scotland in miniature', Arran's varied landscape is split by the Highland Boundary Fault, giving the island its distinctive highland peaks in the north and lush lowlands in the south. Why not try a hike with views of the craggy peaks of Goat Fell and see if you can spot Scotland's 'Big Five': the Golden Eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and harbour seal, all of which can be found on Arran. While here, discover the grandeur of Brodick Castle, and explore the gardens which will be brimming with spring life.
Islay, the 'Queen of the Hebrides', is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, with rugged uplands and coastline. The island is the proud home of world-famous peaty single malts - but that's far from the only reason to visit. Islay is a wildlife haven, home to over 200 species of birds - including oystercatchers, gannets and Golden Eagles. From its sandy beaches, you can sometimes spot dolphins and basking sharks. Join a local guide on a heritage walk, and of course, no trip to Islay is complete without a 'wee dram' from one of the island's famous and historic whisky producers, including Laphroaig and Ardbeg.
Our Scottish isles cruise continues to tiny Gigha, a little sandy slice of paradise in the Hebrides. The island is community-owned, bought by its 163 residents in 2002, and has a sustainable local economy. Why not try some of its seafood, such as Gigha halibut and oysters. At only seven miles long, the only way to get around Gigha is on foot or by renting a bike. Visit the woodland gardens of Achamore House and admire the colourful rhododendrons. Then explore white sandy coves and the turquoise waters along the coast, such as the Bàgh Rubha Ruaidh and Bàgh na Dòirlinne beaches.
Brightly coloured Georgian houses line the waterfront in the picturesque fishing port of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. As we explore, your local guide will bring the port to life with stories of its vibrant past and present. Learn about the local heritage at the Mull Museum, try a dram of local whisky, stroll around the loch in Aros Park or soak up the views across the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on a walk along the wooded coastal path. The Isle of Mull is a magnet for birders. It has the highest breeding density of Golden Eagles in Europe, and White-tailed Eagles can often be seen soaring above the coast. While here, you have the opportunity to visit one of the historic castles which guarded these waterways when the Lord of the Isles ruled the region in the 12th century.
Today we plan to explore the Outer Hebrides and attempt a landing at one of the many tiny islands. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will choose the best landing site depending on the conditions of the day. The mighty wind and waves of the Atlantic have carved sheltered harbours here, allowing settlements to arise as far back as the Neolithic period. Perhaps we'll visit a remote community and get a sense of their way of life, or head to a pristine white sand beach for a nature landing. We may also take our small expedition boats for some coastal cruising in search of wildlife such as puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and seals.
We travel next to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, home of the famous Harris Tweed cloth. We'll visit Gothic-style Lews Castle, with its trails and fantastic views. Lewis is also home to 'Scotland's Stonehenge', the 5,000-year-old Callanish Standing Stones, and Dùn Carloway, the best-preserved Iron Age broch in Scotland.
We'll also cruise the wild and beautiful Shiant Isles, a tiny archipelago set in the Minch Strait. One of the most important breeding colonies for seabirds in Europe, keep an eye out for European Shags, Common Eiders, Northern Fulmars and Great Skuas in the surrounding waters or on volcanic ledges.
Get close to dramatic scenery and wonderful wildlife on Skye and the Small Isles
We'll sail to Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye, where dramatic scenery surrounds us. "The wildest scene in the Highlands" - that's how the Victorian poet Lord Tennyson described Loch Coruisk and the surrounding craggy peaks of the Cuillin Mountains. We'll put on our hiking boots to explore the loch with the Expedition Team.
Our next stop is one of the remote Small Isles. This small archipelago with Gaelic-named isles Eigg, Canna, Muck, and Rum, is home to incredible wildlife and scenery. You might spot Golden and White-Tailed Eagles, Red Throated Divers, stonechats, seals, dolphins and porpoises. Stroll along white sandy beaches, quiet byways, or rugged coastal paths and cliffs.
Your adventure continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. You can visit the restored 6th century abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Join the Expedition Team for a hike or enjoy a walk at your leisure to the aptly named 'Bay at the Back of the Ocean'. This sweeping white sand bay faces the wild Atlantic Ocean head-on and is fringed with machair, a typical grassy vegetation of the Hebrides.
If conditions allow, we'll also sail to Staffa. We'll attempt to take our small boats for a closer look at Fingal's Cave, marvelling at the hexagonal basalt columns, superb natural acoustics and mesmerising, coloured waters.
Take a coastal walk on the Isle of Colonsay and enjoy breathtaking views from Kiloran Bay and Plaide Mhòr. Or if you're lucky enough to be in a kayak, you may catch sight of whales, porpoises and dolphins. Flora thrives on Colonsay, with over 400 species of plants present. You'll see some of them in the woodland gardens of Colonsay House. It's a paradise for birdwatchers, with choughs, Red Northern Divers, eagles, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and shags among the birds you can spot. Later in the spring, be sure to listen out for the rattle of the elusive corncrake.
Your adventure to the wild Scottish Isles ends back in Fairlie (Glasgow). Wander the small community of Fairlie before making your way back to vibrant Glasgow as the final stop of your island-hopping odyssey. Its impressive fishing and shipping heritage is manifest in the Victorian architecture of the west end of town. It's well worth exploring this area some more if you have time before you head home.
MS Spitsbergen, named after the crown jewel of Arctic Norway, is the perfect vessel for exploring Scotland's smaller islands
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* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a lead in (Polar Inside) cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit 30%. Price shown does not include discount. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL-bonded) and HX Group Ltd.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a lead in (Polar Inside) cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit 30%. Price shown does not include discount. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL-bonded) and HX Group Ltd.