Caledonian Canal Explorer

This afternoon we board Lord of the Highlands in Kyle of Lochalsh. Settle into your cabin and explore the ship’s facilities.

This morning we visit the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet and surrounded by majestic scenery.

Departing from Kyle of Lochalsh we sail the narrows of Kyle Rhea and the Sound of Sleat to Armadale where we discover the epic history of Clan Donald at the Museum of the Isles.

We berth overnight in Loch Nevis where we can explore Inverie, home to mainland Britain’s remotest pub. Tonight, enjoy the welcome reception and gala dinner on board.

An early morning sail to the Small Isle of Eigg allows us to experience what life is like for the island community of 90 people, living in the shadow of the dramatic pitchstone ridge of An Sgùrr. Later, we cruise around the most westerly point of the British mainland, Ardnamurchan, to the Isle of Mull and its capital Tobermory where brightly painted houses line the waterfront; originally built by the British Fisheries Company to house its workers. We remain alongside the island overnight.

This morning, we sail to Oban, the seafood capital of the Highlands, for a guided walk up to McCaig’s Tower. This prominent landmark, on Battery Hill, was inspired by the Roman Colosseum. After lunch on board, we tour the Oban Distillery and taste a wee dram before cruising to our overnight berth in Craignure on the Isle of Mull.

From Craignure we travel to Iona, the last resting place of some 50 Scottish Kings and where St. Columba introduced Christianity to Scotland, for an island tour and visit to the restored Benedictine monastery. We spend a relaxing afternoon on board as we sail the Sound of Mull and Loch Linnhe, passing mysterious lochs and islands until we reach the Caledonian Canal at Corpach.

After lunch, we take the scheduled West Highland Railway over the 21-arched viaduct to beautiful Glenfinnan, which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument. Later, we ascend Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks, which lift the vessel 64 feet to Banavie, and sail through Lochs Lochy and Oich before transitting the tranquil, tree-lined Laggan Avenue.

At Fort Augustus we enjoy free time to explore this walker’s paradise with spectacular views down Loch Ness, or you may prefer to relax and watch boats navigating the locks. A scenic sail of Loch Ness leads us to our final visit of Culloden, the infamous battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated in 1746, and observe the ancient standing stones of Clava Cairns, ahead of the farewell reception and dinner at our overnight berth in Inverness.

After breakfast, we disembark and bid farewell to our captain and crew.