Caledonian and Great Glen Explorer – 5th April 2024

Embark in Inverness at 4pm and settle into your cabin, prior to the welcome reception and dinner. We remain alongside in Inverness overnight.

This morning visit Culloden, the infamous battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated in 1746, and observe the ancient standing stones of Clava Cairns. We set sail this afternoon on the Caledonian Canal, built between 1803 and 1822 to connect the Great Glen’s four lochs. Entering Loch Ness, we pass the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, before ascending the impressive flight of locks that runs through the heart of Fort Augustus, the scenic and historic village, where we remain overnight.

Lord of the Glens enters beautiful Loch Oich, the highest point of the canal. Later, we continue into the stunningly impressive tree-lined Laggan Avenue, Loch Lochy and finally to Banavie in the very shadow of Ben Nevis. Descending the spectacular eight inter-connected locks of Neptune’s Staircase, Lord of the Glens is lowered to sea level at Corpach. In the late afternoon, we take a scheduled train along part of the West Highland Railway and over the renowned viaduct to beautiful Glenfinnan; curving high over the waters of Loch Shiel, it found fame in the Harry Potter films for the Hogwarts Express.

This morning we enter the serenely beautiful and sheltered waters of Loch Linnhe, passing Castle Stalker where the Monty Python film the Holy Grail was filmed, set on its own Island. Onwards to the Sound of Mull, we are bound for the gaily painted waterfront at Tobermory. Best explored on foot, our afternoon is spent at leisure, exploring the Georgian harbour town and island capital.

The voyage continues with a call at Craignure, Isle of Mull from where we travel to the Isle of Iona, the last resting place of some 50 Scottish Kings and where St. Columba introduced Christianity to Scotland. Discover the tranquility of this sacred isle and its restored Benedictine Abbey.

This morning we visit Duart Castle, home of great Jacobite supporters, Clan Maclean. The position of Duart was well chosen, it is sited on a high crag at the end of a peninsula jutting into the Sound of Mull, commanding the channel between Mull and the mainland. Finally, we sail to the ‘gateway of the isles’, Oban, for a walking tour and the impressive McCaig’s Folly which dominates the skyline. Our farewell dinner is held alongside in Oban.

After breakfast, we say farewell and disembark in Oban.