11 Day Scotland Cruise from Glasgow to Aberdeen | CA-AC1103

Our Scotland cruise starts in Glasgow. Glasgow is the fourth most visited city in the UK, with a population of over 600,000. Since its origins as a tiny hamlet on Clyde River founded in the 6th century, over time, Glasgow has grown to the largest seaport in Scotland. In the 15th century, it exploded into a cultural epicenter when the University of Glasgow set up shop and, by the 18th century, had burst into one of the biggest transatlantic trade hubs in history.

One of the most striking sights in Glasgow is the Cathedral. It’s one of the two landmarks that date back to the city’s medieval past and a superb example of Scotland’s Gothic Architecture. This and plenty of other landmarks will be yours to explore during your time in Glasgow.

Later in the day, we’ll head towards the fishing village and harbor of Greenock. The waters in Greenock are full of herring and home to the first dock on the River Clyde. There, we’ll meet and board our home for the next 10 days - the Ocean Endeavour.  

Our first stop on the cruise is the charming little town of Islay, the southernmost tip of the Inner Hebrides, just 25 mi (40 km) from the northern coast of Ireland. Evidence of human habitation there dates back to the prehistoric era, since the medieval period has been a place of great cultural importance in the region.

Today, Islay has over three thousand inhabitants, with businesses thriving thanks to tourism, agriculture, and eight world-class malt whisky distilleries. If you want to taste some of the finest whisky ever to be produced this side of the Firth of Clyde, join a tasting tour in a local distillery and learn all about whisky production process and its history in Islay.

Due to its mild climate, Islay is home to various bird species, such as Greenland white-fronted and barnacle geese.

We will visit Loch Finlaggan historic site, home of the Lords of the Isles and Clan Donald, along with a visit to Gruinart Nature Reserve, a thriving habitat for barnacle goose, hen harriers, and corncrakes.

From Islay, we’ll continue North, towards the extraordinary islands of Iona and Staffa. As we make our way there, keep an eye out for breathtaking scenery and the incredible marine wildlife that lives in the area: minke, dolphins, and porpoises.

Iona is a small island inside the Inner Hebrides Archipelago. It’s most famous for its abbey that marks the beginning and spread of Christianity across Scotland and to this day is a popular site for Christian pilgrimage. The island is a popular tourist destination due to its tranquility, natural environment, and spiritual retreats.

We’ll then continue towards Staffa Island. Staffa Island in an old Norse word that means ‘stave’ or ‘pillar island,’ referring to the basalt columns that surround the island. These curious rock formations reminded the Vikings of their buildings, built from vertical tree logs. Uninhabited since 1800, the island has long attracted visitors to its majestic basalt columns and hidden caverns, the most famous of which is Fingal’s Cave.

While the island is uninhabited by people, it’s a paradise for nature lovers. A number of bird species like puffins, common shags, and black-legged kittiwakes nest there, and an abundance of sea creatures, such as dolphins, minke, grey seals, basking sharks, and pilot whales can sometimes be seen playing off the shores of Staffa Island.

The Isle of Skye is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands in the world and should be on every traveler's bucket list. It is the largest and northernmost island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The Isle of Skye is most famous for its breathtakingly beautiful landscape which together with the Cuillins, rocky mountain formations, form a dramatic scene dominated by rugged mountains.

The island’s largest settlement and capital is Portree, home to a prosperous industry of fishing, forestry, and agriculture. Tourism is also booming, thanks to its easy connections with the mainland and the rest of the world.

As we cruise along the southwestern shore of the Isle of Skye, we’ll visit Loch Coruisk. Loch Coruisk is an inland freshwater loch located at the foot of Black Cuillin and is said to be the home of the water horse. The water horse is a mythical creature that inhabits the water bodies in Scotland.

There you’ll have some time to soak in the magnificent mountainous scenery surrounding the loch as we hike along the western shore. The day will be superb for bird lovers, photographers, and hikers.

At times referred to as the Long Isle or the Western Isles, the Outer Hebrides are a fantastic collection of over 100 islands 70km off Scotland’s west coast. Known today as a leader in renewable energy and a Gaelic stronghold, The Outer Hebrides have a colourful history. Here we find the oldest evidence of human habitation in Scotland with Pictish, Norse and Scots influence. We’ll search out the rich marine and bird life of the islands as conditions permit.

St. Kilda is an archipelago in the far West of the Outer Hebrides, located 40 mi (64 km) northwest of North Uist. The largest island in the archipelago is Hirta, where you’ll find the UK’s highest sea cliffs. Uninhabited since 1930, it’s home to the unique, dark brown and extremely agile Soay sheep and many seabird species. The remarkable landscape and history of this remote archipelago attracted the attention of director Michael Powell, culminating in the 1938 film, The Edge of the World.  

In 1986, St. Kilda was the first Scottish destination to be celebrated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its natural characteristics and in 2005, it became one of only a few sites in the world with a double UNESCO recognition for both its natural and cultural significance.

St. Kilda’s underwater caves, arches, and rifts offer a superlative diving experience for divers of the world. For architecture buffs, the island is also home to many buildings that date back to prehistoric and medieval times.

On our seventh day of the cruise, we’ll reach the Isle of Lewis, as the northernmost and largest island in the Outer Hebrides Archipelago. The island is home to diverse wildlife, such as red deer, golden eagles, and seals.

The Isle of Lewis was once a part of the Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles, so it’s cultural traditions and heritage are quite different to the rest of Scotland. Between its well-observed Sabbath, widely used Gaelic language and peat-cutting conventions, the Isle of Lewis remains a unique gem among the Hebrides, and is a popular tourist destination.

Once there, we’ll step off the cruise ship and visit the island’s capital, Stornoway. We’ll explore the site of ancient standing stones on the western side of the island. Legend says that the giants who refused to convert to Christianity when confronted by Saint Kieran were turned into stones for eternity.

Located off the northern coast of Great Britain, Orkney is an archipelago of 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited. The islands were first inhabited 8,500 years ago by Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes.

We’ll disembark the ship on the Mainland, one of the biggest islands of the archipelago, and visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we’ll explore the Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic henge and stone circle predating Stonehenge. The site also presents us with three other natural wonders.

In the heart of Maryland lies Kirkwall, one of the largest settlements of the island and capital of Orkney. At 0.6 mi (1 km) of the quay, Kirkwall's harbor is the second biggest commercial hub of Orkney. Its well-equipped port is widely popular among cruise ships. It’s been estimated that approximately two cruise ships a week visit the harbor, allowing the local souvenir shops and cafes here to flourish.

As we continue across the North of Scotland discovering hidden jewels of the area, we reach the Shetland Archipelago. There, we’ll explore Foula and Papa Stour - the two most remote inhabited islands in the Orkneys.

Foula’s largest settlement, Ham, has just 33 inhabitants and a vast amount of wildlife to protect. The island was the set for Michael Powell's film The Edge Of The World, depicting the historical evacuation of St. Kilda. Locals make their living by fishing, shepherding, and tourism. Birds, such as red-throated divers, great skuas, and arctic terns nest here.

Papa Stour has a population of just 15 people and is the eighth largest island in the Shetland Archipelago. The island is famous for a huge selection of extraordinary caves, arches, stacks, blowholes, and cliffs formed by the erosion of soft volcanic rocks around the shores of the island. The western part of Papa Stour is listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the seas washing its shores as a Special Area of Conservation.

The Ocean Endeavour will arrive at Aberdeen early in the morning and depending on your independent travel plans, you can either board a flight home or stay and explore the city.

Our vessel for this voyage is the Ocean Endeavour. A 1B ice-class sailing boat that holds a maximum of 198 passengers and is outfitted with 20 Zodiac boats, making it perfect for expedition cruises. Facilities include a top deck observation room, swimming pool, outdoor dining area, sauna/spa, library, and top-class navigation equipment.

Our three onboard lounges are excellent public spaces for our educational seminars, workshops, and entertainment. Launched in 1982, she’s been upgraded many times, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137-m (450 ft) in length and 21-m (69 ft) in breadth, the Ocean Endeavour is the pride of our cruises in Canada and beyond.

More about the Ocean Endeavour. 

No Single Supplement! Solo Adventurers are welcome. Most cabin categories on the ship are available as private cabin to single travelers at no additional cost.
Temperatures run around 8-15° Celsius (46-60° Fahrenheit) on average. That said, guests have been known to enjoy a day of shorts and t-shirts in the Canadian Arctic! Do note that temperatures can fall below zero (especially at night) and snowfall could happen at any time.

Please Note:

This program features activities such as walking, wildlife viewing, and Zodiac cruising, all at a relatively easy to moderate level of exertion. The majority of shore landings are undertaken using Zodiacs. Zodiac embarkations involve descending gangway stairs with double handrails and stepping into the Zodiac from a small platform at water level (assistance is provided).