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Day 1: Embark in Portland
Embark M/V Polar Star in Portland, in Dorset.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: The Scilly Isles
These surprisingly subtropical islands are located southwest of England's mainland and here you will find the amazing Abbey Gardens of Tresco, charming island of St. Mary's and Bant's Carn, a Bronze Age village site.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Historical Ireland
Skellig Rocks, a UNESCO site, is a remote formation of pinnacles of rock, home to an abandoned Cliffside beehive monastery and fantastic Gannet colony. From there the ship heads to Dingle Peninsula for a tour ashore that provides spectacular views and relics that speak of the Potato Famine, Celtic and early Christian times.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: The Western Irish coast
The ship cruises along the Cliffs of Mohar in the early morning en route to the Aran Islands. Land at Killronan on Inishmore. Dramatic limestone pavements, charming stone walled fields and a Bronze Age fort, Dun Aengus, dramatically perched atop a 90 metre cliff are found on this island.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Donegal county
In County Donegal first set off to Glencolmcille to see examples of rural Irish homes throughout the ages and then back to explore Killibegs independently – perhaps the carpet factory or a music session in the local pub.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Inner Hebrides
Enjoy the morning light in the gardens of Achamore House on the island of Gigha. Time on the Isle of Islay is divided between a visit to the Ardbeg Distillery – a whisky noted for its "peaty" flavour and a visit to Kildalton Cross and Chapel. The cross is a wonderful eighth-century Celtic ringed cross.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Inner Hebrides, ancient history
With high hopes for a calm day, the visit to Fingal's Cave on Staffa could be on foot or by Zodiac. Nearby Iona is home to a grand abbey and burial ground for 62 Scottish Kings. It is reputed to be the starting point of the spread of early Christianity through the northern part of the British Isles.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Inner Hebridian charm
Located on the Isle of Mull, Duart Castle stands proudly on a cliff top historically guarding the Isle of Mull for the clan MacLean. At the exit from the Sound visit the charming waterside town of Tobermory.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Iner Hebrides: Isle of Skye
On the south coast of Isle of Skye visit Loch Scavaig to search for a seal colony and to see dramatic views of the Cuillins, long felt to be the spiritual heart of Skye. The afternoon's visit to Rum is light-hearted with a visit to the quirky Kinloch Castle.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: St Kilda
Once described as "the edge of the world" the remote island of St Kilda has UNESCO World Heritage status for both natural and cultural significance. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, the resourceful St. Kildans lived by harvesting the seabirds in this harsh environment. Blackhouses and other remnants still remain. The St. Kildan archipelago is home of the world's largest northern gannet population (65,000 breeding pairs) as well as St. Kilda wrens, Arctic skuas and Fulmars. Enjoy the afternoon cruise around the sea stacks to see this wildlife spectacle.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Archeological wanderings
Landing at Stornoway, the focus today is on archaeology. Visit the standing stones of Calanish, the Dun Carloway broch and the traditional blackhouses of Gearrannan.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Scottish Highland coast
Across the water from Poolewe is Interewe Gardens with surprising flora at this northern latitude due to the Gulf Stream. Further north along the coast lies the island of Handa, managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust with over 200,000 birds returning each year. The high cliffs of the sandstone Stack an Seabhaig (hawk's stack) is the most densely populated area.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Shetlands Islands
Landing on the mainland of the Shetland Islands, visit the archaeological sites of Jarlshoff and Old Scatness. There is time after this to amble the cobbled streets of Lerwick. The last planned event for the day is a late day landing at Mousa Broch.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Orkney Islands
The Orkney islands are home to many bird species, fine local craftsmanship and exquisite archaeological and historic treasures – plan to visit Ring of Brodgar, standing stones of Stennes, Skara Brae, and more recent 13th Century, Magnus Cathedral in the town of Kirkwall.
Overnight Cruise Boat (H++) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Back onland at Dundee
Disembark in the "City of Discovery" (Scott's exploration ship), Dundee.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
