A Royal Passion for Gardens & the Lord of the Highlands

Arrive in London before 1.00 pm today and be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, take a tour of Kensington Palace, whose grounds include the Sunken Garden, featuring a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales. The statue was commissioned by Prince William and Prince Harry, and was unveiled in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening and get to know your fellow travellers.

Depart London this morning and travel to Norfolk to visit Sandringham Estate, a favourite country retreat of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and now one of King Charles’ many royal residences. Tour the formal gardens, which include the recent addition of a climate-friendly topiary garden. Finish the day in the university city of Cambridge.

Enjoy a walking orientation tour of Cambridge, during which you will see architectural highlights of some of its most famous universities, including King’s College and Trinity College. King Charles studied at Cambridge University and became the first British heir to earn a university degree. Depart Cambridge, stopping at a private garden as we head toward Cheltenham.

Explore the delightful village of Tetbury, and visit Highgrove House and Gardens*, the private residence of King Charles. This property’s organic garden has a wonderful wildflower meadow, as well as an amazing collection of plants. Afterwards, enjoy the chance to spot wildflowers at nearby Westonbirt Arboretum.

Start your day with a scenic drive from Cheltenham to Sudeley Castle and Gardens, nestled in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Spend the morning exploring the castle’s rich Tudor history and wandering through its award-winning gardens. By early afternoon, head east to the charming market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, where you'll have free time to browse antique shops, enjoy a leisurely lunch, or take in the honey-stone architecture and countryside views. In the late afternoon, we begin our journey back to London. Arrive in the evening after a day steeped in history, heritage, and Cotswold charm.

Begin your morning with one of the most picturesque journeys in England: a serene cruise along the Thames from Richmond to Hampton Court Palace. Watch the river unfurl past historic houses, leafy banks, and quiet stretches of countryside as you drift toward one of Britain’s most storied royal residences. 

Spend the day exploring Hampton Court Palace, where a guided tour brings the Tudor and Baroque wings to life. Wander through the magnificent gardens – ornamental parterres, ancient yews, and the world‑famous maze – each corner offering a glimpse into centuries of royal history. Enjoy a pub lunch before returning to London to pause at one of the city’s newest sanctuaries: the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden in Regent’s Park, opened in 2026. Once a decommissioned plant nursery, it has been transformed into a biodiverse, climate‑resilient haven.

Leave England behind today, as we travel by train from London to Glasgow, enjoying the route’s enchanting rural scenes.

Travel south of Glasgow to the estate of Dumfries House. Here, 600 acres of gardens and well-designed landscape are set within a 1,400-acre farm. The main five-acre Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden was restored as part of a project to make Dumfries House a focal point for heritage-led regeneration. The garden was opened in 2014, by Her Majesty The Queen, after two years of renovation and replanting. It is one of the most ambitious and significant gardening renovation projects to be carried out in Scotland.

Depart Glasgow this morning and travel north to Kyle of Lochalsh, where we board our privately chartered vessel, Lord of the Highlands, late this afternoon. Enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive cruise, as we explore Scotland’s famous lochs and countryside.

Visit Attadale Gardens, which were skilfully restored by their owner, Nick MacPherson, following storms in 1980. The artist’s garden boasts long-range views to the Isle of Skye. The property also features a waterfall and pond, while an impressive sculpture collection can be seen extending across the 20-acre site. We then sail the coast of Sutherland to Gairloch, where we berth overnight.

From Gairloch, we travel to Dundonnell Private Garden, the exquisite estate of Lady Jane Rice, wife of renowned English lyricist and author, Sir Tim Rice. Widely considered one of Scotland's finest private gardens, this breathtaking Highland haven features a series of enchanting outdoor spaces, a productive kitchen garden, vibrant flowerbeds, and a stunning water feature designed by William Pye. This evening, we cruise to Inverie, on the shores of Loch Nevis. Before dinner, take a short walking tour with a local ranger to learn about the maintenance of the forests. We dock here overnight, with the opportunity to visit Britain’s most remote mainland pub, the Old Forge.

Cruise to Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye. Here, we discover the epic history of Clan Donald. The 40-acre gardens of the castle grounds complement the Gothic mansion ruins, sheltered by 200-year-old trees. We then cruise to the Isle of Mull. The capital, Tobermory, features several brightly painted houses along itswaterfront. Enjoy free time to explore Tobermory’s pretty town. We then dock nearby at Craignure for the night.

Visit the private garden of Lip na Cloiche, which illustrates the wide range of plant varieties that can be successfully grown thanks to the island’s mild climate. Afterwards we visit Macquarie Mausoleum. Lachlan Macquarie, who was raised on the Isle of Mull, became one of the most recognisable characters of colonial Australia and was described as ‘The Father of Australia,’ due to his work as Governor of New South Wales from 1810–1821. The mausoleum is owned by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and jointly cared for with the National Trust for Scotland. Then spend a relaxing afternoon on board as we sail Loch Linnhe, passing mysterious lochs and islands until we reach the Caledonian Canal at Corpach. 

Visit the 18-metre-high Glenfinnan Monument, crowned by the iconic Lone Highlander, a moving tribute to the clansmen who gave their lives for the Jacobite cause. From here, we walk to one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks, the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Spanning the glen with its 21 dramatic arches, the viaduct was featured as the route of the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.  

Later we ascend Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks which lift the vessel 20 metres to Banavie. Cruise onwards through picturesque Loch Lochy and Loch Oich before transiting the tranquil, tree-lined Laggan Avenue to our overnight berth at Fort Augustus.

We set sail along the Caledonian Canal, which connects the four lochs of the Great Glen. Entering Loch Ness, we pass the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle. This afternoon, visit Cawdor Castle Gardens, immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The castle boasts three very different gardens, each with their own unique history and appearance. Displaying a wealth of flora and fauna, the gardens at Cawdor Castle change with the seasons. Berth overnight in Inverness where we enjoy a farewell reception and dinner. 

Disembark in Inverness this morning and journey through the picturesque landscapes of Royal Deeside to Balmoral Castle, long regarded as Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite royal residence. Enjoy time to explore the beautifully maintained gardens, where King Charles III has left his mark through a series of thoughtful enhancements, including personally planted trees and shrubs, as well as the creation of an enchanting thistle maze within the South Gardens. Later, continue to the elegant Murrayshall Country Estate, where we gather this evening to celebrate our journey with a memorable Farewell Dinner.

This morning, discover the grandeur of Scone Palace, one of Scotland’s most important and historic estates. For 800 years, it was the setting for the crowning of Scotland’s kings. Enjoy time to explore the magnificent palace gardens, where beautifully landscaped grounds, colourful seasonal displays, and centuries-old trees create a serene and elegant setting. The estate is also closely associated with the celebrated botanist David Douglas, a native of Scone, who introduced the Douglas fir to Scotland in the 19th century. Continue to Edinburgh, where your tour concludes at approximately 1:00pm at the post-tour hotel.