A Royal Passion for Gardens & the Lord of the Highlands

Arrive in London before 12.00 pm today and be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, experience the grandeur of Hampton Court Palace, the splendid royal residence once home to King Henry VIII. Immerse yourself in centuries of royal history as you tour the palace's majestic rooms and expansive gardens which extend across 60 acres of grounds and showcase a variety of styles, from the Tudor era to the Baroque period. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening and get to know your fellow travellers.

Travel to 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. Continue to Windsor Estate and explore the grounds of Windsor Great Park and visit The Savill Garden. Its themed gardens touch on decades of royal history, from the original weeping willow tree to the magnificent Rose Garden opened by Queen Elizabeth II. We then make our way to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It has served as a royal residence for more than 1,000 years, ever since William the Conqueror founded it in the 11th century. Explore the castle before returning to London for an evening at leisure.

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. Afterwards, visit Norfolk Lavender, England’s premiere lavender farm, which features nearly 100 acres of lavender fields. Finish the day in the university city of Cambridge.

Enjoy a walking tour of Cambridge, during which you will see architectural highlights of some of its most famous universities, including Kings 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 Tetbury.

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.

Our day is spent at what is considered England’s largest and finest garden show, The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival*, held for the first time at Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire. The festival’s show gardens, floral marquees and pavilions are awash with colour, while a range of talks and demonstrations provoke thought and inspiration. Return to London late today.

Leave England behind today, as we travel by train from London to Glasgow.

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 forest maintenance. We dock here overnight, with the opportunity to visit Britain’s most remote mainland pub, the Old Forge.

Cruise around the most westerly point of the British mainland, Ardnamurchan, 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 Mull’s capital, Tobermory, where brightly painted houses line the waterfront. Enjoy free time to explore Tobermory’s pretty town. We then dock nearby at Craignure on the Isle of Mull 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. 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.

Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William boasts Britain’s only mountain gondola, which transports us more than 2,000 feet up the north face of Aonach Mòr. Later we ascend Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks which lift the vessel 64 feet 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, choose to 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. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Inverness and learn about the history of the highland capital. Berth overnight in Inverness where we enjoy a farewell reception and dinner.

Disembark this morning in Inverness and travel to Glamis Castle, which was the inspiration for Macbeth. More recently, it was also the childhood home of the Queen Mother. Continue to Edinburgh, where we enjoy our final Farewell Dinner.

To conclude our tour this morning, we visit the famous Royal Yacht Britannia. This luxurious vessel served as the Royal Family's ocean-going residence for more than 40 years. During this time, it embarked upon almost 1,000 state visits. Your tour concludes at the post-tour hotel in Edinburgh at approximately 12pm.