Scottish Gardens & Grandeur aboard Lord of the Highlands

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening with the chance to get to know your fellow travellers.

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 its waterfront. 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. 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.

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning.