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Greenock to Bergen (Silver Explorer)

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Greenock to Bergen (Silver Explorer) GREENOCK TO BERGEN (SILVER EXPLORER) Expedition Highlights: 1875, Bodnant Garden features huge Italianate terraces and formal lawns on its upper level, with a wooded valley, stream and wild garden below. Be sure to see the laburnum arch – a Photograph the magnificent Caernarfon Castle ruins 55-yard tunnel of golden blooms. We next embark on a scenic Wander through beautiful gardens drive through magnificent Snowdonia National Park, passing Observe seabird colonies including guillemots, puffins and through the lovely Betws-y-Coed, and taking in the stunning flocks of gannets Llanberis Pass before arriving at our lunch destination in Visit historic churches and ancient abbeys Caernarfon at the atmospheric Celtic Royal Hotel. Alternatively, See the world famous Book of Kells guests can choose instead to join a private tour of Plas Newydd, Marvel at the Giants’ Causeway an elegant 18th-century house with an interesting mix of Explore bird cliffs and remote coastlines by Zodiac classical and Gothic styles. During our exclusive ‘out of hours’ See the remarkable archaeological site of Jarlshof tour we will learn that the interior was restyled in the 1930s, and that the house is famous for its association with Rex Whistler, whose largest painting is here. The home also contains a military museum, as the first Marquess of Anglesey commanded the Cavalry in the battle of Waterloo. Following some free time to wander in the splendid gardens, our outing ITINERARY continues with a delicious lunch at Seiont Manor. Once a working farmstead, here we will be entertained by a cultural Day 1 — Greenock, Scotland Embark the Silver Explorer this evening and depart on your performance of traditional Welsh music. Guests should note exciting Silversea Expedition – “Celtic Coasts”. You will be that this tour option will have limited availability due to space introduced to your Expedition Team and receive a Zodiac restrictions. Following lunch, all guests can step inside the once briefing. Tonight we invite you to attend a special Welcome impregnable Caernarfon Castle to explore its magnificent ruins Aboard cocktail party. with our guide. Dating back to 1283, Caernarfon Castle is said to have been designed to echo the walls of Constantinople, the Day 2 — Holyhead, Wales imperial power of Rome and the dream-castle, ‘the fairest that Our first day ashore is filled with a variety of sights – each ever man saw’, of Welsh myth and legend. It was here that the spectacular. We first visit Bodnant Garden, situated above the heir to the British thrown, Prince Charles, was crowned Prince of River Conwy with stunning views across Snowdonia. Begun in Wales in 1969. Following our visit to the Castle, we return to 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Holyhead harbour. Day 4 — Belfast, Ireland Some of the world’s most spectacular and unspoilt scenery is to Day 3 — Dublin, Ireland be found in the county of Antrim. From the rugged cliffs of the Have your camera ready for today’s scenic tour in the County of coast to the magical beauty of the Glens, here is the best of Wicklow, known as the “Garden of Ireland” for its domed granite what Northern Ireland has to offer. Travelling via the Coast mountains, deep glens and wooded valleys. We will tour the Road, we will take in the dramatic views of seascape, towering 6th-century monastic ruins of Glendalough and learn of its cliffs, white sandy beaches, tranquil glens and lush forest parks, history as a famous school with thousands of students. One of as we make your way northwards. Following lunch, we visit the Europe’s finest examples of Round Tower architecture can be Giants’ Causeway of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that found here, as well as a cathedral, stone churches and descend in a kind of pathway to the sea. Formed over 50 decorated crosses. Following lunch, we visit the Mount Usher million years ago, UNESCO has recognised this unique site with Gardens. Laid out along the banks of the River Vartry, Mount World Heritage status. For centuries, visitors have marvelled at Usher has been designed in the Robinsonian style. Trees, the rugged symmetry of the columns and their ability to shrubs, and herbaceous plants have been introduced from all withstand the unbridled ferocity of Atlantic storms. We will enjoy parts of the globe and are planted in harmony with woodland an audio-visual presentation and exhibition before boarding the and shade plants, all elegantly set off by the crystal waters of “Causeway Coaster” minibus, which will bring us to the the river. Alternatively, join our onboard historian and local causeway itself. Our return journey follows the inland route and guides to see Dublin’s highlights. Dublin is the capital of the includes a stop to photograph the medieval Dunluce Castle Irish Republic and particularly rich in 18th-century architecture. ruins, perched picturesquely (and precipitously!) on a rocky We will visit the Old Parliament House, which is now Trinity headland, high above the sea. Alternatively, set off on an College. Founded in 1592, it is Ireland’s oldest college and exploration of the beautiful Ards Peninsula, heading first to houses the world famous Book of Kells, a hand illuminated Greyabbey, where we visit what remains of a Cistercian Abbey manuscript of the Gospels. Continuing our tour, we pass that had been founded in 1193. Our next stop is in the Georgian squares and Dublin Castle en route to St. Patrick’s historical seaside town of Donaghadee. Here we will enjoy Cathedral. Founded in 1190, St. Patrick’s is perhaps best spectacular views across the Irish Sea, photograph the known for its association with Jonathan Swift, who was Dean impressive 1836 lighthouse, and visit a local hostelry for an here from 1713 to 1745. Other tour sites include: The Customs Irish coffee. Take some time to explore this pretty little hamlet House; River Liffey; National Gallery of Ireland; St. Stephen’s on your own before heading back to the pier. Green; The Mansion House; the Four Courts, Ireland’s courts of justice; and the General Post Office, scene of the 1916 rising Day 5 — Iona, Scotland and birthplace of the Irish nation. Enjoy some free time in St Columba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Dublin city before returning to the Silver Explorer. Christianity spread through northern Britain from this remote island community. Forty-eight Kings of Scotland are buried here, 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com including Duncan, Macbeth’s victim. This morning we will visit late in port this evening, offering a wonderful opportunity for Iona Abbey, one of Scotland’s most sacred and historical sites. independent explorations. The abbey was restored during the early 20th century, and today the Iona Community continues the tradition of worship Day 8 — Tvøroyri, Faroe Islands first established by St Columba. This afternoon enjoy a lecture After docking in the small town of Tvøroyri we set off with our in The Theatre or relax in one of the public rooms on board. local guides, hiking across the tiny island to beautiful Hvannhagi, where we hope to see Atlantic puffins nesting. Day 6 — St Kilda, Scotland Alternatively, guests can choose to visit the art gallery of local We approach St Kilda at first light. It is a remarkable sculpturist Palle Julsgart and tour of the historical and maritime uninhabited archipelago some 50 miles beyond the Outer museum. Hebrides. For some this will be a moving experience and almost a pilgrimage as we drop anchor off Village Bay on the island of Day 9 — Vestmanna Bird Cliffs, Faroe Islands Hirta. Weather conditions permitting, we will go ashore using This morning we use our Zodiacs to explore the caves and our Zodiacs to visit the westernmost landmass in the United rugged shoreline around the Vestmanna bird cliffs where we Kingdom. St Kilda once supported a population of over 200, hope to get wonderful views of some of the migratory birds and but the last islanders left in the 1930s. Recent restoration work resident puffins. on the village by the National Trust for Scotland offers a marvellous link with the past. Later, we cruise past two of the Day 10 — Fair Isle, Shetland, Scotland and Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland Geographically divided into two distinct areas, the miniscule 3.5 largest gannetries in the world. by 1.5-mile Fair Isle features high moorland areas and cliffs in Day 7 — Torshavn, Faroe Islands the north and flatter, fertile lands in the south. Eighteen crofts Reflections of a medieval past are nearly everywhere, still seen ranging in size from 3-20 hectares are pretty much the mainstay in villages clustered around old churches. This afternoon we visit of the 70 residents. Due to the island’s phenomenal seabird Kirkjubour – once the residence of the Bishop of the Faeroes, collection, Britain’s most isolated inhabited island is protected Saint Magnus Cathedral with its West Norwegian Gothic-style by the Fair Isle Marine Environment & Tourism Initiative. Here architecture, and the decaying north wall of Saint Brendan’s we find a population density and diversity of seabird species Chapel, built in the mid-10th century. We will also have a that may well be unequalled in all of Europe. With any luck, we chance to admire the displays of maritime, farming and might catch a glimpse at the Fair Isle Wren. Tonight we dock in religious artefacts dating to the Viking era at the new historical Lerwick for an early start to our full day ashore tomorrow. museum in Hoyvik, Fornminnisavn. Back in Tórshavn, we may visit the ruins of Fort Skansin, built in 1580 as a defence Day 11 — Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland and Noss, Shetland, Scotland Charming sandstone buildings line the waterfront of this historic against pirates and used during World War II as headquarters seaport.
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