EXTRA DATE ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND HEBRIDEAN ISLAND ODYSSEY An exploration of the Hebrides aboard the MS Serenissima 18th to 27th June* & 27th June to 6th July 2016 NOBLE CALEDONIA Standing Stones of Callanish Puffin Popies, gardens of Achamore House, Gigha The island of Iona ords do not do justice to the Outer The Itinerary Wspectacular beauty, rich Hebrides •Stornoway Day 1 Fairlie. Embark this afternoon in the wildlife and fascinating history of the port of Fairlie. Transfers will be provided from St Kilda• •Shiant Islands Glasgow Central Station and International Inner and Outer Hebrides which we Airport. Sail this evening. Lochmaddy will explore during this expedition • Today we visit the gardens •Dunvegan Day 2 Gigha & Jura. aboard the MS Serenissima. One of of Achamore House on the small island of •Canna Gigha. The Horlick family, better known for the Europe’s true last remaining •Barra •Rum SCOTLAND eponymous milk drink, have created a stunning Mingulay • garden with their collection of azaleas, wilderness areas affords the traveller rhododendrons and exotic plants. Gigha is a Lunga a marvellous island hopping journey • place apart; heather covered hills, deserted •Staffa Oban Iona • beaches and a single lane verged with wild through stunning scenery • flowers that meander for some six miles •Colonsay accompanied by spectacular sunsets Oronsay • between cottages and farms. Privately owned • Jura •Glasgow by its 120 inhabitants, it is a gem of a place and ATLANTIC Gigha and prolific wildlife. With our •Fairlie somewhere not easily forgotten. Return to the OCEAN • vessel for lunch as we sail over to Jura, arriving naturalists and local guides we will in the late afternoon. Dominating the views of explore the length and breadth of the Jura are the three hills called “The Paps of Jura”, the highest being Beinn an Oir at 785 isles, and with our nimble Zodiac metres. We will go ashore at Craighouse and craft be able to reach some of the most remote and untouched places. will be welcomed in the cooperage where we will be given an introduction to the Jura Distillery and an opportunity to taste the local Having arranged hundreds of small ship cruises around Scotland, we have product. Alternatively, join one of our naturalists learned that everyone takes something different from the experience. In the on a walk along the shore to look for otters, seals and birds or join the local bus for a short northern summer, when the sun barely shrinks below the horizon, there is a drive around the island. stillness and an almost wistful feeling in the air. This is the time when the Day 3 Colonsay & Oronsay. Lying between Mull enchanted visitor will be moved and seduced by the majesty and untamed and Islay, we will spend the day exploring these Islands, with their craggy, heather-backed hills, wilderness of the islands, lochs and seascapes. We are indeed fortunate in sparse woodland yet with an impressive array of plant and birdlife. Near Colonsay House, built in having such marvellous places so close to home. Now, more than ever there 1722 by Malcolm MacNeil and bought by Lord is a great appreciation for the peace, beauty and culture of this special corner Strathcona in 1904, we will visit the attractively dilapidated wooded gardens, which protect of the UK. Whether your interest lies in horticulture or the natural world, the tiny, enigmatic 8th century St Oran’s Cross. history or bird watching or simply being there to witness the timeless beauty Oronsay is separated from Colonsay by a wide expanse of shell sand, ‘The Strand’ that can be of the islands, this trip will lift the spirits and gladden the heart. crossed by foot when the tide is out. The ruins of a fine Augustinian Priory built in 1380 contain Learn something of the island’s history, see their abundant bird and marine the tall Oronsay Cross, a superb example of late Medieval artistry from Iona. This island is life, but above all revel in the timeless enchantment that these islands exude owned by Mrs. Frances Colburn and managed to all those who appreciate the natural world. We will be joined by our by the RSPB who run a trim, environmentally friendly farm. Expedition Team, who are all experienced naturalists, ornithologists and Day 4 Iona, Staffa & Lunga. Iona has been marine biologists and along with the wonderful crew and combined with occupied for thousands of years, but also a the comfort aboard the MS Serenissima, this carefully planned but flexible place of pilgrimage and Christian worship for several centuries. It was to this flat, Hebridean itinerary will be a voyage to remember. Island that St Columba fled from Ireland in 563 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Dunvegan Castle Basalt rock formations of Staffa and established a monastery. Here his followers 1930s. The Medieval village has been restored proximity. The houses are made using dry stone were responsible for the conversion of much by the National Trust for Scotland and offers a masonry and have thatched roofs, distinctively of pagan Scotland and Northern England. No marvellous link with the past. The islands are also weighted down with rocks. Visit the small museum, less than 62 Scottish Kings are buried in the an important breeding ground for many seabirds enjoy a display of a typical crofting activity such Abbey. Visit the Abbey or perhaps walk along including Atlantic puffins and northern fulmars. as weaving and take in the views at this dramatic the white sandy beaches or go in search of the Later, cruise past two of the largest gannetries site on the wild Atlantic coast. This afternoon we corncrake amongst the irises. As we sail towards in the world at Stac Lee and Boreray. These will board the Zodiacs for a cruise around the the Treshnish Isles we will drop anchor off Staffa, impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea spectacular basalt cliffs of the Shiant Islands, a the south side where the perpendicular rock face and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of group of little islands located a few miles off the feature an imposing series of black basalt columns, northern gannet. shores of Lewis. This is an excellent place to spot known as the Colonnade, which have been cut puffins, razorbills, guillemots, seals and hopefully by the sea into cathedralesque caverns, most Day 7 Lochmaddy & Dunvegan. This morning White Tailed Eagles. notably Fingal’s Cave. Weather permitting we will sail into Lochmaddy for a visit to the famous bird land to walk around to the highest point or take reserve of Balranald on North Uist. Listen for the Day 9 Canna & Rum. Today, we will visit the Small a walk to the northern part of the island where call of the rare corncrake over the machair and Isles. Spend the morning on Canna , owned by the Puffins nest. Northwest of Staffa lie the Treshnish enjoy a walk amongst the dramatic scenery of National Trust for Scotland and with a population Isles, an archipelago of uninhabited volcanic sandy beaches, dunes and marshy loch where we of only 20 but a fertile and prosperous farm. We islets. The most distinctive, and where we would hope to see corn buntings, skylarks and breeding will enjoy a guided walk along the shore and hope to land, is Lunga, the largest island and waders such as lapwing and oystercatchers. through the woods and fields to where there is a summer nesting-place for hundreds of sea birds, Over lunch we sail to the MacLeod stronghold of chance of seeing both golden and sea eagles. Sail in particular kittiwakes, shags, fulmars, guillemots, Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye. Remarkably, during lunch to the adjoining island of Rum which razorbills and puffins. This island is often described the castle has been almost continuously occupied is a nature reserve. We will walk the nature trail, a as a ‘green jewel in a peacock sea’. by the MacLeods for nearly eight centuries. Tour beautiful area of wild flowers and typical Scottish the castle, a fascinating place that contains work island scenery. Day 5 Barra & Mingulay. This morning we will land of at least ten building periods. Then explore on Barra which is near the southern tip of the the gardens, following paths through woodland Day 10 Oban. Disembark after breakfast. Transfers Outer Hebrides and visit Castlebay, which curves glades past pools and burns fed by a waterfall. will be provided to Glasgow Central Station and around the barren rocky hills of a beautiful wide The formal gardens were laid out in the 18th International Airport. bay. Kisimul Castle lies in the bay, the ancestral century and make a wonderful contrast to the home of the MacNeil chief. During lunch, we will * Please note that the 18th June departure moorland hills and sea. Look out for seal colony operates in the reverse direction to that shown sail the short distance to Mingulay, which is nearly on the adjoining rocks as we return to the ship. 1600 acres and the largest of the group of islands from Oban to Fairlie. south of Barra. Its towering cliffs and stacks face Day 8 Stornoway & Shiants. On leaving the the Atlantic while the east side slopes gradually island capital of Stornoway, today’s tour takes you Prices per person down to the sandy beach of Mingulay Bay. Despite across the island to the beautiful west coast of the based on double occupancy there being a continuous population on the island island and to Callanish. Described as Scotland’s for at least two thousand years, evacuation began Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones Cat Cabin Description in 1907 and the island was completely abandoned date from around 3000BC.