It was a sunny and sizzling 30°C once I hopped off the airplane in Glasgow. I hadn’t packed for this. Scotland shouldn’t be meant to be this toasty.
My first journey again to Europe from New Zealand because the pandemic was lengthy however value it. I can’t consider I used to fly this route on a regular basis with out batting an eye fixed!
With winter behind me and my ft itching to embark on this new journey, I rapidly obtained over my jetlag earlier than boarding the Ocean Endeavour – my new dwelling for the subsequent few months. My dream of engaged on expedition ships was lastly occurring with Journey Canada for the northern summer season. I’d be engaged on seven journeys with them, journeying from Scotland to the Faroe Islands, Iceland to Greenland, and throughout Arctic Canada.
Let’s go, guys!
The primary port of name for me was Glasgow, the place I’d hop onboard for his or her iconic Scotland Slowly expedition. We might spend the subsequent 11 days crusing round Scotland’s northern and outer islands, ending in Aberdeen.
I haven’t been to Scotland since 2008, once I was learning overseas in Spain. My greatest buddy was learning in Edinburgh on the identical time, so I visited her for a protracted weekend. I solely keep in mind the pubs.
Time for a revisit!
The Shetlands, Orkneys, and the Hebrides are a few of Scotland’s most stunning and distant locations, greatest skilled by boat. Touring to those wild islands by boat was an unbelievable strategy to expertise Scotland over 11 days.
Of all their unbelievable journeys, the Scotland one is usually the preferred. I’ve thought rather a lot about this; curious as to why Scotland trumps polar bears and icebergs the dimensions of cities; it comes all the way down to coronary heart, I believe. Additionally, Journey Canada solely visits Scotland each different yr.
Many individuals onboard have Scottish ancestry, and lots of Scots who left got here from these northern locations and distant islands. Additionally, this journey takes you to locations that aren’t precisely simple or fast to go to by yourself. To get to those Scottish Isles requires flights and ferries repeatedly. Isn’t it less expensive and easier to go by ship? It’s.
I’ve a lot extra to share from my adventures across the Scottish Isles, however to start, listed here are 30 of my favourite photos from the journey. Get pleasure from!
Islay and Bowmore
Islay was the primary place we known as into after departing Glasgow on the Scotland Slowly journey with Journey Canada. Pronounced “eye-lah.” Often called the Queen of the Hebrides, Islay is the southernmost island within the Interior Hebrides. The Hebrides are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland: Interior and Outer.
I’m going to be trustworthy right here; I hadn’t heard of the Hebrides within the Scottish Isles earlier than this journey. Or if I had, it had lengthy been forgotten.
Residence to stunning coastlines, nice seafood, thriving textiles, and plenty of wildlife, Islay is known for one factor about all: whisky. Residence to 9 iconic distilleries, the long-lasting peaty, smokey style makes Islay world-famous. The nostalgic salty seaside air mixed with the peat bogs crafts a taste in contrast to anyplace else.
Bowmore is the principle hub of Islay, with loads to see and do. With one of many few spherical church buildings on this planet, nice distilleries, and fab buying, it was simple to spend a day right here.
Staffa
Staffa is a distant uninhabited island within the Hebrides that has turn out to be iconic for its unbelievable rock formations, basalt columns, and caves. In case you’ve been to the Large’s Causeway in Northern Eire, it’s the identical.
Well-known naturalist and botanist, Sir Joseph Banks wrote about Staffa after visiting on his strategy to Iceland. Banks is a determine I do know nicely since he was the botanist onboard Captain Cook dinner’s first journey to New Zealand and since he turned Kew Gardens into the main botanical backyard on this planet (whats up, fellow houseplant fams). He renamed the principle sea cavern Fingal’s Cave, resulting in Staffa changing into more and more well-known. Mendelssohn even featured it in his Hebrides Overture after visiting within the early nineteenth century.
We hopped within the zodiacs from the ship close to Staffa and went on our personal little tour across the island. It was wild and exquisite, and we noticed many seabirds, together with shags, razorbills, and ALL THE PUFFINS.
Isle of Iona
As an enormous nerd with a medieval historical past diploma, visiting Iona was an enormous deal. Whereas Iona is a small island, it was the beating coronary heart of Gaelic monasticism for hundreds of years. The Iona Abbey is world-famous, based by Irish St. Columba, and was the middle of Christianity, spreading by Scotland within the sixth century. I’m not spiritual or something, however for those who’re within the Darkish Ages in Britain, it’s the core theme.
Iona is tiny however mighty, clocking in at solely three miles lengthy. With sandy blue seashores, stunning views, and plenty of epic historical past makes for an ideal journey.
It helped that it was sizzling and sunny for many of the go to, so heat that folks went swimming.
The Isle of Skye
If I needed to hanker a guess, I’d say that Skye is essentially the most iconic of all the Scottish Isles, no less than for my fellow millennials. What’s up, Instagrammers!
Skye is thought for its rugged landscapes and superb views and for being plastered throughout Instagram lately. It was overcast and nonetheless once we landed at Skye. It was one of many solely days it rained whereas we had been at sea, and even then, it was only a sprinkle. Large gloomy clouds made the spikey inexperienced mountain pop in coloration much more. How is it this inexperienced?
The moody skies in some way made the day much more stunning. I like experiencing locations within the rain.
Isle of Lewis and Harris and Stornoway
One other of the long-lasting Scottish Isles that hadn’t been on my radar was Lewis and Harris. It was my favourite day of the entire journey. What a shock. The Isle of Lewis and Harris is a part of the Outer Hebrides, and whereas it appears like two distinct islands, it’s truly only one island known as Lewis and Harris. The northern two-thirds is Lewis, and the southern third is Harris. And sure, it’s dwelling to the long-lasting Harris Tweed.
On days like this, we regularly have cut up days on board. Half the ship will get free time in port; right here it was, Stornoway, the most important city. After which the opposite half go on totally different excursions. Then we swap midway by the day. The ship is small, with lower than 200 passengers on board, so it by no means feels crowded, even in these small cities.
One thing additionally I beloved about Journey Canada was that they actually inspired everybody to spend their {dollars} regionally in all places we visited. As somebody who owns a small retail enterprise in a port city the place cruise ships all the time name in (my store, NODE in Lyttelton), I can say how a lot it means when vacationers cease in and store.
Stornoway was ridiculously charming, the right measurement city to discover with plenty of cute retailers and eateries. Then, in a while, we went out and visited a few of the unbelievable websites across the island – Dun Carloway Broch, the Calanais Standing Stones, and the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village.
The Shetland Islands and Foula
Did somebody say Shetland ponies?!
Visiting Shetland was excessive on my listing of dream locations to go to in Scotland, and I used to be so stoked once we lastly arrived. Since we had been on an expedition ship, the primary place we known as in was Foula. Not a simple place to get to, Foula is essentially the most remotely inhabited island within the UK: inhabitants 30. Pony inhabitants: heaps.
Twenty miles from the mainland, Foula is dwelling to many seabirds and big seacliffs. It’s a fantastic and wild place, with massive open landscapes sprawling throughout the peat moors. It was one in all my favourite stops on the journey, particularly attending to spend time with the pleasant ponies.
Honest Isle in Shetland
One other unbelievable and distant island is Honest Isle. This Scottish Isle sits midway between Shetland and Orkney. The Nationwide Belief of Scotland has owned Honest Isle since 1954.
Solely about 60 folks name Honest Isle dwelling. The principle drawcard is that it’s a vital breeding website for our most beloved seabirds. Chicken nerds unite!
We spent hours in zodiacs cruising alongside the seacliffs of Honest Isle, marveling on the sheer variety of birds whereas equally praying to not get shat on. It was value it! Puffins!
The Orkney Islands and Kirkwall
Among the greatest prehistoric websites in Europe could be discovered on Orkney. It was additionally one other one in all my favourite spots to go to. I used to be fortunate to go to twice: on the Scotland Slowly journey and once more on the North Atlantic Saga.
Orkney felt particular. You’ll be able to inform individuals are proud to be from right here, and there may be typically speak about Orkney’s independence, with it being so totally different from the remainder of Scotland and the UK. As an American, I’ll all the time help the underdog.
We had heaps of time in Kirkwall, the principle city, and explored iconic websites like Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar. The Orkney Islands sit excessive in my reminiscences of beloved experiences in Scotland. I can’t wait to return once more at some point!
Have you ever been to any of those Scottish Isles? Are they locations you’re eager to go to by ship? Share!
Many due to Journey Canada for internet hosting me in Scotland – like all the time, I’m holding it actual – all opinions are my very own like you could possibly count on much less from me!