SCOTTISH ISLES BY SMALL SHIP

Transcription

1 JOURNEYS SCOTTISH ISLES BY SMALL SHIP Wednesday 6 - Sunday 24 June nights TOUR OVERVIEW Discover the Scottish Isles in depth from the comfort of a small ship. The tour cruises around Scotland, featuring the Inner and Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands aboard the MS Serenissima. Begin in Glasgow with a few days to explore this friendly city which has become a hub of contemporary culture, home to 20 museums and art galleries, and a UNESCO Heritage city of music. Then board your ship in Oban and set sail through the islands before disembarking in Edinburgh. One of your first visits will be to Islay s historic whisky distilleries. You will also visit islands with important seabird colonies and find you are in some of the best places in Europe to view seabirds at close range - the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda and Fair Isle. This is a journey full of historic interest from the ancient history of the brochs, standing stones and rings on the Orkney and Shetland Islands, the Celtic history in Iona, the Viking and World War history in the Orkney Islands and stories of the Scottish clans. Cruise on a small ship with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, accommodating just under 100 passengers. If you haven t visited Edinburgh before or even if you have, you may want to stay on and spend a few more days exploring this fascinating city. Alternatively you may like to extend your time away before the tour. We have been offered a very reasonably priced escorted tour of Ireland for 6 nights. This is a perfect introduction to the Emerald Isle. Enjoy traditional Irish dinners and lively entertainment. Then you will fly to Glasgow to begin your Scottish Isles cruise. IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? If you are interested in history ranging from the Neolithic period to the Vikings, the Scottish Clans and even the comparatively recent history of the World Wars, this tour will be sure to appeal. For people interested in seabirds, this tour will give you chances to see birds at close range. For everyone with Scottish ancestry and for those who enjoy the ease and companionship of small ship cruising. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Explore Scotland's largest city, Glasgow Share a dram of whisky - the water of life - at one of Islay's historic distilleries Visit Achamore House and Gardens on Gigha Spot puffins, gannets, razorbills and guillemots You will need to be in good health and fit enough to enjoy comfortably-paced moderate walks on uneven paths, which can be slippery at times. On the cruise the activity level can be as intense or relaxed as you are comfortable with. It is your choice whether to participate in the activities or just relax on board the ship. Discover Kinloch Castle which was the first private residence in Scotland to have electricity, derived from a hydro dam constructed on the Coire Dubh Burn Visit St Kilda - a mystical island with dual World Heritage site status for its natural and cultural significance In Stornoway explore the Stone Age "Callanish", the primordial configuration of standing stones Visit an Aberdeen Angus stud farm and the iconic township of St Andrews to wander the ruins Explore the historic Iona Abbey Visit Neolithic sites in the Orkney & Shetland Islands including Mousa Broch Scotland s most impressive and best surviving broch

2 TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland, share twin per person Standard Stateroom Plus NZD $15,567 Superior Stateroom NZD $16,950 These are mid-range cabins, other cabin categories are available on request. Standard Single Cabin NZD $19,100 Single cabins are limited and available on request only. GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 16 VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour, or book business class seats for the flights. Please contact us. TOUR INCLUSIONS TOUR EXCLUSIONS The services of a Calder & Lawson tour manager if minimum number is reached Economy class airfares 1 nights accommodation northbound Airline taxes Travel insurance Personal expenses 3 nights accommodation in Glasgow One dinner and two lunches in Glasgow 1 nights accommodation in Edinburgh Hotel porterage Meals as detailed in the itinerary 10 nights accommodation on board MS Serenissima All meals on board the ship (including beer & wine with meals) Admissions as detailed in the itinerary All tips and gratuities Pre-tour material YOUR SHIP - MS Serenissima Built in 1960 and fully refurbished in 2013, the MS Serenissima has just 59 cabins. As a small ship, you will travel where larger ships cannot. Its interior has been created in Gustavian style, offering intimacy and classic nautical look. A European crew add to an atmosphere that is warm and welcoming. Facilities include: Spacious observation deck Dining room, with optional outside seating Two lounges and a library Lido area with fitness room, Jacuzzi and outside bar Zodiac and tender vessels for off ship exploration All cabins have window or portholes, are fully air conditioned with en-suite bathroom, flat screen television and safety deposit box

3 DAILY ITINERARY Wednesday 6 - Friday 8 June Auckland - Glasgow. Depart Auckland Wednesday for your travel to the northern hemisphere. Arrive in Glasgow on Friday, with the afternoon free to recuperate from your flights. (Meals in flight) Saturday 9. Glasgow. Take a guided half day central city tour with the afternoon free to relax or further explore. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. (B/D) Sunday 10. Glasgow. A free day, until meeting up with your fellow travellers for the evening - dinner and an introduction to the tour. (B/D) Monday 11. Glasgow to Oban. Travel north to the famed shores of Loch Lomond, a freshwater Scottish loch which is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area. Ben Lomond which rises to 974 metres, flanks the eastern shores whilst the highway heads northwards on the Loch s western shores. Visit Kilchurn Castle at Lochawe where you will walk to the ruins, accessed by a narrow isthmus. Continue on to Oban where McCaigs Tower on Battery Hill provides a view across the western isles of Mull. Board on your expedition ship MS Serenissima and settle in before heading out of the harbour. (B/L/D) Tuesday 12. Gigha and Islay. Gigha is the southernmost isle of the Southern Hebrides and one of the smallest populated Islands in the Hebrides. Meaning Good or God Island, the highest mountain is Creag Breahn at 100 metres, a white, sacred rock. Achamore House was built in 1884 for Lt-Col William James Scarlet - the 3rd Lord Abinger. To the southwest of the gardens there is the 13th century Kilchattan Chapel ruins and an ogam stone, the only one of its kind in the west of Scotland. The earliest documented record of distilling in Scotland occurred as long ago as 1494, in the tax records of the day, the Exchequer Rolls. The entry lists 'Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aqua vitae' (water of life). Share a dram of whisky, the water of life, ashore at one of Islay's historic distilleries. (B/L/D) Wednesday 13. Staffa and Iona. Visit Staffa, which features hexagonal basalt cliffs, culminating in 'Fingal's Cave' - a natural feature named by the Celts as Uamh-Binh or the Cave of Melody. Abundant numbers of puffins, gannets, razorbills and guillemots use the island for breeding, accessing the surrounding rich marine environment. Visit lona, a remote island, but historically, the centre of Celtic world. In 563 AD, the Irish missionary St. Columba went into exile and established a small monastic community there. Driven out by Viking raids, most of the monastic community moved to Kells in Ireland around 800. Around 1200, a Benedictine abbey and nunnery were established on the site. Iona Abbey was dissolved at the Reformation with the main reconstruction by Lord George MacLeod in the s having founded the ecumenical lona Community in (B/L/D) Thursday 14. Loch Courisk and Rum. The Isle of Skye's southern coast is remote, mainly uninhabited and home to the Cuillin Mountains. Loch Courisk is nestled in the landscape folds of the Cuillin Ridge. The loch is freshwater and separated from the sea by the River Scavaig, known as one of the shortest rivers in the UK. Walk alongside the river for access to the Loch. Kinloch Castle greets you on the Isle of Rum. Built of Isle of Arran sandstone, the Castle took three years and upwards of 300 craftsmen to build. One craftsman was unique for the time - an electrician. This was the first private residence in Scotland to have electricity, derived from a hydro dam constructed on the Coire Dubh Burn. The castle boasts a walled garden, greenhouses, water features and bridges - the restoration is under the care of the Scottish Natural Heritage. (B/L/D) Friday 15. Mingulay and Barra. At the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides, Mingulay is home to puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, shags, fulmars and razorbills. Sightings of eagles and peregrine falcons are also possible. Mingulay is now owned by the National Trust of Scotland. Barra is the ancestral island of Clan MacNeil whose chiefs were based at Kisimul Castle. The Castle sits just offshore from Castlebay village, on a natural rock outcrop guarding the access to Barra. Alexander, Lord of the Isles, granted the MacNeils the island in A succession claim to chieftainship was legally established in and Kisimul restoration began with the assistance of numerous MacNeils from throughout the world. Share in local culture with music from Barra's resident musicians. (B/L/D) Saturday 16. St Kilda. Remote and battered by the Atlantic seas, St Kilda is a near mystical island with dual World Heritage site status for its natural and cultural significance. St Kilda is deemed Europe's most important seabird colony - with abundant puffins, fulmars and the largest colony of gannets in Britain. Grazing the island are Soay sheep, unique survivors of primitive breeds dating back to the Bronze Age. Inhabited till 1930, the 19th century village layout remains, allowing you to envisage life on this island where the bird life provided sustenance for the villagers. (B/L/D)

4 Sunday 17. Isle of Lewis: Stornoway. Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis with just over 6,000 people, about a third of the Island s total population. Home to a mix of traditional businesses like fishing, Harris Tweed and farming, its sheltered harbour was named Steering Bay by the Vikings. Land in this Gaelic heartland to explore the Stone Age Callanish, the primordial configuration of standing stones. Explore the cultural Gearrannan Blackhouse Village and meet the people of the area. Stroll the alleyways of Stornoway, check out the local tweed or wander the pathways of Lews Castle gardens. (B/L/D) Monday 18. Kirkwall and Orkney Islands. From Bronze Age man, Iron Age people, Vikings and World Wars - time has left its mark on the Orkney Islands, the green isles. Visit Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkneys, which is a Viking town, founded in 1040 around an ancient church. Next to the cathedral is the Bishop's and Earl's palaces, administrative buildings from the Viking days. Also visit Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and traverse Scarpa Flow. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC and is part of the Heart Of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Visit the Highland Distillery as an optional side visit. (B/L/D) Tuesday 19. Lerwick and Shetland Islands. Lerwick is the capital of the Shetland Islands, its cobblestone streets once filled with the rush created by fishing and shipbuilding. To the south of Lerwick is Jarlshoff where Neolithic people first settled in Shetland around 2700 BC, and it remained in use until the AD 1600 s. Discoveries made here include oval-shaped Bronze Age houses, an Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, Norse long houses, a medieval farmstead, and a laird's house dating from the 1500 s. Enjoy Jarlshoff's dramatic location on a headland overlooking the West Voe of Sumburgh. Land at Mousa Broch - standing 13 metres high, it is Scotland's most impressive and best surviving Iron Age tower or broch. Brochs were built in Shetland around BC, the quality of stone, the workmanship and overall size of Mousa are all believed to contribute to why it has so survived so well. (B/L/D) Wednesday 20. Fair Isle. Famous for birds, knitwear and historic shipwrecks, Fair Isle is a tiny jewel of an island which lies half-way between Orkney and Shetland. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, it's one of Britain's most successful small communities, pioneering projects in wildlife tourism, wind power and sustainable management of the environment. The island is an internationally important seabird breeding site. From April to August the cliffs are busy with the sound (and smell!) of thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, gannets, shags and puffins, while skuas and terns fiercely defend their nests on the moorland. Fair Isle is one of the best places in Europe to view seabirds at close range, especially puffins which will waddle to within feet of a quiet observer. The 70 or so islanders mostly live in traditional crofts on the more fertile and low-lying southern third of the island. (B/L/D) Thursday 21. Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Arrive in Aberdeen and continue on land, heading south to historic Dunottar Castle, before visiting an Aberdeen Angus stud farm and the iconic township of St Andrews to wander the ruins. Stay overnight in Edinburgh. (B/L/D) Friday 22 - Sunday 24. Edinburgh - Auckland. Homeward bound, arriving in Auckland on Sunday 24 June. (B/Meals in flight) HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR A deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour will become a confirmed departure. At that point we will advise when the full tour payment will be due. Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $1000 deposit and your spot in this tour is secured. Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can down load one from the website or give us a call and we will or post one to you. TERMS & CONDITIONS Can be found on the website on the back of the paper registration form or on the summary page when you complete an online registration. VARIATIONS Please note that this is an expedition cruise taking you to remote coastlines and waters. As such, the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions. Your experienced captain and crew may make last minute itinerary changes to optimise conditions. This itinerary is Version 2 dated 13/10/2017 and is subject to change. Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a change to the tour price.

5 Tour Extension: Overland Adventure in Ireland Sunday 3 - Saturday 9 June 2018 (6 nights) Tour Inclusions Full daily breakfast (except Day 1), other meals as specified All on-tour transportation including shuttles and ferries Welcome get-together drink with your group Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way Documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person Tour Price Share twin per person NZD $1,650 Single Supplement NZD $600 per person Saturday 2 June Auckland - Dublin. Depart Auckland on Saturday for your travel to the northern hemisphere, arriving in Dublin on Sunday. (Meals in flight) Sunday 3 June. City sightseeing. Enjoy your day with an independent Dublin open-top bus tour (valid for 48 hours) and a visit to one of Dublin s top attractions - Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC Ireland or the General Post Office Museum. This bustling city has plenty of museums, shops, and parks you may also enjoy visiting. In the evening you are free to dine at one of the many restaurants and pubs that Dublin has to offer. (B) Monday 4. Dublin and Merry Ploughboy Pub. Enjoy a free morning in Dublin for further independent sightseeing with the included vouchers. Meet your guide at 2pm in the hotel lobby and set off on an orientation tour of Dublin city centre. Highlights include the main thoroughfares of O Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and lovely public parks. Take a guided tour through parts of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government for many centuries and today plays a leading role in European Union activities. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before heading to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a great dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show with popular Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B/D) Tuesday 5. Blarney Castle and Killarney. Relax and enjoy the picturesque midlands of Ireland, with its many mixed farms. Stop for photos of the stately ruins on the Rock of Cashel, rising high above the surrounding plain. Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Stone of Eloquence or explore the tranquil gardens. Treat yourself to quality Irish made goods at Blarney Woollen Mills. Travel through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous. Arrive in the charming town of Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland s highest mountains forming a backdrop. (B/D) Wednesday 6. Ring of Kerry and Skellig experience. Embark on Ireland s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, with plenty of photo stops along the way. Enjoy a casual lunch before crossing the bridge to Valentia Island to visit the Skellig Experience, which explains the life of early Christian monks on Skellig Michael, a rocky offshore island featured in the Star Wars VII movie. Pause for a stroll around Sneem, with its brightly-painted houses and again at Moll s Gap for panoramic views. Get a taste of farm life with a sheepdog demonstration. Enjoy the evening in Killarney for dinner on your own and perhaps a visit to one of the town s many lively pubs. (B/L) Thursday 7. Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle. Embark on a memorable ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary. Take in the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher soaring 200m above the Atlantic surf. Drive past Lahinch Golf Course, one of Ireland s most famous, and through the charming town of Ennis to Bunratty. In the evening head to Bunratty or Knappogue Castle for a memorable experience. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music. (B/D) Friday 8. Galway and Connemara Marble Factory. Explore Galway city before heading out along the famous Galway Bay to Spiddal where the locals still speak the Irish language. Travel across the bog lands of Connemara to Moycullen to visit the Connemara Marble Factory. Quarried in Connemara, the soft green shades of the marble echoes the colours of the countryside from which it is cut. Enjoy tea and scones before traveling across the country to Dublin. This evening you are free to explore the pubs in the lively Temple Bar area or experience one of Dublin s fine restaurants. (B) Saturday 9. Dublin - Glasgow. Your pre-tour ends after breakfast today, departing Dublin for Glasgow and joining your Scottish tour. (B)