Step aboard in Southampton & straight into that holiday feeling. No flights, no hassle. Just the excitement of the days ahead and the promise of memorable moment. So, relax and raise a toast as the UK drifts from sight. Before you know it, you’ll be watching your destination come into view. But where will it be ?

As you set sail upon the River Forth to South Queensferry, you’ll witness the magnificent rail bridge and its interlaced metalwork, spanning the cold waters of Firth of Forth estuary in the distance. Explore Queensferry from Hawes Pier, and then head east to explore Scotland’s beautiful cultural capital Edinburgh, where highlights include Holyrood, the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.

From North Berwick we pass the magnificent Bass Rock, an imposing volcanic island about a mile from the shore of the Firth of Forth. It features impressive bird and marine wildlife and a lighthouse.
Have your binoculars and cameras ready for the gannets flying to and fro, before they nestle atop the rock. You can also see the isolated and eerie ‘Scottish Alcatraz’, a long-disused prison.

As you sail along the edge of the Firth of Forth, you’ll be able to look over the Isle of May. This is home to a magical mix of noisy sea birds and seals, as well as many a Viking or smuggler’s tale. In early summer, the cliffs are covered with nesting and often boisterous sea birds. This is also home to the unmistakeable puffin and its signature brightly coloured bill.

Kirkwall’s Norse heritage stretches back almost a millennium, when the Vikings laid the foundations for St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in Britain, and is built from local sandstone. Tune in to the history of the radio at the Wireless Museum or sample the island’s peaty single malts at the Highland Park Distillery.

The unmistakable Scottish Highlands are shrouded in myth and folklore. Amid the conical hills and verdant glens beyond Inverness, one cannot help but scan Loch Ness for signs of its legendary monster.
Nearby is Culloden Moor is where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated and Cawdor Castle, which is forever linked with Macbeth. There are several famous whisky distilleries in the region, too.

As the largest of the islands, this is an opportunity to take in the rugged scenery of the history-rich Inner Hebrides, with endless miles of unforgiving coastline and some impressive inland scenery. Many have fought for control of this significant Gaelic island in the Inner Hebrides, mainly due to its strategic location, abundance of wildlife and its salmon-rich waters.

Greenock is your gateway to Glasgow, arguably Scotland’s most animating cultural city. It serves as a brilliant stepping-stone to some of Scotland’s most rugged and breathtaking scenery to the north. As you disembark at Greenock to explore Glasgow, you will likely be greeted by the stirring sights and sounds of a traditional Scottish pipe band in full tartan regalia.

Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, enjoys a wonderful setting of high hills, sea lough and river valley. Founded in the 17th century, the city prospered to become a world-leading industrial centre. Overcoming much of its recent political turbulence, Belfast has emerged as a vibrant, destination of beautiful Victorian buildings, stylish boutiques and charming old pubs.

Liverpool and its port was once home of Cunard Line. The Cunard Building, Royal Liver Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building, all on Pier Head, are often described as the city’s ‘Three Graces’. Liverpool is vibrant and modern, but with a taste of the ‘60s. Take a ferry across the Mersey for some great harbour views, or a Magical Mystery Tour of the city, commemorating The Beatles.

Step aboard in Southampton & straight into that holiday feeling. No flights, no hassle. Just the excitement of the days ahead and the promise of memorable moment. So, relax and raise a toast as the UK drifts from sight. Before you know it, you’ll be watching your destination come into view. But where will it be ?