Highlands & Islands Cruise - Lord of the Glens, 4 Nightsfrom £ 665.00

Comfortable cruising and breathtaking scenery, from mysterious Loch Ness to colourful Tobermory.

Tour Overview

The Lord of the Glens combines both fresh and saltwater cruising, as she sails between Fort Augustus and Oban. Having negotiated the southern end of the Caledonian Canal our ship glides out into Loch Linnhe in the shadow of Ben Nevis, and cruises down to the Isle of Mull and the famous harbour town of Tobermory and on to Oban.

We begin at Fort Augustus, cruising on the southern end of Loch Ness. The vessel is then lifted by a series of 6 inter-connected locks that leads to peaceful Loch Oich and onwards to Banavie in the shadow of Ben Nevis. Here we see Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight interconnected locks that takes vessels back to sea-level near Fort William. We then sail out into the sea and cruise south on Loch Linnhe, the long fjord-like loch that leads down towards Mull and Oban, where the voyage concludes. In between our cruising, there is also a full programme of shore excursions including a train journey and visit to the Glenfinnan Momument and visits to Duart Castle, Torosay Castle and Gardens and Tobermory.

The MV Lord of the Glens has 27 beautifully appointed and well-equipped state cabins, all with windows and en-suite facilities. The ‘Robert Louis Stevenson’ restaurant presents cuisine using local and freshly sourced produce whilst the ‘Sir Walter Scott’ bar and lounge on the upper deck provides for magnificent all-around panoramic views of the Highland scene. With all meals and excursions included this cruise offers excellent value for money, a spring or autumn treat to be savoured.

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Tour Itinerary Back to top of page

Day 1
Travel under own arrangement to Glasgow (rail/air connections can be arranged on request). A coach transfer is provided from Glasgow Central Railway Station (departs approx 1430hrs) to Fort Augustus, where we embark the MV Lord of the Glens.

Please note for all tours departing in 2010 the pick-up point will be at Inverness Airport (approx 1200hrs) or Inverness Railway Station (approx 1400hrs).

Later we depart on an evening cruise around the southern end of Loch Ness, while joining the Captain for a welcome reception before dinner. We moor overnight in Fort Augustus.

Day 2
After breakfast we ascend the series of six inter-connected locks that runs through the centre of Fort Augustus and sail through various man-made sections of the Caledonian Canal, which was started in 1803 to plans produced by Thomas Telford following survey work by James Watt thirty years earlier. By the time the canal finally opened in 1822 it had taken 17 years and cost £840,000, but instead of the 20 foot depth in Telford's plans, the canal when it initially opened was only 14 feet deep, too shallow for many of the increasingly large ships being built at the time. A second phase of construction was then undertaken between 1844 and 1847 and what emerged from this was the canal originally proposed by Telford. The irony was that by the time the canal was finally complete, steam ships could make the passage around Scotland much more easily than the sailing ships in whose era it was designed. We continue through peaceful Loch Oich and Loch Lochy to Banavie, to Neptune’s Staircase, an impressive series of eight inter-connected locks that lowers vessels step-by-step to sea level at Corpach, close to Fort William.

In the afternoon we board a scheduled diesel train service which takes us along the shores of Loch Eil and across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct for a visit to the Glenfinnan Monument. In a dramatic setting at the head of Loch Shiel, the monument was built in 1815 to commemorate the Jacobites who fought and fell during the 1745 uprising. Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) raised his standard on the 19th August 1745 marking the start of his campaign to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne. The Glenfinnan Monument was designed by James Gillespie Graham and erected by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale.

We moor for the night at Corpach, with dinner served on board.

Day 3
Following breakfast, we leave the Caledonian Canal and enter Loch Linnhe. This long sea-loch, scooped out by glaciers during the last ice ages, extends south-west from Fort William through the narrows at Corran and on past the low and fertile island of Lismore to the Firth of Lorne. We leave the ship at Craignure on the Isle of Mull for a visit to Duart Castle, the 13th century home of the Chief of Clan MacLean. Here we can explore the dungeons, the state rooms and appreciate the strategic position of the castle from the top of the keep. Nearby is Torosay Castle and Gardens. The castle was built in 1858 in Scottish Baronial style and is surrounded by 12 acres of gardens, including formal terraces, an impressive Italian statue walk, informal woodlands and water gardens. From Torosay we continue by coach to Tobermory, the principal town on Mull whose multi-coloured buildings ringing the harbour will be familiar to many, where the vessel will be waiting for us and where we moor for the night. Dinner is served in the evening.

Day 4
Enjoy your breakfast. The morning is free for independent exploration of Tobermory, which has a number of interesting craft shops and a famous pub. After lunch on board we sail down the Sound of Mull and across the Firth of Lorne to the bustling port of Oban, whose distinctive skyline is dominated by the Coliseum-like McCaig’s Folly. In the evening we join the Captain once again for our farewell reception and dinner, mooring overnight here.

Day 5
Following breakfast we disembark. A coach transfer is provided back to Glasgow Central Railway Station (where we expect to arrive approx 1300hrs). For all 2010 departures you will be returned to Inverness Railway station/Inverness airport, or alternatively return home independently.

What's Included Back to top of page

• 4 nights accommodation in lower deck twin cabin on full board basis. All cabins have en-suite
facilities.
• Three days cruising with shore excursions to the Glenfinnan Monument, Duart Castle, Torosay
Castle and Gardens and Tobermory
• Return coach transfers from Glasgow (2009 departures) or Inverness (2010 departures)

Supplements Per Person Back to top of page

• Single cabin supplement On request
• Insurance £19.00 (66 years and above £38.00)
• Drinks from the bar

Departure Points Back to top of page

Lord of the Glens (Fort Augustus-Oban/Oban – Fort Augustus)

All rates below are per person based on shared occupancy
DEPARTURE DATES      Lower cabin    Middle cabin    Superior middle cabin    Upper cabin
                                         Supp per Person    Supp per Person   Supp per Person

2 April 2010       £665    £120    £250                    £260
6 April 2010*       £665   £120   £250      £260
10 April 2010                 £665    £120   £250                    £260
14 April 2010*       £665    £120                     £250     £260
18 April 2010       £665               £120    £250      £260
22 April 2010*       £665    £120                     £250      £260
26 April 2010                 £665   £120    £250      £260
30 April 2010*       £665   £120                     £250      £260
27 September 2010*   £665    £120 £250      £260
1 October 2010       £665   £120                     £250                    £260
5 October 2010*       £665   £120   £250                    £260
9 October 2010       £665   £120   £250                    £260
13 October 2010*   £665    £120   £250      £260
17 October 2010           £665    £120   £250      £260
21 October 2010*   £665   £120   £250      £260
Single supplement – On request

*The cruises marked with an asterisk operate in reverse, from Oban to Fort Augustus.

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