British Isles: Wildlife and History Cruise

Today you will visit another UNESCO site, the world-famous Giant’s Causeway. This geological masterpiece of around 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns descends like a staircase into the sea. Legend claims it was built by giants, but the scientific explanation points towards volcanic activity instead. Here you may spot various seabirds such as fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank, guillemot and razorbill.

Later make a stop at Rathlin Island, the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland, with a population of about 150 humans and tens of thousands of common guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills. The island is of prehistoric volcanic origin, and is one of 43 Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland.

Today you will visit another UNESCO site, the world-famous Giant’s Causeway. This geological masterpiece of around 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns descends like a staircase into the sea. Legend claims it was built by giants, but the scientific explanation points towards volcanic activity instead. Here you may spot various seabirds such as fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank, guillemot and razorbill.

Later make a stop at Rathlin Island, the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland, with a population of about 150 humans and tens of thousands of common guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills. The island is of prehistoric volcanic origin, and is one of 43 Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland.

In pictures

Weather permitting, you may be able to explore the uninhabited island of Staffa in the Inner Hebrides. This volcanic island is easily recognised by its striking colonnade of basalt pillars and most famous feature, Fingal’s Cave. Reaching deep into the island, the undulating sea plays upon the stunning matrix of columnar basalt to create an eerie melody which was the inspiration for Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. The rugged island also provides nesting sites for seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins.

You may also visit beautiful and serene Iona, home to the historic Iona Abbey which was founded in 563 AD. The Abbey is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites, and one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe. The adjacent graveyard is said to be the final resting place of numerous medieval kings, including Macbeth.

Weather permitting, you may be able to explore the uninhabited island of Staffa in the Inner Hebrides. This volcanic island is easily recognised by its striking colonnade of basalt pillars and most famous feature, Fingal’s Cave. Reaching deep into the island, the undulating sea plays upon the stunning matrix of columnar basalt to create an eerie melody which was the inspiration for Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. The rugged island also provides nesting sites for seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins.

You may also visit beautiful and serene Iona, home to the historic Iona Abbey which was founded in 563 AD. The Abbey is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites, and one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe. The adjacent graveyard is said to be the final resting place of numerous medieval kings, including Macbeth.

In pictures

The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, are a chain of dramatically rugged islands off Scotland’s west coast. The most isolated of these is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed St Kilda. This remote and storm-ravaged island was continuously inhabited for at least two millennia, but now lies abandoned. Evidence of past life can be seen in the form of rough stone buildings set amidst dramatic island scenery. Nature-lovers will be delighted to find hundreds of thousands of seabirds, two early types of sheep, and over 130 species of flowering plants.

The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, are a chain of dramatically rugged islands off Scotland’s west coast. The most isolated of these is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed St Kilda. This remote and storm-ravaged island was continuously inhabited for at least two millennia, but now lies abandoned. Evidence of past life can be seen in the form of rough stone buildings set amidst dramatic island scenery. Nature-lovers will be delighted to find hundreds of thousands of seabirds, two early types of sheep, and over 130 species of flowering plants.

In pictures

Today you will embark on an overland tour of Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. Attractions such as the well-preserved 5000-year-old village site at Skara Brae and the ancient Ring of Brodgar are also UNESCO designated, and showcase the world-class cultural heritage of the island. In the charming village of Kirkwall you will find the impressive Saint Magnus Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style by Vikings in the 12th century.

Today you will embark on an overland tour of Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. Attractions such as the well-preserved 5000-year-old village site at Skara Brae and the ancient Ring of Brodgar are also UNESCO designated, and showcase the world-class cultural heritage of the island. In the charming village of Kirkwall you will find the impressive Saint Magnus Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style by Vikings in the 12th century.

In pictures

Fair Isle is an isolated island in the Shetlands archipelago, featuring rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines, home to historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals. The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and for its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants. Fair Isle is also notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers, while seals are commonly seen in its bays.

Fair Isle is an isolated island in the Shetlands archipelago, featuring rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines, home to historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals. The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and for its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants. Fair Isle is also notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers, while seals are commonly seen in its bays.

In pictures

Located in the outer part of the Firth of Forth, the uninhabited Isle of May is a national nature reserve and includes significant colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants and terns. Harbour and grey seals can be spotted along the shores. There are also some historic architectural sites, including St. Ardin’s Chapel, the lighthouse and the Low and Light Cottages. Nearby, the rugged Bass Rock island is a bastion of volcanic rock which plays host to over 150,000 northern gannets in the breeding season, making it the world’s largest colony of these magnificent birds.

After breakfast bid farewell to your fellow travellers and disembark in Edinburgh’s port of Leith.