After lunch travel together to Oban and board M/S Stockholm – your home for the next seven nights. The following are examples of exciting places you may visit:
Iona, Staffa & Lunga
Iona has been a place of deep spiritual significance for more than 1000 years. No less than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried here, including Duncan I, who was murdered by Macbeth. Saint Columba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianity spread through Britain from this remote island community. Weather permitting, make a stop at the spectacular island of Staffa with the amazing Fingal’s Cave. The cave inspired Mendelsohn to compose “The Hebrides Overture”. Also hope to land on Lunga to walk amongst the surprisingly habituated puffins.
St. Kilda
Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Kilda through the Sound of Harris, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some 64 km from the nearest Scottish isles. For some this is a pilgrimage in itself and a very moving experience. Drop anchor in Village Bay on the main island Hirta and wander through the remnants of the village. St. Kilda once supported a population of 200, but the last islanders were evacuated in the 1930s. Recent restoration work on the village by the National Trust for Scotland offers an interesting link with the past. Later cruise past the impressive island of Boreray, Stac an Amin, and Stac Lee, where tens of thousands of gannets nest.
Callanish Stones
On the northwestern side of Lewis visit the Callanish Stones, a cross-shaped setting of standing stones erected around 3000 BC. This is one of the most spectacular megalithic monuments in Scotland.
Dunvegan
Dunvegan Castle is magnificently located on a rocky outcrop on the shores of Loch Dunvegan. The castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and was the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years. In contrast to the surrounding landscape, dominated by barren moorland and mountains, the gardens here are like a hidden oasis. Here find an eclectic mix of plants, woodland glades, shimmering pools fed by waterfalls, and streams flowing down to the sea.
Canna & Rum
The small island of Canna has a tiny agricultural and cattle rearing population. From a walk along the cliff top you may see golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, puffins, and peregrine falcons. The island is beautifully situated with stunning views of the area. The neighboring island, Rum, is a nature reserve and an oasis for birdwatchers. More than 150 species have been observed on this small island. If possible, pay a visit to Kinloch Castle, an eclectic 19th-century turreted castle built by the Bullough family, and walk the nature trail, a beautiful area of wild flowers.
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