A Luxury British Isles cruise

Day 1
Your adventure begins! Your cruise around the UK starts as you board the Sea Spirit in Plymouth (a port with a fittingly impressive maritime heritage) and set off for your UK adventure. You will be welcomed aboard and have time to explore the ship and settle into your luxury suite.

Day 2
Your first stop is the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall, which have secluded beaches and an attractive laid-back lifestyle. On the pretty island of Tresco, the ruins of a 17^th-century castle and Bronze Age artefacts are testament to its fascinating history. Visit the exotic Tresco Abbey Gardens and a museum telling the stories of the area’s shipwrecks.

Days 3 - 4
Slainte! It’s time to enjoy the craic in Ireland. Visit the privately-owned Saltee Islands, where you'll find one of the major bird sanctuaries in the world, thanks to its position on a migratory route. Explore a fishing village in County Waterford, see master craftsmen at work in the Waterford Crystal factory and visit the 18^th-century Georgian estate and botanical gardens of Mount Congreve. 

Day 5
Another day, another country: today you will reach Wales, and dock in the seaside town of Llandudno. Swop the ship for four wheels for a scenic drive through the dramatic mountain and lake scenery of Snowdonia National Park, home to wild ponies, otters and rare birds such as the peregrine falcon. Visit charming Betws-y-Coed and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Conwy Castle.

Day 6
It’s back to Ireland, this time Northern Ireland, where you will disembark at Portrush to explore the unique basalt landscapes of the Giants Causeway, as sea birds such as petrels and cormorants swoop overhead. Legend has it that these 40,000 basalt columns, descending like a staircase into the sea, were created by a giant, hence the name.

Day 7
It’s time to head to bonnie wee Scotland, and the Inner Hebrides. Weather permitting, see the volcanic island of Staffa, a haven for nesting seabirds such as puffins and guillemots, and home to Fingal’s Cave, whose natural ‘sea music’ inspired a Mendelssohn overture. 

Iona, off the Isle of Mull, is a definite highlight: steeped in religious history (as well as showcasing white-sand beaches and impressive birdlife), its abbey, founded in 563 AD, is said to be the final resting place of medieval kings – including the legendary Macbeth.

Day 8
Today, you will visit the rugged islands of the Outer Hebrides, off Scotland’s west coast. On windswept St Kilda, see the stone dwellings of the island’s hardy final inhabitants, who departed after World War 1, set amidst extraordinary landscapes and natural wonders such as hundreds of thousands of sea birds and over 130 types of flowers.

Day 9
It’s on to the Orkney Islands. The ship will dock at the historic port of Kirkwall (which has a 12^th-century cathedral), for a tour of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island, whose Neolithic treasures are UNESCO-listed. Explore the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae and the ancient Ring of Brodgar – Orkney’s version of Stonehenge.

Days 10-11
Your next stop is Shetland and the island of Mousa, where you’ll see the Broch of Mousa, the most well-preserved Iron Age fortification in the British Isles, and one of the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe, with a 2,000-year-old 40ft-high round tower. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and Mousa’s colony of storm-petrels.

Next up is Lerwick on Mainland, the largest island in Shetland, to visit its award-winning museum. Enjoy a scenic trip through the countryside to the historic lighthouse at the southernmost point of Mainland, whose rugged cliffs attract thousands of sea birds, while puffins perch amongst the wildflower-covered slopes.

See fascinating Bronze Age and Iron Age monuments at Jarlshof and the rolling moorlands, rugged coastlines and crofts of Fair Isle, also known for its birds and sea life, but made especially famous for its hand-knitted jumpers – which you will have a chance to purchase for an iconic souvenir.

Day 12
The final full day of your cruise takes you to Bass Rock, an uninhabited volcanic island in the Firth of Forth which a 150,000-strong colony of gannets make their home during breeding season – the largest such colony in the world. The voyage is timed to coincide with this incredible spectacle, a fitting finale to your trip.

Day 13
You will disembark at the end of your cruise in Leith, Edinburgh, and be taken to the airport for your flight back to London – or why not extend your holiday by spending a day or two in Scotland’s vibrant capital, and exploring further afield?