The Scottish Isles – Island Hopping In The Hebrides

Start in Scotland's stylish city of culture

A former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hot spot, packed with museums, galleries and parks. Discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh before your expedition cruise begins. 

MS Spitsbergen, one of our smaller vessels and built for close up exploration, will be waiting for you. Explore the ship before meeting the Expedition Team – your guides for your adventure ahead. Enjoy your first dinner aboard as we set sail.  

Enjoy wildlife spotting on Arran 

Welcome to the Isle of Arran, known for its heather-cloaked landscapes. It's the perfect place for a scenic hike. Why not try the popular Goat Fell trail and see if you can spot Scotland's ‘Big Five': the Golden Eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and harbour seal, all of which can be found on Arran. 

Explore the woodland and gardens of Brodick Castle, and marvel at the Neolithic treasures and huge upright slabs at the Machrie Moor Stone Circle. Your stop wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Isle of Arran Distillery and a taste of their distinctive malt. 

Fire up your spirit of discovery on 'whisky island' 

Islay is the proud home of world-famous peaty single malts – but that's far from the only reason to visit. Here you'll discover fascinating ancient monoliths and the enigmatic settlement of Finlaggan.  

Today, Islay is a wildlife paradise, home to over 200 species of birds – including oystercatchers, gannets and Golden Eagles. From its sandy beaches, you can sometimes spot dolphins and basking sharks. 

Port Ellen is the gateway to three of the island's nine distilleries. Of course, no trip to Islay is complete without a 'wee dram' from one of these famous and historic whisky producers, including Laphroaig and Ardbeg. 

Discover a slice of paradise in the Hebrides 

Today our Scottish isles cruise takes us to tiny Gigha (pronounced ‘Gee-​a), a little sandy slice of paradise in the Hebrides. The island is community-owned, bought by its 163 residents in 2002, and has a sustainable local economy. Try some of the seafood, such as Gigha halibut and oysters. 

At only seven miles long, the best way to get around Gigha is on foot or by hiring a bike. Visit the woodland gardens of Achamore House and admire the colourful rhododendrons. Then explore white sandy coves and the turquoise waters along the coast, such as the Bàgh Rubha Ruaidh and Bàgh na Dòirlinne beaches. 

See Iona's sacred abbey and Fingal's Cave on Staffa 

Your  adventure continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. You can visit the restored 6th century abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Or enjoy a hike with the Expedition Team up Dùn I for breathtaking views of St Columba's Bay - and take a sip from the 'Well of Eternal Youth'. 

Next, we sail to the Treshnish Isles – home to Atlantic Puffins, razorbills and Atlantic grey seals. At nearby Fingal's Cave, you'll marvel at the hexagonal basalt columns, superb natural acoustics, and mesmerising coloured waters. 

Discover the untamed beauty of St Kilda 

A visit to this UNESCO double World Heritage Site is an unforgettable experience. If conditions allow, we'll spend the day here. 

One of Europe's most important seabird colonies, St Kilda's volcanic outcrops are home to thousands of nesting seabirds, including Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and over 60,000 pairs of Northern Gannets.  

In 1930, St Kilda's last residents asked to be evacuated due to the island's wild and exposed conditions. Explore the abandoned village and see the distinctive cleits – circular stone buildings used to store peat, eggs and smoked puffins – before returning to the comfort of your ship. 

Experience the Gaelic culture of the Hebrides 

We travel next to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, home of the famous Harris Tweed cloth. We'll visit Gothic-style Lews Castle, full of trails and fantastic views. You can also see 'Scotland's Stonehenge' at the Callanish Standing Stones, visit a crofting village or hike the Great Bernera Trail.  

We'll also explore the wild and beautiful Shiant Isles, a tiny archipelago set in the Minch Strait. One of the most important breeding colonies for seabirds in Europe, keep an eye out for European Shags, Common Eiders, Northern Fulmars and Great Skuas in the surrounding waters or on volcanic ledges. 

Dramatic scenery awaits you on the Isles of Skye and Eigg 

Sail to Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye, where dramatic scenery surrounds you. “The wildest scene in the Highlands” – that's how the Victorian poet Lord Tennyson described Loch Coruisk and the surrounding craggy peaks of the Cuillin Mountains. We'll put on our hiking boots to explore the loch with the Expedition Team. 

Then on to the remote Isle of Eigg, home to incredible wildlife. You might spot Golden and  White-Tailed Eagles, Red Throated Divers, stonechats, seals, dolphins and porpoises. Stroll along the white sands of Laig Bay to the quartz beach where the sand sings, or hike to the top of An Sgùrr. 

Get ready for the dreamy beauty of the Sound of Mull 

Brightly-coloured Georgian houses line the waterfront in the picturesque fishing port of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Learn about the local heritage at the whisky distillery and Mull Museum, or stroll around the loch in Aros Park and see the Baliscate Standing Stones.  

The Isle of Mull is a magnet for birders, with the highest breeding density of Golden Eagles in Europe, while White-tailed Eagles can often be seen soaring above the coast. We'll also explore Loch Sunart, a Marine Protected Area known for otters, dolphins and porpoises, and stop by Mingary Castle. 

Immerse yourself in unspoilt island beauty

Take a coastal walk on the Isle of Colonsay, and enjoy breathtaking views from Kiloran Bay and Plaide Mhòr. Or go for a paddle in a kayak, and you may catch sight of whales, porpoises and dolphins. 

Flora also thrives on Colonsay, with over 400 species blooming. You'll see some of them in the woodland gardens of Colonsay House. It's a paradise for birdwatchers, with choughs, Red Northern Divers, eagles, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and shags among the birds you can spot. Be sure to listen out for the rattle of the elusive corncrake. 

Experience the culture of Scotland's cities 

Your Scottish Isles expedition cruise ends in Glasgow. In the harbour, you'll find the striking Riverside Museum and the tall ship Glenlee beside it. Admire the Gothic architecture of Glasgow Cathedral and view the eclectic art and natural history at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum before heading home. It's an excellent way to round off your adventure.