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Scotland Small Ship Cruises 2024/25

The Scottish Highlands are some of the wildest landscapes in the UK. A coastline of rocks and rural beaches bends into caves carved from cinematic bays, while a topography of emerald mountains and plains filled with wildflowers gives way to vast Scottish lochs, charming villages, and striking geological spectacles. Pine forests fragrance the inland hills around Fort William, distinctive rock formations puncture the sky on the Isle of Skye, while the air on the Isle of Islay is fortified with the scent of peat emanating from a local whisky distillery carried on a stiff Atlantic breeze. But Scotland unfolds in layers: stories from its bards, myths from the depths of its lochs, and fuel for food lovers from its sea and its land. It is the perfect landscape for adventure, romance, and discovery.  

Exploring all of this by sea aboard a thrilling and luxurious small-ship cruise is ideal. The broken landscapes of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles are untamed, their shores wild, the seas harsh, difficult to explore by yourself, but an open book when adventuring by the sea with an experienced crew. You’ll hike Ben Nevis, sail along lochs, explore the gothic beauty of Edinburgh, and stand spellbound by the tapestry of nature woven throughout the magical Highlands.

Our Cruises in Scotland

Explore the magnificent Scottish Highlands on our small ship cruises.

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Destinations

  • Firth of Clyde Islands

    Like a Scotland in miniature, the Firth of Clyde Islands unfold in a series of forty islands and skerries, most uninhabited but with bounds of natural beauty: mountains tumbling into crystal clear lochs, ruined castles, stone circles, and prehistoric sights half-taken back by nature, whisky distilleries, and country houses telling the stories of Scottish culture, and so much wildlife. A cruise to the Firth of Clyde Islands will bring you closer to the wild nature of the Isle of Arran, the golden beaches of the Isle of Bute, and the ruins and bays of the Cumbraes.

  • Inner Hebrides

    The dramatic coastline of the Inner Hebrides islands is dusted with castle ruins and pretty fishing villages. Breathtaking beaches extend to the Atlantic on the shores of tranquil lochs, while seabirds animate sheer cliffs and a menagerie of seals and whales bring movement to its waters. You’ll sail in the shadow of mountains: the settings for tales of fairies and ghosts, sweep between the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, and Canna, adventure into massive lochs, Scottish cousins to Norwegian fjords, and see iconic castles such as the 13th century Eilean Donan set at the convergence of three lakes. 

  • Outer Hebrides

    A chain of islands 30 miles off the coast of the mainland, the enigmatic Western Isles offer some of Scotland’s most intensely beautiful landscapes. Wildlife and nature dominate this part of the world, with uninhabited islands in truth inhabited to the tune of thousands with razorbills and puffins, the shores occasionally brought to life by an otter, the seas by a Minke Whale or a porpoise. The hiking here is superb, with long walks into hills home to golden eagles on North Harris and red deer on North and South Uist, and almost always accompanied by the crunch of dried heather underfoot.

  • Northern Isles

    Travel to the very north of the Northern Isles and you are at the northern end of the United Kingdom. Here in the Northern Isles (comprising the Orkney and Shetland islands), a rugged coast grips a collection of beautiful rural islands, some inhabited since the Neolithic times with evidence found in ruined Neolithic villages and fragments of ancient temples, while others are teeming with seabirds, otters and on Orkney, a unique sub-species of Vole found nowhere else in the world. Lively communities thrive on Mainland in the Shetlands, and in charming Kirkwall in the Orkneys. But cruises in the Northern Isles are brilliant for wildlife watching, and they remain one of the only places to spot Orcas in the UK.

 

The Hebridean Princess

Our Cruise Ship in Scotland

The Hebridean Princess’s elegant design, a distinctive former Royal Mail Ship, conjures images of the glory days of travel. Holding just 48 passengers and launched as a passenger ship in 1989, she’s one of the world’s smallest luxury cruise ships. All-inclusive cruises aboard the Hebridean Princess are enhanced by a knowledgeable crew for whom sailing throughout Scotland, ad the onboard welcome is as warm as the fire that crackles in the convivial bar.

Life On Board a Scottish Cruise

After a former life as a car carrier and a Royal Mail Ship, the iconic Hebridean Princess was transformed into one of the world’s smallest luxury cruise ships. Her elegant interiors are designed to facilitate a crew-to-guest ratio of almost 100%, allowing for considerable luxury and attentiveness on every journey. Her relatively small size allows for sailing into smaller ports, sailing the crystal clear waters of narrow lochs, pulling closer to wildlife, and taking travelers to quaint villages on the fringes of remote islands, immersing you deeper into each destination.

The beautiful Tiree Lounge with its inglenook fireplace and the attractive Columba Restaurant form the social heart of the ship and play host to talks by experts on Scottish ecology, history, and culture, as well as Gala dinners hosted by the ship’s captain and informal chats over whisky with all the views of the Hebrides on display beyond the windows. A pristine teak deck glimmers under sunlight, creating a beguiling space to view the scenery, while 28 cabins provide a haven of simple luxuries from where to enjoy the ship’s exceptional services. The petite ship is a delight to explore, and its small guest size makes it easy to form lasting acquaintances with your fellow passengers while ensuring attentiveness from the crew.

 

Experiences

  • Taste Scottish Whisky at a Distillery

    There are more than a hundred whisky distilleries spread across Scotland, and you can easily tour distilleries such as Dalwhinnie, known for its balanced single malts in the Highlands, and Lagavulin, known for their smokey peated whiskies on Islay, for tastings that introduce you to the subtle nuances in flavor from region to region.

  • Visit Scotland’s Finest Castles and Palaces

    From Edinburgh Castle looming over the old town and Duart Castle pleasantly overlooking a loch on the Isle of Mull to Skye’s atmospheric ruins and the Isle of Bute’s magnificent Mount Stuart, Scotland’s castles, palaces, and country houses are never anything less than stunning. Many occupy defensive positions overlooking the lochs and seas, making a cruise the ideal way to see them.

  • Enjoy Expert Lectures and Talks from Guest Speakers

    Scotland’s story is brought to life by a range of guest speakers aboard our Scottish Highland cruises. Some share their knowledge of eagles and why they’re thriving along the western coast once more, and others talk about conservation efforts, each bringing their own take on the local history and culture of the places you’ll sail to.

  • Spot Hebridean Wildlife

    Wildlife lurks in every corner of the Hebrides. You’ll see puffins and eagles flying overhead, otters, Oystercatchers, seals along the coast, red deer, Soay sheep and butterflies in the hills, and even the occasional whale, shark, and dolphin breaking up the monotony of the Atlantic surf.

  • Taste Traditional Scottish Delicacies

    While some shy away from the bold flavors of a Haggis, there’s no better example of Scottish cuisine than a slice or two served with neeps (swedes) and tatties (potatoes) glazed with a thick homemade gravy. Salmon comes next, and its best fresh in the Highlands, while Scottish porridge makes a healthy breakfast served with fresh berries and a dram of whisky.

  • Visit Unspoiled Lochs

    Scotland’s lochs are perhaps the most natural expression of its beautiful poetry. You can trace them inland from the Atlantic, view them from the cities and towns where the national bard, Burns wrote many of his poems, and trace their hypnotic outlines as glittering pools of ink from atop the crags, mountains, and glens of the Highlands.

 

Why book with Unforgettable Travel Co.

  • 100% Financial Protection

    100% Financial Protection

    We are a licensed and fully bonded tour operator financially protected by both the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT). All clients that travel with us are fully financially protected.

  • Destination Experts

    Destination Experts

    Our travel experts live and breathe the destinations they specialise in. This shows in their passionate to create hand crafted trips for our clients. We don’t offer cookie cutter trips, just truly unforgettable journeys unlike any other.

  • The Best Guides

    The Best Guides

    What makes our trips extraordinary is the unique immersive experiences we include. We pride ourselves in our black book of sought after expert guides, game rangers and local contacts who believe in our philosophy, unforgettable.

  • We Care

    We Care

    From the moment you book your trip, we are on hand 24/7 to assist you throughout your journey. With regional offices around the world, we have ground logistics teams on hand to help you every step of the way.

Ready to plan your trip?

What ever you want from your dream trip, our team of
experts are ready to help.

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