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| Map of Scotland | Self Drive Vacations | Short Tours from Edinburgh | Escorted Tours | Scotland Travel Guide |
| Cruising Scotland River and
Canal Cruising It would be easy to assume that Great Britain and Ireland have few “hidden corners” left. Just outside big cities like Inverness lie beautiful country filled with charming waterside villages, manor homes and castles, gardens, nature parks and friendly local people. Relatively few visitors see Scotland, from a river- or canal-side vantage point, and that’s part of its charm. Cruise in Luxury and Style An increasingly popular vacation concept among travelers who have “seen” the world through traditional land tours, barge cruising offers more intimate views of the surrounding countryside from the deck of a luxury “hotel” barge – and gives travelers a hands-on opportunity to experience the local lifestyle, culture, and cuisine. Leisurely cruises represent the ultimate in a luxury vacation, pampering guests on every vessel with regional cuisines created by master chefs, a knowledgeable tour guide, and an experienced, multilingual crew. An air-conditioned minivan follows the barge and takes guests in comfort to all sightseeing attractions on the itineraries; bicycles are also available to explore the region. Prices quoted are for cruise only and include all meals, wines with lunch and dinner, an open bar, and admission to daily excursions on the itineraries. Transfers to and from convenient pick-up locations are also included. Cruising in Scotland The 8 passenger Scottish Highlander was commissioned in 1999 and is the premier vessel cruising in Scotland's dramatic Great Glen, deep in the Highlands. Whether your choice is our classic Highland Discovery Cruise with fascinating daily minibus excursions or our Premier Golf Cruise featuring Gleneagles, Skibo, Nairn and Royal Dornoch our Highland Cruise selection offers something for everyone. Observation deck, Central Heating, Fish finder, Generous cabins. Choice of Twin or double suites.  The 8 passenger Scottish Highlander was fully refurbished in 2000
and has the atmosphere of a Scottish Country House, with subtle use of tartan
furnishings and landscape paintings At 117 feet she is spacious and has every
comfort for year-round cruising. Her experienced crew of four ensure attention
to your every need while you cruise the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness,
arguably the finest inland cruising scenery in the world. The well planned
accommodation offers a choice of one double suite and three twin/double
staterooms with full private bath facilities.Scottish Highlander Caledonian Canal Cruise Itinerary Cruise highlights
Click for picture FURTHER INFORMATION FOR PRE AND POST CRUISE INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS: Many of our international customers fly in to Scotland's Glasgow Airport and then take a train to Inverness. The train journey takes about 3 hours and is 157 miles and travels through the most beautiful countryside and is highly recommended by us. End of cruise: Transfer will be to Fort William train station or a hotel in Fort William by about 10am. Many of our international clients stay in Fort William overnight and then organise onward travel the following day or they take a train to Glasgow for their flight home on the day of departure. Some take a taxi from Fort William to Inverness and we then recommend one of the taxi companies listed below to transfer you the 68 miles to Inverness and the cost is approximately £90 paid by the clients directly to the taxi company for up to 4 people with luggage.  Scottish Highlander Cruise Itinerary Sunday, Day 1 - Inverness to DochgarrochAt 4pm we meet at the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel in Inverness and transfer to Scottish Highlander moored at Dochgarroch. Champagne welcome followed by a short evening cruise along the heather-lined canal to the winding hole. Dinner aboard. Monday, Day 2 - Dochgarroch to Fort Augustuss This morning we visit the 14th century fairytale Cawdor Castle immortalised by Shakespeare with Macbeth, housing a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furniture with beautiful landscaped gardens. We also visit Culloden Moor, made famous by the MacDonald and Campbell battle in the 13th century. After lunch we cruise Loch Dochfour to Fort Augustus passing Urquhart Castle and the south shore of Loch Ness, where there is an abundance of wildlife, and moor near Fort Augustus Abbey. Tonight we often invite the local piper on board. Dinner aboard. Tuesday, Day 3 - Fort Augustus After breakfast we cruise up the staircase of five locks through the village of Fort Augustus, which gives us plenty of time to shop and look around this pretty Caledonian gem. After lunch we visit Urquhart Castle and Invermoriston Falls (or with family charters explore the Nessie Museum). There is also a picnic opportunity today. Fort Augustus has a charming heather-laced 9 or 18 hole golf course, where the official green keepers are sheep! We dine out tonight at a local restaurant. Wednesday, Day 4 - Fort Augustus to Cullochy Lock We leave Fort Augustus this morning and cruise to Cullochy Lock via Kytra. After lunch we drive through Glen Moriston and stunning highland countryside to romantic medieval Eilean Donan Castle, setting for the film Highlander. Eilean Donan Castle has an idyllic island setting with commanding views of three sea lochs and frequent sightings of otters, dolphins and the Isle of Skye. Following the abortive Jacobite rising of 1719, the ruins of the castle were abandoned for 200 years until the 20th century when a complete reconstruction was undertaken. Dinner aboard. Thursday, Day 5 - Cullochy Lock to Gairlochy Leave Cullochy Lock for a morning cruise via two locks at Laggan, and through Lochs Oich and Lochy to Gairlochy. In the afternoon there is a chance to see either the World War II Commando memorial, the woollen mill at Spean Bridge, selling traditional knitwear and tweeds, or the Clan Cameron museum. Dinner aboard.  Friday, Day 6 - Gairlochy to Banavie
Morning visit to the mystic battlefields of Glencoe. On the way back visit the
Glen Nevis distillery for an insight into the secrets of the various stages of
Whisky preparation and taste a wee dram or two. In the afternoon we cruise to
Banavie and Neptune's Staircase, a flight of eight locks that is a spectacular
feat of engineering. Farewell Captain's Dinner on board. Saturday, Banavie to
Inverness Passengers disembark for the transfer to Fort William by minibus
after a hearty Scottish breakfast arriving in there by about 10.00am. On alternative weeks the itinerary is in reverse direction. This itinerary is subject to change. Seven days/Six nights Scottish Highlander 117 feet long - 8 passengers - 4 crew 3 TWINS/DOUBLE SUITES , 1 DOUBLE SUITE Cruises include: Fully air-conditioned suites, twin or double staterooms with private bath , gourmet meals aboard and ashore, fine wines and an open bar, fascinating daily excursions, local transfers. Cuisine is traditional Scottish fare - salmon, game, venison and seafood, prepared by your own Master Chef. The experienced crew of four ensure attention to your every need. A cruise along the Great Glen encounters some of Scotland's finest scenery CYCLING CHARTERS --supplement of $3,000 per charter, which includes upgrade of bicycles for the week and the services of a professional Cycling Guide --minimum of 6 passengers is the requirement for a Cycling Charter FAMILY CHARTERS --no supplement applies (and baby/child equipment can also be provided at no extra charge, including child bikes, car seats, cots & high chairs) --minimum of 6 passengers total is the requirement for a Family Charter FISHING CHARTERS --supplement (which is dependent upon the number of passengers who fish & the frequency of the excursions) includes the services of a professional Fishing Guide/Ghillie and all fishing equipment --minimum of 6 passengers total is the requirement for a Fishing Charter GOLF CHARTERS --supplement of $800 per golfer applies, which includes (for golfers) four pre-booked/paid tee times and transfers to & from the golf clubs --minimum of 6 passengers total (4 of which must be golfers) is the requirement for a Golf Charter 2 passengers required on all departures to guarantee the cruise except March and November when a minimum of 4 passengers is required. THEME CRUISES AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER GROUPS Golf Cruise - $800 supplement per golfer - Available for Charter Groups or minimum of 4 passengers. Scottish Highlands Scottish Highlander .jpg) 2012:
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