britain brochure

8/2/2019 Britain Brochure

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NOBLE CALEDONIA

Small Ship Cruisingaround

Britain & Ireland2012


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ObanIona

MULL

SKYE

Loch Scavaig

Summer Isles

Loch Ewe Inverewe Gardens

Mingulay

Pabbay

Berneray

Barra

ISLAYGigha

OUTERHEBRIDES

RUM

LEWISShiant IslandsSt Kilda

Callanish

CAPE WRATHHanda

Canna

Lunga

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

NO R T HS E A

Staffa

Aberdeen

North Rona

ORKNEYISLANDS

Lerwick

SHETLANDISLANDS

Mousa

Fair Isle

NORT H E RNI R E L A ND

SCO

TLAND

Kirkwall

Tory Island

R E P U B L I C

O F I R E L A ND

Leith Edinburgh

I R I S H S E A

Waterford

Portsmouth

ENGL I S H

CHANN

E L

Tresco

St Agnes

ISLES OFSCILLY

SarkGuernsey

CHANNEL

ISLANDS

F R A N C E

TheSkelligs

Inishmore

DON E G A L

B A Y

ENGL ANDCO

UNTYKERRY

COUNT

Y

DON

EGAL

Stromness

ANGLESEY

Glasgow

Stornoway

Scrabster

Waterville

COUNTYGALWAY

Dublin

Kilkenny

Sneem

Loch Torridon

St Martins

St Marys

St Malo

FAROEISLANDS

Mykines Torshavn

Kirkjubour

Papa Stour

Foula

North Ronaldsay

TRESHNISH ISLANDS

JURA

Greenock

Portrush

Rathlin IslandNORTHANTRIM

Holy Island

Saltee Islands

SkomerGrassholm

Lundy

Les Sept Iles

Lismore Cappoquin

Bryher Falmouth

St MichaelsMount

Poole

Alderney

Herm

Jersey

Helford River

Strangford Lough

Mount Stewart

Arduaine Gardens

Bodnant Gardens

Portmeirion

Honfleur Rouen

Mont St Michael

Knightstown

ARUNISLANDS

Tilbury

Whitby

Berwick on Tweed Holy IslandRathmullan

Copinsay


3/28www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Page 3

Make 2012 the year you become better acquainted with the treasures of your homeland. Most ofus promise ourselves that one day we will see more of our lovely islands and highlands but thethought of tedious journeys along busy roads often leads us instead, to jump on an aircraft tosome distant spot when some of the most picturesque and beautiful places in the world are onour doorstep. That does not mean that access is always easy. In fact much of which we explorecan only be approached from the sea.

From the early beginnings of the company when we operated one or two British Isles cruises,we now offer in excess of ten trips. Every year the popularity of small ship cruising in our ownwaters grows and now it has become the single most important area in the world for us. This isimmensely rewarding as the vast majority of passengers are from Britain.

We have many years of experience in designing trips to the hidden corners of our remotest places and yet, everyyear we discover something new. Although we set sail with a set itinerary it is the unscheduled events that oftenbecome the highlight of the journey.

Enjoy these very special places with us. The sheer diversity of the landscape and lifestyles will amaze you, as will thespirit and warmth of the small communities we will encounter. In an age of rapid centralisation and common identity,it is fortifying to know that life with its unique traditions and values still can be found on the edges of our islands.

Whether you be an avid gardener, birdwatcher, amateur historian or simply enjoy sailing past and visiting some of themost enchanting places in the world then one of the expedition cruises featured on the following pages could be for you.

Our ideally suited vessels will allow access to places larger vessels are unable to venture and with our fleet ofZodiac landing craft, we can explore inlets, fjords, bird sanctuaries and land in otherwise inaccessible places.

CONTENTS

Extracts from past ship logs 4Onboard Experts 5

MS Island Sky 6-7Island Retreats 9Birds, Bottlenose Dolphins & Basking Sharks 10Island Life 11Islands on the Edge 12-13

MS Quest & MS Ocean Nova 14-15Garden Quest 16Gardens by the Sea 17Lost Islands 18Spirit of Scotland 19

MS Expedition 20-21Bird Islands 22-23

MS Clipper Odyssey 24-25Hebrides to Faroes 26-27

Cruises in this brochure offer visits to out of theway destinations. You will be accompanied by anexpedition team and the majority of landingsashore will be made by Zodiac landing craft.

(Please note that even when it is not specificallymentioned in the itinerary that Zodiacs will be used

to go ashore, it is still likely that they will be used for themajority of landings around the British Isles and Ireland). Cruisessuch as these will appeal to the more adventurous and those whoenjoy the natural world. Our experienced captain and expeditionleader will take the best advantage of the weather conditions andflexibility will be the key to a successful expedition.

Please note that transfers provided on the first and last days of thecruises featured in this brochure will be at a set time. Details will besent to you 10 weeks prior to departure.


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Extracts from past ship logs

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MS OCEAN NOVA Saturday 30 April 2011The Outer Hebrides: Stornoway on Lewis Island& the Shiants

This morning we boarded buses and with a knowledgeablecommentary from our local guide, we enjoyed a culturalmorning amongst fantastic scenery on a cool, brightsunny day. First, we went to the Callanish Stone Circle.We all enjoyed seeing this mysterious group of standingstones, built for reasons which are still obscure. Ournext stop was at Dun Carloway Broch, the remnants ofa beautifully built fortified dwelling dating back to1000BC, and with a real sense of historic reality. Thento the small village of restored black houses atGearrannan, where we marvelled at the resilience of

the people who lived an incredibly tough life right up tothe 1960s.

Just before 16:30 we set off in 5 zodiacs for a tour ofthe Shiants. It was superb. Wecruised through archwaysand explored in caves. Inone long protected bay wecounted 14 young gray seals.Fulmars seemed to be themost prolific bird. Therewere plenty of Guillemots,

RazorBills, Shags and a fewpuffins. We also saw a fewBlack Guillemots. There weremany sheep grazing on thesteep slopes and cliff topsincluding two wayward ewesthat seemed stuck on inaccessible cliffs. One of themlooked like it would have to swim for it, in order toescape from its perch. We sat in awe as we gazed upmassive columns of basalt that stretched 140 metresover our heads. During recap the Expedition Team ratedthis as one of the great places in the world for zodiac

cruising and that it rivalled anything they had experiencedin the past.

MS ISLAND SKY Saturday 4 June 2011Tanera Mor (Summer Isles) & Inverewe

Early morning saw us steaming across a calm sea and intoposition off the island of Tanera Mor, the only inhabitedisland of the Summer Isles. After breakfast wedisembarked and took the short Zodiac ride across to the

jetty. A short walk took us to the local tea room which

doubles as a post office for the locally-producedstamps, which proved a big hit. The more energeticclimbed up the roadway and across the heather-covered

peat to the top of the island, for breathtaking viewsacross the summer Isles, the adjacent mainland, and,clearly visible in the distance, the Outer Hebrides.

We headed north, and had a wonderful barbecue lunch onthe Lido deck as we sailed into Loch Ewe and anchored in

the channel near the jetty at Inverewe Gardens.

This was another sheltered spotand we arrived at the gardensjetty via zodiac, then metinformative local guides for a

walk through the gardens.What a magnificent place! We

wandered through the narrowwooded pathways, enjoying the

plants and trees, including thelast of the rhododendrons,

culminating in a novel walledgarden. There was so much to see

and some of us came away withsome new ideas to try in our own

gardens. We stopped at several lovely lookouts to take inthe views of the surrounding hillsides and mountains.These gardens were the brainchild of Osgood Mackenziewho inherited 12,000 acres from his stepfather in 1862.The unusual mixture of flowers and plants in this gardensurvive because of the moderate climate in this area dueto the North Atlantic Drift, which brings warm watersfrom Mexico up to the western Scottish coastline.

MS QUEST Thursday 12 May 2011Tanera Mor (Summer Isles) & Inverewe

After steaming through the night we arrived in Village Bayon St. Kilda, and dropped our anchor in this relativelysheltered bay. The warden, Paul, was brought out to theship to give us an introduction about what we couldexpect ashore. The landing here was onto a concrete

quay. John gathered us together for a short walkthrough the village, pointing outthe features of interest. Therewere lots of fulmars, some ofwhich were sitting squabblingon rooftops and cleits. Thesunshine brought out the StKilda wrens which weresinging beautifully from thecleits and rooftops and theSoay sheep were everywhereand some were dozing withtheir lambs. There were

lambs everywhere.Wheatears and starlings were also all

around the ruins. After an hour or so we split up to do

our own thing, many repairing to the burial ground and themuseum before browsing in the shop. As we arrived backat the jetty, Colin had a wee dram for us to celebratelanding here before we got into the Zodiacs for our tripback to the Quest, via the rafts of puffins on the water.What a fabulous place it is.

Inverewe Gardens

Shag

Exploring St Kil

da


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Onboard Experts

www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Page 5

EXPEDITION STAFFWorking with the captains are our experienced expeditionteams who are responsible for the day to day organisation

of the itinerary and briefings. Sharing their passion forwildlife and nature, they will enhance your cruise in everyway possible. Below are some of the staff who will bejoining us onboard in 2012:

Louis Justin Expedition LeaderLouis was born and grew up in Rouen,Normandy. He has always shown a keen interestin history and the sciences of the Earth,geography, geology, geophysics: he enjoystravelling, discovering nature, exploring distant

countries, deserts, oceans and volcanoes, and becomingacquainted with past and present civilisations. This interest ledhim to leave Europe and seek employment overseas upon

graduating.Niall Johnson Expedition LeaderNiall is from the Isle of North Uist in the OuterHebrides. Formerly a college lecturer, hereturned to these islands in 1992 to establish hisown adventure training centre. A highlyrespected outdoor professional, Niall has

pioneered adventure training in the Outer Hebrides and hisknowledge and skills are sought all over the world. Niall has beenemployed by the cruise industry as a consultant on Antarctica aswell as Zodiac Team Leader and has set up Zodiac operations onnumerous cruise ships. Despite all his travelling, Niall firmlybelieves that the west coast of Scotland is one of the premiercruise destinations on Planet Earth.

Kevin Morgan Expedition StaffAn enthusiastic naturalist with a passion forwildlife, Kevin has been a keen birdwatcher sincechildhood and has worked on cruise ships fromAntarctica to the Arctic, Iceland to Norway, andthe Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, with the British

Isles being a favourite with its diverse coastline and seabirdcolonies. In the UK he carries out wildlife surveys (bats, bird,reptiles & amphibians), lectures on his travels, and leads wildlifewalking tours. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, amember of the Marine Conservation Society, a founder member ofThe Shark Trust with a passion for sharks, and he has anOceanography Masters.

Mike Moore Expedition Staff

A Chicago native, Mike earned both his B.S. inbiology and an M.S. degree in Ecology, Ethology,and Evolution at the University of Illinois. Sincethen he has spent 10 years doing research aroundthe Pacific Rim, studying endangered honey

creepers in Hawaii, native hens in Tasmania, and everything frompythons to wallabies in Northern Queensland. He has lived in theHighlands of New Guinea, logged hundreds of hours beneath itswaters working for conservation organizations, taught fieldbiology courses for the University of PNG, and is working on thesecond edition of the field guide, Birds of New Guinea.

Chris Harbard Expedition StaffChris is a well-known British ornithologist andconservationist. He spent 24 years working withthe worlds largest bird conservation

organisation, the Royal Society for the Protectionof Birds and is now a freelance author,

broadcaster and lecturer. He writes for Birdwatch magazine and isa regular contributor to the BBCs natural history radio output. Hehas worked as a naturalist lecturer on board ships for four years inthe Arctic, Antarctic, North Atlantic and North Pacific, and hasalso led birdwatching trips to France and Spain.

John LoveBorn in Inverness, John Love graduated in zoologyat Aberdeen University. In 1975 he went to live onthe Isle of Rum where he managed a highlysuccessful project to reintroduce the white-tailedsea eagle. While he remains involved with birds of

prey, seabirds are another passion. For over forty years he has beencruising the Hebrides and visiting remote islands but in that time hehas also travelled extensively throughout the world. He has written

and illustrated several books on wildlife and now, recently retiredfrom Scottish Natural Heritage as Area Officer in the Outer Hebrides,he spends his time writing, drawing, lecturing and travelling.

Graham BellGraham Bell is a well-known British ornithologistand lives in Wooler, Northumberland. Hegraduated from Durham University with Honoursin French and English, later gaining a Diploma inEducation and pursuing a career in teaching. His

chief interest however has always been natural history, with birdsparamount. Formerly County Bird Recorder for North-East Englandand editor of three annual County Bird Reports, he was a member ofthe British Birds Rarities Committee for 14 years and of the RoyalSociety for the Protection of Birds Council, Conservation andEducation Committees. He features in Whos Who in Ornithology?

and regularly lectures and writes on bird topics, contributes weeklyto the local press, and is the author and illustrator of several books,including The Top 50 Birds, Encounters with Birds, and theLonely Planet Nature Guide to the Arctic.

Colin JonesColin Jones is an accredited lecturer with theRoyal Horticultural Society and flower judge forthe Surrey Guild of Horticultural Judges. For 35years a Film Editor and Director at BBCTelevision specializing in travel and documentary

programmes. As a photographer he has travelled the world andrecorded the great botanic gardens and their plants.

Toby Musgrave

Dr Toby Musgrave is one of the UK's leadingauthorities in garden history and design. With adegree in horticulture and a Ph.D. in gardenhistory, since 1994 Toby has embarked on afreelance career as a television and radio presenter

and consultant, author, journalist and photographer, designer andlecturer. In the UK Toby is a regular contributor to a number ofBritish national magazines and newspaper, including BBCGardeners' World Magazine, The Garden, Gardens Illustrated, TheEnglish Garden, The Saturday Telegraph and The Sunday Times.

GUEST SPEAKERSOur expedition teams also include a guest speaker who areexperts in subjects such as ornithology or horticulture. They

will share their expertise with onboard talks andaccompany you ashore, adding much to your enjoyment.Guest speakers joining us in 2012 include:

Colourful St Agnes, Scilly Isles


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SMALL SHIP CRUISING WITH A DIFFERENCEThe MS Island Sky is one of the finest small ships in theworld. With a maximum passenger capacity of only 114, avessel of her size is capable of carrying many more butinstead the MS Island Sky has the benefit of unusually largesuites, luxuriously appointed public areas and spaciousoutside decks.

On board there is a high ratio of crew to passengers. Ourfriendly crew of 75 are mainly Filipino and EasternEuropean and our Scandinavian captains are experiencedmariners, having been in service aboard large 2000 pluspassenger vessels and who now prefer a less frantic lifeaboard a small ship. If, like them and us, you prefer a morepeaceful life at sea, you will find the MS Island Sky theperfect ship. When choosing the vessel for your nextvoyage of discovery, you can select a ship with endless

entertainment and impersonal service or come with uswhere peace, high quality service and attention to detailare the order of the day. We promise there will be noorganised entertainment, fancy dress, deck games or any ofthe usual big ship experiences. The atmosphere on board ismore akin to a private yacht or country hotel. A little musicin the lounge or bar after dinner, guest speakers,informative port briefings from our cruise director and ofcourse good food which may be enjoyed leisurely in theattractive dining room. After a day ashore you will return tothe comfort and peace of a well run and exceedinglycomfortable ship.

Magellan deck standard suite

Marco Polo Corner Suite

MS Island Sky



Your Dining

Another benefit of a small ship is the quality of the cuisine.With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100passengers, the galley is able to provide delicious meals.Where possible and when it meets his high standards, thechef will obtain local produce in markets or buy the catchof the day from a passing fishing boat. In the main elegantdining room, breakfast is served buffet-style, with certainitems cooked to order and lunch and dinner is la carte.When weather permits, breakfast and a buffet-style lunchare also served on deck. To enhance your diningexperience even further a selection of wines are included

with lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is served in thelounge and tea and coffee are available 24 hours.

Your Space

The spacious and finely decorated public rooms include alarge lounge where daily briefings and talks will beprovided throughout the voyage and an elegant bar wherea pianist plays periodically throughout the day. The bar

also features a 24-hourtea and coffee station. Theonboard library is theperfect place to relax witha book. Daily newspapersand magazines are placedin the library dependingon local availability.There is also WI-FI accessthroughout the vessel. Outside there is a rear sun deck, abar and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing orrelaxing with a book. On the top deck there is a Jacuzziand further observation and sun deck.

Your SuiteOnboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and welldesigned suites. All feature a sitting room area and somehave private balconies. The feeling of luxury is enhancedby the wood panelling and brass, which predominatesthroughout the vessel conveying the atmosphere of aprivate yacht. The passenger accommodation is arrangedover five decks and all suites have outside views. Eachaffords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroomfeaturing marble-topped vanity unit with sink and walk-inshower, large wardrobes, dressing table with large mirrorand stool and excellent storage. There is a mini-fridge, flatscreen television with inbuilt DVD player which can also

play CDs and a telephone in each suite. Bottled water,toweling dressing gowns and slippers are also provided foryour comfort. Other facilities include a programmableelectronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries andindividually controlled air-conditioning and heating.

For more images and information pertaining to the MS IslandSky, please refer to our website - www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

The Library Lunch al-fresco

The Club

Lounge/lecture area

Restaurant

Sun Deck and Jacuzzi


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The Abbey Gardens, Tresco


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Island Retreats


Sometimes, a few days away in a totally different

environment is just what the doctor ordered, particularly if itdoes not involve flights. Join the MS Island Sky inPortsmouth and visit some of the most idyllic islandsincluding Sark and Alderney, Tresco, St Agnes and StMartins, with their crystal clear waters and fine white sandy

beaches that would notdisgrace a Caribbean island.

We will explore on footamazing little containedworlds as well as thestunning sub-tropical AbbeyGardens on Tresco. The MSIsland Sky is the perfect

small ship for such aventure. A maximum of just over 100 passengers allows usto explore places otherwise inaccessible to larger ships andwith our nimble Zodiac craft, we can land on out of theway coves and be footloose in a way that would be totallyimpractical for larger groups of passengers.

The ItineraryDay 1 Portsmouth. Embark the MS Island Sky this afternoon.Transportation from Portsmouth station will be provided to theship at a fixed time. Sail in the early evening.Day 2 Honfleur. We will spend the day in the beautiful port ofHonfleur. This morning visit Rouen, one of the largest and mostprosperous cities in the world during the Middle Ages, and thehistorical capital of Normandy. Rouen has played a key role in manywars, including World War II, when the city was heavily damagedand its famed cathedral was almost destroyed. Joan of Arc wasburned at the stake for heresy in 1431 at Rouens Place de VieuxMarche. Stroll through the Vieux Rouen to see the citys half-timberedhouses and the famed Notre Dame Cathedral, the subject of some ofthe greatest works of Claude Monet. In the afternoon exploreHonfleur at leisure or spend time relaxing onboard.Day 3 Alderney & Guernsey, Channel Islands. Our first landfall inthe Channel Islands is tiny, timeless Alderney. Visit the islands onlytown, St Anne, which has all the old-world charm of a Normandyvillage with tiny squares and pastel shaded cottages and shops. Enjoya free morning for walking along the pretty quiet lanes or cliffbird-watching. In the afternoon sail over to Guernsey, the Island ofFlowers. There will be in option of visiting Hauteville House whereVictor Hugo resided for 14 years and wrote some of his best known

works including Les Misrables or visit Castle Cornet, a 12th centurybattlement which guards the entrance to St Peter Port Harbour.Day 4 Sark & Jersey. This morning we will call into Sark. Zodiaclanding craft bring us ashore for a visit to the enchanting SeigneuryGardens. Horsedrawn carriages take us around this peaceful traffic

A VOYAGE TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, NORMANDY ANDTHE ISLES OF SCILLY ABOARD THE MS ISLAND SKY

11th to 18th May 2012

free island which is alive with the songs of chaffinches, skylarksand mistle thrush. Sail during lunch to Jersey. From the parapets ofMont Orgueil Castle to the gentle sweep of the bay beyond, it is

hard to imagine a more peaceful and tranquil island. Yet Jerseyslandscape and the character of its people are forged by centuries ofbattles, exploration, struggle and reinvention leaving behind aunique legacy of history, culture and heritage. Explore St Helierindependently or join a guided island tour which will include boththe scenic and historic highlights of this lovely island.Day 5 St Malo. From our anchorage by the ramparts of St Malo wewill go ashore to explore the beautifully restored old city of StMalo. There will also be the opportunity to visit the 12th centuryBenedictine monastery of Mont St Michel, perched atop adramatically sited granite outcrop.Day 6 Tresco & Bryher, Isles of Scilly. This morning we will mooroff Tresco, which to many is the loveliest of the Scillies. It is leasedby the Dorrien- Smith family, who have done much to preservethe islands great charm and created a wonderful 40 acre

subtropical garden, close to their Tresco Abbey home. There willbe a tour of the gardens and some free time to explore at leisure.In the afternoon there will be the opportunity to land on the wildand rugged island of Bryher.Day 7 St Marys & St Agnes. Our exploration of these spectacularisles will continue with a morning on St Marys and the quaintcapital of Hugh Town. A chance to wander around this charminglittle town, visit the local museum or walk one of the coastal trails.After lunch on board spend the afternoon on St Agnes and Gughwhich lies south of St Marys. With a population of only 72, thisremote jewel is set in the blue Atlantic Ocean with paths thatwind around the deeply indented coastline, rocky coves andsandy beaches with impressive views across the Western Rocks.Day 8 Portsmouth. Disembark after breakfast. A coach transferwill be provided to Portsmouth station at a fixed time.

Prices per personBased on double occupancy Tour Code: SCISK11052

DECK SUITE CATEGORY DOUBLE SOLEOCCUPANCY OCCUPANCY

Magellan Standard (Forward) 2295 3095Magellan Standard 2695 3395Columbus Superior 2995 3895Marco Polo Premium 3195 -Marco Polo Corner 3395 -Erikson Deluxe Balcony 3695 -Explorer Owners Balcony 3895 -

Price includes: 7 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on full board, housewine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner onboard, expeditionteam, shore excursions, gratuities to crew and whilst on shoreexcursions, transfers, port taxes.Not included: Travel insurance.

NB. Ports subject to change. All special offers are subject to availability. Localweather conditions may affect itinerary.

BOOK BEFORE 28 OCTOBER 2011 AND

SAVE 100 OFF THE PRICES SHOWN BELOW

St Marys, Isle of Scilly

Honfleur harbour

Mont St Michel, St Malo


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Birds, BottlenoseDolphins &Basking Sharks

Page 10 020-7752 0000

Join us for this unusual expedition cruise which will appealto those who wish to explore our coastal waters, observethe marvellous seabird and marine life and walk acrossuntouched coastal wilderness areas. Although we will setsail with a schedule, it will not be set in stone. The captainand expedition team will keep a flexible approach allowingyou the opportunity to fully experience the unexpected,whether it be a sighting of dolphins or any unusual event.

In just eight days we will

be able to stroll along theleafy lanes of beautifulTresco in the Isles of Scilly,visit the neighbouringislands of Bryher and StAgnes, land on uninhabitedGreat Saltee Island with itshuge colony of gannets and

explore the bird colonies of little known Les Sept Iles byZodiac. On Lundy Island we will enjoy the antics of thepuffins and later in the day sail around Grassholm, one ofthe worlds largest gannetries. No coastal cruise in thisregion would be complete without a visit to the Channel

Islands and we begin our island adventure with calls at twoof the most attractive, Alderney and Sark.Our exploration of these protected coastal waters will be

made all the more enjoyable by the use of our Zodiaclanding craft, similar to those used by Jacques Cousteau.Zodiacs enable us to land in remote places, providing for anunusual perspective and make the otherwise inaccessiblereadily available. Our expedition staff have a wealth oflocal knowledge, having undertaken numerous expeditionsaround Britain and Ireland. Our experienced team will goashore with you and provide evening round-ups of the daysevents and briefings on board. Their knowledge andenthusiasm of the natural world will add much to yourenjoyment as each day brings us new discoveries.

The ItineraryDay 1 Portsmouth. Embark the MS Island Sky this afternoon.Transportation from Portsmouth station will be provided to theship at a fixed time. Sail in the early evening.Day 2 Alderney & Sark, Channel Islands. Our first landfall in theChannel Islands is tiny, timeless Alderney. Visit the islands only town,St Anne, which has all the old-world charm of a Normandy villagewith tiny squares and pastel shaded cottages and shops. Enjoy a freemorning for walking along the pretty quiet lanes or cliff bird-watching.In the afternoon sail over to Sark. Zodiac landing craft bring us ashorefor a visit to the enchanting Seigneury Gardens. Horsedrawn carriagestake us around this peaceful traffic free island which is alive with thesongs of chaffinches, skylarks and mistle thrush.Day 3 Les Sept Iles, France. A few miles off the pink granite coast

lie Les Sept Iles. These wonderful islands are uninhabited byhumans but are home to vast numbers of seabirds. In medievaltimes monks tried to settle here on the aptly named lle aux Moinesbut the harsh conditions made it impossible. Today we hope tomake use of our zodiacs and explore the islands by sea. We willspend time looking for wildlife and of course the prolific birdlife.Day 4 Lundy & Grassholm. This morning we will visit the

AN EXPEDITION CRUISE TO THE ISLES OF SCILLY, IRELANDAND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS ABOARD THE MS ISLAND SKY


delightful island of Lundy located in the Bristol Channel. Walkalong its traffic-free lanes and paths, explore the wide bays andcoves by way of hanging valleys, observe the puffins nesting inabandoned rabbit warrens, have a drink at the inn and buy someof the puffin stamps at the islands shop. In the afternoon sailaround Grassholm to view one of the worlds largest gannetries.Weather permitting we will anchor off the protected northern sideof the island to observe some of the 34 000 breeding pairs.Day 5 Saltee Islands, Ireland. The two privately owned islands ofthe Saltees, along Irelands east coast, attract nearly three million

birds to their craggy masses. This morning we will land on GreatSaltee Island and search for puffins, murres, razorbills, gannets,and more of the 47 bird species known to inhabit the island.Day 6 Tresco & Bryher, Isles of Scilly. This morning we will moor offTresco, which to many is the loveliest of the Scillies. It is leased by theDorrien- Smith family, who have done much to preserve the islandsgreat charm and created a wonderful 40 acre subtropical garden,close to their Tresco Abbey home. There will be a tour of the gardensand some free time to explore at leisure. In the afternoon there will bethe opportunity to land on the wild and rugged island of Bryher.Day 7 St Agnes. Spend the morning on St Agnes. With a populationof only 72, this remote jewel is set in the blue Atlantic Ocean withpaths that wind around the deeply indented coastline, rocky covesand sandy beaches with impressive views across the Western Rocks.Day 8 Portsmouth. Disembark after breakfast. A coach transferwill be provided to Portsmouth station at a fixed time.




Price includes: 7 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on full board, housewine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner onboard, expeditionteam, shore excursions, gratuities to crew and whilst on shoreexcursions, transfers, port taxes.Not included: Travel insurance.


BOOK BEFORE 28 OCTOBER 2011 ANDSAVE 100 OFF THE PRICES SHOWN BELOW

St Agnes, Isle of Scilly

Gannet in flight

Going ashore at Sark Puffin


11/28

Island Life


Explore the furthest reaches of your homeland in comfort

on a coastal cruise of England, Ireland and Scotland. Inearly summer, the MS Island Sky will undertake a voyagefrom Portsmouth to the Isles of Scilly, west coast of Ireland,and then begin a journey around Scotland visiting the Inner

and Outer Hebrides and the NorthernIsles before reaching Edinburgh.

This unusual journey will take usalong the edges of the UnitedKingdom and Ireland and offer aunique portrait of life in our islands.This is a wonderful opportunity to seesome of our most beautiful places,meet some interesting inhabitants and

learn more about both the past andpresent of Britain and Ireland.The sheer diversity of the landscape and lifestyles will

amaze you, as will the spirit and warmth of the smallcommunities we will encounter. A journey such as this canonly be undertaken by a special vessel with self-sufficientqualities which makes the MS Island Sky ideal.

The ItineraryDay 1 Portsmouth. Embark the MS Island Sky in the late afternoonand sail. A transfer will be provided from the rail station at a set time.Day 2 Tresco, Isles of Scilly. Go ashore for an afternoon on thebeautiful island of Tresco. Walk from the beach, along prettytraffic free lanes to the Abbey Gardens. These amazingly attractive

subtropical gardens are an absolute delight.Day 3 Knightstown, Kerry. Today we shall sail around the justlyfamous Ring of Kerry and from our anchorage off Knightstown,visit the charming village of Waterville. We will also drive acrossthe Coomakista Pass to Sheam, referred to as the knot in the ringof Kerry.Day 4 Aran Islands. Thismorning we will cruise by theCliffs of Moher, a dramatic sightfrom the sea. After lunch wewill call into the Aran Islandsand land on the largest,Inishmore to explore some ofthe early Christian sitesincluding the dramatic stone

fort of Dun Aengus.Day 5 Tory Island. Just off the coast of Donegal, Tory Island ishome to 150 or so Gaelic speakers. Although only 14 miles offshore, it feels many more and island life here is full of traditions.Meet some of the local community in the village hall and enjoysome of their legendary story telling, music and dance.Day 6 Staffa & Iona. This morning cruise past the cliffs and caves ofStaffa, whose magic inspired both Mendelssohn and Turner. If seaconditions allow, we will explore the caves further with ourZodiacs. This afternoon we will visit Iona which for more than a1000 years has been a place of deep spiritual significance. StColumba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianityspread through northern Britain from this remote island community.Day 7 Canna & Rum. Spend the morning on Canna which has atiny agricultural and cattle-rearing population. From a walk alongthe cliff top we may see golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and

peregrine falcons. Sail to the adjoining island of Rum which is anature reserve. See the somewhat eccentric Kinloch Castle andwalk the nature trail.Day 8 St Kilda. Cruise through the Sound of Barra to St Kilda, aremarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond theOuter Hebrides. St Kilda once supported a population of over200, but the last islanders left in the 1930s. Recent restoration

A COASTAL CRUISE AROUND BRITAIN AND IRELANDABOARD THE MS ISLAND SKY

25th May to 5th June 2012

work on the village by the National Trust for Scotland offers amarvellous link with the past.Day 9 Summer Isles & Inverewe Gardens. Arrive this morning inthe beautiful Summer Isles and the only inhabited island of TaneraMor. On a guided walk enjoy the stunning views and look out forotters, seals and the prolific bird life. Stop at the unique post office,whose own rare stamps are much sought after by collectors. Duringlunch sail south for our visit to the imposing gardens of Inverewe,surely one of the finest sited gardens in all of Scotland.Day 10 Lerwick & Fair Isle, Shetland. Arrive in the Shetland

capital of Lerwick and begin your exploration of this historic portwith a tour through the narrow stone lanes. We will also visit theNeolithic ruins of Jarlshof, featuring well-preserved structures fromthe Bronze and Iron Ages. During lunch sail across to Fair Isle.The tiny population of 60 or so islanders always extend us a warmwelcome. Enjoy a walk across the island, perhaps visiting the BirdObservatory, searching out the puffin slopes and, time permitting,take afternoon tea and cake with some locals in the village hall.Day 11 Stromness, Orkney. Arrive in the port of Stromness. Drivethrough a landscape of sheer rocky cliffs, sandy beaches andpastures to the excavated village of Skara Brae which dates back5000 years to the Neolithic Age. Our tour will also includeKirkwall, one of the earliest established Norse trading towns.Day 12 Leith, Edinburgh. Disembark after breakfast. A transfer willbe provided to Edinburgh train station and airport at a fixed time.



Magellan Standard (Forward) 3695 4695Magellan Standard 4195 5195Columbus Superior 4495 5895Marco Polo Premium 4895 -Marco Polo Corner 5195 -Erikson Deluxe Balcony 5495 -

Explorer Owners Balcony 5895 -Price includes: 11 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on full board,house wine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner onboard,expedition team, shore excursions, gratuities to crew and whilst onshore excursions, transfers, port taxes.Not included: Travel insurance.


BOOK BEFORE 28 OCTOBER 2011 AND

SAVE 300 OFF THE PRICES SHOWN BELOW

Optional post cruise extensionat Gleneagles HotelWe are offering a two-night stay at the truly magnificentGleneagles Hotel, one of the worlds most coveted 5-star resorts.

The hotel is set in 850 acres of Perthshire countryside andfeatures elegant restaurants, luxury bedrooms and a leisure club.Our stay is based on two nights accommodation in a Sovereignroom and includes breakfast and transfers from the vessel to thehotel and to the train station or airport from the hotel.Twin: 395 per person Single: 795

The island of Iona

The gardens at Inverewe

Kinloch Castle, Rum


12/28

Islands on the Edge

Page 12 020-7752 0000

Every year the popularity of small ship cruising in our own

waters grows. This is immensely rewarding as the vastmajority of our passengers are from Britain. We have manyyears of experience in designing trips to the hidden cornersof our remotest places and yet, every year we discoversomething new. Although we set sail with a set itinerary itis the unscheduled events that often become the highlight

of the journey.Whether you be an avid

gardener, birdwatcher,amateur historian or simplyenjoy sailing past andvisiting some of the mostenchanting places in the

world then this could be theperfect expedition for you.The sheer diversity of the landscapes and lifestyles willamaze you, as will the spirit and warmth of the smallcommunities we will encounter. In an age of rapidcentralisation and common identity, it is fortifying to knowthat life, with its unique traditions and values, can still befound on the edges of our islands.

The ItineraryDay 1 Tilbury. Embark the MS Island Sky in the late afternoon andsail. A transfer will be provided from London Victoria CoachStation at a fixed time.Day 2 Whitby. This afternoon call into Whitby, where on the east

cliff, the ruins of St Hildas Abbey dominate the skyline. Spend theafternoon exploring this charming fishing port, either independentlyor on a guided walking tour. The old town and its cobbled streetsand the Whitby Museum are particularly worth visiting.Day 3 Holy Island, Berwick on Tweed & Leith. This morning wewill anchor off Holy Island (also known as Lindisfarne). The islandplayed a significant part in the development of Christianity inEngland. In 635 AD, the Irish evangelist, St Aidan, founded amonastic community that became one of the most importantcentres of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. Upon arrival atHoly Island go ashore by Zodiac and enjoy some free time toexplore the village before joining your guide to visit LindisfarneCastle. Viking raids finally forced the monks to abandon the islandin 875 AD, but in 1082 St Cuthbert rebuilt the Priory, the remains ofwhich can still be seen. Sail during lunch for Berwick on Tweed

and in the afternoon visit Abbotsford House, built by Sir WalterScott and set on the banks of the River Tweed. The rooms that wewill visit have been left virtually untouched since his death and avisit to Abbotsford House will give us an an intimate insight into thepersonality and interests of this great man. Time permitting we alsohope to include a visit to a cashmere and woollen mill. Return to

A CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE BRITISH ISLESABOARD THE MS ISLAND SKY

17th to 30th August 2012

the MS Island Sky and sail for Leith where we will moor overnight.Day 4 Leith, Edinburgh. This morning enjoy a guided tour ofEdinburgh before visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia. After lunch onboard there will be the opportunity to visit the city independently.Day 5 Stromness, Orkney. Arrive in the port of Stromness. Drivethrough a landscape of sheer rocky cliffs, sandy beaches andpastures to the excavated village of Skara Brae which dates back5000 years to the Neolithic Age. Our tour will also includeKirkwall, one of the earliest established Norse trading towns.Day 6 St Kilda. Cruise through the Sound of Barra to St Kilda, aremarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond theOuter Hebrides. St Kilda once supported a population of over 200,but the last islanders left in the 1930s. Recent restoration work onthe village by the National Trust for Scotland offers a marvellouslink with the past.Day 7 Dunvegan & Loch Scavaig, Isle of Skye. This morning wewill go ashore and drive to Dunvegan Castle, the famous seat ofthe Macleods. This Hebridean fortress is set on a rocky platformwith commanding views of the loch. See the castle and lovelygardens and time permitting, the seal colony on the adjoiningrocks. Sail during lunch to the majestic Loch Scavaig and theCuillins mountains. These magnificent mountains form a dramaticbackdrop to the freshwater loch.

Day 8 Staffa & Iona. This morning cruise past the cliffs and caves ofStaffa, whose magic inspired both Mendelssohn and Turner. If seaconditions allow, we will explore the caves further with ourZodiacs. This afternoon we will visit Iona which for more than a1000 years has been a place of deep spiritual significance. StColumba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianityspread through northern Britain from this remote island community.Day 9 Rathmullan. From Rathmullan we will visit GlenveaghNational Park which lies in the heart of the DerryveaghMountains. It is a remote and hauntingly beautiful wilderness ofrugged mountains and pristine lakes. Our visit to the park willinclude a guided tour of the castle and gardens.Day 10 Inishmore, Aran Islands. This afternoon we will call into theAran Islands, located just under 30 miles from the Galway Coast. Wewill land on the largest, Inishmore, and explore some of the early

Christian sites including the dramatic stone fort of Dun Aengus.Day 11 Knightstown, Kerry. Today we shall sail around the justlyfamous Ring of Kerry and from our anchorage off Knightstown, visit thecharming village of Waterville. We will also drive across theCoomakista Pass to Sheam, referred to as the knot in the ring of Kerry.Day 12 Tresco, Isles of Scilly. Go ashore for an afternoon on the

beautiful island of Tresco. Walkfrom the beach, along prettytraffic free lanes to the AbbeyGardens. These amazinglyattractive subtropical gardensare an absolute delight.Day 13 Sark & Alderney,Channel Islands. This morningwe will arrive at Sark. Zodiaclanding craft bring us ashore for

a visit to the enchantingSeigneury Gardens. Horsedrawncarriages take us around thispeaceful traffic free island whichis alive with the songs ofchaffinches, skylarks and mistlethrush. During lunch sail for

Exploring by Zodiac

Seigneury Gardens, Sark

Tresco, Isles of Scilly

Basalt cliffs, Staffa






Price includes: 13 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on full board,house wine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner onboard,expedition team, shore excursions, gratuities to crew and whilst onshore excursions, transfers, port taxes.Not included: Travel insurance.NB. Ports subject to change. All special offers are subject to availability. Localweather conditions may affect itinerary.

BOOK BEFORE 28 OCTOBER 2011 ANDSAVE 300 OFF THE PRICES SHOWN BELOW

tiny, timeless Alderney. Visit the islands only town, St Anne, whichhas all the old-world charm of a Normandy village with tiny squaresand pastel shaded cottages and shops. Enjoy a free afternoon forwalking along the pretty quiet lanes and cliff bird-watching.Day 14 Portsmouth. Disembark this morning. A transfer will beprovided to the rail station at a fixed time.

Dunvegan Castle

Skara Brae, Orkney


14/28Page 14 020-7752 0000

Built in Denmark in 1992, the MS Ocean Nova and MSQuest are sister ships and ideal for this region. The MSQuest was refurbished in 2008 and the MS Ocean Nova in2005. These small expedition vessels have all the latestsafety and communication equipment and their small sizemeans that we can venture where larger ships cannot, andbecause of their substantial build and design they are as athome in vast wilderness areas as they are in a tranquilScottish loch.

MS Quest & MS Ocean Nova

Category 3 Cabin - MS Ocean Nova

Category A Cabin - MS Quest

Category A Category B Category C

Category D Category E Category F

MS Ocean Nova

MS Quest

Cat 1 Cat 2 Cat 3



Restaurant - MS Ocean Nova

The MS Quest accommodates a maximum of fiftypassengers and the Ocean Nova is slightly larger, normallyaccommodating 86. Cabins on both vessels are attractiveand comfortable with outside views and en suite facilities.All have individually controlled heating andair-conditioning and there is also a desk with chair andample storage space. They are well designed with typicalScandinavian light woods and pleasing colours.

The Panorama lounge located on the top deck affordsexcellent views and is the main meeting place. It is herethat the expedition team will provide informative andinformal talks and briefings. The bar is also located in thelounge and both vessels have a small library. The attractivedining room seats all passengers in a single sitting andoffers delicious meals with a mixture of table service andbuffet. The Bridge is also open to passengers and hereofficers will provide chart and sailing information for allthose interested in the vessels navigation and operation. Inaddition there is a doctor onboard both vessels.

Due to the size of the vessels and the nature of theexpeditions, the atmosphere onboard is extremely friendlyand informal, an experience that is impossible to find onlarger, more conventional cruise ships.

Lounge - MS Quest

Exploring by Zodiac from the MS Quest

Library - MS Ocean NovaThe Bridge

Category B Cabin - MS Quest

On deck in Scotland

Category D Cabin - MS Quest


16/28

Garden Quest

Page 16 020-7752 0000

As April gives way to the month of May our western shoresand Ireland become alive with colour. This is a spectacularlybeautiful time. Many of the gardens, estates and national parksare at their most appealing and the countryside will be lushand inviting. This, combined with the sheer diversity of thecoastline, makes for a most appealing sea journey, whether

you be an avid gardener,birdwatcher or simply enjoysailing past and visiting someof the most enchanting placesin the world.

The gardens of Britain and

Ireland have a unique quality,the temperate weather andgreen mountain backdrops

make for lovely views whether you are in a grand anddramatic highland setting or in a simpler island setting. Fromthe formal and manicured, to the wilder and more natural, ouritinerary includes our most beautiful and diverse gardenswhich, in early spring are a sight to gladden any heart.

The ItineraryDay 1 Oban. Embark the MS Quest in the afternoon.Transportation will be provided from Glasgow Central Station andAirport to Oban at a fixed time. Moor overnight.Day 2 Arduaine Gardens & Gigha. Sail at first light along the Argyll

coast to Arduaine Gardens, a 20 acre coastal garden warmed by theNorth Atlantic Current. The rhododendrons are particularly fine andthe coastal views stunning. Sail in late morning down the Sound ofJura bound for Gigha where we will visit the gardens of AchamoreHouse. The Horlick family, better known for the eponymous milkdrink have created a stunning garden with their collection of azaleas,rhododendrons and exotic plants. Gigha is a place apart with heathercovered hills, deserted beaches and a single lane verged with wildflowers that meanders for some six miles between cottages and farms.Day 3 Strangford Lough & Mount Stewart. Enjoy a leisurelymorning as we cruise the scenic waters of the great lough. Afterlunch go ashore to the famous gardens at Mount Stewart whichwere planted in the 1920s by Edith, Lady Londonderry and are ofinternational importance. The magnificent series of outdoorrooms and vibrant parterres contain many rare plants that thrive

in the mild climate of the Ards Peninsula. There will be time toexplore the opulent house which reveals a fascinating heritage.Day 4 Dublin. Sail into the great sweep of Dublin Bay and enter theRiver Liffey. Drive out into the Wicklow Mountains and thewonderfully sited gardens of Powerscourt, 47 acres of Italian, Japaneseand walled gardens. Continue to Mount Usher, a lovely romanticgarden on the banks of the Vartry.Return to Dublin for a city driveand some free time.Day 5 Portmeirion & BodnantGardens. This morning we enterTremadoc Bay. Tides permitting,our Zodiacs will carry us toPortmeirion, the extraordinaryMediterranean style village builtby Sir Clough Williams-Ellis

between 1925 and 1975. Tourthe village and gardens and aftersome refreshments drive acrossSnowdonia to Bodnant. This isone of the most beautifulgardens in the UK, spanningsome 80 acres looking across

A 10 DAY JOURNEY TO THE GARDENS OF SCOTLAND,IRELAND, WALES, CORNWALL, THE ISLES OF SCILLY& THE CHANNEL ISLANDS ABOARD THE MS QUEST

21st to 30th April 2012 with Colin Jones& 7th to 16th May*2012 with Dr Toby Musgrave

the valley towards the Snowdonia range. We will spend theafternoon here strolling through the Upper Garden with its terracesand informal lawns and continue into the Dell which is formed bythe River Hiraethlyn and contains a wild garden.Day 6 Waterford & Kilkenny. Sail up the river, past Waterford Castleto the ancient city of Waterford. Drive to Mount Congreve, aspectacular woodland garden on the banks of the River Suir. Thisprivately owned seventy acre garden with a four acre walled garden is

particularly stunning in spring. Continue to Kilkenny, one of the mosthistoric and attractive cities in all Ireland. After lunch visit the castleand artisan centre before returning to Waterford. There will be anopportunity to visit the world famous Waterford Glass Showroomsbefore rejoining the MS Quest. Sail in the early evening.Day 7 St Agnes & Tresco. This morning step ashore on St Agnes, themost southwesterly community in the UK. Surrounded by rocks andreefs, this delightful tiny island is a birdwatchers paradise and offersmarvellous coastal walks. The small island of Gugh lies across anarrow sandbar and here we find a single stone monolith called theOld Man of Gugh which dates back to the Bronze Age. After lunchon board spend the afternoon on Tresco, leased by the Dorrien-Smithfamily who have done much to preserve the islands great charm andcreated a wonderful 40 acre sub-tropical garden.Day 8 Falmouth. Sail into the great harbour of Falmouth this

morning for a day in Cornwall. We will visit the family home of theSt Aubyns who have resided on St Michaels Mount since 1647.Cut off from the mainland at high tide, it is a fascinating place withan intriguing history. After lunch on board join the trip to thebeautiful Helford River and the 26 acre ravine garden of Trebah.This sub-tropical paradise of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubswinds down the Helford river bank to a secluded private beach.Day 9 Sark & Herm. Today we arrive at the island of Sark. Zodiaclanding craft bring us ashore for a visit to the enchanting SeigneuryGardens. Horse-drawn carriages take us around this peaceful trafficfree island. Return to the MS Quest for lunch and sail across to thetiny and little known island of Herm. Just one and half miles longand half a mile wide, Herm is perfect for exploring on foot. Theislanders are keen gardeners having won the RHS Britain in BloomGold Award twice in the last decade.Day 10 Poole. Arrive this morning at Poole Harbour. Transportation

will be provided to Bournemouth station at a fixed time.* This date operates in the reverse direction, from Poole to Oban.

Prices per personBased on double occupancy Tour Code: SCQ210412 & SCQ070512

Cat Deck Cabin Description

F 3 Triple cabin with two lower berths and one upper* 2395E 3 Twin cabin with two twin beds 3295D 3 Superior twin cabin with two twin beds 3495C 3 Double bedded cabin 3595B 3/4 Superior double bedded cabin 3895A 4 Owners cabin with double bed 4195

E 3 Single cabin, sole use of double 3895* If category F cabins are only occupied by two sharing, prices perperson are as per category E cabins.

Price includes: Nine nights aboard the MS Quest on full board, shoreexcursions, port taxes, expedition team including guest speaker, transfers.Not included: Travel insurance, gratuities.NB. Ports subject to change. Local weather conditions may affect itinerary.

Mount Usher Gardens

Japanese Garden, Powerscourt near Dublin

Abbey Gardens, Tresco


17/28


18/28

Lost Islands

Page 18 020-7752 0000

This unique voyage will appeal to those who prefer their

islands deserted, but with abundant bird and wildlife. Comewith us as we journey to once inhabited islands, many witha long history dating back to the Iron Age. With just sixty orso like-minded souls we will sail to Scotlands lovely

Western Isles and beyond tothe World Heritage Site of StKilda, where such excellentrestoration work is beingcarried out to theabandoned settlement bythe National Trust forScotland. On the way to StKilda we will spend a day

exploring the tiny islands of Pabbay, Berneray andMingulay off the coast of South Uist. After St Kilda we willhead for Stornoway on the isle of Lewis to see the famousStanding Stones and then continue our island adventurewith visits to the marvellous seabird island of Handa, theSummer Isles, Small Isles, Treshnish and finally Iona, afitting place to end our island pilgrimage.

The ItineraryDay 1 Oban. Embark the Ocean Nova in the afternoon. A transferwill be provided from Glasgow Central Station and the internationalairport to Oban at a fixed time. Sail in the early evening.Day 2 Berneray, Pabbay & Mingulay. Today we explore the remoteislands at the tip of South Uist, which are all uninhabited. We will usethe Zodiacs to explore and hope to make some beach landings. Theislands have some significant historical sites such as the old village ofMingulay. Despite there being a continuous population on Mingulayfor atleast two thousand years, evacuation began in 1907 and theisland was completely abandoned by its residents in 1912. Theislands are also a nature reserve with important breeding populationsof razorbills, guillemots, black guillemots, puffins, fulmars and shags.Day 3 St Kilda. Arrive at first light in St Kilda, a remarkableuninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the OuterHebrides. The largest island, Hirta, once supported a populationof over 200, but the last islanders left in the 1930s. The medievalvillage has been restored by the National Trust for Scotland and

AN EXPLORATION OF THE LITTLE KNOWN AND RARELYVISITED HEBRIDEAN ISLANDS ABOARD THE OCEAN NOVA


offers a marvellous link with the past. The islands are an importantbreeding ground for many seabirds including Atlantic puffins andnorthern fulmars. Later, cruise past two of the largest gannetries inthe world at Stac Lee and Berneray as we make our way to theIsland of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.Day 4 Stornoway & Shiant Isles. From Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis,we will take a drive across the island to Callanish on the west coast.Famous worldwide, the Standing Stones of Callanish are said to be

5000 years old and there are many theories as to their meaning andpurpose. Continue around the west coast to the site of Dun CarlowayPictish Broch which lies on the shore of Loch Carloway. Probablybuilt some time in the last century BC, it is said to have been used as astronghold by the Morrison clan in the 17th century. We then headnorth to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village a reconstructed settlementof traditional blackhouses in a secluded bay. This afternoon we willboard the Zodiacs for a cruise around the Shiant Islands a group oflittle islands located a few miles off the shores of Lewis. This is anexcellent place to spot seals and hopefully White Tailed Eagles.Day 5 Handa & Tanera Mor, Summer Isles. Just south of CapeWrath is the island of Handa. Owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust,it is one of the largest sea bird colonies in North West Europe.Nearly 200,000 seabirds gather here to breed including guillemots,razorbills, great skuas kittiwakes, Arctic skuas and puffins. We will

spend some time Zodiac cruising around the island with the chanceto see some of this impressive birdlife. During lunch sail down thecoast to Loch Broom and the Summer Isles. Visit the only inhabitedisland of Tanera Mor. Take a walk, enjoy the stunning views, lookout for otters and seals and the prolific bird life.Day 6 Canna & Rum. Spend the morning on Canna which has atiny agricultural and cattle-rearing population. From a walk alongthe cliff top we may see golden eagles, white-tailed eagles andperegrine falcons. Sail during lunch to the adjoining island of Rumwhich is a nature reserve. See the somewhat eccentric KinlochCastle and walk the nature trail, a beautiful area of wild flowersand typical Scottish island scenery.Day 7 Lunga & Iona. Weather permitting we will take to the Zodiacsto explore the tiny Treshnish Islands, located in the waters betweenMull and Tiree. Now uninhabited, this group of low lying islands ishome to thousands of sea birds and a large population of common

and Atlantic grey seals. Hopefully, land on the largest of the islands,Lunga to walk amongst the amazingly tame puffins and see theremnants of past habitation that dates back to Viking times. Sailduring lunch to Iona. For more than1000 years, the island of Iona hasbeen a place of deep spiritual significance. No less than 62 Kings ofScotland are buried here, including Duncan, Macbeths victim.Day 8 Oban. Disembark this morning. A transfer will be provided toGlasgow Central Station and the international airport at a fixed time.

Prices per personBased on double occupancy Tour Code: SCON110512

Cat Cabin Description

1 Bunk bedded cabin for Twin Use 16952 Standard Twin 2095

3 Superior 24954 For sole use 1995

Price includes: 7 nights aboard the Ocean Nova on full board,transfers as stated in itinerary, expedition team, port taxes, shoreexcursions.Not included: Travel insurance, gratuities.NB. Ports subject to change. Local weather conditions may affect itinerary.

The Abbey, Iona

The eccentric Kinloch Castle

The island of Lewis

Standing Stones of Callanish

Puffins, St Kilda


19/28

Spirit of Scotland


During this expedition cruise, we will travel out into the

Atlantic for a visit to St Kilda. Once inhabited, this specialisland is now left to the birds, thousands of seabirds on hugecliffs that rise from the ocean. By contrast our visits to the InnerHebrides and the islands of Gigha and Islay offer lush scenery.Achamore Gardens on Gigha are an absolute delight and attheir best in spring. On Lewis we will see the mysteriousStanding Stones of Callanish and on Orkney and Shetland be

enthralled by their early history andNeolithic sites. On remote Fair Isleenjoy a walk and a morning coffee withsome of the fifty or so inhabitants of thistiny island sandwiched betweenOrkney and Shetland. In addition to

these scenic wonders, we will bevisiting the Castle and Gardens of Mey.We are indeed fortunate in having

such marvellous places so close tohome. Now, more than ever there is

a great appreciation of the peace, beauty and culturewhich these tiny islands on the edge possess. The islandsare wonderful places to escape from the modern world.

The ItineraryDay 1 Oban. Embark the Ocean Nova in the afternoon. A transferwill be provided from Glasgow Central Station and theinternational airport to Oban at a fixed time. Sail in the earlyevening along the southern shores of Mull.

Day 2 Pabbay, Berneray & Mingulay. This promises to be a mostmemorable day as we circumnavigate the uninhabited islands atthe very tip of South Uist. Making good use of our Zodiacs we willexplore the islands and make beach landings. These islands are anature reserve with important breeding populations of razorbills,guillemots, black guillemots, puffins, fulmars and shags. There arealso five species of gull, all the seabirds being attracted by thecliffs and caves which offer safe nesting sites.Day 3 St Kilda. Arrive at first light at St Kilda, a remarkableuninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the OuterHebrides. For some this is almost a pilgrimage and a movingexperience as we drop anchor off Village Bay on the island ofHirta. The local ranger will come aboard to give a brief talk beforewe have the chance to wander through the village. St Kilda oncesupported a population of over 200, but the last islanders left inthe 1930s. Later, cruise past two of the largest gannetries in the

world at Stac Lee and Berneray.Day 4 Stornoway & Shiant Islands. On leaving the island capitalof Stornoway, todays tour takes you across the island to thebeautiful west coast of the island and to Callanish. Described asScotlands Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date fromaround 3000 BC. Continue around the west coast to the site of

A VOYAGE AROUND SCOTLAND TO THE HEBRIDES ANDNORTHERN ISLES ABOARD THE OCEAN NOVA


Dun Carloway Pictish Broch. We then head north to GearrannanBlackhouse Village a reconstructed settlement of traditionalblackhouses. Visit the small museum, enjoy a display of a typicalcrofting activity such as weaving and take in the views at thisdramatic site on the wild Atlantic coast. This afternoon we willboard the zodiacs for a cruise around the Shiant Islands a group oflittle islands located a few miles off the shores of Lewis. This is anexcellent place to spot seals and hopefully White Tailed Eagles.

Day 5 Inverewe & Tanera Mor. This morning we visit theimposing gardens of Inverewe, surely one of the finest sitedgardens in all of Scotland. Here, exotic and tender plants thrive intheir northerly location, warmed by the Gulf Stream and protectedby the surrounding mountains. During lunch sail up the coast toLoch Broom and the Summer Isles. Visit the only inhabited islandof Tanera Mor. Take a walk, enjoy the stunning views and perhapsstop at the unique post office, whose own rare stamps are muchsought after by collectors.Day 6 Scrabster & Stromness, Orkney. This morning, visit theCastle and Gardens of Mey which was built between 1566 and1572 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness. This afternoon weleave Stromness and head into the west of Mainland, Orkneyslargest island. We will see the Standing Stones of Stenness, theRing of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back

almost 5000 years. We continue to the 5000-year-old village ofSkara Brae and see the remarkable dwellings revealed frombeneath the sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago. There willalso be time to visit the nearby manor house of Skaill House, builtin 1620 on top of an ancient graveyard.Day 7 Mousa & Lerwick, Shetland Islands. This morning we arriveat the island of Mousa to see the forty-foot defensive tower builtby the Picts more than 2000 years ago, and the tallest, bestpreserved example of an Iron Age broch (tower) in Britain. Overlunch, sail to Lerwick, the Shetland capital and begin yourexploration of this historic port with a tour that wanders throughits narrow stone lanes. Visit the Shetland Museum, containingartifacts from shipwrecks and the whaling era. Continue on to theremarkable Neolithic ruins of Jarlshof. The site was uncovered bya violent storm in the winter of 1896/7, revealing an extraordinarysettlement site embracing at least 5,000 years of human history.

Day 8 Fair Isle and Copinsay. This morning call at Fair Isle. The tinypopulation of sixty or so islanders always extend us a warmwelcome. Enjoy a walk across the island, perhaps visiting the BirdObservatory, searching out the puffin slopes. Later, explore the tinyCopinsay Islands, a group of islands located just off the main Orkneyisland, known for their prolific and accessible seabird colonies.Day 9 Aberdeen. Disembark after breakfast. A transfer will beprovided to Aberdeen rail station and airport at a fixed time.

Prices per personBased on double occupancy Tour Code: SCON180512


1 Bunk bedded cabin for Twin Use 19952 Standard Twin 2395

3 Superior 27954 For sole use 2295

Price includes: 8 nights aboard the Ocean Nova on full board,transfers as stated in itinerary, expedition team, port taxes, shoreexcursions.Not included: Travel insurance, gratuities.NB. Ports subject to change. Local weather conditions may affect itinerary.

Peacock, Achamore House

St Kilda

The gardens at Inverewe


20/28Page 20 020-7752 0000

Operated by GAP Adventures, our Canadian associates, wehave chartered the 120 passenger MS Expedition which hasrecently been renovated to offer modern and spaciouscabins and public areas. The cabins provide a variety ofaffordable doubles and triples, higher end double cabinsand suites. All cabins have outside views (window orporthole) and full private en-suite bathrooms. Public areasinclude the Polar Bear Pub, Expedition Lounge, AlbatrossBar and a fine dining room serving international cuisine, alarge enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting.There is also a barbecue deck, a top 360 view observationdeck and a fitness centre and sauna.

Enjoy a casual drink in the Polar Bear Pub with directaccess to the back deck, relax with a book and glass of winein the Expedition Lounge, or spend your days on the

MS Expedition

observation deck enjoying fantastic scenery and keepingyour eyes peeled for passing wildlife. The Expedition Loungeis equipped with state of the art audio visual equipment,including multiple screens and will host the lectures, eveningfilms and pre landing briefings and recaps.

The expedition team includes experts in marine and avianbiology, history and geology. Together they represent a vastdepth in knowledge and experience that will enrich yourtravels in unforgettable ways. An open bridge policyonboard allows interaction with the captain and navigationcrew, further fostering the expeditionary nature of the vessel.

Category 4 cabin

Category 5 suite - sitting area



Reception Gym Category 2 cabin

LibraryCategory 3 cabin

Lounge and bar

Dining room

Bridge


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as a green jewel in a peacocksea. Populated until the 19thcentury, the island still bears theremains of black houses. Thereis prolific birdlife on the islandincluding storm-petrels,kittiwakes and ManxShearwaters. Guillemot, puffinand razorbills breed on Lunga,whilst we may see grey seals inthe surrounding waters. Sail overlunch to Iona. For more than1000 years the island of Iona

has been a place of deepspiritual significance. No lessthan 62 Kings of Scotland areburied here, including Duncan, Macbeths victim. St Columbacame here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianity spreadthrough northern Britain from this remote island community. Afterexploring the Abbey, time permitting you may care to take a shortwalk on the wild side to the Bay at the Back of the Ocean.Day 7 Tory Island. This morning we land at Tory Island located atthe far Northwest corner of Ireland, off the Donegal coast. ToryIsland is famous for its migratory birds; seabirds nest here in largenumbers and a puffin colony nests on the Northern cliffs. Look outfor guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, strom petrels andmanx shearwaters. The corncrake, rarely found in the Unitedkingdom, has become a main attraction on the island.Day 8 The Skelligs & Kerry. This morning we will arrive at The

Skelligs, tiny islands just off the magnificent coast of the DinglePeninsula. We will use our ship or the Zodiacs to sail around thesemystical islands with their early Christian history. Skellig Michael isa World Heritage Site and atop this rugged pyramid that rises fromthe sea are the ruins of a monastery. By Little Skellig the sky can onoccasion turn white as thousands of gannets leave their roosts. Sailduring lunch to Kerry for an afternoon of exploration around the

justly famous Ring of Kerry. Visit the charming village of Watervilleand then drive across the Coomakista Pass to Sneem, an attractivevillage nestling in the shadow of Mt. Knockmoyle.Day 9 Saltee Islands. The two privately owned islands of theSaltees, along Irelands east coast, attract nearly three million birdsto their craggy masses. This morning we will land on Great SalteeIsland and search for puffins, murres, razorbills, gannets, andmore of the 47 bird species known to inhabit the island.Day 10 Tresco, Scilly Isles. This morning is devoted to the lovelyislands of Scilly. Spend the morning on traffic free Tresco, walkingits idyllic lanes from the beach to the famous sub-tropical AbbeyGardens. Defying the Atlantic weather this miracle of a garden isthe perfect spot for a mornings plant and bird spotting. This

afternoon is at sea as we return to Portsmouth.Day 11 Portsmouth. Disembark after breakfast. Transfers will beprovided to Portsmouth Harbour rail station at a 09.00 hours.

Prices per personBased on double occupancy (triple for Cat 1) Tour Code: SCEP220512


1 Triple with two lower berths/porthole* 16952 Twin with two lower berths/porthole 21953 Twin with two lower berths/window 25954 Superior with two lower berths/window 28955 Suite with queen bed/lounge area/window 32952 For sole use 26953 For sole use 3295

* If category 1 cabins are only occupied by two sharing, prices perperson are as per category 2 cabins.

Price includes: 10 nights aboard the MS Expedition on full board,shore excursions, expedition team, onboard Naturalists, transfers, porttaxes, gratuities to crew.Not included: Travel insurance.NB. Ports subject to change. Local weather conditions may affect itinerary.

Going ashore by Zodiac

Guillemots


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Main Dining Room Swimming Pool

Relaxing on deck Category 5 CabinCategory 1 Cabin

Library

Lounge


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explore the stunning cliff scenery, sea stacks, arches, blow holesand coastal caves of Papa Stour. Alternatively, explore the localvillage with a population of just 9, and the partial reconstructionof Duke Hakons 13th century house.Day 9 Fair Isle & Orkney Islands. This morning we call at FairIsle. The tiny population of sixty or so islanders always extend us awarm welcome. Enjoy a walk across the island, perhaps visitingthe Bird Observatory, searching out the puffin slopes. We sail overlunch to North Ronaldsay, part of the Orkney Islands which

supports an extremely rich and diverse population of wild flowers,mammals and birds. It lies on the migration crossroads with birdsheading north towards Iceland and Greenland as well as intoScandinavia and in summer the island is alive with the calls ofbreeding birds. Common and grey seals are numerous. There willbe Zodiac excursions and guided walks to explore the island .Day 10 Kirkwall, Orkney. From Kirkwall we head into the west ofMainland, Orkneys largest island. This tour passes through thegentle rolling landscape of Orkney and into the NeolithicHeartland of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Sitedue to its wealth of pre-historic sites. We will stop at the Ring ofBrodgar, a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost5000 years, and continue to the 5000-year-old village of SkaraBrae. Time permitting we will also visit Birsay, the ancient centreof Viking power and where we explore the St Magnus Churchwhich dates back over 900 years.Day 11 Aberdeen. Disembark this morning at 09:00 hours whentransfers will be provided to the airport and train station.


Kirkjubur, the islands oldestcultural centre, where we seethe ruins of the 13th century St.Magnus Cathedral and the 11thcentury church, still in use. Wealso visit the 900-year oldRoykstovan, the oldbishopric, considered to be theoldest wooden house in

Europe. For the hikingenthusiasts it is possible to takea two hour hike back to Torshavn over the mountain. Alternativelyreturn to the ship and enjoy free time in Torshavn this afternoon.Day 7 Mykines, Faroe Islands. This morning we board the Zodiacsto visit the westernmost island of the Faroes. One of the loveliest ofthe archipelago, it is wonderfully green and its single village withbright turf roofed houses and turf streets is a delight. One of thebest walks in the Faroes can be found here at Lundaland (land ofthe puffin) on the islet of Mtkinesholmur, which is connected toMykines by a small bridge. There will be time to explore thelighthouse which was built in 1909, and view the large numbers ofpuffins and gannets that inhabit the island. Afternoon sailing.Day 8 Foula & Papa Stour, Shetland Islands. Our first stop in theShetlands will be Foula, one of Britains most remote inhabitedislands. Apart from a narrow coastal strip of more fertile croftland,

Foula is an expanse of peat and moorland rising steeply to fivedramatic peaks. In the long midsummer days, Foulas wildflowersprovide a glorious burst of colour. The worlds largest colony ofGreat Skuas compete fiercely with many Parasitic Jaegers forbreeding territories. This afternoon we will use our Zodiacs to

Prices per personBased on double occupancy Tour Code: SCCO040612

Cat Cabin Description Deck

1 Twin with portholes A 26952 Forward twin with window Main 29953 Twin with window Main 32954 Twin with window Lido 36955 Twin with window Bridge 41956 Deluxe with veranda Bridge 46957 Suite with veranda Bridge 4995

1 For sole use A 34952 For sole use Main 3995

Price includes: 10 nights aboard the MS Clipper Odyssey on fullboard, transfers as stated in itinerary, expedition team, gratuities tocrew, port taxes, shore excursions, airport tax.Not included: Travel insurance.NB. Ports subject to change. Local weather conditions may affect itinerary.

Puffins, Lunga Island

The gardens at Achamore House, Gigha


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2 CHESTER CLOSE, BELGRAVIA, LONDON SW1X 7BE

[email protected] Fax: 020 7245 0388

020-7752 0000www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

For Reservations: Office hours are Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pmFor Brochures: 24 hours a day/7 days a week

NOBLECALEDONIA

Front cover: Puffins, Lunga in the Treshnish Islands

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