Luxury all-inclusive Hebrides cruise on Hebridean Princess

Machair habitats create a spectacularly colourful habitat for insects and bird life, and this Hebridean cruise uncovers these carpets of wildflowers which only occur on exposed western coasts of Scotland and Ireland.

Stroll around the deer island of Jura then explore the neighbouring island of Islay and sample malt whisky produced at Lagavulin Distillery. Colonsay House's woodland gardens include colourful rhododendrons and palm trees which thrive in the warm climate. In the Outer Isles a bar of sand and machair wildflowers splits the island of Vatersay in two and Eriskay is an excellent location to see a wide variety of machair flowers.

Learn how traditional crofting and grazing techniques have created the perfect habitat for grassland birds on the North Uists and see the Hebridean machair that supports insects and birds. Wander the hidden formal gardens surrounding Dunvegan Castle on Skye, see the ancient oakwoods at Loch Sunart and finally call at the colourful fishing village of Tobermory.

YHE384 Operated by Hebridean Island Cruises

Day 1 : Oban (Scotland)

Embark Hebridean Princess in Oban.

Day 2 : Loch na Mile - Port Ellen

Enjoy walks ashore on the deer island of Jura then land at the Isle of Islay to see the distillers at work at Lagavulin and sample the peaty malt produced here.

Day 3 : Colonsay

Arrive in Colonsay and head to the gardens of Colonsay House which were planted in the 1930's and are regarded as some of the finest rhododendron gardens in Scotland. Explore the magnificent variety of trees, plants and shrubs set over 200 acres. Later, cruise the Sea of the Hebrides.

Day 4 : Barra - Lochboisdale

See the narrow bar of sand and colourful machair wildflower carpet that divides the island of Vatersay in two then head to Eriskay which is home to a rare pony breed and the perfect place to see a wide variety of machair flowers.

Day 5 : Lochboisdale - Lochmaddy

Continue touring the Uists to see how traditional crofting techniques have created a rich habitat for grassland birds, and discover the extensive area of Hebridean machair whose colourful blooms support a wide variety of insects and bird life.

Day 6 : Loch Dunvegan

Discover Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years, and wander its formal gardens, before enjoying some scenic cruising past the Small Isles.

Day 7 : Salen - Tobermory

Walk through the ancient Sunart oakwoods which are home to an array of ferns, lichens and mosses before a final call at the colourful fishing village of Tobermory.

Day 8 : Oban

Disembark Hebridean Princess in Oban.

For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary.

Price Includes

7-night all-inclusive cruise
Private coach transfers from the local airport or train station to and from the ship
All meals on board and ashore
Champagne, selected wines plus beer, spirits, soft drinks, tea, coffee and other hot drinks
Knowledgeable guides on board and on tours
Shore excursions as outlined in the itinerary
Use of the ship’s bicycles
Free Wi-Fi access
Port taxes
Gratuities

Price Does Not Include

Travel to and from the private coach transfer points
Wines from the Library Wines list
Private shore visits organised by request which are not part of the itinerary
Personal telephone calls
Items purchased from the shop on board
Personal laundry

2020 Departures £ price per person based on 2 people sharing

June

Jun 9th - Oban and back - Sailing on: Hebridean Princess From: £4960

Cat H Inside cabin	Cat G Standard Cabin	Cat F Cabin with two opening portholes	Cat E Cabin with full size picture windows	Cat D Cabin with large picture windows	Cat C Cabin with private balcony	Cat B Cabin with private balcony	Cat A Cabin with large separate day room	Cat K Inside cabin for a single traveller	Cat J Cabin for a single traveller	Cat I Cabin for a single traveller
£4960	£6940	£7680	£9910	£9910	£9910	£11400	£11400	£6810	£9290	£10840

The Heart of the Hebrides

Discover the spectacular colours of the Hebridean wildflower carpets on this all-inclusive luxury cruise with visits to Colonsay House Gardens, Dunvegan Castle Gardens and the ancient oakwoods at Loch Sunart