Scenic Isles & Lochs of Scotland

Duart Castle dates back to the 13th century and guards the sea cliffs of the Isle of Mull, giving it one of the most spectacular positions for prominence in West Scotland. The castle treasures over 700 years of history of one of Scotland’s oldest clans, the Macleans, and is one of the last surviving privately owned clan castles in Scotland. Duart Castle was deliberately chosen to be sited on a high crag at the end of a peninsula, jutting into the Sound of Mull.

Situated between the Inner Hebridean island of Mull and mainland Scotland, the Sound of Mull forms a part of the Atlantic Ocean. The sound is surrounded by sweeping green meadows, rocky shorelines, magnificent stone castles and sweeping wild hills; and is also a treat for nature lovers, with the sound being home to wildlife including seals, otters, over 260 species of bird and even larger mammals such as porpoise, minke whale, and occasionally basking sharks and orca.

Located opposite the island of Skye, and branching inward from the Sound of Sleat, the narrow, fjord-like Loch Hourn is flanked by some of Scotland's most dramatically scenic landscapes. Lined with steep mountains that slide down into the shoreline and dotted with bays and beaches that break the waters edge, Loch Hourn is home to an abundance of native wildlife like seals and porpoises and a creature who, according to local legend, lives in the loch and is known as the Loch Hourn Monster.

Part of the Inner Hebrides, lying just south of the Isle of Skye, are the Small Isles. Comprised of four beautiful islands; Eigg, Rum, Canna and Muck, they are all famed for their dramatic scenery, variety of wildlife and natural wonders. Mighty volcanic peaks surround Kinlock Castle on the largest island, Rum. The basalt cliffs of Canna, charming villages of Eigg, and Muck’s fertile lowlands and beautiful beaches make this archipelago the perfect scenic cruising destination.

The port of Ullapool sits on the shores of Loch Broom, and is the gateway to the Northern Highlands of Scotland. The picturesque town was founded by the British Fisheries Society in 1788, and its row of whitewashed harbour cottages line the seafront. There is a thriving ecosystem around Ullapool, where a simple walk along the shores of the unspoilt Loch Broom shows off its wildlife, with red and black-throated divers and red deer commonly seen.

The Orkneys archipelago, around 70 islands in the far north of Scotland, were once the centre of innovation in the British Isles, where farmers in the Stones Ages brought various cattle, pigs and sheep, thus establishing farmsteads on the islands. Today, Skara Brae is a preserved settlement, along with excavated burial and ceremonial sites. Kirkwall stands as the capital of the islands, and is the perfect starting point for exploring Orkney’s fascinating historical sites.

Created around 60 million years ago, and said to be the corresponding piece of road built by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill, to the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Fingal’s Cave is a basalt sea-cave with distinctive columns and a remarkable symmetry. Looming 69 metres out of the ocean, it appears to look like a piece of contemporary art, but is completely shaped by nature. Often, the cliffs and ledges are covered with native seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills and puffins.