The Scenic Shores of Scotland & Ireland

Tobermory is a charming, colourful village on Scotland’s Isle of Mull, known for its brightly painted buildings lining the harbour. The surrounding hills and bays offer incredible views and peaceful walks, making it a haven for nature lovers during the summer, while the Mull Museum on the main street celebrates the island’s history with artefacts that include working tools used by local craftsmen. Legend has it that the village’s sheltered bay is where one of the Spanish Armada ships sank in 1588 carrying gold bullion. As you wander through the tiny streets, you can stop to enjoy fresh seafood or sample locally distilled whisky, or venture further afield to go in search of the golden eagle, white-tailed sea eagle and otters on wildlife tours from your ship.

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.

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.

Killybegs promises a captivating blend of maritime history, nature, and exploration, and during June, you could enjoy a boat trip from the local harbour to discover the region’s rugged coastline or try your hand at sea fishing. The area surrounding Killybegs is renowned for its numerous hiking trails offering scenic views of Lough Eske, the Blue Stack Mountains, or the Slieve League cliffs, which are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. On your return, you can experience warm Irish hospitality by sampling freshly caught seafood, including succulent prawns and the famed Donegal oysters, while listening to traditional Irish music in a local pub with a pint of the iconic ‘Black Stuff’, Guinness. Meanwhile, there will also be opportunities to discover the town’s maritime history and importance to the Irish fishing industry at the maritime and Heritage Centre.

Slieve League Cliffs are one of the Wild Atlantic Way's greatest secrets. Located in County Donegal, Ireland, the cliffs are among the highest in Europe and offer remarkable views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding landscape. Considered to be a site of great pilgrimage, the cliffs are home to ancient stone remnants scattered around the hillsides, thought to be from a time before Christianity arrived in Ireland, and also contain the ruins of a chapel from an early Christian monastic site.

Galway in summer makes for a joyous exploration of its cobbled streets, lined with colourful shop fronts and vibrant pubs that will often have live music playing at any time of the week. Referred to as ‘Ireland’s cultural heart’, the city thrives as a centre for culture and the arts with its university and many summer festivals. During your visit, you can immerse yourself in Galway’s history with a knowledgeable guide who will captivate you with stories of the city’s past and present. Close by, the ruggedly vertical Cliffs of Moher offer spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay.

The Cliffs of Moher sit alongside the unique landscape of the Burren on one side and the Wild Atlantic Ocean on the other. Rising out of the Atlantic and running along the coast of Clare for almost 8 miles, the cliffs were formed over 320 million years ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. 30,000 pairs of seabirds nest at the cliffs during the breeding season, where the site is also home to rare wildflowers.

As your smaller ship sails along the rugged coast of County Donegal and the renowned Wild Atlantic Way, the hidden gem of Arranmore offers views of unspoiled landscapes, sandy beaches, dramatic sea caves, and craggy cliffs, making it the perfect setting for many species of bird life, including fulmars, shags, and seals, while the clear waters are home to dolphins, seals, and basking sharks. From your ships’ decks, it will be possible to see the Lighthouse, which served as a lookout post in the Second World War, and the Old Lighthouse steps, carved into the rock.

Tory Island is Ireland’s most northerly inhabited land, situated nine miles off Wild Atlantic Way on the northwest coast of County Donegal. The island has rugged sheer cliffs and vast grasslands, and the inhabitants here are keen to keep it as culturally and historically preserved as possible. The ‘King of Tory’ tradition dates back to the 6^th century, with the most recent king passing away in 2018, and at the time of his death, was the last remaining kingship in Ireland.

Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is renowned for the beauty of its rugged coast, spectacular cliffs and natural wonders. The 45 kilometre-long Lough Swilly slices between the peninsulas of Inishowen and Fanad in County Donegal, Lough Swilly is Ireland at its quintessential best, a wonderland of shimmering blue waters flanked by diverse countryside scenes of lush-green valleys, craggy coastlines, imposing cliffs and secluded pools, beaches and bays.