Scenery & Wildlife of Scotland & Ireland

Capital of the Shetland Islands, Lerwick is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its stunning coastlines. Close by are the soaring cliffs of Sumburgh Head, which are perfect for spotting various examples of marine life, such as minke whales, orcas and dolphins; and as an RSPB nature reserve — guillemots, shags and fulmars. In the town, the Arts Centre celebrates the Gaelic heritage of this fascinating seaport.

Located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway is a thriving town with a busy port, best seen from the top of ‘Gallow’s Hill’ – reached by the impressive grounds of Lews Castle. Originally built in 1847, the castle has had some well-known owners, including Lord Leverhume, who founded the company now known as Unilever. He gave the castle to the people of Stornoway, where it served as a naval hospital and college, but is now a noteworthy museum.

Located on the Donegal Wild Atlantic Way, Killybegs is well known for its maritime culture, having been the last port of call for the galleon ‘Girona’ in 1588, before she sank after encountering a severe storm. Home to one of the country's busiest fishing harbours, this welcoming town offers an authentic glimpse into life on the Wild Atlantic Way, where colourful fishing boats bob in the harbour and seafood is a way of life rather than a speciality. Beyond the waterfront, some of Ireland's most dramatic landscapes await discovery, with towering sea cliffs, windswept headlands and remote islands shaping a coastline that feels untamed, along with quiet beaches and traditional villages.

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.

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.

The 90m-high Kilt Rock sea cliff can be seen while sailing by Trotternish, the Isle of Skye’s northernmost peninsula. The cliff gets its name from the patterns within its basalt columns, which form a striking arrangement similar to a pleated kilt. Plunging over the cliff and onto the rocks below is the Mealt Waterfall, fed by the nearby freshwater Mealt Loch. It is said that an eerie, organ-like noise can be heard due to the holes in the lookout point.

Kyle of Lochalsh has a special connection with Fred. Olsen, thanks to our long-standing partnership with the RNLI, and is home to an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat named Spirit of Fred. Olsen. Known as the ‘land of castles, hills and lochs’, take in views of the impressive Skye Bridge and whitewashed houses as you enjoy an unforgettable scenic cruising experience, before sailing into Loch Carron, where rolling hills, verdant valleys and charming villages will come into view.

Slicing through the rugged landscapes of Scotland’s Northwest Highlands, Loch Torridon is a sea loch surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty, forming parts of the Torridon and Beinn Eighe nature reserves. The sandstone and quartzite peaks of the Torridon Hills are said to be some of the most beautiful in Britain – Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe, standing at over 3,000 high, create a soaring backdrop to the loch.