Scottish Highlander overview
- Capacity 8 guests
- Crew members 4
- Booking type Private charter and per cabin
- Meeting point 4pm in Inverness
“A cruise on mystical waterways aboard Scottish Highlander as you marvel at some of Scotland’s finest scenery will be one that stays in the memory for a long time.”
Scottish Highlander has the atmosphere of a comfortable Country House with subtle use of tartan furnishings and landscape paintings, a reminder of the spectacular surroundings to be seen on your voyage through the Great Glen.
At 117 feet long, she is spacious and has every comfort needed for enjoying the magnificence of the Highlands during Spring, Summer and Autumn.
The warm and welcoming saloon features rich-coloured wooden panelling, large picture windows and comfortable leather Chesterfield sofas to relax in, perhaps with a mellow single malt whisky from the very well-stocked bar.
Accommodation for eight guests is in three twin/double staterooms and one larger twin/double junior suite, each one centrally heated and with en suite facilities.
There is a cosy observation area behind the wheelhouse where you can admire the passing scenery and chat to the Captain about life on the Caledonian Canal and its interconnecting lochs. On the forward deck area, there is more seating where you can take in the far-reaching views and take photographs as Scottish Highlander plots her course past landmarks such as Urquhart Castle perched alongside Loch Ness.
Cuisine is traditional Scottish fare – salmon, game and seafood, prepared by your own Master Chef, and the hotel barge’s experienced crew of four will take care of your every need.
Cabin
- One suite with ensuite shower bath, 147 square feet, one queen or two twin beds
- Three cabins with ensuite shower bath115 square feet, one queen or two twin beds
- In the Public Areas
- Country house ambiance, tartan plaid decor
- Large dining room & salon with picture windows
- WIFI with limited availability
- No AC
Public area
- 117 Feet Long
- Wheelhouse has been enlarged to create a panoramic observation lounge area at the stern thatprovides the best view of the captivating Highlands scenery!
Deck
- Sundeck
- Fishing equipment available
Classic Cruise – Scotland
Sunday, Day 1 Muirtown
Guests are met at the Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel in Inverness** and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Scottish Highlander. Champagne Welcome and perhaps an early evening stroll to the sea lock with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths. Dinner on board
Monday, Day 2 Muirtown to Dochgarroch
Our first cruise will take us up the Muirtown lock flight and through Tomnahurich swing bridge, with an option to walk alongside River Ness to the hamlet of Dochgarroch. After lunch on board, we visit the Glen Ord distillery, founded in 1838 on the Black Isle by the Mackenzies of Ord. We are given a fascinating description of the maturing and ageing process of their whiskies, each with its distinctive characteristics, followed by our special tasting of several single malts, including The Singleton. Dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus
This morning we enjoy Cawdor Castle*, forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”, Macbeth. The picturesque gardens have been listed as being amongst the top 100 in the UK. The castle contains a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furnishings and the Dowager Countess of Cawdor still lives there for part of the year. Then we visit Culloden Moor, scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746. If there is time, we end our tour at the Clava Cairns, a pre-historic clan chieftain burial site dating back to 2,000 B.C. Later, we cruise through Loch Dochfour and down Loch Ness, where en route we visit Urquhart Castle, mooring right below its spectacular ruins, before continuing our cruise to Fort Augustus. Dinner on board.
Wednesday, Day 4 Fort Augustus to Cullochy
After breakfast, there is time to explore the pretty village of Fort Augustus before our cruise takes us up the “flight” and then on to our pretty mooring at Cullochy. After lunch on board, we take a gentle drive through stunning scenery to see the Falls of Foyers, set in a dramatic gorge leading to Loch Ness and made famous in a 1787 poem by Robbie Burns. This evening we have dinner ashore at a local restaurant.
Thursday, Day 5 Cullochy to Laggan
This morning, we take in some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer as we drive to one of its best known and most photographed castles, Eilean Donan, which has featured in movies such as “Highlander” and James Bond’s “The World Is Not Enough” and overlooks three sea lochs. The afternoon cruise today can be partially walked as we cross the very scenic Loch Oich, perhaps stopping en route for a spot of fishing, and onto the pretty Laggan Avenue. As we approach Laggan, our Highland Piper may greet us with a stirring rendition of traditional Scottish music.
Friday, Day 6 Laggan to Banavie
Our final cruise today will see us cross Loch Lochy, passing Gairlochy, where there is the option to visit the Clan Cameron Museum. We continue on to Moy Bridge, the last fully hand-operated bridge on the canal to moor at Banavie beneath Ben Nevis and a stroll from Neptune’s Staircase leading down to Loch Eil. After lunch on board, our tour today takes us to the mystical battlefield of Glencoe, famed for one of the darkest days in Scottish history. Alternatively, we can enjoy some breath-taking panoramic views on a cable car ride to the summit of Aonach Mor mountain. If time permits, we can also visit the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Banavie
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Inverness**.
*Please note that the Cawdor Castle excursion is available between 30th April and 7th October 2018 only. An alternative excursion to Fort George will replace it either side of these dates.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
** other locations available for Private Charter bookings
