Day 12 - Lerwick
Sunshine welcomed us to Lerwick. Many ventured up to Fort Charlotte with amazing views of the bay. If one was after wool, this was defintiely the place to find it. What a lovely day that ended a fantastic trip in the British Isles.
Day 11 - Kirkwall
Kirkwall is a beautiful town to roam around in. Some of our guests went to taste a very special highland park whisky. Many also visited Albert Street where many shops and cafes were welcoming to our guests.
Day 10 - Fair Isle
Conditions in Fair Isle could not have been better for this landing. We had bright sunny skies, and light winds making the landing in North Haven fairly easy. Many of us went on long walks to visit the Museum and the Community Hall on the south part of the Island. A few of us went on an extended 12k...
Day 9 - Stornoway
Stornoway brought with it a calmer day after a number of days with intense itinereries and often multiple activities in a day. While we had many excursions going out, there was still time later on to explore the streets and even walk to the Castle to visit the museum.
Day 8 - Isle of Canna
The sun finally appeared and beautiful Canna definitely did not dissapoint. Some of us ventured off to visit the small castle in the nearby bay, passing the famous 'rocket church' on the way. Others also joined some of our guides on a walk or for a kayaking adventure in the bay.
Day 8 - Loch Scavaig
Even the rain couldn't keep people from landing on beautiful Isle of Skye. We arrived by zodiac at the landing site and took a walk to Loch Coruisk on the other side. It was wet and muddy but there were also periods where the rain stopped, and the clouds lifted just long enough to give a better glim...
Day 7 - Castlebay
We had drier conditions this afternoon in Castlebay. Many of us took the opportunity to go for a walk in the small village and to check out the local shop for some souvineers. 2 lucky guests went kayaking in the bay area while many others opted to join our photographer and naturalists on a walk.
Day 7 - Mingulay
It was a wet morning for most as we took our zodiacs to the water in rainy conditions around the North East part of Mingulay Island. While the view from the ship didn't seem like much, once we got the zodiacs onto the other side of the bay, we were met with impressive green cliffs with nesting Fulma...
Day 6 - St. Kilda
St. Kilda is always a highlight for many on these itineraries. Fortunately the conditions were in our favour - although we had a moderate breeze directly into the bay, the direction of the swell was favourable. Everyone had plenty of time ashore to visit the local houses, the shop and museum. After...
Day 5 - Staffa
The sea conditions around Staffa had never looked so calm which meant that the zodiacs could enter beautiful Fingal's Cave during our cruising around the island. We also encountered vast rafts of puffins in the water. Those who didn't go cruising decided to land on Staffa which was also a first for...
Day 5 - Iona
It looked to be a great day in Iona with everyone coming ashore to walk around the picturesque seaside village and visit the beautiful Iona Abbey.
Day 4 - Port Ellen, Islay
After a rough night in 5m waves, we managed to arrive in Port Ellen right on schedule. Although it was a wet and windy start, everyone came ashore and went on their respective excursions. We had town walks as well as tours to some of the more famous whisky distilleries on the island. In the afternoo...
Day 3 - Douglas, Isle of Man
We arrived at high tide, so we had our first real taste of expedition with a steep gangway from deck 7 to the pier. Most of us were on excursions or exploring the picturesque towns of Douglas or Peel here on the Isle of Man.
Day 2 - Belfast, Northern Ireland
We arrived to a warm and sunny Belfast early this morning and many of us ventured out on the Castle Espie Wetlands Centre excursion. We also had a shuttle bus departing the pier to Belfast city center so we could spend some time in town or get a bit of shopping done. In the afternoon we had another...
Day 1 - Embarkation in Greenock, Glasgow
Welcome on board MS Spitsbergen! Today we started our adventure exploring the British Isles, enjoying the rich landscapes, history and culture that this region offers. From rugged coastlines to charming villages, we are certain each day will bring new discoveries.