Wild Isles, Cliffs & Castles

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll have some free time to explore Glasgow at your own pace. Scotland’s largest city is known for its rich industrial heritage, impressive Victorian architecture, and historic connections to shipbuilding along the River Clyde. Later, look for the Poseidon representative in the hotel’s lobby, who will direct you to our chartered motorcoach for the transfer to the port. In the afternoon, we welcome you aboard the expedition ship Sea Spirit.

These days, we'll explore Scotland, discovering its natural beauty and rich history, from picturesque coastlines to fascinating historical sites. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we may explore St Kilda, a remote UNESCO World Heritage archipelago known for its dramatic sea cliffs and seabird colonies. Uninhabited since 1930, the islands still preserve traces of their former community. Another possible highlight is the Isle of Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides. In AD 563, St Columba founded a monastery here, making Iona an important centre of early Christianity in Scotland. Today, the island is known for its historic abbey and peaceful coastal landscapes.

On Fair Isle—an isolated island of rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines—one is easily enchanted by historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals. The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and for its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants.

Fair Isle is also one of Europe’s best places to watch seabirds, especially puffins, at close range.

Additionally, the island is notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers. Seals are also commonly seen in its bays. Finally, during our visit it will be possible to see and purchase articles hand-knitted in the intricate and distinctive style for which Fair Isle has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Today, we’ll disembark in Stromness for an overland tour of Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland. Attractions such as the well-preserved 5000-year-old village site at Skara Brae and the ancient Ring of Brodgar within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” showcase the world-class cultural heritage of the island. We finish our island tour in the charming village of Kirkwall, where find the landmark Saint Magnus Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century. You will also have free time to roam the old streets of Kirkwall and enjoy its unique atmosphere before we head to our next destination.

Isle of May and Bass Rock... Both of these uninhabited islands are in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. The Isle of May is a national nature reserve and includes significant colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants and terns. Harbor seals and grey seals can be spotted along the shores. There are also some historic architectural sites, including St. Ardin’s Chapel, the lighthouse and the Low and Light Cottages.

The island known as “the Bass” plays host to over 150,000 northern gannets in the breeding season, making it the world’s largest colony of these magnificent birds. The island’s steep walls are white with guano and the sky all around is darkened by the vast multitude of seabirds in flight. Our voyage is perfectly timed to coincide with this amazing spectacle—truly one of the wildlife wonders of the world.

After breakfast on board Sea Spirit we say farewell in Leith, Edinburgh’s vibrant port district. We provide transfers to the airport or to Edinburgh city center if you wish to spend more time in the wonderful capital of Scotland.