COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the Swaledale Festival

** UPDATE ** - TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW BEEN ALLOCATED

The award-winning Swaledale festival is an annual celebration of music and arts in the beautiful alndscape of the three northernmost Yorkshire Dales - Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.  With a primary emphasis on classical music, the festival attracts the finest artists from all over the world, and regularly commissions new work.

We are proud to be sponsoring the flagship event to be staged at the 2019 Swaledale Festival, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Friends on Sunday 2nd June. Sheku and his two highly-talented siblings Isata and Braimah will be joined by two friends from London’s Royal Academy of Music for an evening of exquisite chamber music. 

Following his triumph in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition a few years ago, and his performance at Prince Harry's wedding, the brilliant cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason is without doubt the biggest name in the whole of classical music at the present time. The programme will comprise music for two, three and five players by Beethoven, Fauré and Dvořák.

We have a limited number of complimentary tickets to this event which will include a private pre-concert reception and 2 course meal at The Garden Rooms at Tennant's, Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

If you would like to attend please call us on 01756 704704 or email reservations@hebridean.co.uk to reserve your tickets. Please  be aware that tickets are extremely limited, a maximum of 2 tickets per person can be reserved and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  For full programme details of the 2019 Swaledale Festival call the Box Office on  01748 880019 or visit www.swalefest.org 

Cruise of the Week - Celtic Panorama

From galleries and museums to castles and coastlines, get a true taste of Scottish and Northern Irish culture on a stunning Celtic Panorama cruise.

The wild landscapes and rugged coasts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland have inspired many an artistic soul – now let them inspire you, too, on a cruise that delivers a fascinating insight into both cultures. Arts Society Accredited Lecturer Stella Grace Lyons will be joining the trip to share her knowledge. ‘I’ve always been interested in how artists interpret their homeland,’ she says. ‘Scotland has produced some remarkable artists, particularly during the second half of the 19th century, and early 20th century.

Guests will be able to make direct comparisons between the paintings I’ll be talking about, and the magical landscapes that inspired them – right there through the cabin windows.’ 

Departing from Oban, the cruise criss-crosses the North Channel and Sound of Jura, enabling guests to enjoy breathtaking coastal scenery in between exploring the cultural gems ashore. The Larne-Belfast leg of the journey takes in some of Ulster’s top attractions – from the state-of-the-art Titanic museum to the 17th-century Glenarm Castle, where guests will view Viscount Dunluce’s private collection of paintings. 

Scottish highlights include cruising around the famous Mull of Kintyre, taking the air at the beautiful fishing village of Tayvallich and sampling the superb rich malt whisky at the Laphroaig Distillery.

As Stella notes, guests can expect ‘dramatic landscapes, luxurious objects, rich and striking paintings – and some of the best food and drink you will ever taste’.

Cruising holidays don’t always ensure an intimate, truly local travel experience, but a trip with Hebridean is different. Hebridean Princess, celebrating 31 seasons of memorable voyages in 2019, carries just 50 guests, allowing for relaxed, uncrowded tours to destinations that many larger vessels simply could not reach. The Hebridean team prides itself on immersing guests in local character and culture – as exemplified by the finale of the tour, a champagne reception in the splendour of Duart Castle, personally hosted by clan chief Sir Lachlan Maclean. It’s a truly spectacular way to end this unforgettable voyage.

An Art Lovers Highlights

Don’t miss these three top cultural gems of the cruise:

Crinan Hotel and Gallery, Argyll
Situated on Scotland’s rugged west coast where Loch Fyne meets the Atlantic, the Crinan Hotel is the ideal artist’s hideaway. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, to find one actually running the property; contemporary painter Frances Macdonald, whose landscapes deftly capture the drama of Argyll and the Western Isles. Her work, as well as that of her talented son, Ross Ryan, is regularly exhibited in Crinan’s on-site gallery.

Ulster Museum, Belfast
A treasure house of Irish art set in Belfast’s tranquil Botanic Gardens, the museum includes works by William Conor, chronicler of working-class life in Ulster; Jack Butler Yeats, Expressionist painter and younger brother of the poet William; and Sir John Lavery, World War I artist and acclaimed portraitist, whose allegorical figure of Ireland, modelled by his wife, long graced Irish banknotes.

Stella’s pick: Dumfries House, Ayrshire

Dumfries House is the highlight of the trip for me – it houses such an eclectic mix of treasures from across the world. The Pink Dining Room is a hedonistic explosion of colour and luxury; I’m particularly interested in its links to Venice, where I lived and studied. The Palladian inspired chimney, the painting by Venetian master Jacopo Bassano,
and the stunning Murano glass chandelier make this, I believe, the jewel in the crown.’

To learn more about the Celtic Panorama cruise and for all cabin prices please click here

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What's in Store for 2020?

Earlier than ever before, the Hebridean Princess 2020 Cruise Directory has been sent to the printers in order to be released during April.  

Next year Hebridean Princess will return to Norway for a series of four fascinating cruises.  We will explore the lesser known Hardangerfjord and the almost undiscovered Lysefjord, discover the delights of Sognefjord and the deep blue UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, and reveal the awe-inspiring inlets and islands between Bergen and Stavanger.  

We have introduced a variety of new Scottish cruises, including four new ‘Footloose’ walking itineraries, plus there will be many other familiar favourites.  Themed cruises involving cycling, food and drink, gardens, nature and wildlife, arts and architecture, history and heritage will also appear in the 2020 cruising schedule.

The success of our Guest Speaker programme will continue to enrich selected departures and our knowledgeable on board guides will accompany every itinerary to bring each one to life.

Your new brochure should be with you from mid to end of April, but if you would like to advance register for any of our 2020 cruises please call us on 01756 704704 or email reservations@hebridean.co.uk 

Hebridean Princess Starts Season with Refurbished Cabins and Restaurant

Sumptuously refurbished cabins, marble-style bathrooms and a new look Columba Restaurant have been order of the day during the latest winter re-fit of Hebridean Princess.  

The renowned Glaswegian interior designers, John Dick and Son, were once again commissioned to complete our programme of cabin refurbishment and we are sure you will agree that the results are particularly impressive.

Sound of Islay

Loch Crinan

Cabins have benefited from richly coloured fabrics reflecting the colourful seasons of Scotland with bathrooms extensively re-modelled including 2 being fitted with separate walk-in shower cubicles in addition to new bathtubs.

Kinloch Castle bathroom

The Columba Restaurant has undergone a transformation with new seating for guests comfort.  

Columba Restaurant

Cruise of the Week - Westering Home and Whisky Galore

 
This summer, Hebridean Princess will voyage to the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland for a series of four extended cruises to uncover some of the best secrets of these remote outposts with a distinctly Nordic feel.

As we return to our home port of Oban, we tour some of the finest distilleries in the Northern and Western Isles to taste some of the finest whiskies for which Scotland is world renowned. However, you do not need to be a whisky connoisseur, or even a whisky lover, to enjoy this cruise of varied adventure as in every port of call alternative visits are available – there is something to appeal to everyone.

Embarking in the east coast port of Invergordon could not be simpler with our rail or air packages, our experienced reservations staff will assist with travel arrangements to Inverness to connect with our onward coach transfer to the port. alternatively you can park your car in Oban and join our transfer to Invergordon at the start of the cruise.

Our first port of call is the historic town of Wick which has been a Royal Burgh since the 16th century. At the Wick Heritage Museum, located in the heart of the Thomas Telford designed Pulteneytown, we discover the many aspects of life during the heyday of the herring fishing industry. alternatively, we can enjoy our first tasting of the maritime malt at old Pulteney, the most northerly distillery on the British mainland.

Arriving in Orkney, we go ashore in the capital, Kirkwall, which was granted royal Burgh status by James III of scotland in 1486. Kirkwall's skyline is dominated by the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral, known as The Light of the North, where we can enjoy a guided tour. The cathedral was commissioned by Earl Rognvald Kali in the 12th century and took 100 years to complete, using locally quarried red and yellow sandstone. Most unusually, the cathedral is not the property of any particular church, but belongs to the people of Kirkwall.

Or perhaps travel to Highland Park, standing proud in Orkney’s remote and remarkable landscape, where whisky has been distilled since 1798. here we meet the modern day Viking descendants, whose passion and skill continue the centuries old traditions to ensure the whisky stands apart.

Scapa Flow, an excellent natural harbour, was a major royal navy base during both world wars. In the early months of World War II, a German submarine slipped into Scapa Flow and sank the HMS Royal Oak, killing 833 men out of its crew of 1,400. Winston Churchill, first Lord of the Admiralty at the time, ordered that causeways be constructed to block most of the eastern approaches. These causeways came to be called the Churchill Barriers, and today they provide road links connecting several islands. We travel along the causeway to Lamb Holm to wonder at the beautiful and unique Italian Chapel, built by the Italian prisoners of war who helped to construct the barriers.

The distillery at Scapa sits in a beautiful location overlooking Scapa Flow, a wonderful backdrop to taste this artisanal single malt forged by the extreme elements of Orkney.

Leaving Orcadia in our wake, we plot a south-westerly course, round Cape Wrath and head for the Western Isle of Lewis, where the magnificent neolithic standing stones of Callanish were erected some 5,000 years ago. At Dun Carloway we discover the ruins of a well-preserved broch, an iron age structure designed to impress and defend. At 9 metres tall, it still stands close to its impressive full height and we can observe an excellent cross-section of a broch which was probably constructed around 200 BC.

Sailing south to Harris, we arrive in Tarbert where we can partake in a tour of the island with its stunning scenery and the rich history which has shaped its identity across the centuries, with norse and Gaelic influences evident. The recently opened Isle of Harris distillery produces an award-winning gin, which has become a firm favourite on board Hebridean Princess.

Crossing The Minch to the inner sound, we make landfall on the Isle of Raasay to discover the island’s first legal distillery. During our tour we learn of their innovative whisky making process and philosophy and catch sight of the incredible view across to Skye.  Otherwise, you may choose to explore the island on foot before enjoying well earned refreshments at Raasay house, where Johnson and Boswell were guests of the Macleod chief in 1773. 

On Skye, we head to Armadale and the romantic ruins of the castle, spiritual home of Clan Donald, and the Museum of the Isles which charts 1,500 years of highland history, or visit the distillery at Torabhaig, the second ever licenced single malt scotch Whisky distillery on the island.

The Ardnamurchan peninsula is home to Scotland’s greenest distillery. sitting in a spectacular location on the shores of Loch Sunart, the Ardnamurchan distillery opened in July 2014 to begin the process of producing what will eventually become world-class single malts.

Our final port of call is the Georgian capital of Mull, Tobermory, where there is the opportunity for a little retail therapy or refreshing strolls in the colourful harbour town. Established in 1798, Tobermory distillery is one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland. Here we can compare two different, but equally alluring, single malts: the fruity, unpeated Tobermory and the more robust and smoky Ledaig.

We hope you will join us on this voyage of discovery.

Guest speaker: Charles MacLean
Charles MacLean has been writing about scotch whisky for thirty-six years, and has published seventeen books on the subject. he sits on several judging panels, including that of the international Wine & Spirits Competition, has chaired the nosing panel of the scotch malt Whisky society since 1992, and advises many whisky companies on cask selection and flavour profiling. he was the founding editor of  Whisky magazine, writes regularly for several international magazines and websites and is a frequent commentator on TV and radio.



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M.V Hebridean Princess - The History of the Ship by John Noorani

Regular guest John Noorani has always been interested in the history of transportation, but he has a special interest, and indeed love, for Hebridean Princess.  This is clear from the detail of his research into his recently written book, M.V Hebridean Princess - The History of the Ship.

John's 28 page chronological composition is illustrated with a wealth of photographs from the launch of M.V Columba in 1964 right through to the present day.

The book costs just £5.00, plus postage and packaging, with all proceeds in aid of the International Otter Survival Fund (a charity supported by the author) and will be fund matched by Hebridean Island Cruises.  Copies are available to purchase on board or by contacting our Skipton office on 01756 704704, or by email reservations@hebridean.co.uk