Cruising in a boutique hotel with Hebridean Island Cruises

By Alan Fairfax - Travel Writer, Cruise Journalist and Silver Travel Advisor

Alan was a guest on our Grandeur and Splendour of Argyll and Bute voyage.

Green rolling hills of summer turning to shades of gold, yellow and brown as winter approaches, the sun, low in the sky glistens on open water, as the ship eases from our berth to the sound of the pipes. Yes, Scotland, a land of castles, lochs, clans and tartans, its history dating back centuries and what better way to explore this beautiful country and its islands than on a small unique cruise ship, and unique Hebridean Princess definitely is.

Leaving Greenock, we set course for Rothesay, the main town on the Isle of Bute, its history traceable back to the 13th century, the castle overlooking the town is worth exploring despite much of it in ruins, the beautiful Mount Stuart House standing in magnificent grounds on the banks of the Firth of Clyde. The original house, built in about 1716, was unfortunately destroyed by fire, but in 1877 rebuilding began, the current house is still claimed to be unfinished despite continual building through the 1900s. Entering the house, you arrive in the most magnificent colonnaded marble hall adorned on two walls by pictures, a large tapestry on another and in a corner, the organ that was played at the wedding of Stella McCartney.

>>READ MORE HERE

St Kilda - Islands on the Edge

Hebridean Princess makes two or three visits each year to the UK’s only double UNESCO World Heritage Site; the abandoned and remote archipelago of St Kilda.

On reaching St Kilda it is as though you have reached the ‘islands at the edge of the world’. Situated 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, the archipelago is made up of five islands - Soay, Boreray, Dun, Levenish and the main island of Hirta, as well as two sea stacks close to Boreray, the highest in Britain, known as Stac an Armin and Stac Lee.

It is difficult to describe St Kilda to someone who has not had the privilege to experience this special place; it has an atmosphere all of its own. The islands were inhabited from the Neolithic period up until 1930 when the last 36 residents were evacuated to the Scottish mainland at their own request, leaving the 19th century village we find today on Hirta. Three indigenous species still survive on the island which also boasts an impressive seabird colony.

Traditionally the islands belonged to the Lords of the Isles, but were bought by the Marquess of Bute in 1931, a keen ornithologist, who subsequently bequeathed them to the National Trust for Scotland, an organisation which continues to preserve them today.

St Kilda was inscribed by UNESCO as Scotland’s first World Heritage Site in 1986 in recognition of its Natural Heritage and, in July 2004, this was extended to include the surrounding marine environment. In July 2005 St Kilda was awarded Dual World Heritage Status in recognition of its cultural heritage, making it one of only 28 places in the world and the only one in the UK with Dual Status for both its natural and cultural significance.

Hebridean Princess is due to visit St Kilda on the following dates:

>> St Kilda and the Outer Isles - 19th May 2020

>> St Kilda and Wester Ross - 23rd June 2020

Cycling Over The Minch

Olympic Cyclist Chris Boardman has written an article for The Telegraph on how his Hebridean Princess cruise changed his focus from road bikes and power metres to more relaxing off-road adventures and photogenic scenery.

Chris says "My brand (Boardman Bikes) supplied some bikes to a cruise ship in Scotland, the Hebridean Princess, and I agreed to go along because it is nice when your hotel moves and you can get off and ride around the Hebrides. But the people who were utilising the bikes were all older and they were stopping and taking photographs. They really calmed me down. They stopped me thinking about just going for exercise. They made me slow down and look around and by the end of the week I was doing things quite differently.

That’s the beauty of cycling: you can always learn something new."

<<Read the full article here>> 

You can join Chris on our Cycling Over The Minch cruise on 30th June 2020.

A Feast for the Senses

Our 'Flavours' cruises on board Hebridean Princess and Royal Crown are a true feast for the senses.  A gastronomic voyage is the best way to discover the regional cuisine and local specialities for which the area visited is famous.

Scottish food and drink lies at the very heart of Scotland's culture and economy.  With rolling, rural hillsides, clear coastal waters and lush, fertile lands, Scotland produces some of the best, and most sought after, natural produce in the world.

Scotland’s stunning landscapes are more than just scenery – its coast and countryside are where high quality produce is reared, gathered and grown. From mouth-watering Aberdeen Angus beef, to world-renowned seafood such as hand-dived scallops, wild trout, salmon, oysters and langoustines, these are just some of ingredients that Scottish chefs have to work with. And there’s nothing quite like eating them in the region they come from!  

Which brings us to the national drink – whisky. Over 100 distilleries in Scotland produce this amber-hued liquid. There are five Scottish whisky regions, each with their own distinct flavours, and rumour has it that if you don’t think you like whisky, it’s just because you haven’t found the right one yet!

David Moorcroft recently enjoyed a Gastronomic Scotland cruise on board Hebridean Princess and you can read an account of his experience here: <<Gastronomic Scotland>> 

Join Hebridean Princess in 2020 on our Flavours of Scotland cruise on 31st March or 13th October and explore the wonderful culinary offerings of the Highlands and Islands. 

Our Flavours of the Low Countries cruise on board Royal Crown explores the best of Dutch and Belgian food and drink on a voyage through a vast network of canals and rivers, stopping in key cities to soak up local culture and sample the produce for which the area is renowned.  

Often quoted as having the best cuisine Europe, Belgium’s food specialities extend far beyond just waffles, beer and chocolate.  For such a small country, it has rich local resources such as fish and mussels, meat and game with butter, cheese, cream, beer and wine being used liberally in local cuisine.

Dutch cuisine is unique and distinctive, embracing traditional culinary customs and ingredients. It is safe to say that the Dutch are big fans of cheese – they produce nearly 674,000 tons of cheese each year and export it to 130 countries across the globe. Every region in The Netherlands produces its own distinctive cheese. Cheeses such as Gouda, Edam, and Alkmaar are named after the areas from which they originate. 

Join Guest Speaker John Ducker and savour local beer in Europe’s diamond capital of Antwerp, enjoy the world-famous Belgian chocolate in historic Brussels, sip award-winning Dutch wines in Limburg and taste one of Holland’s biggest exports, cheese, as we explore the picturesque city of Gouda. 

A Cruise Around Scotland’s Western Isles by Dave Monk

On a tour of Scotland’s Western Isles, journalist and cruise blogger Dave Monk discovered the quirky delights of Hebridean Princess.

Read his review for World of Cruising Magazine here: <<READ MORE>>

Where are we going - Holland or The Netherlands?

By Sheila Salmon, Cruise Director, Hebridean River Cruises 

Keukenhof Gardens

Sorry for any confusion but it is a reasonable question which is frequently asked.  To be honest, both are correct in a way – nowadays North and South Holland form two counties or provinces of The Netherlands, but from the 10th century to the 16th century, Holland proper was a unified political region, a county ruled by the Counts of Holland.   The Kingdom of the Netherlands first appeared in 1579 and since that time this has been the official name for the country which now boasts 12 provinces.  However, even the tourist board seems confused!

What else is there to learn about this near neighbour – well frankly there is nowhere else like The Netherlands.  A small country which delivers an historic and cultural experience far outweighing its size! 

In 2019 Hebridean River Cruises are offering two contrasting cruises around this fascinating nation and it's low-lying neighbour, Belgium – and in a country where one fifth of the total area is water, and one third lies below sea level – a river cruise seems the logical way to travel.

Kinderdijk

Our first cruise in early April, Tulip Time in the Low Lands, will uncover delightful scenery as we explore the intricate network of inland waterways of The Netherlands and Belgium which flow through historic cities and charming countryside. Discover the contrasting highlights of these two enchanting countries, including a visit the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower garden in the world. Magnificent Amsterdam with its myriad of canals and unique townhouses, the bustling port of Rotterdam, the famous windmills of Kinderdijk, the silver city of Schoonhoven, and the medieval cities of Ghent and Bruges; this cruise will capture the essence of real Holland and Belgium with a perfect mix of cities, riverscapes and spring colour.

Gouda

The second cruise, Flavours of the Low Countries, sails through a vast network of canals and rivers, stopping in key cities to soak up local culture and sample the produce for which this area is renowned.  Savour local beer in Europe’s diamond capital of Antwerp, enjoy the world-famous Belgian chocolate in historic Brussels, sip award-winning Dutch wines in Limburg and taste one of Holland’s biggest exports, cheese, as we explore the picturesque city of Gouda.   Combined with a visit to the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens, this voyage is a true feast for the senses.

Both cruises will also give you an impression of The Netherlands’ age-old fight against the sea as we cruise through some of the amazing network of waterways which epitomise the country – both natural and man-made.  There is of course the phrase which encapsulates this, “God created the world but the Dutch made Holland” and here again we are back where we started!

<<TULIP TIME IN THE LOW LANDS>>

1st to 8th April 2020.

7 nights Amsterdam to Antwerp

Prices from £3,210 per person based on 2 people sharing an outside deluxe twin cabin.

<<FLAVOURS OF THE LOW COUNTRIES>>

8th to 15th April 2020.

7 nights Antwerp to Amsterdam

Prices from £3,210 per person based on 2 people sharing an outside deluxe twin cabin.

Footloose through the Inner Sound

Our first ‘Footloose’ cruise of 2020 offers a tantalising blend of energising walks and fascinating visits to suit every taste.  The diverse landscapes of the Small Isles and Skye contrast with the mainland gems of Gairloch and Shieldaig on this ‘Footloose’ escape of peaceful seclusion.

If you haven’t experienced a Hebridean Footloose-style cruise before, we hope you will

join us for a real treat. The walking part works like this: at each port of call, there is a guided walk which you can choose to join. Each is outlined in the daily itinerary, and the experienced on-board guides will also give a short briefing the previous evening on what to expect, and answer guests’ questions.

We sometimes walk directly from the harbour, or use a hired coach or mini-bus to reach the starting point. Some morning or afternoon walks may only last a couple of hours, but on others we spend most of the day exploring - carrying our own packed lunch supplied by the ship, or calling into a local hotel along the route where lunch has been booked.

How difficult is it? Well, although some routes will cross rough ground, or ascend fairly steeply at times, we are not taking you mountain-climbing! If you have already enjoyed walking off-road, in areas like the Lake District or Peak District, you will be more than ready for this. During an all-day exploration we may cover as far as 8 miles or so, but other walks are much shorter. The guides’ briefing, in the Tiree Lounge the night before, will fill in the details.  And of course, there are also other options for those who would prefer a more leisurely experience.

For the walks you will need your own equipment, including a small rucksack and clothing to cope with rapidly changing weather. If you have walking poles, please bring them as they are invaluable when the terrain gets a bit rougher. We hope you can join us in April to go Footloose through the Inner Sound. And finally, don’t forget your boots!

Footloose through the Inner Sound

Tuesday 28^th April to Tuesday 5^th May 2020.

7 nights, Oban to Oban.

<<CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS>>