By Sea & By Rail: Northern Ireland to Scotland in April 2022
We have put together a fabulous itinerary for late-April 2022, so you have plenty of time to decide what you’ll pack for your journey to Northern Ireland and Scotland. The itinerary combines a cruise on one of Swan Hellenic’s newly built ships and a journey on the iconic Belmond Royal Scotsman.
We have such a soft spot for all things UK & Ireland-related here at Poe Travel. It’s a relatively small area of the world, but so much is held within these islands, and we have an itinerary that will showcase some of our favorite parts, including a start in Ireland, a stop in Northern Ireland, and then lots of time to explore stunning Scotland.
Best of all, you’ll spend the first part of your journey exploring remote Scottish islands onboard a brand-new ship, Swan Hellenic’s Vega II, which will only have sailed its inaugural voyage earlier that month. The latter part of the trip will be spent onboard the unforgettable Belmond Royal Scotsman, allowing you to explore mainland Scotland in style.
Day 1: April 25, 2022
Dublin
Welcome to Dublin! On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Whether you prefer a more modern hotel or a classic Georgian townhouse, we have the best selections for you. Of course, you could always arrive early and spend a few days in Dublin. We can arrange the best local guides to show you the city, arranging exclusive tours to places like Trinity College to see the Book of Kells (which was produced on Iona, where you’ll visit on day five) and a visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and of course you have to tour the Guinness Storehouse and have a pint at Temple Bar.
Day 2: April 26, 2022
Embark Vega II
After a private transfer to the port, you will board Swan Hellenic’s Vega II, a 5-star elegant, Scandi-design boutique expedition ship. She will only have made her maiden voyage earlier this month, so sit back and enjoy your intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage.
Day 3: April 27, 2022
Portrush, Northern Ireland
Today, you’ll disembark in the small Northern Ireland town of Portrush, also called Port Rois, located in County Antrim. This town serves as the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland’s number-one visitor attraction. You can see for yourself why so many have flocked here and stood in awe wondering if the basalt formations are the handiwork of prehistoric volcanic activity or two legendary Celtic giants, as legend tells us. You’ll return back to the ship later today.
Day 4: April 28, 2022
Gigha/Islay, Scottish Isles
You’ll arrive on Scottish shores today, first on the Isle of Gigha, which is off the west coast of Kintyre. This tiny island is often overlooked by island hoppers, but this underrated place was known as “God’s island” in Viking times, and for good reason. It is utterly divine and unusually lush due to its mild climate. You might like to visit Acahmore Gardens to see its renowned rhododendron and camellia collection, followed by a visit to the ruined church at Kilchattan. West of Gigha is Islay, where you will want to spend some time simply drinking in the island’s great beauty. Rugged mountains with white sandy beaches and misty glens make up the landscape, and whiskey lovers will delight in its seven world-class distilleries, known as the producers of some of Scotland’s best single malt…and that is no small brag!
Day 5: April 29, 2022
Iona & Lunga, Scottish Isles
Spending time on Iona is good for the soul, probably because this island has more than a millennium of spiritual connections. With barely 100 permanent residents, Iona is mostly untouched and untamed. It is famed for its abbey, founded by St. Columba when he brought Christianty to Scotland in this very spot, and this is where The Book of Kells (which you hopefully saw in Dublin!) was created. Just north of Iona is uninhabited Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, where you can enjoy a visit to see its colonies of playful puffins, guillemots, and seals.
Day 6: April 30, 2022
St. Kilda, Scottish Isles
St. Kilda is a cluster of the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides, rising dramatically from the storm-lashed North Atlantic. Condé Nast Traveller has called this UNESCO World Heritage Site one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Upon coming ashore, you’ll be treated to a tour of a ghostly village on Hirta, which was permanently inhabited until the evacuation in 1930. Afterwards, enjoy a walk along the spectacular coastline, see the highest sea stacks and cliffs in Britain and one of Europe’s most significant gannet colonies in Britain, along with a visit to one of the UK’s most crucial puffin rookeries.
Day 7: May 1, 2022
Stornoway, Scottish Isles
Stornoway is the capital of the most populous island in the Outer Hebrides. Lewis is a windswept, rugged place famed for its weavers, who make world-famous Harris Tweed, which is the only fabric guarded and protected by an Act of Parliament. Discover the spellbinding Callanish Stones on the island’s west coast, a collection of standing stones that is thought to have been built a full 500 years before Stonehenge, making this circle and the one on Orkney the UK’s oldest. While no one knows exactly why the circles were built, there is evidence that a massive lightning strike may have inspired the ancient island dwellers to build them. How mysterious…
Day 8: May 2, 2022
Stromness, Scottish Isles
Romantically ramshackle, the town of Stromness may not be as big as the Orkney’s capital Kirkwall, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character. This seaport has changed very litted since the 18th century, when Captain Cook’s ships stopped here en-route home from Hawaii. Walk the narrow, flagstone-paved main street just as Cook and his companions would have done in 1780. Dive down tiny alleyways that will entice you to explore further. Visit the Stromness Museum if you want to see excellent maritime tchotchke or the Pier Arts Centre—sometimes called the “little seaside Tate”—for its towering collection of modern art. Just 12 kilometers north lies Skara Brae, one of the most evocative prehistoric sites, which predates both Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza and is Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village.
Day 9: May 3, 2022
Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Lerwick is the only real town on the Shetland Islands, so perhaps it isn’t surprising to find that it’s also the capital. The Shetland Islands are a subarctic archipelago of some 100 islands that were ruled by Vikings until the 15th century. Despite the Norsemen ceding control, the culture remained notably Norse-tinged, which makes sense when you think about the fact that these islands are closer to Bergen than they are to Inverness. You can see evidence of this history at the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick. History buffs will also enjoy Fort Charlotte, a five-sided artillery, and the Bod of Gremista, an 18th-century fishing booth turned textile museum. Time permitting, make the hour-long journey to Jarlshof, spotting world-famous tiny Shetland ponies along the way to this Iron Age broch and Norse settlement, home to more than 4,000 years of human activity.
Day 10: May 4, 2022
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Make a stop on the mainland today in the port of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland’s easternmost point. The Peterhead Prison Museum, located on the outskirts of town, is highly rated by visitors. Aberdeenshire is also home to more castles per hectare than any other place in the United Kingdom, and the port is located on the edge of “Scotland’s Castle Trail,” making it the perfect jumping-off point. Among the heather-covered craggy hills and forests, you’ll find everything from Pictish and Roman Forts to medieval strongholds to turreted fairytale fantasies to dramatic Gothic Revival delights of the 17th and 18th centuries. Whiskey lovers may wish to make a journey to nearby Glenfiddich, Strathisla, or Glen Grant distilleries. Aberdeen itself is only 45 minutes away, so perhaps you’d prefer to take a trip to the Aberdeen Arts Centre, the Maritime Museum, the Gordon Highlanders Museum, or Marischal College.
Day 11: May 5, 2022
Lindisfarne & Farne Islands, Scotland
Ancient holy places have an inherent magic by them, undoubtedly aided by the knack early Christian saints seemed to have had for choosing riotously beautiful spots. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a tiny tidal island connected to England’s Northumberland by a narrow causeway at low tide. Vikings continuously sacked the monastery here until it was finally abandoned in 875. A castle was later built on the island in 1550 and extended by architect Edwin Lutyens (of New Delhi fame) at the turn of the 20th century. Once you have finished your pilgrimage here, take a moment (or several) to marvel at the Farne Islands, where you’ll have an unprecedented chance to see inquisitive gray seals staring back at you. Keen birdwatchers will happily spot kittiwakes, guillemots, and puffins.
Day 11: May 6, 2022
Disembark in Leith, Scotland
You will reluctantly say goodbye to Vega II today in the port town of Leith, where you’ll meet your private driver for the short drive to Edinburgh. The Balmoral awaits you there, with lavish rooms showcasing the best views in this charming city and a location that is smack-dab in the middle of it all.
Days 12 & 13: May 7 & 8, 2022
Weekend in Edinburgh
Enjoy the weekend in Edinburgh. We can arrange all of your touring here with the best local guides and can secure exclusive visits such as an after-hours visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a hidden gems foodie tour of the city with a food expert guide, a zip around the cobblestone streets in a Mini Cooper with a guide born and raised here, and more. The Balmoral provides the most comfortable home you could imagine, and it’s also where the next leg of your journey will start.
Day 14: May 9, 2022
Embark the Belmond Royal Scotsman
This morning, you need only head downstairs to check-in for your journey on the Belmond Royal Scotsman, as The Balmoral is home to this ultra-easy check-in process. You’ll be escorted next door to the train station with your group leader and a private piper, welcoming you onboard in style and setting the tone for the rest of your unforgettable journey. Once onboard, you’ll travel north, crossing the Firth of Forth via the magnificent Forth Railway Bridge, enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea as you pass Arboath, Montrose, and Aberdeen before arriving in Keith. Tonight, enjoy an informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car.
Day 15: May 10, 2022
Kyle of Lochalsh
You’ll leave Keith this morning and travel west along the Moray Firth toward Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Enjoy lunch as the train heads to Kyle of Lochalsh on what is arguably the most scenic railway route in the UK. Alight in the picturesque fishing village of Plockton, where you will take a boat trip to see their colony of wild seals, taking in magnificent views across the bay to the Applecross Mountains. Set off on a woodland walk, and then enjoy a traditional Highland welcome in the Plockton Hotel before returning to the train. This evening, enjoy a formal dinner, followed by coffee and liqueurs in the Observation Car.
Day 16: May 11, 2022
Boat of Garten
If you wake with a pep in your step, join your onboard host for a morning walk over the bridge that links the mainland with the Isle of Skye. Alternatively, take a short drive before breakfast to marvel at Eilean Donan Castle. Depart Kyle as breakfast is served and retrace yesterday’s route as far as Dingwall. Disembark in Garve to visit Glen Ord Distillery—one of the oldest in Scotland—which continues to malt its own barley and use the long fermentation and slow distillation methods followed there for generations. Of course, your tour wouldn’t be complete without a private tasting and nosing session. Afterwards, travel south to Carrbridge, where you will explore the romantic Ballindalloch Castle. Here, you can choose to partake in a private castle tour or continue your whiskey day with an exclusive look at what is Scotland’s only single estate distillery. The night is spent onboard at Boat of Garten. After an informal dinner, your Highlander will regale you with tales and weaponry displays.
Day 17: May 12, 2022
Rothiemurchas Estate
Hop off the train for a bit today and travel by coach to the Rothiemurchas Estate, set in the heart of the stunning Cairngorms National Park. Here, partake in fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, or a tour of the estate. You’ll rejoin the train at Kingussie for lunch during the journey south to Dunkeld, where you will visit Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the late HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Dinner this evening is formal, and as it’s your last night onboard, we recommend hiring a kilt for gents or a sash for ladies, and of course we can help you arrange this special treat. After dinner, enjoy some special entertainment to end your trip in the best way.
Day 18: May 13, 2022
Disembark in Edinburgh
After breakfast, The Belmond Royal Scotsman will head south to Edinburgh, where your incredible journey will come to an end once and for all. Your private driver will meet you here to transfer you to Edinburgh Airport for your flight home, but you’ll be thinking of achingly beautiful Scotland for a long time to come. This part of the world has a tendency to take hold of your heart and refuse to give it back.
If you would like to get away on this fabulous itinerary to Northern Ireland and Scotland (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way.