Sail the legendary shores of Britain and Ireland in unrivalled comfort

Forget planes, trains and automobiles. The best way to visit some of the UK’s most memorable destinations is by ship. Cruising with APT Luxury Travel takes you to hard-to-reach destinations such as the Orkney islands with their rich Viking legacy, and the serene beauty of Iona, the birthplace of Scottish Christianity.

Discover these places and more on APT Luxury Travel’s 13-day Britain and Ireland Explorer small-ship cruise.

North star

It may be best-known for the distinctive knitting style that bears its name but Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in the UK, has some surprises in store.

Closer to Norway than Edinburgh, and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Fair Isle may have just 60 full-time residents, but it is a community known for its hospitality. When a gun ship of the Spanish Armada sank off the island’s coast 400 years ago, the locals looked after 300 survivors for six weeks; on your visit with APT, they will sit down and share some home-baked cakes with you.

Fair Isle has yet another claim to fame; it is a paradise for bird lovers with almost 400 species, including nesting sea birds and migratory species, passing through each year. That’s not the island’s only natural wonder: Fair Isle is also home to more than 250 flowering plant species.

Timeless treasures

It is hard not to be charmed by an island called Mainland, and Orkneys’ largest island has plenty of other ways to lure visitors. This archipelago was under Viking control for 500 years and the links with Norse culture are everywhere: you can see it in the local yole boats, derived from traditional longships, and in tales about troll-like spirits known as trows.

The area’s history stretches back much further than the Vikings. Thanks to an APT-guided tour, you’ll discover the island’s neolithic monuments, which are some of the best-preserved in Europe and have been recognised with a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Highlights include the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae and the dramatic stone circle known as the Ring of Brodgar.

Hail the Gaels

The islands of the Outer Hebrides are the heartland of Gaelic culture. On the main island of Lewis and Harris, key attractions include the standing stones at Calanais–a monument that is older than Stonehenge–and Lews Castle, a grand mock Tudor edifice where you can also visit Museum nan Eilean. Among the don’t-miss exhibits are the Lewis Chessmen, 800-year-old pieces carved out of walrus ivory.

Part of the delight of this island is the way that time-honoured traditions–like the hand-crafted Harris tweed beloved by everyone from the royal family to boundary-pushing designer Vivienne Westwood–sit alongside modern innovators like the Isle of Harris distillery. Their classic gin has already built a devoted following, and their newly released single malt whisky is set to do the same.

Skye is the limit

If you are partial to an epic landscape, the Isle of Skye is for you. Its mountains and sweeping moorlands have provided backdrops for films and TV – think Highlander, Prometheus and 47 Ronin – and the most eye-catching spots include the crags of the Quiraing and the basalt pleats of Kilt Rock.

Also worth a visit is Dunvegan Castle, the stronghold of Clan MacLeod. This is the only highland fortress to have been continuously owned and occupied by the same family for 800 years, and its 17,000 hectares include extensive grounds that feature a water garden, a walled garden and woodland walks.

A right royal experience

It would be easy to overlook this small speck of land, five kilometres long, sitting off the edge of the much-larger Isle of Mull. Yet the tiny island of Iona has many stories to share. This is where St Columba landed in the sixth century and began converting locals, making this the birthplace of Scottish Christianity. The island’s history, and its air of serenity, makes it a popular place for sacred retreats to this day.

St Columba also founded Iona’s most famous attraction, the Iona Abbey, where Ireland’s beautiful Book of Kells is believed to have been created. Outside the abbey is the Reilig Odhráin graveyard where up to 60 kings – including the notorious Macbeth – are believed to have been buried.

Full steam ahead

They do things differently on the Isle of Man. This is a place that has the oldest continually running parliament in the world, established by the Vikings back in 979, and where locals refer to rats as “long tails” because the R word is considered bad luck. The quirky community loves the old ways–which may explain why their steam railway is also the longest narrow gauge steam line in Britain to still use its original locomotives and carriages.

The island’s patchwork of fields, vales and villages also makes it a place of great beauty. Port Erin is among the prettiest settlements, while Peel Castle is an imposing medieval fortress. If you love marine life, The Sound is the place to spot dolphins, seals and basking sharks.

Your floating hotel

There is one more highlight on this cruise: the ship itself. Seabourn Venture puts an ultra-luxury spin on the idea of an expedition cruise, with spacious all-veranda suites that are a joy to return to at the end of the day. Guests are always spoiled for choice when it comes to food and wine, with meals and premium beverages included and plenty of dining options, from seven restaurants –including a dedicated sushi spot – to complimentary 24-hour in-suite dining.

Ready to explore? APT Luxury Travel’s 13-day Britain and Ireland Explorer cruise guarantees a seamless and unforgettable voyage. For more information, visit here.

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