Scotland's Hidden Landscapes - The Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to Bergen

Start your adventure in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow which is overflowing with historic landmarks and a vibrant culture. The distinct architecture is reminiscent classic 19th-century fused together with modern early 20th-century dubbed ‘Glasgow Style’. The checkerboard layout makes the city easy to navigate with lively street entertainment around every corner.

Start in Scotland's vibrant city of culture

A former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hot spot, packed with museums, galleries, and parks. Discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh before your expedition cruise begins.

To experience mainland Scotland’s unique history and nature, why not arrive a little earlier and join our optional Pre-Programme. 

You’ll embark your ship MS Spitsbergen in Fairlie, a small community outside of Glasgow. Lying on the shores of the Firth of Clyde and nestled against a backdrop of the North Ayrshire Hills, this area is known for coastal towns that boast both Viking heritage and scenic walks.  

Get to know the ship before meeting the Expedition Team – your guides for the adventure ahead. Enjoy your first onboard dinner as we set sail.  

Fire up your spirit of discovery on 'whisky island'  

Islay, the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, with rugged uplands and coastline. The island is the proud home of world-famous peaty single malts – but that's far from the only reason to visit. 

Islay is a wildlife haven, home to over 200 species of birds – including oystercatchers, gannets and Golden Eagles. From its sandy beaches, you can sometimes spot dolphins and basking sharks. 

Join a local guide on a heritage walk, and of course, no trip to Islay is complete without a 'wee dram' from one of the island’s famous and historic whisky producers, including Laphroaig and Ardbeg. 

With a population of 120 residents, Iona is Located off the Southwest of Mull. The island is 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide but draws in thousands of visitors each year due to its natural beauty and historical interest. Saint Columba and his fellow monks landed here in 563. This beautiful stretch of coastline brings out the true beauty of Iona facing onto the Gulf Stream that gives the island its mild climate. Located to the south of the road lies Sìthean Mòr (Large fairy hill) and alternatively known as the Hill of Angels, this is said to have been the setting for many rituals and traditions dating far back in history. This wonderful highlight, Iona Abbey was founded by Saint Columba in 563 and is said to have survived many Viking attacks. Although little remains of the monastic buildings of this period, the magnificent Abbey is the main attraction.

See Iona's sacred abbey and Fingal's Cave on Staffa 

Your adventure continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. You can visit the restored 6th century abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Join the Expedition Team for a hike or enjoy a walk at your leisure to the enigmatically named 'Bay at the Back of the Ocean'. This sweeping white-sand bay faces the wild Atlantic Ocean head-on and is fringed with machair, a typical grassy vegetation of the Hebrides. 

If conditions allow, we’ll also sail to Staffa. We’ll attempt to take our small boats for a closer look at Fingal's Cave, marvelling at the hexagonal basalt columns, superb natural acoustics and mesmerising, coloured waters. 

See Iona's sacred abbey and Fingal's Cave on Staffa 

Your adventure continues to Iona, off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. You can visit the restored 6th century abbey, one of Scotland's oldest and most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites. Join the Expedition Team for a hike or enjoy a walk at your leisure to the enigmatically named 'Bay at the Back of the Ocean'. This sweeping white-sand bay faces the wild Atlantic Ocean head-on and is fringed with machair, a typical grassy vegetation of the Hebrides. 

If conditions allow, we’ll also sail to Staffa. We’ll attempt to take our small boats for a closer look at Fingal's Cave, marvelling at the hexagonal basalt columns, superb natural acoustics and mesmerising, coloured waters. 

St Kilda is a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some 40 nautical miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. The stunning cliffs and sea stacks are home to the most important seabird breeding colony in northwest Europe. St Kilda is one of the few places in the world to have received dual World Heritage status from UNESCO in recognition of its Natural Heritage and cultural significance. Village Bay on the island of Hirta once supported a population of over 200, but the last islanders left in the 1930s. Recent restoration work on the village by the National Trust for Scotland offers a marvellous link with the past. One of the caretakers acts as shopkeeper and postmaster for any visitors who might like to send a postcard home from St. Kilda.

Explore the tranquil islands of the Outer Hebrides 

Today we plan to explore the Outer Hebrides and attempt a landing at one of the many tiny islands. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will choose the best landing site depending on the conditions of the day.  

The mighty wind and waves of the Atlantic have carved sheltered harbours here, allowing settlements to arise as far back as the Neolithic period. Perhaps we’ll visit a remote community and get insight into their way of life, or head to a pristine white sand beach for a nature landing or hike.  We may also take our small boats for some coastal cruising in search of wildlife such as puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and seals.  

Tour description Stornoway, Scotland The Isle of Lewis and Harris is the northernmost and largest of the Outer Hebrides-the Western Isles in common parlance. The island's only major town, Stornoway, is on a nearly landlocked harbor on the east coast of Lewis. It's the port capital for the Outer Hebrides and the island's cultural center, such that it is. Stornoway has an increasing number of good restaurants. Lewis has some fine historic attractions, including the Calanais Standing Stones-a truly magical place. The Uists are known for their rare, plentiful wildlife. Stornoway. Besides being the island's main entry point for ferries, Stornoway is also Lewis's main arts center. You'll find some good restaurants in town if you want to have lunch off the ship. The town can be explored by bicycle if you are so inclined. Local rental shops can give you advice on where to ride, including a route to Tolsta that takes in five stunning beaches before reaching the edge of moorland. An Lanntair Arts Centre. The fabulous An Lanntair Arts Centre has exhibitions of contemporary and traditional art, as well as a cinema, a gift shop, and a restaurant serving international and Scottish fare. There are frequent traditional musical and theatrical events in the impressive auditorium. Kenneth St.. Black House. In the small community of Arnol, the Black House is a well-preserved example of an increasingly rare type of traditional Hebridean home. Once common throughout the islands-even into the 1950s-these dwellings were built without mortar and thatched on a timber framework without eaves. Other characteristic features include an open central peat hearth and the absence of a chimney-hence the soot and the designation black. On display inside are many of the house's original furnishings. To reach Arnol from Port of Ness, head south on the A857 and pick up the A858 at Barvas. Off A858, 21 mi southwest of Port of Ness. Admission charged. Calanais Standing Stones. These impressive stones are actually part of a cluster of several different archaeological sites in this area. Probably positioned in several stages between 3000 BC and 1500 BC, the grouping consists of an avenue of 19 monoliths extending northward from a circle of 13 stones, with other rows leading south, east, and west. Ruins of a cairn sit within the circle on the east side. Researchers believe they may have been used for astronomical observations, but you can create your own explanations. The visitor center has an exhibit on the stones, a gift shop, and a tearoom. On an unmarked road off A858. Admission charged. Dun Carloway. One of the best-preserved Iron Age brochs (circular stone towers) in Scotland, Dun Carloway dominates the scattered community of Carloway. The mysterious tower was probably built around 2,000 years ago as protection against seaborne raiders. The Dun Broch Centre explains more about the broch and its setting. Off A857. Gearrannan. Up a side road north from Carloway, Gearrannan is an old black-house village that has been brought back to life with a museum screening excellent short films on peat cutting and weaving. For a unique experience, groups can rent the restored houses. Leverburgh. At Leverburgh you can take the ferry to North Uist. Nearby Northton has several attractions; St. Clement's Church at Rodel is particularly worth a visit. MacGillivray Centre. Located in a round building overlooking the bay, the MacGillivray Centre gives insight into the life and work of William MacGillivray (1796-1852), a noted naturalist with strong links to Harris. MacGillivray authored the five-volume History of British Birds. This is a great location for a picnic (there are tables for just such a purpose). A walk to a ruined church starts at the parking lot. A859, Northton. Seallam! Visitor Centre and Co Leis Thu? Genealogical Research Centre. The center is where you can trace your Western Isles ancestry. Photographs and interpretive signs describe the history of Harris and its people. The owners organize guided walks and cultural evenings weekly between May and September. Off A859, Northton. Admission charged. St. Clement's Church. At the southernmost point of Harris is the community of Rodel, where you can find St. Clement's Church, a cruciform church standing on a hillock. This is the most impressive pre-Reformation church in the Outer Hebrides; it was built around 1500 and contains the magnificently sculptured tomb (1528) of the church's builder, Alasdair Crotach, MacLeod chief of Dunvegan Castle. Rodel is 3 mi south of Leverburgh and 21 mi south of Tarbert. A859, Rodel. Port of Ness. The stark, windswept community of Port of Ness, 30 mi north of Stornoway, cradles a small harbor squeezed in among the rocks. Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. At the northernmost point of Lewis stands the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, designed by David and Thomas Stevenson (of the prominent engineering family whose best-known member was not an engineer at all, but the novelist Robert Louis Stevenson). The structure was first lighted in 1862. The adjacent cliffs provide a good vantage point for viewing seabirds, whales, and porpoises. The lighthouse is northwest of Port of Ness along the B8014. Shopping Harris tweed is available at many outlets on the islands, including some of the weavers' homes; keep an eye out for signs directing you to weavers' workshops. Harris Tweed Artisans Cooperative. The Harris Tweed Artisans Cooperative sells stylish and quirky hand-crafted tweed clothing, hats, accessories, all made by artists belonging to the cooperative. 40 Point St., Stornoway. Borgh Pottery. At Borgh Pottery, open from Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 6, you can buy attractive hand-thrown studio pottery made on the premises, including lamps, vases, mugs, and dishes. Fivepenny House, A857, Borve.

Experience ’Scotland’s Stonehenge’ and find your tweed

We travel next to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The island has strong Gaelic traditions and is the home of the famous Harris Tweed cloth. Sometimes referred to as Eilean an Fhraoich, or ‘Heather Isle’, this beautiful island has one of Europe’s largest blanket bogs, serving as both a unique ecosystem and a huge carbon sink.  

While here, we’ll visit Gothic-style Lews Castle with its trails, fantastic views and fascinating museum showcasing Hebridean history and heritage.  Lewis is also home to 'Scotland's Stonehenge', the 5,000-year-old Callanish Standing Stones, and Dùn Carloway, the best-preserved Iron Age broch in Scotland.  

In bustling Kirkwall, the main town on Orkney, there's plenty to see in the narrow, winding streets extending from the harbor. The cathedral and some museums are highlights.

Discover Norse heritage and wild outpost islands  

Uncover thousands of years of history as we spend two days exploring the storied Orkney archipelago.  

Delve into ancient times at the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae and Ring of Brodgar – all part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. You’ll also discover Kirkwall, the archipelago’s largest town. This vibrant place has influences from every era from the Vikings to World War II. Visit the regal 12th century St Magnus Cathedral and the adjacent Earl’s Palace to see the stone ruins of this once-grand Renaissance building. Whisky aficionados may also enjoy Kirkwall's Highland Park and Scapa distilleries’ sublime single malts.    

On your second day in Orkney, your Expedition Team will attempt to take you to explore one of the northern Orcadian islands, such as Papa Westray or Westray, in search of historic treasures and a wealth of nature and wildlife. These islands are outposts against the wild Atlantic, framed with rocky sea cliffs where seabirds nest and pristine sandy beaches. They’ve provided shelter for mankind and nature across the millennia

A scenic stop for bird lovers 

Your cruise continues to the Shetland Islands as we venture to remote Fair Isle, known for its birds and knitwear.  

A magnet for birders and wildlife photographers, the island is home to 27 bird species. It's a vital stop for migrating seabirds, drawn to the red sandstone cliffs, green fields and moors.  

We’ll attempt to land so you can join a clifftop hike to a spectacularly sited lighthouse with the Expedition Team. Gain fascinating insights into the life and history of the 65-strong island community at the local museum. You can support Fair Islanders by buying genuine Fair Isle knitwear direct from local makers.  

If landing isn’t possible, the scenic cruising is just as spectacular.  

A scenic stop for bird lovers 

Your cruise continues to the Shetland Islands as we venture to remote Fair Isle, known for its birds and knitwear.  

A magnet for birders and wildlife photographers, the island is home to 27 bird species. It's a vital stop for migrating seabirds, drawn to the red sandstone cliffs, green fields and moors.  

We’ll attempt to land so you can join a clifftop hike to a spectacularly sited lighthouse with the Expedition Team. Gain fascinating insights into the life and history of the 65-strong island community at the local museum. You can support Fair Islanders by buying genuine Fair Isle knitwear direct from local makers.  

If landing isn’t possible, the scenic cruising is just as spectacular.  

Founded by Dutch fishermen in the 17th century, Lerwick today is a busy town and administrative center. Handsome stone buildings—known as lodberries—line the harbor; they provided loading bays for goods, some of them illegal. The town's twisting flagstone lanes and harbor once heaved with activity, and Lerwick is still an active port today. This is also where most visitors to Shetland dock, spilling out of cruise ships, allowing passengers to walk around the town.

Discover the Norse roots of Scotland's most northerly inhabited isles 

We cruise northwest to spend a day and a half discovering more of the Shetland Islands.   

The capital Lerwick is a friendly, Victorian-influenced fishing town set in beautiful scenery. Navigate the narrow lanes on foot to discover little shops selling local whiskies, woollen sweaters and fudge. By the old waterfront, you’ll find the Shetland Museum, showcasing Pictish carvings and Shetland lace shawls.  

Nearby you can see 17th century Fort Charlotte and the regal-looking town hall. Keep your binoculars handy to scan for grey and common seals along Lerwick's beaches, as well as local birdlife such as Red-throated Divers, redshanks and curlews. You can also choose to visit the Sumburgh Head cliffs where you’ll find a cacophony of breeding seabirds, or discover the many layers of history at Jarlshof, a Neolithic and Norse settlement.

We’ll also attempt to land at the UK’s most northerly point, Unst. Often a first landfall for travelling Norsemen, Unst is rich in Viking and Norse heritage and remains. If we can, we’ll walk to the wild cliffs of the Hermaness National Nature Reserve, shelter to thousands of breeding seabirds including fulmars, puffins, shags and gannets. 

Surrounded by mountains and sparkling fjords, the waterside city of Bergen has a spectacular setting. There has been a settlement here since medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic wharf, known as Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history of trade. As Norway’s best known medieval settlement, the Bryggen is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our comprehensive selection of excursions allows you to discover the many sides of Bergen, such as the fish market and narrow cobbled streets, as well as stunning views of the city from the summit of Mt Fløyen. Alternatively, those who have visited the city previously may like to experience one of the tours that travel further afield. Just 300 yards from the main piers, you will find the Fortress Museum (Fesningsmuseum), which has an interesting collection of objects related to World War II.

Visit Bergen's UNESCO-listed Bryggen district  

Having followed the trail of Norse history through the Scottish Isles back to its homeland, your cruise now reaches its finale in Bergen, one of Norway's most beautiful cities. You’ll have experienced so much of these wondrous isles on your journey and you’ll treasure the memories for years to come.  

After you disembark MS Spitsbergen in the morning, we recommend spending some time exploring on your own before you return home. Why not visit the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district with its colourful wooden wharves and artisanal boutiques. Across from here, you'll also find the city's famous fish market.