Barge Cruising the Scottish Highlands By World Journeys

Luxury barge cruise

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7 Days / 6 Nights from $11,935 Price Per Person

Sales from 26 April 2023 to 31 December 2026

**Day 1: Inverness > Muirtown**
Guests are met at a designated meeting point in Inverness and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Scottish Highlander. Champagne Welcome and perhaps an early evening stroll to the sea lock with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths. Dinner on board.

**Day 2: Muirtown > Dochgarroch**
Our first cruise will take us up the Muirtown lock flight and through the Tomnahurich swing bridge, with an option to walk alongside River Ness to the hamlet of Dochgarroch. After lunch on board, we enjoy a visit to Cawdor Castle, forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”, Macbeth. The picturesque gardens have been listed amongst the top 100 in the UK. The castle contains a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furnishings and the Dowager Countess of Cawdor still lives there for part of the year. Dinner on board.

**Day 3: Dochgarroch > Fort Augustus**
This morning we enjoy a visit to Culloden Moor, scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746 where English Government troops faced the Highlanders of “Bonnie Prince Charlie”. If time allows, then we take a tour of Clava Cairns, a pre-historic clan chieftain burial site dating back to 2,000 B.C and setting for the Outlander TV series. After lunch onboard, we cruise through Loch Dochfour and across Loch Ness, where en-route we pass Urquhart Castle, navigating closely beneath its spectacular 13th century ruins, before continuing our cruise to Fort Augustus. Dinner on board.

**Day 4: Fort Augustus > Kytra**
After breakfast, we visit the private Highland Club, a spectacular exclusive set of residences and a former 19th century Benedictine Monastery. Here we are treated to a falconry and birds of prey demonstration on the banks of Loch Ness, and the majesty of the swooping birds against the backdrop of the sweeping Scottish Highlands is not easily forgotten. There is time to explore the pretty village of Fort Augustus before lunch on board, after which our cruise takes us up the “flight”, as the locals call it, at Fort Augustus and then on to our pretty mooring at Cullochy. This evening we are given a tutored private whisky tasting at charming The Glenmoriston Arms Hotel, followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.

**Day 5: Kytra > Laggan**
This morning’s cruise can be partially walked as we cross the very scenic Loch Oich, perhaps stopping en route for a spot of fishing, and onto the pretty Laggan Avenue. As we approach Laggan, our Highland Piper may greet us with a stirring rendition of traditional Scottish music. After lunch on board we take in some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer as we drive to one of its best known and most photographed castles, Eilean Donan, which has featured in movies such as “Highlander” and James Bond’s “The World Is Not Enough” and overlooks three sea lochs. Dinner on board.

**Day 6: Laggan > Banavie**
Today, our final cruise will see us pass through Moy Bridge, the last fully hand-operated bridge on the canal, before mooring at Banavie beneath Ben Nevis and a stroll from Neptune’s Staircase leading down to Loch Eil. After lunch on board, our tour today takes us to the Ben Nevis Distillery for a tour and private tasting of several single malts. Captain’s Farewell Dinner and of course, the opportunity to enjoy another wee dram or two.

**Day 7: Banavie > Inverness**
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Inverness.

Please note: The excursion to Cawdor Castle is only possible between early May and the end of September. A visit to Fort George will replace it either side of these dates.  The falconry and birds of prey demonstration is “weather permitting”.


Type of Journey:

Luxury barge cruise journey: Cruise in comfort aboard a fully crewed luxury barge, with options to book a cabin, or charter the whole barge for a group of friends or family.

Inclusions

    • 6-nights’ onboard the 5-star Scottish Highlander barge
    • All meals (B, L, D) onboard
    • Premium spirits, fine wines, and non-alcoholic beverages
    • Shared transfers as per the itinerary
    • Shared sightseeing as per the itinerary
    • Entrance fees as per the itinerary
    • Use of the barge facilities including bicycles and hot tub


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Terms and Conditions:

  • Pricing varies due to fluctuations in exchange rates; please contact us for current pricing or other changes
  • The Scottish Highlander can be chartered with a minimum of 6 passengers
  • Special offers may apply; please contact us for details
  • This is a sample itinerary and subject to change
  • On alternate weeks the cruise will operate in the reverse direction

Please enquire about pricing for alternate barges or cruise journeys:

  • The Scottish Highlands onboard the Spirit of Scotland
  • Alsace & Lorraine in France
  • The Burgundy or Champagne regions of France
  • Dutch Canals in The Netherlands
  • River Shannon in Ireland
  • Venice & the Po Valley in Italy
Not Included:
  • Gratuities
General Terms & Conditions: Deposits & final payments will be required to secure bookings. Strict amendment & cancellation conditions apply. Travel agent professional service fees will apply. We welcome all major credit cards however a credit card processing fee will apply. Whilst every care is taken to accurately present the information & pricing we reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions. Further terms & conditions apply. For full terms & conditions visit your local Travel Advisor today.

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