Sail through Scotland's Caledonian Canal and the Inner Hebrides aboard Lord of the Glens, the only ship capable of transiting both with ease and grace. The 62-mile Great Glen seems to have been created by uncorking bucolic landscapes and spilling them over the Atlantic and North Sea in a colossal rush of isles, lochs, and canals.
National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson shares some of his favorite highlights from traveling in Scotland aboard the intimate Lord of the Glens.
To the uninitiated, Scotland’s wildlife amounts to a whole lot of sheep, those shaggy Highland cows, and of course, Nessie! But there’s an abundance of other species if you know where to look.
There are a select few destinations with which you connect at some deep, intangible level and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland does that for me, says David Barnes, Expedition Leader aboard Lord of the Glens. See why.
Experience Scotland as few others have on a stirring voyage that cuts through the heart of the Highlands and out into the wild isles that surround this fabled region.
We arrived on the predator-free bird paradise of Ulva Island. In small groups with our local guides, we explored the native forest and encountered countless birds. The endemic trees of the forest are home to many species only found in New Zealand. It was a profound experience. The afternoon was spent on Stewart Island where there is only one settlement with a beautifully maintained museum that tells the history of the island. The 300 residents have a rustic hotel and pub to meet up with fellow locals, and we were able to mingle there. From the veranda we enjoyed the hotel’s local botanical gin while birdwatching our feathered friends wandering the beach. The day ended with the captain’s welcome and a perfect dinner.
Our morning aboard National Geographic Venture began with a wonderful stretch class led by our onboard wellness specialist, Sabina. Following breakfast, guests embarked on hikes on Santa Rosa Island, ranging from casual meanders in search of birds, to a 8 mile hike where guests witnessed the endemic Torrey pine and Santa Rosa island fox. In the afternoon, guests embarked on Zodiacs to cruise around Santa Rosa, observing hundreds of seabirds while learning about kelp forests and the fascinating history behind the island.
Early this morning we arrived at the very end of Fiordo Amaila where we were greeted with the spectacular Skua Glacier rising high into the Andean Mountains. Favorable conditions allowed us to jump into the Zodiacs for a tour around the ice in the bay, with stunning views of the front of the glacier where many of us witnessed multiple calvings. Meanwhile the undersea team travelled a few miles back up the fjord to a little island sheltered from the wind for an exploratory dive. During their dive, they were inspected by some curious Chilean dolphins, footage of which they excitedly presented at evening recap. In the afternoon, we decided to remain in the area to go for a hike up the glacial river valley to get a closer look at a part of the glacier where it had grounded much further away from the coastal shoreline. This was a fun hike, as we made our way up the valley through the many streams and rivers that lay in our path. This afternoon we definitely experienced four seasons in one day, one minute beautiful sunshine and the next gusty squalls racing up the fjord to greet us.
This morning, National Geographic Explorer anchored in Stanley Harbor, the capital of the Falklands. Stanley became a port of refuge for ships which had been damaged rounding Cape Horn. A busy ship repair trade sprung up in the 19th Century and merchants bought the damaged ships which were incapable of repair to use for storage. In the harbor we could see some of those derelict hulls from that era. Later, Stanley was an important coaling station for the Royal Navy and many people remember the 1982 conflict when Stanley was occupied by Argentine forces for ten weeks during the Falklands War. Today, Stanley is home to the majority of the archipelago’s population (3000) and remains a quaint, small town. It was another blustery morning, so after breakfast we donned our rain gear for a wet Zodiac ride to shore. Groups divided into their tour of interest and explored town and the greater surroundings on the Stanley highlights tour, hiking out to Gypsy Cove, or visiting a farm.
Our adventure began with high hopes for Royal Bay and Drygalski Fjord in South Georgia. After a peaceful breakfast aboard National Geographic Endurance , we arrived at Royal Bay where we marveled at the towering ice walls from the ship, setting an awe-inspiring tone for the day. Leaving the massive walls of ice surrounding the bay, we navigated through spectacular fjords where pristine glaciers were accompanied by graceful snow petrels gliding against the icy-blue backdrop. Our day culminated in Cooper Bay with exhilarating Zodiac cruises, where we encountered a bustling world of wildlife. Macaroni penguins perched along rocky ledges, fur seals lounged by the water, and we were even graced by a close encounter with a massive leopard seal. The evening wrapped up with insightful recaps and a delicious dinner, a perfect close to an unforgettable day in South Georgia.
