Botanica
Scottish Gardens & Grandeur aboard Lord of the Highlands
Glasgow to Edinburgh
Trip Highlights
Visit Dumfries House
See the Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden, amid 600 acres of meticulously maintained grounds at Dumfries House.
Discover Armadale Castle
Overlooking the Sound of Sleat, the castle once belonged to the powerful Clan Donald. Explore its 40 acres of gardens.
Scottish Isles and Canal Cruise
Discover spectacular Scottish gardens during a cruise aboard the Lord of the Highlands small ship.
Trip Inclusions
- Escorted by an expert Botanical Guide and Cruise Director
- Privately chartered seven-night cruise aboard the Lord of the Highlands, taking a maximum of 36 guests, and three nights’ accommodation in centrally located four- to five-star hotels
- Return private transfers from door to door, tipping and porterage, port taxes, plus 25 meals and select beverages
- All sightseeing, shore excursions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Visit the royal gardens of Dumfries House
- Visit premier Scottish gardens, including Inverewe, Lip na Cloich, Attadale Gardens, and Cawdor Castle Gardens
- Discover the history of Clan Donald at Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye, as well as the brightly coloured fishing village of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull
- Cruise the Caledonian Canal, including the famed Loch Ness
Map & Itinerary
Trip Notes
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Fitness rating: Medium
- Exclusive charter of Lord of the Highlands for up to 36 guests. To view deck plans, visit www.botanica.travel/cruise-fleet 
- Our experience of gardens, their flora, and other aspects of nature, is subject to weather conditions and seasonality, which may vary 
Glasgow
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening with the chance to get to know your fellow travellers.
Stay: Two Nights: Glasgow, Voco Grand Central Hotel or similar
Daily :Dumfries House
Travel south of Glasgow to the estate of Dumfries House. Here, 600 acres of gardens and well-designed landscape are set within a 1,400-acre farm. The main five-acre Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden was restored as part of a project to make Dumfries House a focal point for heritage-led regeneration. The garden was opened in 2014, by Her Majesty The Queen, after two years of renovation and replanting. It is one of the most ambitious and significant gardening renovation projects to be carried out in Scotland.
Daily :Glamis Castle, Inverness and Embark Lord of the Highlands
Depart Glasgow this morning and travel north to Glamis Castle, which was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. More recently, it was also the childhood home of the Queen Mother. Continue to Inverness, where we board our privately chartered vessel, Lord of the Highlands. Enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive cruise, as we explore Scotland’s famous lochs and countryside.
Stay: Seven Nights: Lord of the Highlands
Daily :Cawdor Castle Gardens, Cruise the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness
Visit Cawdor Castle Gardens, also immortalised in Macbeth. The castle boasts three very different gardens, each with their own unique history and appearance. Displaying a wealth of flora and fauna, the gardens at Cawdor Castle change with the seasons. This afternoon, we set sail along the Caledonian Canal, which connects the four lochs of the Great Glen. Entering Loch Ness, we pass the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, before ascending the impressive flight of locks that runs through the heart of historic Fort Augustus. This evening, enjoy a welcome gala reception and dinner.
Daily :Loch Oich, Laggan Locks, Neptune’s Staircase and Fort William Mountain Gondola
Continue along the canal through Loch Oich, transiting the tranquil, tree-lined Laggan Avenue, before ascending Laggan Locks. We cruise onwards through picturesque Loch Lochy, before descending Neptune’s Staircase, a set of eight interconnected locks dropping 64 feet into the sea lock at Corpach. Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William boasts Britain’s only mountain gondola, which transports us more than 2,000 feet up the north face of Aonach Mòr.
Daily :Isle of Mull and Lip na Cloiche Private Garden
From Corpach, we spend the morning sailing Loch Linnhe to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Visit the private garden of Lip na Cloiche, which illustrates the wide range of plant varieties that can be successfully grown thanks to the island’s mild climate.
Tobermory, Isle of Skye, Armadale Castle and Inverie
A brief sailing brings us to Mull’s capital, Tobermory, where brightly painted houses line the waterfront. Enjoy free time to explore Tobermory’s pretty town. We then cruise around the most westerly point of the British mainland, Ardnamurchan, to Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye. Here, we discover the epic history of Clan Donald. The 40-acre gardens of the castle grounds complement the Gothic mansion ruins, sheltered by 200-year-old trees. This evening, we cruise to Inverie, on the shores of Loch Nevis. We dock here overnight, with the opportunity to visit Britain’s most remote mainland pub, the Old Forge.
Gairloch and Inverewe Garden
Enjoy a full morning of sailing before we arrive in Gairloch. From here, we travel to Sir Osgood Mackenzie’s masterpiece, Inverewe Garden, which is home to more than 2,500 exotic and tropical species of plant and shrub. This jewel in the crown of Highland gardens is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Attadale Gardens and Gairloch
Visit Attadale Gardens, which were skilfully restored by their owner, Nick MacPherson, following storms in 1980. The artist’s garden boasts long-range views to the Isle of Skye. Recent developments include a new waterfall and pond, while an impressive sculpture collection can be seen extending across the 20-acre site. We then sail the coast of Sutherland to Gairloch, where we berth overnight.
Daily :Kyle of Lochalsh, Disembark Lord of the Highlands to Edinburgh
Disembark this morning in Kyle of Lochalsh and travel to Edinburgh, where we enjoy our final Farewell Dinner.
Stay: Overnight: Edinburgh, InterContinental Edinburgh the George Hotel or similar
Daily :Edinburgh, The Royal Yacht Britannia
To conclude our tour this morning, we visit the famous Royal Yacht Britannia. This luxurious vessel served as the royal family's ocean-going residence for more than 40 years. During this time, it embarked upon almost 1,000 state visits. Your tour concludes at the post-tour hotel in Edinburgh at approximately 12 noon.
Daily :Price & Availability
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July 2025 - July 2025
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Deck Plan
Would not hesitate to recommend Botanica and we are already looking into our next adventure.
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