Botanica
A Royal Passion for Gardens & the Lord of the Highlands
London to Edinburgh
Trip Highlights
Royal Palaces, Gardens & Ecology
Learn about the passion King Charles III has for gardens, from their positive influence on mental health to sustainability benefits.
A Festival of Flowers
Enjoy a day at the world’s largest annual flower show, Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. 
Scottish Isles & 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, Tour Manager and Cruise Director
- Privately chartered seven-night cruise aboard the Lord of the Highlands, taking a maximum of 36 guests, and nine nights’ accommodation in centrally located four- to five-star hotels
- Return private transfers from door to door, tipping and porterage, port taxes, plus 35 meals and select beverages
- All sightseeing, shore excursions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Visit the royal gardens of Dumfries House; Sandringham Estate; and King Charles’ private residence, Highgrove House and Gardens, in Tetbury (subject to confirmation)
- Enjoy a day at the world’s largest flower show, Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
- Visit premier Scottish gardens, including Inverewe, Lip na Cloiche, 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 scenic Caledonian Canal to the legendary 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 
- Dates for Hampton Court Flower Show are subject to change
- *Entry to Highgrove House & Gardens in Tetbury is subject to confirmation
Insider Experiences
Designed exclusively for our guests
Hampton Court Flower Show
Visit the world’s biggest annual flower show, held in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
London and Kensington Palace Gardens (England)
Arrive in London before 1.00 pm today and be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, take a tour of Kensington Palace, whose grounds include the Sunken Garden, featuring a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales. The statue was commissioned by Prince William and Prince Harry, and was unveiled in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening and get to know your fellow travellers.
Stay: Two Nights: London, May Fair Hotel or similar
Daily :Westminster Abbey, The Garden Museum and Meet Royal Florist, Shane Connolly
Begin the day with a tour of Westminster Abbey and see where King Charles’ coronation ceremony was held in May 2023. Learn about the history and the role of the Abbey during a specialist guided tour. Afterwards, visit the Garden Museum, housed within the disused church of St Mary-at-Lambeth. The museum tells the story of the Tradescants, a father-and-son team of gardeners who were widely travelled and worked for the kings, Charles I and Charles II. The museum's highlight is its knot garden, a replica of a 17th-century formal garden, whose topiary hedges feature intricate, twirling designs. The churchyard also contains the grave of William Bligh, commander of the infamous HMS Bounty. Afterwards, learn about the floristry involved in the coronation ceremony, which was handled by Royal florist, Shane Connolly and his team. The flowers were all locally sourced and chosen for their symbolic meanings.
Daily :Sandringham Estate and Norfolk Lavender 
Depart London this morning and travel to Norfolk to visit Sandringham Estate, a favourite country retreat of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and now one of King Charles’ many royal residences. Tour the formal gardens, which include the recent addition of a climate friendly Topiary Garden. Afterwards, visit Norfolk Lavender, England’s premiere lavender farm, which features nearly 100 acres of lavender fields. Finish the day in the university city of Cambridge.
Stay: Overnight: Cambridge, Hilton Cambridge or similar
Daily :Cambridge Walking Tour, King's and Trinity Collleges, and Tetbury
Enjoy a walking tour of Cambridge, during which you will see architectural highlights of some of its most famous universities, including Kings College and Trinity College. King Charles studied at Cambridge University and became the first British heir to earn a university degree. Depart Cambridge, stopping at a private garden as we head toward Tetbury.
Stay: Two Nights: Wotton-Under-Edge, De Vere Tortworth Court Hotel or similar
Daily :Highgrove House and Gardens and Westonbirt Arboretum
Explore the delightful village of Tetbury, and visit Highgrove House and Gardens*, the private residence of King Charles. This property’s organic garden has a wonderful wildflower meadow, as well as an amazing collection of plants. Afterwards, enjoy the chance to spot wildflowers at nearby Westonbirt Arboretum.
Daily :Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 
Hampton Court Flower Show
Spend the day at what is said to be the most spectacular and largest of the English garden shows, Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Set within the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, the festival features show gardens, floral marquees and pavilions, talks and demonstrations. There is plenty to see and do here. Return to London late today.
Stay: Overnight: London, May Fair Hotel or similar 
Daily :Train from London to Glasgow (Scotland)
Leave England behind today, as we travel by train from London to Glasgow.
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.
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June 2025 - June 2025
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Deck Plan
In all we had a fantastic holiday. We would recommend Botanica to all who'll ask.
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