Silversea Luxury Cruises To ULLAPOOL (Highland)

An exclusive tour of Castle Leod by the owner, The Earl of Cromarty! Enjoy the lived-in atmosphere and the fascinating history of the castle and a ghost story or two!

Depart the pier for the approximately 75 minutes scenic drive through the Scottish Highlands to reach Castle Leod.

Castle Leod

Castle Leod is the home of the Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, the Earl of Cromarty, whose family have lived there for 500 years. It is one of the few castles in Scotland still to be occupied by the original family and remains very much a family home today.

Castle Leod's parkland

Occupying a magnificent setting below Ben Wyvis and just outside the Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer, Castle Leod's parkland boasts some of the finest trees in Scotland, the star attractions being the largest tree in the UK, a Wellingtonia, and a Spanish chestnut which was planted for a visit by Mary of Guise in 1550, the earliest known planting date of any tree in Britain.

Personal Welcome by the Earl of Cromarty

The Earl of Cromarty himself will personally welcome you to his ancestral home and conduct your private tour today. Enjoy the lived-in atmosphere and the fascinating history of the castle as well as the collection of fine portraits, maps and furniture and the Mackenzie Room situated in the old kitchen.

The principal part of Castle Leod, the 17th century castle itself, retains the distinct, homely charm and historical ambience that one would expect of the seat of such an important Scottish clan. The rooms, some wood-panelled, boast many Mackenzie portraits from past centuries as well as antique furnishings and some fascinating, large-scale antique maps; other antique artifacts and many original fittings are to be found around the castle.

Refreshment

During the visit you will be served a dram of fine malt or soft drink.

Following the visit, drive approximately 75 minutes back to the ship.

Discover the stunning topography of the northwest Highlands during this panoramic, half-day excursion to the Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Loch Broom and Northwest Highlands

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive along the shores of Loch Broom to Correshalloch Gorge. En route, take in spectacular panoramic vistas of the rich scenery offered by the diverse landscapes of the northwest Highlands. The gorge is a wonderful example of a slot gorge, or 'box canyon', cut by glacial meltwater between 2.6 and 11.5 million years ago.

Corrieshalloch Gorge, Droma River and Falls of Measach

Corrieshalloch Gorge lies within a steep-sided ravine, exceeds one mile (about 1.6 kilometres) in length and is approximately 200 feet (about 61 metres) deep. It is here that the Droma River plunges approximately 150 feet (about 46 metres) over the Falls of Measach. The area including the gorge and the surrounding woodland was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1967, and is now under the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

Corrieshalloch Gorge Visit

A descending gravel pathway brings you to your first views of the gorge and to the suspension foot bridge. For those who wish to proceed further, you may walk across the bridge and continue along another woodland path to a viewing platform.

Back in the coach; drive onwards for approximately 45 minutes through Dundonnell Forest and typical North West Highland scenery. The landscape can appear harsh and unforgiving, so it is perhaps surprising how many traces there are here of earlier people. People lived along the coast more than 3,000 years ago when the mountains were covered with a dense forest that was home to bears, wolves and wild boar.

Gruinard Bay

The tour skirts scenic Little Loch Broom and passes through crofting villages. From the hilltops enjoy outstanding views over the Summer Isles just off the coast. Stop again at the unspoiled and picturesque beach of Gruinard Bay, where time allowing, take a stroll on the beach and savour the views of this spectacular landscape.

Refreshments

A brief comfort stop will be made at the Dundonnell Hotel for light refreshments. Finally, return to Ullapool along the scenic coastal road for approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes drive.

Experience the beauty and history of the Scottish Highlands in a unique new way during this picturesque, half-day hiking excursion.

Allt nan Uamh and Scottish Highlands

Depart the pier for the approximately 30-minute drive to the starting point of your guided walking tour. Upon arrival, take a guided trek on a path alongside the Allt nan Uamh, or 'Burn of the Caves', a beautiful limestone valley featuring stunning views of the Scottish landscape. The trail leads you to a beautiful waterfall before gradually ascending as it follows the river upstream.

Bones Caves

Eventually the valley narrows, and your route passes by a huge spring, typical of areas with large amounts of limestone. As you continue further, come across a second spring before catching sight of the caves, now in the dry riverside but once hidden by the flowing waters. Your walk continues on toward the path leading to the caves. When first excavated in 1889, the caves produced a wide array of animals that once roamed the Scottish Highlands, and were thought to house humans who hunted these animals for their fur and meat.

Each cave can be explored with care; it can be slippery and wet at times. Following your cave exploration, re-join the path and continue back along the same footpath then re-board your coach and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Embrace the scenic splendour of the Highland countryside at your leisure during this half-day, self-guided excursion to the Inverewe Gardens.

Highland Countryside

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 80-minute drive through the barren and beautiful Highland countryside en route to the Inverewe Gardens. Idyllically situated on the shores of Loch Ewe, Inverewe Gardens was started by Osgood Mackenzie in 1862 and continued after his death by his daughter, Mairi. Before she died in 1953, Mairi transferred the garden to the National Trust for Scotland, so that the garden might be maintained in perpetuity.

Inverewe Gardens

Osgood Mackenzie succeeded in transforming a windswept and barren promontory into a large and wonderful garden featuring temperate plants from the northern and southern hemispheres. Protected by shelter belts and walls, the garden flourishes due to the proximity of the Gulfstream, despite being situated at a latitude of 57.8 (further north than Moscow).

During your leisurely, self-guided visit, explore areas of the garden that include the Woodland and Azalea walks, Pond Garden, Japanese Garden, and Rock Gardens. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 80-minute drive back to the pier.

Explore the unique natural beauty and history of Lochninver and its environs during this half-day sightseeing excursion.

Inverpolly National Nature Reserve

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately one-hour drive to Lochinver. En route, traverse the rugged scenery of the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve, a remote and lonely stretch of moorland dotted with lochs, burns and great sandstone peaks.

Ardvreck Caslte, Loch Assynt and Lochinver

A photo stop is made at the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, situated on a desolate promontory on the edge of Loch Assynt. Afterward, your picturesque drive continues along the shores of the Loch to the small town of Lochinver. Upon arrival, ample free time is made available to explore the town at your leisure. Following your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately one-hour drive back to the pier.

This tour combines a panoramic drive of North West Highlands with a chance to not only sample three singleton whiskies but also a sampling and tasting direct from 2 exclusive casks of Glen Ord from 1995 and 1999. In addition enjoy some free time in the beautiful village of Beauly.

Panoramic drive of North West Highlands

Leave the small fishing port of Ullapool and follow the road along picturesque shores of Loch Broom towards Muir of Ord admiring the beautiful vistas of North West Highlands and the changing landscape, becoming less wild the further east you go and becoming more pastoral, agricultural but still gorgeous.

Glen Ord Distillery

After one hour and 15 minutes' drive, on arrival at Glen Ord Distillery join the tour of one of Highland's hidden treasures producing liquid gold all year round. The Singleton of Glen Ord is only available for sale at the distillery shop as the rest is exported to Asia. Learn about the whiskey making process, Angel's share and Devil's cut, see the enormous six stills and mash tuns. When in the warehouse witness some of the whisky being drawn from 2 types of casks opened especially for this tour, a 1995 Glen Ord European Oak cask and a 1999 Glen Ord American Oak cask.

Whisky Tasting

Following on from guided tour and those can be sampled along 12, 15 and 18 year old whiskies

Explore the interesting exhibition area or have another dram in the bar.

Beauly

To round off your experience, drive approximately 15 minutes towards Beauly, a small but beautiful village with several independent good quality retailers, coffee shops and the ruins of an old priory with funerary monuments - notably including those of the Mackenzie family. Approximately 30 minutes of free time gives an opportunity to explore at leisure.

Return through the beautiful countryside to Ullapool for 1 hour and 15 minutes' drive