Best of Scotland & the Fjords

Sitting along the banks of the Clyde River, Glasgow is one of Northern Europe’s most endearing and culturally vibrant cities, boasting a variety of art and museums, galleries, luxe restaurants, and pubs. The city’s Gaelic name, Glaschu, fittingly translates as “dear green place.” Glasgow boasts an incredible architectural heritage, ranging from medieval times to the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras, set within a city full of abundant parks and green spaces, making it ripe for exploration. Glasgow is also home to Scotland’s national opera, ballet, and theater companies and is a UNESCO City of Music, presenting a lively music scene. Defined by a strong sense of community and welcoming ambiance, the dynamic city shines for diversity, from the city’s artsy West End to historic East End, home to the 12th-century Gothic Glasgow Cathedral.

With calm bays, wooded hills, and striking mountain views, Brodick captures the natural charm of the Isle of Arran. Brodick Castle anchors the landscape with its historic rooms and landscaped grounds, while nearby beaches offer chances to spot seals, otters, and seabirds. Enjoy gentle coastal walks, sample local produce from island farms, or head toward Goatfell for a more adventurous taste of Arran’s rugged interior.

Quiet and scenic, Craighouse is Jura’s central gathering place, where the island’s distillery pier and charming cafés stretch along the serene waterfront. The sweeping silhouette of the Paps of Jura anchors the landscape, inviting both leisurely shoreline walks and more ambitious hikes into the hills. Coupled with its rich wildlife, celebrated island whisky, and Craighouse’s friendly pace, it captures the true spirit of this remote Scottish haven.

A resort town sitting on the west coast of Scotland in the Firth of Lorn, Oban (in Gaelic, meaning “Little Bay”), charms with its natural beauty. The horseshoe-shaped bay is protected by the island of Kerrera and, beyond that, the Isle of Mull, making it perfect for watersports such as kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The town grew up around the distillery, founded in 1794, which whisky enthusiasts still visit today. Despite its small size, Oban is known as the “Seafood Capital” of Scotland, serving up fresh seafood in its pubs and restaurants. McGaig’s Tower, a circular tower built from Bonawe granite in 1897, stands on Battery Hill and overlooks the islands of Kerrera, Lismore, and Mull. Just outside the town, visitors find thirteenth-century Dunollie Castle, standing on a rocky ridge overlooking Oban Bay. North of Oban, the natural rock formation of Fingal’s Dogstone is closely tied to Celtic mythology as the location where the giant Fingal would leave his Dog Bran while hunting across the Hebridean Islands.

Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, heralded for its serene beaches, stunning green hillsides, machair and moor. Like its neighboring islands of Uist, Lewis, and Skye, the Isle of Barra is pre-Norse and presents a remote, otherworldly quality. From its white-sand beaches on the north side to the rocky inlets on the southeast side, the Isle of Barra exudes a raw, untamed beauty. At just eight miles long and five miles wide, Barra is easy to explore, its Barra Head Lighthouse welcoming visitors since it began operating in 1833. Kisimul Castle, an impressive 11th- century fortress, sits on a small rocky island in Castlebay Harbor. Barra is a coveted destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach-going opportunities. The highest point on the island, Heaval, provides a particularly distinct vantage point, boasting views of the coastline, perfect for hikers and birdwatchers.

Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, heralded for its serene beaches, stunning green hillsides, machair and moor. Like its neighboring islands of Uist, Lewis, and Skye, the Isle of Barra is pre-Norse and presents a remote, otherworldly quality. From its white-sand beaches on the north side to the rocky inlets on the southeast side, the Isle of Barra exudes a raw, untamed beauty. At just eight miles long and five miles wide, Barra is easy to explore, its Barra Head Lighthouse welcoming visitors since it began operating in 1833. Kisimul Castle, an impressive 11th- century fortress, sits on a small rocky island in Castlebay Harbor. Barra is a coveted destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach-going opportunities. The highest point on the island, Heaval, provides a particularly distinct vantage point, boasting views of the coastline, perfect for hikers and birdwatchers.

Glas Eilean offers a serene scenic passage along one of Scotland’s most untouched coastal landscapes, where rocky islets rise from clear waters and seabirds fly overhead. As SeaDream glides through this quiet stretch, you may spot seals basking on wave-washed rocks and notice the hills softly glowing under shifting light. The solitude of the coastline and stillness of the channels create a relaxing journey that showcases the untamed beauty of Scotland’s west coast.

The northernmost island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is defined by its rugged landscapes, medieval castles, picturesque fishing villages, and otherworldly natural landscapes—grassy moors, steep glens, tumbling waterfalls, rivers, sparkling mountainsides and pristine harbors, inviting exploration.

Set along the shores of Loch Ewe, Inverewe offers an immersive garden experience unlike anywhere else in Scotland. Stroll among rare Himalayan rhododendrons and towering tree ferns, wander through heritage glasshouses, or follow winding paths that open to sweeping coastal views. Wildlife hides and quiet woodland trails provide chances to spot otters, deer, and coastal birdlife, creating a memorable blend of cultivated beauty and Highland wilderness.

Portsoy, a picturesque village on the Aberdeenshire coast, is known for its 17th-century harbor, honey-colored stone buildings, and strong maritime traditions. Wander along the historic quayside, sample small-batch ice cream from a beloved local maker, or visit Portsoy Marble workshops, to see the town’s distinctive green stone crafted into jewelry. Coastal paths reveal quiet coves, sea arches, and excellent chances to spot dolphins offshore, offering a peaceful and scenic glimpse of northeast Scotland.

Gliding into Scapa Flow reveals an immense natural harbor encircled by low-lying Orkney islands and shaped by centuries of maritime history. The sheltered waters once anchored entire naval fleets, and today the sea is known for its historic wrecks, dramatic skies, and wildlife-rich coastline. The surrounding islands form a natural amphitheater, and the area is known for its wartime relics, hidden coves, and abundant marine life.

The Shetland Islands is a North Sea archipelago, of which only sixteen islands are inhabited, many only accessible via small sailing vessels. The archipelago is perfect for yachting, with a raw, rugged coastline and low rolling hills, providing opportunities for spying wildlife. Shaped by billions of years of shifting sand and sea, Shetland’s natural landscape is among the most dramatic in the world, teeming with wildlife. SeaDream calls on Fair Isle, a small remote island tucked away here, known for both its natural heritage and famous knitwear. Walk or bike its lovely surroundings, perhaps paying a visit to the internationally renowned Fair Isle Bird Observatory or the namesake Lighthouse, the tallest in Shetland.

The Shetland Islands is a North Sea archipelago, of which only sixteen islands are inhabited, many only accessible via small sailing vessels. The archipelago is perfect for yachting, with a raw, rugged coastline and low rolling hills, providing opportunities for spying wildlife. Shaped by billions of years of shifting sand and sea, Shetland’s natural landscape is among the most dramatic in the world, teeming with wildlife from puffins to native Shetland ponies. Lerwick is Shetland’s only town, founded as an unofficial marketplace to service seventeenth-century Dutch herring fleets, and the island’s capital since 1708.

The Shetland Islands is a North Sea archipelago, of which only sixteen islands are inhabited, many only accessible via small sailing vessels. The archipelago is perfect for yachting, with a raw, rugged coastline and low rolling hills, providing opportunities for spying wildlife. Shaped by billions of years of shifting sand and sea, Shetland’s natural landscape is among the most dramatic in the world, teeming with wildlife from puffins to native Shetland ponies. Lerwick is Shetland’s only town, founded as an unofficial marketplace to service seventeenth-century Dutch herring fleets, and the island’s capital since 1708.

Oslo is capital, but Bergen is the quintessential Norwegian city. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen (“the docks”) is filled with carefully preserved wooden buildings. Restored as shops, cafés, and museums, the attractive district looks as though it was lifted from another century. Stroll across Fisketorget, the open-air fish market and allow your senses to take it all in (and be sure to sample some fresh shrimp or smoked peppered mackerel). Ride the funicular to the top of Mount Fløien and admire the sweeping view before heading off to visit composer Edvard Grieg’s birth home.