The Hebrides, the Northern Isles & the North Sea

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.

A crescent of brightly painted harbor houses makes Tobermory one of the most photographed small ports in Scotland, its waterfront distillery turning out a well-loved single malt within sight of the pier. The Mull Eagle Watch tracks the white-tailed sea eagles reintroduced to these cliffs, Britain's largest bird of prey, while boat trips regularly turn up minke whales, otters and porpoises in the surrounding sound. A golf course clings to the hillside above town for those who'd rather play through the view. Small, colorful, and genuinely wild at the edges.

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.

With seemingly unending miles of coastline and beautiful natural backdrops to explore, the Orkney Islands archipelago lies on the rugged northern tip of Scotland. Ideal for yachting, walking, hiking, and cycling, many of the islands along these shorelines are uninhabited. The capital of the Orkney Islands, Kirkwall, is full of character and Norse heritage. A Royal Burgh since 1486, Kirkwall’s name comes from the Norse word “Kirkjuvagr,” meaning “Church on the bay,” as exemplified by its St. Magnus Cathedral.

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.

Sitting pretty on an inlet in the North Sea, with stunning views of the western Beins and Black Isle, Invergordon was established by the Gordons of Invergordon Castle in the early 1800s. It became a Royal Navy base in 1913 and played a prominent role in World War I and World War II to which the Invergordon Naval Museum & Heritage Center pays tribute. Outside of its lovely harbor and maritime history, Invergordon is the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, a region defined by Loch Ness Lake the legend of the mythical Loch Ness creature. Scenic walking trails abound, including the Invergordon Mural Trail, decorated by murals painted by local artists, and the Saltburn Woodland Walk. Visit the impressive Dunrobin Castle, one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands, and along the way explore local distilleries and sample different whiskies.

A vibrant city on the east coast of Scotland, Dundee boasts more hours of sunshine than any other Scottish city, shining on an abundance of green spaces. Nicknamed the “City of Discovery,” in 2014 Dundee was recognized by the United Nations as the United Kingdom’s first-ever UNESCO-awarded City of Design. Whether you are a history buff, a cultural enthusiast, or nature lover—or all three—Dundee offers a unique glimpse into Scotland. Wander the 400-acre Camperdown Country Park, dotted with neoclassical architecture and over 190 tree species. Engage in outdoor activities, including hiking and golfing, with easy access to St. Andrew’s Golf Course, where golf has been played for six hundred years. Dundee’s redesigned waterfront features the nautical museum Discovery Point, featuring the Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery, Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition ship, and the nineteenth-century warship HM Frigate Unicorn. Galleries and art museums include the McManus Gallery, Verdant Works, and V&A Dundee, dedicated to Scottish design achievements and marked by an exterior that mimics of the cliffs of East Scotland. A walk around Dundee reveals quaint pubs and taverns, offering a selection of beer, whiskies, Scotch pies, and bangers and mash.

Scotland’s hilly capital of Edinburgh is renowned for its history, cultural richness, and architectural majesty. Walk in the footsteps of kings and queens at Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The Old Town’s distinctive medieval layout, with its narrow streets and hidden courtyards, sets it apart from the planned elegance of Georgian New Town, together a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the Old Town’s historic Royal Mile and climb Arthur’s Seat, a hilltop in the 640-acre royal park that offers panoramic views of the city. Visit the National Museum of Scotland and Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

Norway's oil capital keeps its wooden-house old town, Gamle Stavanger, immaculately preserved along the harborfront, one of the best-kept collections of 18th-century timber buildings in Northern Europe. It is also the launch point for the hike to Preikestolen, the sheer-sided Pulpit Rock that hangs six hundred meters above the Lysefjord below, one of Norway's iconic views for the reasonably fit. A serious new-Nordic dining scene has grown up around the old harbor to match the oil wealth. History and one of Norway's great hikes, in a single call.

Regularly named Norway's prettiest small town, Lillesand's white wooden houses climb from a sheltered harbor that has drawn sailors and holidaymakers for well over a century. A maze of skerries and islets just offshore makes for some of the country's best small-boat sailing and swimming, while the town's understated spa tradition takes advantage of the same clean southern coast air. Barely a few thousand people live here, and the pace shows it.

Norway is a land steeped in myth, where irascible gods armed with frost and lightning once inspired Viking clans to plunder foreign lands. These days, genteel customs imported from mainland Europe have softened the country’s hard edges, but traces of an unruly past still abound. The exceptional museums dotting the Bygdøy Peninsula hold some of the city’s foremost attractions, including a thousand-year-old longship that was preserved in mud and the 12th-century Gol Stave Church, an exemplar of Norway’s distinctive wood sanctuaries. No less fascinating is a visit to the 1892 Fram, a legendary ship revered for her vital role in early polar explorations. To witness the evolution of Oslo’s soul, contrast battle-hardened Akershus Fortress, a ruggedly elegant citadel wrapped in nearly impregnable ramparts, with the neoclassical Royal Palace, whose formal exterior encloses sumptuously appointed rooms. You might wish to view Edvard Munch’s iconic The Scream, which hangs in the outstanding Norwegian National Gallery amid priceless European and Scandinavian masterworks. In expansive Frogner Park, wander among Gustav Vigeland’s thought-provoking sculptures, and if you’ve worked up an appetite, choose among the many restaurants and cafés lining the charming waterfront district of Aker Brygge.