Chantal Cookson
Chantal was born in Suffolk very near the sea and now lives in Northumberland where her husband farms and when possible, they go to their cottage in Suffolk. Chantal has been associated with Noble Caledonia since the company was founded in 1991 and was part of the Expedition Team for many years on the MS Caledonian Star and has led tours, be it cruising or land, all over the world, including the Antarctic in 1999, aboard the Caledonian Star on her first voyage there and in 2017 was aboard the MS Island Sky on her first voyage to the Antarctic. Chantal’s initial experience of cruising was in British waters in 1991 when Noble Caledonia did the first cruise around the British Isles, which was a ground breaking voyage and led to a very successful and popular concept. Though her main job for over 25 years was working for Sotheby’s, she is now a Travel and Fine Art Consultant intertwining in her busy life still working periodically as part of the Noble Caledonia Expedition Team and also as a Tour Leader on Land Tours. From the Arctic to the Antarctica, South America to Australia, Africa, India, The Seychelles, Indonesian Islands and many other destinations including many times the West Coast of Scotland, she has been able to pursue her love of the oceans, zodiacing and photography. Chantal is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Chantal Cookson is on the following tours:
Argyll - A Land of Mountains, Gardens & Coast
A five night stay at the Loch Melfort Hotel with David Mitchell & Chantal Cookson
Itinerary at a glance
- Glasgow / Loch Melfort / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Ardchattan Priory / Oban / Inverary Castle / Arduaine Garden / Loch Melfort
The Taming of Nature
Discover the Castles, gardens & Estates of North east Scotland with David Mitchell staying at Maryculter House
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Maryculter House / Glamis Castle / Drum Castle / Pitmedden Garden / Fyvie Castle / Craigievar Castle / Castle Fraser / Crathes Castle / Balmoral / Maryculter House / Aberdeen
Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire - 2025
A celebratory tour in association with London Festival Opera staying at the Historic Middlethorpe Hall in aid of the Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust
Itinerary at a glance
- York / Harewood House / Beningbrough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Scampston Hall / York
Autumn in the Heart of the Lakes
A celebration of the Nature, Art & Literature of the Lake District with Guest Speaker David Mitchell
Itinerary at a glance
- Grasmere / Hutton-in-the-Forest / Rydal Mount / Hilltop House / Hawkshead / Mirehouse / Steam Yacht Gondola, Brantwood House / Blackwell Arts and Crafts House / Levens Hall / Sizergh Castle / Grasmere
Autumnal Colour & Opera in Ireland's Ancient East
An escorted tour visiting some of ireland's great houses including performances at the Wexford Opera Festival with Guest Speaker Robert O'Byrne
Itinerary at a glance
- Dublin / Killruddery / Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden / Woodville House / Wexford Opera House / Farmleigh House / Russborough House / Huntingdon Castle / Wexford Opera / Dublin
Gardens of the Eastern Heartlands
A five-night tour in association with London Festival Opera staying at The Jockey Club, Newmarket in aid of the Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust
Itinerary at a glance
- Newmarket / Bressingham Hall Gardens / Wyken Hall Gardens / Chippenham Park / Fullers Mill Garden / Cambridge University Botanic Garden / Jesus College / Peckover House / Ely Cathedral & Gardens
Great Houses, Castles & Gardens of Ireland's Ancient East
Explore Ireland’s Garden Counties of Wicklow, Carlow & Beyond with Mike Nelhams, Chantal Cookson & the Music of London Festival Opera
Itinerary at a glance
- Dublin / Huntington Castle / Altamont Gardens / Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden / Mount Congreve / Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Garden / Hunting Brook Garden / Mount Usher / Dublin
Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire - 2026
A five night escorted tour staying at the historic Middlethorpe Hall with London Festival Opera, Alan Mason & Chantal Cookson
Itinerary at a glance
- York / Harewood House / Benningborough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Ripon / Richmond / York
Tour at a glance
| Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll - A Land of Mountains, Gardens & Coast | 2222 JuneJun 2025 | Loch Melfort Hotel | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Glasgow / Loch Melfort / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Ardchattan Priory / Oban / Inverary Castle / Arduaine Garden / Loch Melfort
|
| The Taming of Nature | 1313 JulyJul 2025 | Maryculter House | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / Maryculter House / Glamis Castle / Drum Castle / Pitmedden Garden / Fyvie Castle / Craigievar Castle / Castle Fraser / Crathes Castle / Balmoral / Maryculter House / Aberdeen
|
| Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire - 2025 | 1414 SeptemberSep 2025 | Middlethorpe Hall | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
York / Harewood House / Beningbrough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Scampston Hall / York
|
| Autumn in the Heart of the Lakes | 1212 OctoberOct 2025 | Rothay Garden Hotel | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Grasmere / Hutton-in-the-Forest / Rydal Mount / Hilltop House / Hawkshead / Mirehouse / Steam Yacht Gondola, Brantwood House / Blackwell Arts and
Crafts House / Levens Hall / Sizergh Castle / Grasmere
|
| Autumnal Colour & Opera in Ireland's Ancient East | 2020 OctoberOct 2025 | Marlfield House | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Dublin / Killruddery / Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden / Woodville House / Wexford Opera House / Farmleigh House / Russborough House / Huntingdon Castle / Wexford Opera / Dublin
|
| Gardens of the Eastern Heartlands | 505 MayMay 2026 | Jockey Club, Newmarket | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Newmarket / Bressingham Hall Gardens / Wyken Hall Gardens / Chippenham Park / Fullers Mill Garden / Cambridge University Botanic Garden / Jesus College / Peckover House / Ely Cathedral & Gardens
|
| Great Houses, Castles & Gardens of Ireland's Ancient East | 1414 JuneJun 2026 | Marlfield House | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Dublin / Huntington Castle / Altamont Gardens / Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden / Mount Congreve / Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Garden / Hunting Brook Garden / Mount Usher / Dublin
|
| Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire - 2026 | 1313 SeptemberSep 2026 | Middlethorpe Hall | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
York / Harewood House / Benningborough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Ripon / Richmond / York
|