British Isles & Ireland Small Ship Cruises & Tours
Become better acquainted with the treasures of the British Isles and join a small ship cruise or tour in the British Isles and Ireland. Our voyages include visits to both inhabited and uninhabited islands and places of great natural beauty, rich in wildlife and mystical history. Our small ships allow us access to places larger vessels are unable to venture and with our fleet of Zodiac landing craft we can explore inlets, fjords, bird sanctuaries and land in otherwise inaccessible places. Should you wish to circumnavigate the UK or join an in-depth exploration of the majestic Hebrides, there are a range of itineraries to choose from including some very special places such as the spiritual island of Iona, St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the Outer Hebrides and Tresco’s famous Abbey Gardens in the Isles of Scilly. Whether you be an avid gardener, birdwatcher, amateur historian or simply enjoy sailing past and visiting some of the most enchanting places in the world then one of the following cruises and tours could be for you.
Explore our British Isles small ship cruises & tours
Autumn in the Heart of the Lakes
A Celebration of the Nature, Art & Literature of the Lake District with Guest Speaker David Mitchell
Rothay Garden Hotel
Itinerary at a glance
- Grasmere / Hutton-in-the-Forest / Rydal Mount / Hilltop House / Beatrix Potter Gallery / Mirehouse / Steam Yacht Gondola / Brantwood House / Blackwell Arts and Crafts House / Levens Hall / Sizergh Castle
Bird Quest - 2025
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Holy Island / Isle of Man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Rona / Sula Sgeir / Stromness / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Birds of the Scottish Isles
An in-depth exploration of the remote islands of Scotland aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Fair Isle / Sumburgh Head / Lerwick / Isle of Noss / Unst / Foula / Papa Stour / North Ronaldsay / Papa Westray / Stromness / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Iona / Lunga / Oban
Islands on the Edge
An island hopping voyage from Portsmouth to Aberdeen aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Tresco / St Martin’s / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Foula / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Wild Scotland
An exploration of the remote islands of Scotland aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Gigha / Jura / Staffa /& Lunga / Carbost / Loch Scavaig / Stac Lee / St Kilda / Handa / Foula / Papa Stour / Unst / Fetlar / Lerwick / North Ronaldsay / Aberdeen
Something about Suffolk
A six day exploration of East Anglia’s Great Houses & Gardens with Alan Mason, Chantal Cookson & London Festival Opera
Wentworth Hotel
Itinerary at a glance
- Aldeburgh / Otley Hall / Helmingham Hall / Beth Chatto / Fullers Mill / The Red House / Bury St Edmunds
Atlantic Island Odyssey
An island hopping expedition through the Shetland, Faroe & Hebridean Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / North Ronaldsay / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Tvoroyri / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / St Kilda / Canna / Loch Scavaig / Staffa / Iona / Oban
Island Hideaways
A six-night explorarion of the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Sark /Tresco /Bryher / St Agnes / St Mary's
Island Hopping in the Hebrides
A week-long expedition in the Hebrides aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Staffa / Iona / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Canna / Isle of Skye / Loch Scavaig / Inverie / Lunga / Tobermory / Oban
Britain & Ireland Odyssey
A voyage from Portsmouth to Aberdeeen aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Martin’s / Cape Clear / Mizen Head / Skellig Islands / Killybegs / Iona / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Scrabster / Aberdeen
Scottish Island Odyssey - 2025
An expedition through the Hebridean, Orkney & Shetland Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Colonsay / Iona / Staffa / Lunga / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Handa / Inverewe / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Papa Westray / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Noss Head / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Argyll - A Land of Mountains, Gardens & Coast
A five night stay at the Loch Melfort Hotel with David Mitchell & Chantal Cookson
Loch Melfort Hotel
Itinerary at a glance
- Glasgow / Loch Melfort / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Crarae Garden / Kilmartin Glen / Ardchattan Priory / Oban / Inverary Castle / Arduaine Garden / Loch Melfort
Atlantic Island Odyssey
An island hopping expedition through the Shetland, Faroe & Hebridean Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / North Ronaldsay / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Tvoroyri / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / St Kilda / Canna / Loch Scavaig / Staffa / Iona / Oban
Scottish Island Odyssey - 2025
An expedition through the Hebridean, Orkney & Shetland Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Colonsay / Iona / Staffa / Lunga / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Handa / Inverewe / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Papa Westray / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Noss Head / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
The Taming of Nature
Discover the Castles, gardens & Estates of North east Scotland with David Mitchell staying at Maryculter House
Maryculter House
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Maryculter House / Glamis Castle / Drum Castle / Pitmedden Garden / Fyvie Castle / Leith Hall / Castle Fraser / Crathes Castle / Balmoral / Maryculter House / Aberdeen
Celtic Island Odyssey
A voyage from Aberdeen to Liverpool aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
Best of British
A Circumnavigation of the United Kingdom aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Agnes / Fishguard / St Davids / Peel / Derry / Giant’s Causeway / St Kilda / Scrabster / Unst / Lerwick / Montrose / Lindisfarne / Alnwick Castle / Whitby / Ipswich / Portsmouth
Island Life
Discover the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
Island Life
Discover the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire
A celebratory tour in association with London Festival Opera staying at the Historic Middlethorpe Hall in aid of the Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust
Middlethorpe Hall
Itinerary at a glance
- York / Harewood House / Beningbrough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Scampston Hall / York
Bird Quest - 2026
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Bird Quest - 2026
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Enchanted Islands
Explore the wildlife & wonders of Britain’s islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly/ Lundy Island / Isle of Man / Staffa / Iona / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay Foula / Papa Stour / Unst / Fetlar / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Tour at a glance
| Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn in the Heart of the Lakes | 1313 OctoberOct 2024 | Rothay Garden Hotel | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Grasmere / Hutton-in-the-Forest / Rydal Mount / Hilltop House / Beatrix Potter Gallery / Mirehouse / Steam Yacht Gondola / Brantwood House / Blackwell Arts and Crafts House / Levens Hall / Sizergh Castle
|
| Bird Quest - 2025 | 2828 AprilApr 2025 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Holy Island / Isle of Man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Rona / Sula Sgeir / Stromness / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
| Birds of the Scottish Isles | 808 MayMay 2025 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / Fair Isle / Sumburgh Head / Lerwick / Isle of Noss / Unst / Foula / Papa Stour / North Ronaldsay / Papa Westray / Stromness / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Iona / Lunga / Oban
|
| Islands on the Edge | 1616 MayMay 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Tresco / St Martin’s / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Foula / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
| Wild Scotland | 1717 MayMay 2025 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Oban / Gigha / Jura / Staffa /& Lunga / Carbost / Loch Scavaig / Stac Lee / St Kilda / Handa / Foula / Papa Stour / Unst / Fetlar / Lerwick / North Ronaldsay / Aberdeen
|
| Something about Suffolk | 1818 MayMay 2025 | Wentworth Hotel | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
Aldeburgh / Otley Hall / Helmingham Hall / Beth Chatto / Fullers Mill / The Red House / Bury St Edmunds
|
| Atlantic Island Odyssey | 2727 MayMay 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / North Ronaldsay / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Tvoroyri / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / St Kilda / Canna / Loch Scavaig / Staffa / Iona / Oban
|
| Island Hideaways | 505 JuneJun 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Sark /Tresco /Bryher / St Agnes / St Mary's
|
| Island Hopping in the Hebrides | 808 JuneJun 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Oban / Staffa / Iona / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Canna / Isle of Skye / Loch Scavaig / Inverie / Lunga / Tobermory / Oban
|
| Britain & Ireland Odyssey | 1111 JuneJun 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Martin’s / Cape Clear / Mizen Head / Skellig Islands / Killybegs / Iona / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Scrabster / Aberdeen
|
| Scottish Island Odyssey - 2025 | 1515 JuneJun 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Oban / Colonsay / Iona / Staffa / Lunga / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Handa / Inverewe / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Papa Westray / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Noss Head / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
| 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
|
| Atlantic Island Odyssey | 2525 JuneJun 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / North Ronaldsay / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Tvoroyri / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / St Kilda / Canna / Loch Scavaig / Staffa / Iona / Oban
|
| Scottish Island Odyssey - 2025 | 707 JulyJul 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Oban / Colonsay / Iona / Staffa / Lunga / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Handa / Inverewe / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Papa Westray / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Noss Head / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
| 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 / Leith Hall / Castle Fraser / Crathes Castle / Balmoral / Maryculter House / Aberdeen
|
| Celtic Island Odyssey | 1717 JulyJul 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
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| Best of British | 2222 AugustAug 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Agnes / Fishguard / St Davids / Peel / Derry / Giant’s Causeway / St Kilda / Scrabster / Unst / Lerwick / Montrose / Lindisfarne / Alnwick Castle / Whitby / Ipswich / Portsmouth
|
| Island Life | 3030 AugustAug 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
|
| Island Life | 606 SeptemberSep 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
|
| Great Houses & Gardens of North Yorkshire | 1414 SeptemberSep 2025 | Middlethorpe Hall | Escorted Tours |
Itinerary at a glance
York / Harewood House / Beningbrough Hall / Castle Howard / Ripon / Richmond / Scampston Hall / York
|
| Bird Quest - 2026 | 505 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
| Bird Quest - 2026 | 1414 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
| Enchanted Islands | 2323 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly/ Lundy Island / Isle of Man / Staffa / Iona / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay Foula / Papa Stour / Unst / Fetlar / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
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