Neptunes Staircase to Old London Town

Savings on unique exploration of Scotland and England by water and land
with one of the world’s smallest cruise lines
 Book by September 30, 2024

Australian small ship cruising specialist, Cruise Traveller, is offering savings on a unique package that pairs a canal cruise through the Scottish Highlands with a land tour through England next year that showcases Britain’s wildest, unsung scenery.

The 20-night land and sea holiday in the UK is being offered in partnership with one of the world’s smallest cruise lines, Lord of the Glens. The tiny line’s only vessel is the 52-guest boutique vessel, Lord of the Glens, which was purpose-built to explore the pristine and intricate waterways and lochs of the Scottish Highlands, including the historic Caledonian Canal, the famous, hauntingly deep waters of Loch Ness and Scotland’s many pristine islands and dramatic coastlines, dotted with castles and quaint, storybook hamlets.

The stylish Lord of the Glens boasts a rich, traditional ambience with polished wood, teak decks, personal service and gourmet dinners sourced from fresh Scottish produce. Fares include shore excursions and all cabins boast water views of Scotland’s ruggedly spectacular coastline.

Cruise Traveller’s 20-night ‘Neptune’s Staircase to Old  London Town’ cruise tour package begins on April 16, 2025, with a night in Glasgow followed by a six-night cruise aboard Lord of the Glens from Oban to Inverness through the Scotland Highlands including a spectacular passage through the historic, 100km-long Caledonian Canal which connects Scotland’s east and west coasts and takes guests through the Scottish Highlands via 29 lochs and four lakes including Loch Ness, home to the myth of ‘Nessie’, the monster. The journey includes a series of eight lochs called Neptune’s Staircase.     

The route from Oban to Inverness passes the breathtaking ruins of 800-year-old Urquhart Castle and through Loch Ness and other brooding lakes that lie in the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak. As a side tour, guests will take a train ride across the beautiful Glenfinnan Rail Viaduct which starred in the Harry Potter films. The journey takes in the tower house of Castle Stalker where the hit film, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, was filmed and heads to the storybook towns of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.

After the cruise, guests will spend two nights in Inverness and two in Edinburgh before joining a nine-night small coach tour through England from Edinburgh to London, featuring visits to the sweeping moorlands, ancient woods and timeless villages of the North York Moors and Peak District and also the Royal Family’s Sandringham Estate and the old-world pubs and picturesque waterways of Cambridge.

The 20-night cruise tour package is priced from A$10,995 person, twin-share, including excursions and meals on the cruise and 14 meals during the land tour. This represents a saving of A$100 per person. Flights from Australia are additional. Book by September 30, 2024.