England - Scotland

Cruising Scotland and Barging in England River and Canal Cruising

It would be easy to assume that Great Britain and Ireland have few “hidden corners” left. Just outside big cities like Windsor, Oxford, or Inverness lie beautiful country filled with charming waterside villages, manor homes and castles, gardens, nature parks and friendly local people. Relatively few visitors see England, from a river- or canal-side vantage point, and that’s part of its charm.

Cruise in Luxury and Style

An increasingly popular vacation concept among travelers who have “seen” the world through traditional land tours, barge cruising offers more intimate views of the surrounding countryside from the deck of a luxury “hotel” barge – and gives travelers a hands-on opportunity to experience the local lifestyle, culture, and cuisine. Leisurely cruises represent the ultimate in a luxury vacation, pampering guests on every vessel with regional cuisines created by master chefs, a knowledgeable tour guide, and an experienced, multilingual crew. An air-conditioned minivan follows the barge and takes guests in comfort to all sightseeing attractions on the itineraries; bicycles are also available to explore the region. Prices quoted are for cruise only and include all meals, wines with lunch and dinner, an open bar, and admission to daily excursions on the itineraries. Transfers to and from convenient pick-up locations are also included.

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More than 163 million cups of tea are drunk every day in the Britain.

Barging in England Cruises include:
Cruising and Barging in England River and Canal Cruising

Canal and river cruising is one of the most relaxing and intimate ways to experience the beauty of Europe, without crowds and in great comfort. For those who appreciate fine food and wines, peaceful vistas and an exciting new destination each day without ever leaving “home,” this has become a favorite way to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary or time together as a family.

The 8 Passenger Magna Carta is one of the finest, most luxurious vessels cruising the British Isles. The ambience created by combining a traditional barge hull (1936) and fine mahogany, teak and oak woods is outstanding The most sophisticated modern amenities include underfloor heating. Accommodation is comprised of four full width staterooms that offer color tv/dvd and exceptionally spacious private bathroom facilities.

Magna Carta
The upper deck saloon and dining areas sport picture windows and stylish furnishings, and there is a jacuzzi on the upper sun-deck. Her experienced Captain knows the Thames well and your Master Chef will produce a range of mouth watering dishes, while you enjoy the sights of London and the home counties from your luxury floating hotel, navigating England's Royal River. Two housekeepers complete the crew of four.

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Cruise highlights

• Accommodations for 6 nights on the luxurious barge.
• All-inclusive meals- open bar, free wines, gourmet cuisine, regional specialities s
• Entry fees to excursions
• Visit London's world famous sites
• Moor in beautifully restored St Katharine's dock
• Moor beneath Windsor's Royal palace
• Visit Tudor Hampton Court Henry VIII's palace
• Visit the Stanley Spencer Art gallery
• Lunch at a top London hotel
• Optional Hot Air Ballooning

Some of our choices: Loch Fyne Bradon roast Salmon, Malt whisky and horseradish sauce, Roast spiced Duck breast accompanied by pink Grapefruit and Calvados wine cellar A good selection of French and New World wines cheese board Red Leicester, Caerphilly, White Cheshire

HAMPTON COURT PALACE TO HENLEY-ON-THAMES

Sunday, Magna Carta Day 1 LONDON - HAMPTON COURT PALACE Guests are met at the Stafford Hotel in central London** for afternoon English Cream Tea, before being transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Magna Carta. Champagne reception and welcome by the Captain and crew. Dinner on board.

Monday, Magna Carta Day 2 HAMPTON COURT PALACE - RUNNYMEDE Morning excursion to visit the state apartments of Henry VIII, whose 5th wife Catherine Howard is said to haunt the Great Hall and Gallery of Hampton Court, the finest Tudor Palace in existence. Wander through the beautiful Royal gardens and maze. In the afternoon enjoy a meandering cruise upstream following the course of the Thames to Shepperton. Dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Magna Carta Day 3 RUNNYMEDE - WINDSOR After breakfast, we have the option to use the spa facilities of the newly refurbished Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel. Afternoon excursion to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and inhabited for over 900 years by the Royal Family, this is the largest inhabited castle in the world. We explore the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls House and St George's Chapel and enjoy the far-reaching views from its elevated fortress position. Late afternoon cruise to our private moorings. Dinner aboard.After breakfast, we have the option to use the spa facilities of the newly refurbished Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel. Then we cruise to Windsor, past the Magna Carta Memorial and Magna Carta Island where in 1215, King John was forced to meet the powerful barons and seal the historic document. Our afternoon excursion is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and a royal home for over 900 years by the Royal Family, this is the largest inhabited castle in the world. We explore the State Apartments, see Queen Mary’s Dolls House, St George’s Chapel and enjoy the far-reaching views. Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Magna Carta Day 4 WINDSOR - CLIVEDEN This morning we take a short drive to the Tudor manor house of Dorney Court, a very special home that has been owned by the Palmer family for more than 450 years and used regularly as a film location. Later, we cruise upstream past the fabulous waterside houses of Bray and through the spectacular Cliveden Reach to our exclusive mooring on the Cliveden estate. Once home to the Astor family, it has amazing gardens and was, of course, the scene of much political scandal and intrigue. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Magna Carta Day 5 CLIVEDEN - HURLEY fter breakfast, we cruise further upstream to visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham and take a walk around the village he once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’, before cruising through Marlow to Hurley.  We tour Peter Freebody’s boatyard nearby and watch in wonder as the traditional craftsmen build and restore classic wooden craft. We have time to explore the ancient village, including Ye Olde Bell, reputed to be the oldest inn in the country, before returning to the hotel barge. Dinner on board.

Friday, Magna Carta Day 6 HURLEY- HENLEY A morning cruise to Henley-on-Thames through fabulous countryside to our final mooring along the famous Henley Regatta Rowing Course. Then, an earlier lunch, followed by a drive to Oxford for a fascinating tour of Christ Church, Oxford’s grandest college, founded by Cardinal Wolsey and then again by King Henry VIII. The magnificent surroundings were also where Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Magna Carta Day 7 HENLEY-ON-THAMES - LONDON Following breakfast, disembark at 10 am and return to London. NOTE: On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Magna Carta Meeting point: Sunday 3 pm, The Stafford Hotel, St James's Place, London, England - The Royal River Thames - Hampton Court to Henley-on-Thames - Magna Carta

England Thames Magna Carta

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Barge Cruising in Scotland

The 8 passenger Scottish Highlander is the premier vessel cruising in Scotland's dramatic Great Glen, deep in the Highlands.

The 8 passenger Scottish Highlander has the atmosphere of a Scottish Country House, with subtle use of tartan furnishings and landscape paintings At 117 feet she is spacious and has every comfort for year-round cruising. Her experienced crew of four ensure attention to your every need while you cruise the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, arguably the finest inland cruising scenery in the world. The well planned accommodation offers a choice of one double suite and three twin/double staterooms with full private bath facilities.


Scottish Highlander Cruise Itinerary

Cruise highlights

• Accommodations for 6 nights on the luxurious barge.
• All-inclusive meals- open bar, free wines, gourmet cuisine, regional specialities s
• Entry fees to excursions

Scottish Highlander Cruise Itinerary

Sunday, Day 1 - Inverness to Dochgarroch At 4pm we meet at the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel in Inverness and transfer to Scottish Highlander moored at Dochgarroch. Champagne Welcome and perhaps an early evening stroll to the sea lock with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths. Dinner on board

Monday, Day 2 - Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus Our first cruise will take us up the Muirtown lock flight and through Tomnahurich swing bridge, with an option to walk alongside River Ness to the hamlet of Dochgarroch. After lunch on board, we visit Culloden Moor, scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746, next it’s on to the Muir of Ord distillery, founded in 1838 by licence holders Robert Johnstone and Donald MacLennan. We are given a fascinating description of the maturing and ageing process of their whiskies, each with its distinctive characteristics, followed by our special tasting of several single malts.  Dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Day 3 - Fort Augustus This morning we enjoy Cawdor Castle*, forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”, Macbeth. The picturesque gardens have been listed as being amongst the top 100 in the UK. The castle contains a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furnishings and the Dowager Countess of Cawdor still lives there for part of the year. Then we take a tour through the Clava Cairns, a pre-historic clan chieftain burial site dating back to 2,000 B.C. Later, we cruise through Loch Dochfour and down Loch Ness, where en route we pass Urquhart Castle, navigating closely beneath its spectacular 13thcentury ruins, before continuing our cruise to Fort Augustus. Dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 - Fort Augustus to Kytra After breakfast, there is time to explore the pretty village of Fort Augustus before our cruise takes us up the “flight” and then on to our pretty mooring at Kytra. After lunch on board, we visit the private, Highland Club, a spectacular exclusive set of residences and a former 19th century Benedictine Monastery with a fascinating history. It is here we are treated to a falconry and birds of prey demonstration*** on the banks of Loch Ness, the majesty of the swooping birds against the backdrop of the sweeping Scottish Highlands is not easily forgotten. This evening we dine ashore at a local restaurant.

Thursday, Day 5 - Kytra to Laggan This morning, we take in some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer as we drive to one of its best known and most photographed castles, Eilean Donan, which has featured in movies such as “Highlander” and James Bond’s “The World Is Not Enough” and overlooks three sea lochs. The afternoon cruise today can be partially walked as we cross the very scenic Loch Oich, perhaps stopping en route for a spot of fishing, and onto the pretty Laggan Avenue. As we approach Laggan, our Highland Piper may greet us with a stirring rendition of traditional Scottish music. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 - Laggan to Banavie Our final cruise today will see us cross Loch Lochy, passing Gairlochy, where there is the option to visit the Clan Cameron Museum. We continue on to Moy Bridge, the last fully hand-operated bridge on the canal to moor at Banavie beneath Ben Nevis and a stroll from Neptune’s Staircase leading down to Loch Eil. After lunch on board, our tour today takes us to the mystical battlefield of Glencoe, famed for one of the darkest days in Scottish history. Alternatively, we can enjoy some breath-taking panoramic views on a cable car ride to the summit of Aonach Mor mountain. If time permits, we can also visit the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle.  Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 6 - Banavie After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Inverness**.

On alternative weeks the itinerary is in reverse direction. This itinerary is subject to change.

Seven days/Six nights
Scottish Highlander 117 feet long - 8 passengers - 4 crew 3 TWINS/DOUBLE SUITES, 1 DOUBLE SUITE

Cruises include: Fully air-conditioned suites, twin or double staterooms with private bath , gourmet meals aboard and ashore, fine wines and an open bar, fascinating daily excursions, local transfers. Cuisine is traditional Scottish fare - salmon, game, venison and seafood, prepared by your own Master Chef. The experienced crew of four ensure attention to your every need. A cruise along the Great Glen encounters some of Scotland's finest scenery

2 passengers required on all departures to guarantee the cruise except March and November when a minimum of 4 passengers is required.

Scottish Highlands Scottish Highlander

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