On Thursday 24 August I was driven from London to Portsmouth where I was efficiently met by Noble Caledonian staff around 3pm. After about an hour I boarded MS Hebridean Sky and after numerous talks and drills we eventually sailed at 6.45pm. Sailing out of Portsmouth we saw the two carriers the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales sitting side by side.
Sadly the weather was not good enough for us to visit the Channel Islands on day one so we sailed for Cornwall instead! At 8.30 the following morning we arrived at the pretty town of Fowey. I declined the offer of a zodiac tour up/down the River Fowey for an hour in the morning [not my favourite means of transport] so walked the deck for quite some while! I did venture into Fowey for an hour in the afternoon, but the place was swarming and it started to rain, so I returned to the ship.
On Saturday morning we arrived in the Scilly Isles. I went on an excursion in the morning to Tresco to visit their Abbey Garden [although there is no abbey!]. A really beautiful garden and a lovely morning’s walk. In the afternoon we had a long journey by boat to St Agnes and I went on the longest ‘short walk’ I have ever been on! I have walked almost six miles today!
On Sunday morning we arrived in Fishguard after a fairly rough night! I decided not to go on any walks after yesterday’s exhausting day, but took a bus into Fishguard to see the “Last Invasion Tapestry”. After lunch I joined an excursion into St David’s to visit the wonderful cathedral.
On Monday we were diverted to Douglas rather than Peel in the Isle of Man. Having spent five days in the Isle of Man last year I decided not to go ashore – just to take it easy on board. Still managed to walk over 3 miles around the deck!
On Tuesday our visit to Raithlin Island was cancelled because of bad weather, so we headed for Londonderry and took buses to visit the Giant’s Causeway. I have to say it was not as wonderful as I had expected. To try and walk on the stones was difficult without anything to hang on to. However, I am glad I have been there – and seen that! In the afternoon I had a quiet and enjoyable wander around Derry/Londonderry, and even walked their Walls.
After a very rough night sailing the Atlantic, we arrived in St Kilda, and took zodiacs ashore – not the best of experiences as it was still quite choppy! St Kilda itself was a strange place, lots of deserted cottages, thousands of Cleiteans [food storages], and many sheep! The following day we arrived in Scrabster. Here we visited the Castle of Mey in the morning and John O’Groats in the afternoon. Two new experiences for me!
On Friday 1
st September we headed to the Shetlands and visited Unst in the afternoon on a beautiful sunny day. A delightful part of the Shetlands with lots of sheep, Shetland ponies as well as a Viking longhouse and longboat! We had a good view of Muckle Flugga lighthouse – the furthest north you can go in the UK
On the 2
nd, my birthday, we docked in Lerwick, slightly further south on the Shetlands. Took myself into the town for a short walk around in the morning. In the afternoon we were taken on a drive around Lerwick and a visit to Jarlshof archaeological ruins. In the evening I had a good table to celebrate my birthday – with a birthday cake and a sing-song!
Arrived in Aberdeen in the afternoon of Sunday 3rd September and took a tour to Glamis Castle which was wonderful, even if it was a long journey as our original port of Montrose proved difficult to get into so it was Aberdeen instead.
On Monday we were to go out for the day – with packed lunches. We arrived in Eyemouth at 7am, at anchor, and by 8.30 we were on our way. Zodiacs to get ashore and then a long bus journey to Alnwick Castle. We spent the morning there going around the grounds and ate our lunch in their courtyard. It was a glorious day so thankfully no problem to sit around for a while. After lunch it was back on the bus and on to Holy Island, or Lindisfarne as it is known. The bus drove us across the causeway to Holy Island. It was a long and tough walk to the Castle, where we had a tour. Afterwards the long walk back and then we wandered around the island visiting the old Priory and St Mary’s Church, before getting back on the bus to go back to our zodiacs and the ship.
On a sunny Tuesday morning we arrived in Whitby and once again had to zodiac ashore. In the morning I went on a coach tour of the Yorkshire moors – some wonderful sights of colourful heather. In the afternoon I visited the site of the old Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church. The Abbey was stunning in the glorious sunshine.
Around midday on Wednesday we arrived in Ipswich and were berthed in the industrial part of the port – not the best! During the afternoon I went on a coach trip to Helminging Hall to see their beautiful gardens. That evening was the farewell dinner and some rather strange arrangements of taking your glass up to the Lounge for your chocolate dessert and the film show of our trip – to be given to us on USB sticks! I then retired to the Bar with some new friends for an hour or so before going back to my cabin to do a final pack.
Thursday morning we had to be up early to get our luggage outside our rooms. A swift breakfast and then pack up everything else. I was off the ship by 9.40 and in my car by 9.45. Home by 11.15!
A very average holiday – good visits but poor organisation on board the ship.
