WILD SCOTLAND

Greg Mortimer

Discover the wild isles of Scotland, from the windswept Hebrides, inhabited for over 8,000 years, to the verdant Orkney Islands, where ancient Neolithic and Viking sites conjure images of civilisations long gone.

Zodiac-cruise past sea-sculpted coastlines watching for dolphins, seals and basking sharks, and photograph seabirds in one of Europe’s largest seabird colonies. Visit charming villages, meet the friendly locals and maybe even sample a wee dram of Scotland’s finest.

Fascinating talks from special guest and historian Carol Knott

Carol has worked for the National Trust of Scotland as an archaeologist and has a Master’s degree in Archaeology and History.

Carol’s passion for archaeology began with rescue excavations of medieval English towns, ports, churches and castles. After receiving a Masters degree in Archaeology and History from the University of Glasgow, she continued this work with investigation of some of the great medieval abbeys, palaces and gardens of England. In 1988 she returned to her native Scotland, and since then has lived and worked amongst the windswept islands of the Outer Hebrides, with field researches focused on ‘the archaeology of survival’ – the study of remote communities and deserted places. Until 2012, Carol also worked for the National Trust of Scotland as archaeologist for St Kilda, helping to understand and preserve the unique heritage of this World Heritage site.

She also travels worldwide and in the polar regions as a guide and lecturer on expedition ships, including to Svalbard, Greenland and extensively to Antarctica, where she has found a second home under canvas on the ice cap.

Highlights

  • Visit Britain’s highest sea cliffs at the World Heritage-listed St Kilda
  • Take a Zodiac cruise to Staffa’s world-famous Fingal’s Cave
  • Discover the Shetland Islands and their fascinating history
  • Look out for otters, dolphins, seals and basking sharks
  • Discover some of Scotland’s genuinely far-flung and rugged islands, where few adventurous souls dare visit

Number of passengers (SCOT16G): 120 passengers (including kayakers)