Britain & Ireland in Bloom

Itinerary

Day 1 - Portsmouth

Embark this afternoon and sail in the early evening past the Isle of Wight bound for the Channel Islands.

Day 2 - Alderney & Sark

Our morning’s visit to Alderney will offer the opportunity for some cliff walks when the spring flowers and bird watching should be at their best. Visit St Anne, which has all the old-world charm of a Normandy village with tiny squares and pastel shaded cottages and shops. Back on board for lunch as we sail across to Sark , Europe’s last feudal estate. Go ashore for a visit to the enchanting. Seigneury Gardens. Horse-drawn carriages take us around this peaceful traffic free island which is alive with the songs of chaffinches, skylarks and mistle thrush.

Day 3 - Herm & Guernsey

This morning land by Zodiac on the tiny island of Herm, just a mile and a half long by half-a-mile wide. This is Guernsey’s little sister and a wonderfully relaxing place with stunning beaches, cliff walks, sand dunes. See Shell Beach rich in tiny shells of all colours from vivid pink to gold, Walk the path to the Common, see Harbour Village and perhaps enjoy a morning coffee at the White House Hotel set in a palm fringed garden. Sail during lunch to St. Peter Port on Guernsey. Spend the afternoon on the ‘Island of Flowers’. An island drive will include the house where Victor Hugo resided for 14 years. The house has been frozen in time and is just as it was during his residency. Also, see Les Pres de Jerbourg, a beautiful open garden in St Martin’s parish, consisting of four linked and contrasting gardens with sea views and lake, spectacular rockery, rose garden, Mediterranean garden and large conservatory with exotic plants

Day 4 - St Michael Mount & the Helford River

Today’s mooring will be determined by weather and tides, but the day will be devoted to St Michael’s Mount and arguably the loveliest and most unspoilt river in the land, the Helford River. St Michael’s Mount is truly unique; a tiny, rocky island filled with astonishing history and natural beauty, yet still a living, working community of people. This is no dusty old museum – St Michael’s Mount is full of life, a place where ancient and modern sit side by side, and where nothing is quite as it seems…An island – which you can walk to when the tide is low. A medieval castle – that is still home to a modern family. A tranquil, beautiful location – that has played its part in many furious battles. Also, on today’s exploration is a trip to the Helford River with its many side creeks, perhaps the most famous of all, ‘Frenchman’s Creek’ of Daphne du Maurier fame. We will visit the 26 acre ravine gardenof Trebah. This sub-tropical paradise of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubs winds down the Helford river bank to a secluded private beach.

Day 5 - St Mary’s & Tresco

Our exploration of the beautiful Isles of Scilly will start with a morning on St Mary’s and the quaint capital of Hugh Town. There will be some free time to wander around the charming little town, perhaps visit the local museum or walk one of the coastal trails. After lunch on board spend the afternoon on Tresco, to many the most attractive of the islands. It is leased by the Dorrien-Smith family, who have done much to preserve the island’s great charm and created a wonderful 40 acre sub-tropical garden, close to their Tresco Abbey home. Stroll the traffic free lanes and enjoy a walk along one of the lovely white-sand beaches where the sea colour has more in common with the Aegean than the North Atlantic.

Day 6 - Waterford

Sail up the river, past Waterford Castle to the ancient city of Waterford which dates back to Norman times. Drive to Mount Congreve a spectacular woodland garden on the banks of the River Suir. This privately owned seventy acre garden with a four acre walled garden is particularly stunning in May when the gardens are awash with magnificent sweeps of flowering azaleas, camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons. Continue to Kilkenny one of the most historic and attractive cities in all Ireland. After lunch visit the Castle and artisan centre before returning to Waterford.

Day 7 - Bantry Bay, West Cork

Drop anchor in this beautiful bay where the heather covered mountains seem to come down to the sea. Land at Glengariff and visit Bantry Bay House, the grand house of the area and its restored 'Italian Garden' as well as nearby Garinsh Island, surely one of the most beautifully sited gardens in all Ireland.

Day 8 - Clifden, Galway

In the morning we call into one of Ireland’s most picturesque towns - Clifden. Perched high above the deep-sided, boulder strewn estuary of the River Owenglin, Clifden’s distinctive skyline of Gimlet spires, stands out against the dramatic grandeur of the Connemara Mountains. Explore the town and the Twelve Bens mountain range.

Day 9 - Portrush, Antrim

The beauty of the North Antrim coast is legendary. This morning we will visit the Giants Causeway which become widely known from the 1700's as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World', large numbers of visitor's came to view this amazing array of basalt columns - it is estimated that there are around 40,000 in total. Continue to the nearby Bushmills Distillery, one of the best known and oldest whisky makers in Ireland. Cruise over to nearby Rathlin Island during lunch. Located just a few miles from theNorth Antrim coast Rathlin has been settled for more than 6000 years. Today, there are only 80 or so souls, whereas before the Famine there were 1200 inhabitants. History is every with historic building and ruins and we will enjoy a guided walk which will also take in the prolific sea birds life. In the evening sail past the magnificent cliffs to the north of the island which is home to the largest sea bird colony in Ireland.

Day 10 - Isles of Islay & Gigha

The most southerly of the Hebridean Islands, Islay is best known for its distinctive single malt whiskies. On a morning call to Port Ellen. we will visit one of the distilleries and also take in some of the lovely countryside that is a walkers dream and rich in birdlife. During lunch sail towards Kintyre and the island of Gigha where we will spend the afternoon in the gardens of Achamore House. The Horlick family, better known for the eponymous milk drink have created a stunning garden with their collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and exotic plants. Gigha is a place apart. Heather covered hills, deserted beaches and a single lane verged with wild flowers that meanders for some six miles between cottages and farms. Privately owned by its 120 inhabitants it is a gem of a place and somewhere not easily forgotten.

Day 11 - Colonsay & Iona

Land this morning on the island of Colonsay for a visit to the 30 acre informal gardens of Colonsay House. Located centrally on this scenically magnificent island the gardens are famous for the its unusual collection of trees and shrubs from all over the world. Springtime is particularly lovely when Himalayan primulas, bluebells and other wild flowers carpet the ground. During lunch sail to Iona. For more than 1000 years the Island of Iona has been a place of deep spiritual significance. No less than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried here, including Duncan, Macbeth’s victim. St Columba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianity spread through northern Britain from this remote island community. After exploring the Abbey, time permitting you may care to take a short walk on the wild side to the ‘Bay at the Back of the Ocean’.

Day 12 - Siel & Craignure

On the island of Seil visit An Cala a Mawson designed gardens of the 1930’s. Enjoy it meandering streams, winding paths, formal terracing of local slate and wide green lawns which combine to create a most pleasing harmony. Sail in the late morning for the Isle of Mull and the harbour of Craignure for a visit to Torosay Castle. With its formal Italianate terraces and dramatic surrounding scenery Torosay is a spectacular setting. Explore its ‘niche’ gardens and large collection of statuary and find a peaceful spot to relax and absorb the perfect landscape. Farewell dinner as we sail down the Sound of Mull.

Day 13 Oban, Scotland

Disembark after breakfast and drive to Glasgow Airport or rail station.