Spirit of Scotland: A Luxury Barge Cruise through the Heart of the Highlands

Lovers of wildlife might have an opportunity to see magnificent stags along the Caledonian Canal, as well as Highland cattle, and red squirrels. Guests will enjoy an exclusive falconry demonstration on the banks of Loch Ness, in the private grounds of the venerable Fort Augustus Abbey. Swooping birds of prey dive over an impressive backdrop of sparkling bodies of water, rising heathland, and landscaped gardens.

If all this isn’t enough, there’s also an unforgettable visit to Cawdor Castle, known as the setting for the murderous play, Macbeth. Walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps to see historic treasures such as tapestries, paintings and furniture, and enjoy its extraordinary gardens that make the list of top 100 in the UK.

Mealtimes aboard Spirit of Scotland were a delight, with the chef happy to amend menus for dietary requirements when discussed in advance. Staab preferred white meat to red and explained that “without even having to remind the staff, I was offered fish or chicken when beef or lamb was the main course at dinner.” Another passenger required gluten free meals, which was never much trouble for the chef.

There was plenty of entertainment on board and off. “One evening, we were treated to a local band that played traditional Scottish music along with contemporary music – even a Bruce Springsteen cover. Another evening, a storyteller stopped by to explain the history of kilts and even demonstrated how to wear a kilt with one of our guests volunteering to serve as a model.”

One feature of a cruise aboard the  Spirit of Scotland was that guests never miss an opportunity to enjoy, is the hot tub. Staab wrote of the six-person tub that the temperature of 100 degrees fahrenheit made for “a soothing respite after a hike along the canal path or a walk in one of the towns where the boat moors”.

The large, luxurious layout of the Spirit of Scotland makes it the perfect repose for a six night stay. Compared to other European canals, the Caledonian Canal has no low bridges and is wide enough for larger ships. This meant that Staab enjoyed his time on the spacious upper deck to relax and enjoy the “view of the mountains of the Scottish Highlands. What made it all the more enjoyable was the crew bringing up hot drinks from below and offering blankets to snuggle.” Throughout the week, Staab even managed a few exercise sessions on this large deck!

With eight bikes stored onboard for guests, there were plenty of opportunities for guests to enjoy the fresh air. Staab commented that cycling was easy enough as the “pathways along the canal are well maintained, hard-packed dirt or asphalt roads and are infrequently used by cars and trucks.”

Staab was thrilled with the excursion offers available on the Spirit of Scotland itinerary. He explains that guests were offered a half day tour, where they were chauffeured to locations in two air-conditioned luxury vehicles. An advantage of such a small group of guests was that “the tour director can tailor the excursion to fit the needs of the passengers or include a quick stop at a local ATM”.

A highlight for Staab was The World is Not Enough location, Eilean Donan castle. Situated on a small island at the “confluence of three lakes: Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh”, it “features a picture-perfect arched bridge”.

Another outing took Spirit of Scotland guests to Urquhart Castle, where “during the 500 years it was fully occupied, the control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English”. Staab enjoyed a history lesson to learn how the castle was blown up by the government in 1690 to end the Jacobite Rebellion, never to be restored. Spirit of Scotland visitors had a unique perspective of the castle, sailing close to it on Loch Ness to see views from the water!

A visit to Macbeth’s Castle did not disappoint. Staab enjoyed discovering how Shakespeare’s Macbeth was named Thane of Cawdor “centuries before the current home of the Dowager of Cawdor was built”. With origins back to 1454, Cawdor Castle has many impressive features, including a drawbridge and turrets. Staab comments that it also has “beautifully maintained gardens, including a secret garden and maze” and “11 well-preserved rooms, showcasing exquisite tapestries and period furnishings and still inhabited by the Dowager who occasionally drops by to say hello to guests”.

Scotland’s call of the wild was exciting to Staab and his fellow passengers. With Scotland being home to a range of bird species including “golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, hen harriers, ospreys, hawks and various owl species”. Referring to these prehistoric creatures as ‘raptors’, Staab enjoyed watching the birds fly above them and come back to the handler, and passengers, if they chose to try on the glove!

If you’d like to find out more about Staab’s journey aboard ‘Spirit of Scotland’ then read the full review here. Titled ‘Charming Cruise on a Canal Barge in the Scottish Highlands’, it will certainly show you the highs of a Highland barge cruise on the Caledonian Canal.

Golf Enthusiasts

Discover the ultimate golfing adventure aboard Spirit of Scotland’s Golf Cruises. Perfect for charters of up to 12 people, you’ll experience the best scenery in the Scottish Highlands as you attempt a hole-in-one. Our cruise takes you to prestigious 18-hole courses, including Newtonmore Golf Course and the Championship Links Course at Cabot Highlands. Play at the renowned Tom Morris designed Championship Course at Royal Dornoch and spot the sheep on their maintenance round as you enjoy a 9-hole round at Fort Augustus Golf Course. Don’t miss an opportunity to review the whole itinerary and book your place for an unparalleled golfing experience.

Garden Afficionados

If you’re a horticulturalist at heart, or you just appreciate beautifully put together landscapes, then a Spirit of Scotland Garden Cruise is a great way to navigate the Highlands. Firstly, enjoy a tour of one of the top 100 UK gardens at Cawdor Castle with the Head Gardener. If exotic plantings and woodland paths are more your area of interest, then you’ll love Abriachan Nurseries on the shores of Loch Ness. Cherry blossoms and acer trees will impress Japanese garden lovers at Attadale Gardens and for a more a natural approach, we visit the Wild Woodland Garden of Larachmhor, which is famous for its 200 varieties of rhododendrons, blooming from April throughout May. To learn more about a Garden Cruise on Spirit of Scotland then read about the full itinerary.