Scenic Scottish Cruises by Barge from European Waterways

The beauty of the raw and pristine nature that’s awaiting holidaymakers who have chosen to explore the Highlands has never left anyone unmoved. Cruising the impressive Caledonian Canal, surrounded by heather-clad hillsides, embraced by the untamed forces of nature and overarched by the dramatically painted skies, you will feel a world away from the rut of daily life. Let the wind blow through your hair, let the warm burn of single malt warm your insides and let yourself take in the history and the legends of this one-of-a-kind part of the world.

When it comes to Scotland, cruise opportunities abound and European Waterways’ Scottish cruises excel in the luxury, cuisine and the unique, personal service they offer. On board either of our authentic barges, you will be pampered by our crew whose single concern is that you have a holiday experience that ticks off all your boxes.

If you decide to cruise Scotland with European Waterways, you’ll have the opportunity to see the dramatic landscapes of the Great Glen open up to you while navigating the jaw-dropping lochs and Caledonian Canal that make up the way between Inverness and Fort William. You’ll be able to admire the ancient castles scattered along the water’s edge, learn all about legends surrounding the mythical inhabitant of Loch Ness and indulge in a traditional regional cuisine that’s freshly prepared for you by our crew each day.

Our Scottish cruise ships aim to have you experience the area with all your senses, and that includes experiencing the mouth feel of the local Scotch, tasting the full flavours of the local salmon, seafood, and game and smelling the fragrant, unpolluted air that blows amongst the hilltops. There truly is no better way of getting to the heart of the region than to cruise Scotland and experience it from the water.

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Luxury Scottish Canal Boat Holidays

We have two stunning hotel barges that will take you around the waters of the stunning Scottish highlands. The Scottish Highlander mimics a gorgeous traditional Scottish country home with its stunning tartan finishes and warm woods to give a cosy but luxurious feel to the vessel. The 117 feet long barge incorporates both space and luxury harmoniously through its high-quality elegant finishes that allow you to enjoy the glorious Highlands in divine opulence.

The Scottish highlander features amazing accommodations for up to eight guests across three double/twin staterooms and one junior suite, all with phenomenal finishes and air-conditioning. Each of the rooms is also centrally heated with impressive en-suite facilities.

The Spirit of Scotland is modelled after a barge that has been navigating the water of the Scottish highlands lochs for decades. The vessel features numerous comfortable and elegant common areas that can be enjoyed by all guests onboard and viewpoints all around the boat so that you can enjoy the beauty of Scotland and the highlands.

The glorious interior truly defines the spirit of Scotland with a grand spacious and bright dining area and a fully stocked bar with the best local whiskeys that the highlands has to offer. The bigger boat can accommodate small groups or big groups of up to 12 lucky guests across 6 beautifully finished cabins. The cabins can be either twin rooms or double rooms and feature beautifully designed en suite bathrooms.

Our Scottish Cruises

Scottish Highlander

Deluxe 8 Passengers 5 Crew

Scottish Highlander is a first class, 8 passenger hotel barge that navigates the scenic Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands

Itinerary

Classic Cruise – Scotland

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Spirit of Scotland

Deluxe 12 Passengers 6 Crew

Spirit of Scotland is a deluxe, 12 passenger hotel barge that sails the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands

Itinerary

Classic Cruise – Scotland

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Scotland Cruise Experience Highlights

Whilst most people visiting Scotland opt for sightseeing in the larger cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, when doing this they miss out on the true beauty of the magical country. The towering Ben Nevis, rolling hills, and Lochs are a far cry from Edinburgh Castle. The natural beauty of the Scottish highlands is like nowhere else in the world.

Our stunning cruises take you from the historical city of Inverness and the smaller highlander town of Fort William, stretching the width of Scotland. Along the way, there will be multiple stops that really highlight the true beauty of the land.

On board our luxury vessels Scotland’s stunning lochs and canals are fully accessible, allowing you to unlock the beauty of the waterways, no matter what the weather. En route, we will take you to the world-renowned Loch Ness where you will have the chance to look out for Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness Monster. There is no better way to travel these incredible waters than in one of our incredibly luxurious barge hotels.

Every day you will disembark the vessel to a new location full of character, history, and culture. Some of the most popular destinations on the cruise are the architectural masterpieces of Cawdor Castle and Eilean Donan Castle, as well as the Ben Nevis distillery that makes fine whiskey.

Themed Cruises Scotland

If you embark on a private charter then you will be able to choose a theme for your cruise. We will then cater your itinerary to your chosen theme to make sure that you are doing more of what you love whether that be golf, gardens, or even whisky.

On our Golf Cruise, you will get the chance to play at some of Scotland’s most exclusive courses. Your days will be full of beautiful scenery like Ben Nevis and Neptune’s Staircase in Banavie, stunning Scottish cuisine, local single malt whiskey, and countless rounds of golf.

We also offer Garden Cruises that will take you to some of the country’s most beautiful gardens and locations. You will get the chance to explore the stunning gardens of the famous Cawdor Castle. These picture gardens have been listed among the UK’s top 100. Cawdor castle has been immortalised in Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish Play’, Macbeth.

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Why Book A Scottish Barge Cruise

You will get the chance to cruise one of the UKs most beautiful waterway in your luxury barge hotel.
Throughout the duration of your cruise you will experience vast locations that are steeped in history and culture.
You will get the chance to stop and take in some of the area’s most historic and beautiful sights that you will never forget.
You will navigate through the many of the country’s vast lochs, most notably the famous Loch Ness, where you will have the chance to see for yourself whether the Loch Ness Monster is real or not.