Ireland Cruise from Dublin to Greenock — 10 Days

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city best explored on foot, where Georgian squares, lively lanes and centuries of history sit close together. From Dublin Port, the centre is a short drive away, making a day ashore easy to shape. See the Book of Kells at Trinity College, then trace the Liffey through the city centre. A pint in a traditional pub is an invitation to linger.

Portrush

Portrush puts Northern Ireland’s celebrated Causeway Coast within easy reach. Start in town, where a working harbour and two broad sandy beaches frame the Atlantic. Royal Portrush Golf Club has hosted The Open, while nearby Dunluce Castle stands dramatically above the sea. Farther east, the Giant’s Causeway’s interlocking basalt columns reward a visit, especially when the light shifts. Bring a windproof layer; coastal weather changes quickly, and the views are best enjoyed outdoors.

Isle of Canna

At the western edge of Scotland’s Small Isles, Canna offers Atlantic views, seabird colonies and a welcome sense of remoteness. Follow the island’s single-track road to explore historic sites and cross the causeway to neighbouring Sanday. Gaelic traditions remain part of island life, and Canna House preserves an important archive of Gaelic culture and history. Bring walking shoes and time to linger: this small, inhabited island is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.

Isle of Skye

Skye is Scotland at its most elemental: dark Cuillin peaks, sea-lochs and cliffs shaped by Atlantic weather. From Portree, the island’s principal town, roads lead to landmarks including the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock. Allow time for the journey: distances are modest on a map, but narrow roads and changing weather slow the pace. Come for walking, Highland history and views that shift with every turn; Skye is best experienced without a hurried schedule.

Loch Ewe (Scenic Area)

Shiant Islands Scotland (Scenic Stop)

Stornoway

Stornoway is the working heart of Lewis, where fishing boats share a harbour with ferries and visiting ships. Lews Castle houses Museum nan Eilean, while its grounds make an easy first walk. The road west leads to Callanish, where prehistoric standing stones rise above the Atlantic-facing moor. Here, Gaelic heritage is not a display alone; it remains part of daily life, heard in place names and conversation.

St Kilda Islands Scotland

St Kilda lies far out in the Atlantic, west of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Its main island, Hirta, holds stone cleits and the remains of a community evacuated in 1930. Today, its cliffs shelter vast seabird colonies, including gannets and puffins. UNESCO recognises St Kilda for its natural and cultural heritage. Boat trips reach Hirta when conditions allow, but weather is part of the journey.

Isle of Staffa

Staffa rises from the Atlantic off Scotland’s west coast, its dark basalt columns giving the island an almost architectural edge. Step into Fingal’s Cave, where the sea echoes beneath a vaulted roof of hexagonal rock. Boat visits usually depart from Mull or Iona, but landings depend on sea and weather conditions. Come between late spring and summer for a chance to see puffins on the island’s grassy slopes. Bring sturdy footwear; uneven rock and spray are part of the encounter.

Isle of Iona

Iona is reached by ferry from Fionnphort, on the Isle of Mull, and rewards the crossing with rare stillness. Here, St Columba founded a monastery in 563, making the island one of Christianity’s most enduring destinations. The restored medieval abbey remains its centrepiece, while white-sand shores and open machair invite unhurried walks. Come for history, stay for the clear light, sea air and sense of distance from the mainland.

Fort William

Fort William lies at the head of Loch Linnhe, beneath Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Its setting brings Highland scenery within easy reach, while the town offers cafés, shops and a compact waterfront. The Jacobite steam train departs from the station for Mallaig, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Nearby, Neptune’s Staircase lifts boats through eight locks on the Caledonian Canal.

Isle of Mull

Arrive on Mull for Atlantic light, white-sand bays and rugged green hills. At Craignure, Duart Castle rises above the Sound of Mull, guarding this strategic channel for centuries. Tobermory’s brightly painted harbour rewards a stroll among independent shops, cafés and waterfront views. Beyond the villages, watch for white-tailed eagles, otters and red deer across moorland and coast. Allow time for narrow roads and changeable weather; the island’s quieter pleasures rarely come at speed.

Greenock-Glasgow

Greenock places you on the broad Firth of Clyde, with the hills of Argyll rising across the water. Once a shipbuilding and trading powerhouse, this port rewards a closer look at its waterfront. The neoclassical Custom House, built between 1818 and 1822, is one of Scotland’s finest examples of its kind. Glasgow’s museums and architecture are within reach, while the Clyde coast offers quieter views and small-town stops.