Newhaven-Rosyth-Queensferry, Scotland Cruise from Leith to Dublin — 12 Days

Leith-Edinburgh

Leith brings Edinburgh within reach, but rewards those who stay by the water. Once a working port, this lively district pairs maritime history with independent restaurants, galleries and a strong local character. At Ocean Terminal, step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, the former royal residence now open to visitors. Trams and buses connect you with the capital: Edinburgh Castle, its museums and Georgian streets make an easy day ashore.

Isle of May Scotland (Scenic Stop)

Farne Islands England (Scenic Stop)

Holy Island England (Scenic Stop)

Fair Isle

Set between Orkney and Shetland, Fair Isle rewards the detour with a rare sense of quiet and distance. Sea cliffs rise above the Atlantic, where puffins and other seabirds gather in season. On land, stone crofts and green pasture frame a close-knit community famed for its distinctive Fair Isle knitting. Its appeal lies in remoteness as much as scenery; allow time to explore, since weather shapes island life.

Lerwick

Lerwick feels more like a North Atlantic outpost than a Scottish port, with stone-fronted streets facing a working harbour. Shetland’s capital rewards a stroll along the waterfront and through narrow lanes. The Lodberrie, an eighteenth-century merchant’s house built partly over the sea, is one of its most distinctive landmarks. Visit Shetland Museum and Archives for the islands’ Norse heritage and contemporary life. Beyond town, open moorland, sea cliffs and wildlife offer a striking change of scale.

Torshavn

Tórshavn is one of the world’s smallest capitals, yet it offers a revealing introduction to the Faroe Islands. Begin at Tinganes, where red-painted timber buildings cluster on a narrow headland beside the harbor. The Løgting, the Faroese parliament, meets nearby, continuing a political tradition rooted in the islands’ Norse past. In the compact center, cafés, shops and museums offer an easy pause before the Atlantic’s open horizons reclaim your attention.

Vestmanna (Ask Travel Agent)

Shiant Islands Scotland (Scenic Stop)

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.

Lunga Island Scotland

Lunga is the largest of Scotland’s Treshnish Isles, a wild, uninhabited outpost reached by boat from Mull or Iona. In summer, Atlantic puffins nest in burrows above the shore, while guillemots, razorbills and fulmars crowd the cliffs. A landing rewards patient wildlife watchers with close views, but the terrain is uneven and exposed. There are no visitor facilities, so bring suitable footwear and weatherproof clothing.

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.

Belfast

Belfast pairs a proud maritime past with a lively, walkable centre. At Titanic Belfast, the story of the famous liner unfolds beside the shipyard where she was built. Nearby, grand City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter reveal different sides of the city, from civic confidence to café-lined lanes. Across west Belfast, political murals offer a vivid perspective on its recent history. With the Giant’s Causeway within reach, Belfast also makes a compelling starting point for Northern Ireland’s dramatic coast.

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.