Logs
Combine wonderful visits with the opportunity to play golf on courses that could only exist in the home of golf/ Many of the courses are set in spectacular rolling sand dunes with breath-taking coastal views. The added benefit is that nobody needs to be an expert to enjoy this wonderful cruise.
Tuesday 15 September — Oban to Port Ellen
We began in Oban, where embarkation day unfolded at an easy pace as guests embarked and settled into their cabins. By evening we had slipped out to sea, and as darkness fell the ship dropped anchor off Port Ellen on Islay, the whisky island waiting for us just beyond the rail.
Wednesday 16 September — Islay
The golfers were away early, collecting a packed lunch from Reception before boarding transport bound for The Machrie, its fairways rolling through some of the wildest dunes on the island. The rest of us took the coach in the other direction, to Bruichladdich Distillery for a morning among the stills, before lunch at the Port Charlotte Hotel overlooking the loch. The afternoon carried us on to Finlaggan, once the seat of the Lords of the Isles, where the ruins on their small loch island felt like stepping straight into Hebridean history.
By nightfall the ship had repositioned, and we lay at anchor off Campbeltown.
Thursday 17 September — Campbeltown
The golfers spent the whole day at Machrihanish, a links so close to the Atlantic that the opening drive plays straight over the beach. Meanwhile the coach carried the rest of the group first to An Ceardach Garden for a wander among its sheltered planting, then, after lunch, on to the Torrisdale Estate to explore its woodland and shoreline paths.
By evening the ship had come alongside at Port Ryan where we remained overnight.
Friday 18 September — Dundonald and Dumfries House
Our golfers had a treat in store at Dundonald Links, where they were joined by our special guest Colin Montgomerie, trading tips and stories with the local hero of Scottish golf.
Not to be outdone, the non-golfers spent their day at Dumfries House, touring the estate and its collections before lunch, and even caught a glimpse of HM King Charles departing after a conference there.
We stayed alongside at Port Ryan for a second night.
Saturday 19 September — Turnberry
Our golfers played a round at the legendary Trump Turnberry, its lighthouse and cliffside holes among the most photographed in the world. The non-golfers began at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, tracing the poet’s early life, before heading on to Culzean Country Park for lunch, a tour of Culzean Castle, and a leisurely exploration of its grounds high above the Firth of Clyde.
We remained alongside at Port Ryan for one more night.
Sunday 20 September — Portpatrick
The golfers headed for Portpatrick Dunskey, a course perched dramatically above the Irish Sea, while the same coach dropped the rest of us at Castle Kennedy Gardens, where we were shown round by John McArthur of that Ilk, chief of Clan McArthur, who had planted many of the trees over 30 years ago.
After lunch, there was the opportunity for a stroll around the pretty harbour village of Portpatrick itself, its pastel-coloured cottages a world away from the wild fairways up the hill.
That evening the ship moved on and anchored off the island of Gigha.
Monday 21 September — Gigha
Our last day of golf took place on the small and characterful Gigha golf course, while non-golfers explored the sub-tropical Achamore Gardens.
In the afternoon the ship got underway again, cruising quietly past the Slate Islands and through the Sound of Luing, as we made our way north towards our final anchorage in Oban Bay where the farewell gala dinner was held.
Tuesday 22 September — Back to Oban
We woke to Oban once more, this time for disembarkation as our guests headed home.
