Guest Speakers

Travel with Expert Cruise Speakers

Selected cruises welcome specially chosen expert guest speakers. They bring Scotland’s history and culture to life with passion and in-depth knowledge.

Experience the rich history, culture and taste of Scotland with expert cruise speakers who can bring this beautiful country to life. On selected cruises, Lord of the Highlands welcomes expert guest speakers, hand-picked for their in-depth knowledge, who love nothing more than sharing their passion for Scotland. The enrichment of discovery and thrill of knowledge put these cruises in a category of their own.

Our Guest Speakers:

Guest Speaker Chris Wardle

Highland Gardens
Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness
Monday 13th to Monday 20th May 2024
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Chris initially trained in Horticulture Forestry and Conservation at Capel Manor College in North London before moving to continue his studies in Amenity Horticulture at Askham Bryan College where he met his wife Ruth. He worked in private gardens in Surrey and Sussex before moving to the National Trust for Scotland in early 2000. Chris has held roles from assistant Head Gardener to Head Gardener at Crathes Castle until 2018. His career has continued into garden advisory roles, education and plant curation and his specialism is in trees and woodland management.

Guest Speaker John Lippiett

Scotland’s Se afaring Past
Inverness to Edinburgh
Monday 3rd to Monday 10th June 2024
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

John Lippiett had a 36 year career in the Royal Navy which included command of 3 ships at different seniorities, a frigate squadron and the School of Maritime Warfare, and culminating in three appointments at flag rank. He took early retirement in 2003 and became Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust. He now lectures extensively on Maritime History, from the Phoenicians four thousand years ago, all the way through to recent history such as the Falklands War of ’82 (in which he served as second in command of a frigate), and into today’s troubled world.

Guest Speaker Julia Marwood

Jewels of the East Co ast
Edinburgh to Inverness
Monday 10th to Monday 17th June 2024
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Julia has a lifelong passion for art. After early retirement from her career teaching German and English, she now has the great pleasure of spending all day every day looking at and talking about art – apart from when she is wild swimming or learning Scottish Gaelic! She particularly enjoys visiting galleries in Scotland to indulge her love of the Glasgow Boys, Glasgow Girls and Scottish Colourists. As an Accredited Arts Society Lecturer – and a tour guide at Manchester Art Gallery – she loves to share the joy of looking at art.

Expert guest speakers accompany selected cruises to help you get the most out of your voyage

Our guest speaker and themed cruises always prove extremely popular. To avoid disappointment, book an enriching cruise on Lord of the Highlands today.