Anyone who has taken a cruise vacation knows this is the ideal way to feel the lighthearted joy of a few work-free days! Cruises from the UK can be your ideal gateway to calm, quiet, stress-free days on the sea with your friends or family. The great thing is that UK cruises provide you with even more enjoyment since you can island hop during the journey and participate in various activities. In the British Isles, history is all around you, and legendary towns, historical sites, old castles, and famous churches come in dozens. Let’s see which sites and activities you shouldn’t miss during your UK cruise holiday!
Enjoy the Natural Beauty of the British Isles on Your Cruise Trip from the UK
Many people think about a cruise trip around the Mediterranean coast , but if you want something new with fewer people around, the British Isles should be perfect for you! Book a cruise ticket that will take you through Scotland, Ireland, and the Channel Islands to intimately experience the beating heart of the British Isles. You will have enough time to participate in local trips, go sightseeing, and taste the delicious food during a lovely, memorable vacation.
1. Take a Boat Ride on River Shannon
One of the best ways to see the natural splendor of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands is to take a boat ride on the River Shannon! Go south from Carrick-On-Shannon to Banagher, pausing for a picnic in the picturesque forest or visiting Clonmacnoise in Offaly, one of the most well-known monastic sites in the world.
Go to Lough Derg and Lough Ree to breathe in the fresh air and see the great lakes. But that’s not all; why not go north instead? Experience the Shannon-Erne Waterway, which sails to Lough Erne via great, old canals, and see the softly meandering Woodford River.
Admire the expansive views and the breathtaking sunsets from your cruise ship daily!
Travel from Athlone to Killaloe and stop at Birr Castle Demesne, Galway City, and scenic Portumna for delectable cuisine. You can even take a leisurely fishing excursion or choose the powerboat experience for a day and enjoy the surge of adrenaline!
2. Visit the Dublin Castle
Some of Ireland's earliest surviving architectural structures can be found at Dublin Castle today! Located off Dame Street, Dublin Castle was formerly a Danish Viking stronghold that functioned as a treasury, a courtroom, and even a prison over the years. Did you know it was also the seat of the English government in Ireland for nearly seven hundred years?
The castle is a thriving heritage structure that hosts state receptions and presidential inaugurations in addition to receiving thousands of visitors annually, and the best part is, on an expedition to the castle, you may explore the grounds and even take a look at the stunning Waterford chandeliers in the State Apartments.
3. Check out the Archeological Sites of Scotland
The Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Orkney islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland, is one of the many intriguing historical sites that you can’t possibly miss on your cruise tour from the UK. Look at the marvel of the 4,000-year-old Ring of Brodgar, an archeological gem and the most recognizable name of Orkney's ancient history!
This 104-meter-diameter Neolithic henge and stone circle was formerly made up of sixty stones, twenty-seven still standing. The Callanish Stones, older than Stonehenge and arranged in a cruciform pattern with a center stone circle for almost five thousand years, are located in the Outer Hebrides. The central stone, which stands at fifteen feet tall, is part of an amazing exhibition of standing stones! Archaeologists believe the rocks served as an astronomical observatory or cosmic calendar. Still, in the local legend, the stones are the bones of giants who were punished for not becoming Christians.
After looking at those ancient stones, don’t forget about Skara Brae, a stone village where you may observe even now how people used to spend their everyday lives in the past. It is regarded as one of the most significant Neolithic sites in western and northern Europe because of how well the structures have survived.
4. Look at the Breathtaking Cliffs around Lerwick
Towering cliffs, expansive beaches, and grassy slopes where horses graze freely characterize this lonely island off the northern coast of Scotland. Explore thousands of years of history at the Shetland Museum in Lerwick's tiny yet vibrant capital! You can also learn about the islands' renowned knitwear at the Textile Museum or visit the Jarlshof archeological site to witness Iron Age and Stone Age villages.
5. Whale Watching in the Channel Islands
If you always wanted to go whale watching, the Channel Islands Harbor is the best place! You may get a closer look at the whales and the stunning Channel Islands National Park by going on a local whale-watching trip outside of the harbor. What’s more, stunning journeys across the National Marine Sanctuary are also available through these trips.
6. Go Fishing
There is nothing like fishing in and around the Channel Islands, and thankfully, the Harbor is home to reputable sportfishing businesses that can accommodate any hobbyist’s requirements. Enjoy stunning views of the Channel Islands while fishing for white sea bass, halibut, sand bass, yellowtail, and lingcod, depending on the season! The sportfishing fleet at Hook's Landing will take you to nearby reefs with an abundance of bass, rockfish, and halibut or around the outer Channel Islands to the Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Cruz Islands.
7. Enjoy the Local Marine Life in Anacapa Island
Travelers can see seabirds, seals, dolphins, and other marine animals in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park seas. A fun fact: more marine mammals are in this ocean region than anywhere else on Earth. You could spot harbor seals, common dolphins, white-sided dolphins, or Risso's dolphins on your way from the mainland to Anacapa Island, and even though this is generally not a whale watch route, there is a chance that you will see gray or humpback whales during winter and spring.
Why not take a sail along Anacapa Island's rocky coastline? See the well-known Arch Rock; visitors can also look at the still operational lighthouse on top of the island. And don’t forget about the pelicans! One of the biggest nesting populations of brown pelicans on the West Coast is found on Anacapa Island, and all three of Anacapa's islands are nesting grounds for Western Gulls.
Conclusion
Taking a cruise trip from the UK is the ideal way to learn about the rich history of the British Isles! One day, you are enjoying the luxury of the cruise ship, listening to live music during a fancy dinner, and the next day, you are on a trip to experience the thousands of years-old history of these ancient islands or to take your first look ever at a giant whale! When you return from your trip, you will feel refreshed from the holiday and have a greater understanding of the spectacular history of these wonderful, beautiful, awe-inspiring places!