7 enchanting British Isles islands to explore by cruise

British Isles cruises are an excellent way to see a side (literally!) to the county we call home – a small group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe.

Did you know, the British Isles has well over 6,000 islands? Everyone recognises Great Britain and Ireland of course, but what about the countless other diminutive spots steeped in history and home to intriguing local customs and wildlife?

Ambassador Cruise Line, as the newest British cruise line, is perfectly positioned (again, literally!) to whisk holidaymakers on an eye-opening journey around these captivating lands.

Ambassador offers a wide variety of adults-only and multigenerational British Isles cruises from Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Falmouth, whether you want to focus on Scotland, circumnavigate the islands or pop to France.

We’ve taken a look at just eight of the awe-inspiring islands Ambassador guests can visit on cruises around the British Isles all the way from the Isles of Scilly down south to the Shetland Islands far up north.

Kirkwall [above, left] is the largest town in the Orkney Isles, an archipelago off Scotland’s north coast. Fun fact, it was once the site of an ancient Norse town founded around 1,000 years ago, so expect plenty of Viking heritage along with historic attractions and an abundance of wildlife.

A major highlight here is St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in the UK and the oldest one in Scotland. Known as the “Light in the North” and built from red and yellow sandstone, the Romanesque cathedral was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus who was martyred in Orkney.

Nearby are the ruins of Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace – two (of three) surviving fortified medieval residences. The monuments are regarded as two of the best examples of architecture in Scotland and highlight Orkney’s strong Norse and ecclesiastical links.

One of the most famous sites in Orkney to see on a British Isles cruise is the Standing Stones of Stenness [above, right] – a 16-minute drive east of Kirkwall. The small circle – originally consisting of 12 stones in total – dates from the third millennium BC and is an ancient ceremonial site. It may be the earliest henge monument in the British Isles!

To learn more about the history of the archipelago, head to The Orkney Museum which tells its story from the Stone Age through the Picts and Vikings to the present day. Alternatively, discover more about Orkney’s wartime history at the Orkney Wireless Museum; the collection spans the development of wireless in the region from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.

Further south off the east coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides is the Isle of Skye. Your Ambassador British Isles cruise calls at the island’s capital and largest town Portree [main image], set around a natural harbour and originally created as a fishing village at the beginning of the 19th century by the then Lord MacDonald.

Fringed by high ground and cliffs, the popular tourist destination offers shopping opportunities, pony-trekking and boat cruises. It’s also a great base for exploring the rest of Skye.

Trotternish Ridge to the north is a real draw thanks to the fascinating rock formations such as Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr and the truly extraordinary pinnacles of the Quaraing [above].

In fact, the latter two have provided the backdrop to such major films as King Arthur, Transformers, Stardust, Macbeth and Prometheus. The otherworldly landscape is spectacular when explored on foot but can be challenging!

Another key attraction is Dunvegan Castle, first built in the 13th century and remodelled in a mock-medieval style in the 19th century. It is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years. Expect beautiful paintings, military relics, antiques, rare books and important heirlooms.

St. Mary’s is the largest of the Isles of Scilly off the southwest coast of Cornwall. Hugh Town is the central hub complete with shops, cafés, galleries, pubs and restaurants (the Bishop and Wolf restaurant is the oldest house on the island) plus three nearby beaches.

From here you can walk to Peninnis Lighthouse, offering lovely views from the weathered granite rocks at Peninnis Head plus the opportunity to spot sea birds.

Garrison Hill is another top spot for panoramic views. Be sure to visit Star Castle, built during the Spanish invasion scare on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I to provide a lookout for intruder ships.

The fortress, in the shape of an eight-pointed star, is now a popular restaurant and hotel. Enjoy a drink in Dungeon Bar which once imprisoned some of the most notorious criminals in the country!

Elsewhere, Old Town boasts a beautiful beach, a nature reserve and a church where former UK Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson is buried.

The pretty island [above] is perfect for exploring on foot during your British Isles cruise port of call, with miles of coastal and country paths and nature trails. Its coastline features vast stretches of deserted white sandy beaches, rocky coves and archaeological sites such as the Iron Age burial chamber at Bant’s Care or the ancient settlement at Halangy Down.

For something more active, there’s kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, wreck-diving, coasteering and sea swimming to try.

St. Peter Port is situated on the east coast of Guernsey [above] in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. The charming town snaked with cobbled streets features museums, seasonal markets, restaurants (from tapas to French cuisine) and shops – why not pick up some traditional local fruit loaf known as Gache?

Town highlights include Smith Street with its 18th-century townhouses and the beautiful Candie Gardens established in 1894. The restored Victorian glasshouses boast unusual plants and trees that thrive in the almost Mediterranean climate.

History buffs on British Isles cruises will relish 800-year-old Castle Cornet which is home to four museums serving up a fascinating insight into hundreds of years of island history plus several historic gardens. It also affords panoramic views back towards St Peter Port and Guernsey’s sister islands Herm and Sark.

Literature fans will appreciate Hauteville House, the erstwhile home of Victor Hugo during his time in exile from France. The celebrated author wrote his most famous works, including Les Misérables and Toilers of the Sea, during his time here.

Other sights to see are the Little Chapel at Les Vauxbelets (the smallest consecrated church in the world and intricately decorated with shells and small pieces of china); historic Saumarez Park and its newly restored Victorian Walled Kitchen Gardens; and the German Underground Hospital, the largest WWII structure in the Channel Islands housing 75,000 square feet of tunnels.

Be sure to tuck into a traditional Guernsey cream tea with scone, jam and Guernsey cream during your time here, too!

Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis, located off the west coast of Scotland in the Outer Hebrides. The isle is steeped in Viking history – ancient stone circles stand on the same land as modern Stornoway.

Listen to the cries of the fisherman and smell the freshly caught fish along with peat as the smokehouses turn the seafood into island specialities at Stornoway Harbour – and then sample the tasty dishes later!

Historic Lews Castle [above, left] – built in the mid-1800s in mock Tudor style and now a hotel – and the adjoining Lews Castle Museum and Archive are worth a visit and there are well-maintained woodland walks to explore.

For local arts in Stornoway visit the Lanntair Art Centre or learn all about traditional weaving methods at the Harris Tweed Story Room – and maybe even buy an item made with this iconic cloth!

Also on Lewis is The Blackhouse in Arnol – a fully furnished traditional thatched house with an attached barn, byre and stackyard built around 1880 that gives a special insight into island life.

For more history on your British Isles cruises, there’s Dun Carloway [above, right], the ruins of a uniquely Scottish site atop a mound of rock likely constructed about 200 BC.

Tobermory, founded as a fishing village in 1789, is the capital of the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. Set around a small bay, its colourful terraced houses [above] rise up from the harbour making Tobermory one of the prettiest ports in Scotland.

Fun fact, according to legend, one of the Spanish Armada ships sank in 1588 here carrying gold bullion. To uncover more history head to Mull Museum or if you’re more of a Scotch whisky drinker, check out the Tobermory Distillery.

Another hotspot is Duart Castle, an impressive and daunting fortress built by the Clan MacDougall in the 13th century. It fell into ruin from the 18th century before being refurbishment in 1911; it’s now home to the 28th Chief of Clan Maclean and is the oldest inhabited castle on Mull.

Did you know, Duart was used as a location in the 1996 Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones film “Entrapment”, the 1971 film “Eight Bells Toll” starring Anthony Hopkins and the 1945 Powell and Pressburger romance “I Know Where I am Going”?

From Mull you can visit the island of Iona which is bursting with religious history. The Abbey is impressive – the buildings you see today are based on those of the Benedictine monastery established in the early 13th century.

The Sound of Mull is lovely to explore by boat during a British Isles cruise – there are over 260 species of birds known around this area! Look out for cormorants, guillemots and golden eagles, the national bird of Scotland. If you’re lucky you’ll spot the beautiful white-tailed eagle. Harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks also swim in deeper waters here.

The Shetland Islands – a subarctic archipelago off the north coast of Scotland comprise the northernmost part of the UK. Only 15 of the 100 or so islands are inhabited. Landscapes here are stunning – think soaring clifftops, pristine beaches and limpid blue waters – and there’s oodles of Viking heritage.

Wildlife is also spectacular thanks to the presence of seabirds, seals, otters, orcas, and of course the famous Shetland ponies.

Lerwick [above] – once an unofficial marketplace to service 17th-century Dutch herring fleets – is Shetland’s only town. The majority of sandstone buildings on the waterfront date from the 18th century.

The ruins of Scalloway Castle dominate Lerwick; it was the home of Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney and Shetland who was notorious for his oppression of the Shetland people.

For more ancient history on your cruise around the British Isles there’s Jarlshof, one of the most amazing archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles with its New Stone Age, Bronze and Iron Age settlements and Viking houses. Fun fact, the site was unintentionally uncovered in 1896 following a violent storm!

Dramatic views can be admired can over at Eshaness Lighthouse, built by two uncles of famous author Robert Louis Stevenson (of Treasure Island fame). Magnificent geological formations are found here including sea stacks, natural arches, deep clefts, and caves plus plenty of wild and seabird varieties.