Spirit of Scotland Barge Cruise

Cruising through the Caledonian Canal

Step aboard the Spirit of Scotland, a charming hotel barge that combines modern comfort with the nostalgic style of traditional Scottish steamers. With space for just 12 passengers, this cruise offers an intimate way to experience the stunning beauty of the Scottish Highlands. As you glide along the Caledonian Canal and the deep lochs of the Great Glen, you'll enjoy panoramic views from the spacious saloon, outdoor decks, or even the heated spa pool. Comfortable air-conditioned cabins with en suite bathrooms and a welcoming crew of six ensure a relaxing journey, complete with authentic Scottish cuisine, fine wines, and a curated selection of spirits. Perfect for travelers who want to explore Scotland’s dramatic landscapes at a leisurely pace.

Sails from April to October.

Please inquire about 2026 departures!

About this UnTour Cruise

Itinerary Highlights:

Tour of the renowned Ben Nevis Distillery with private whisky-tasting.

Majestic falconry display on the banks of Loch Ness.

Tour of Cawdor Castle and Gardens, home of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Visit Culloden Moor, the scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746.

Please note: This cruise operates in the opposite direction on alternating weeks. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Air Options

We recommend flying in and out of Inverness Airport.

What's included

6 nights on board (Sunday to Saturday) in air-conditioned en-suite accommodation.
Daily excursions, hosted by the Tour Guide, inclusive of all entry fees.
The services of our experienced Captain, Chef, Tour Guide, Housekeepers & Deck Hand.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner aboard. All lunches and evening meals are a gastronomic adventure with local produce delicately prepared by a Private Chef.
An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and branded spirits from the open bar, soft drinks plus coffee, and a selection of teas.
Use of barge facilities such as bicycles, boules, barge library, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a spa pool.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Welcome aboard and meet your crew!

Guests are met at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness** and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the Spirit of Scotland. A champagne welcome awaits and perhaps an early evening stroll to the sea lock with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths. Dinner on board.

Day 2 (Monday): Muirtown to Dochgarroch

Our first cruise will take us up the Muirtown lock flight and through the Tomnahurich swing bridge, with an option to walk alongside River Ness to the hamlet of Dochgarroch. After lunch on board, we enjoy a visit to Cawdor Castle, forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”, Macbeth. The picturesque gardens have been listed amongst the top 100 in the UK. The castle contains a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furnishings and the Dowager Countess of Cawdor still lives there for part of the year. Dinner on board.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus

This morning we visit Culloden Moor, scene of the last major battle on British soil in 1746 where English Government troops faced the Highlanders of “Bonnie Prince Charlie”. If time allows, then we take a tour of Clava Cairns, a pre-historic clan chieftain burial site dating back to 2,000 B.C and setting for the Outlander TV series. After lunch onboard, we cruise through Loch Dochfour and across Loch Ness, where en-route we pass Urquhart Castle, navigating closely beneath its spectacular 13th century ruins, before continuing our cruise to Fort Augustus. Dinner on board.

Day 4 (Wednesday): Fort Augustus to Kytra

After breakfast, we visit the private Highland Club, a spectacular exclusive set of residences and a former 19th century Benedictine Monastery. Here we are treated to a falconry and birds of prey demonstration*** on the banks of Loch Ness, and the majesty of the swooping birds against the backdrop of the sweeping Scottish Highlands is not easily forgotten. There is time to explore the pretty village of Fort Augustus before lunch on board, after which our cruise takes us up the “flight of locks” and then on to our pretty mooring at Kytra. This evening, we dine ashore at a local restaurant.

Day 5 (Thursday): Kytra to Laggan

This morning’s cruise can be partially walked as we cross the very scenic Loch Oich, perhaps stopping en route for a spot of fishing, and onto the pretty Laggan Avenue. As we approach Laggan, our Highland Piper may greet us with a stirring rendition of traditional Scottish music. After lunch on board, we take in some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer as we drive to one of its best known and most photographed castles, Eilean Donan, which has featured in movies such as "Highlander" and James Bond's "The World Is Not Enough" and overlooks three sea lochs. Dinner on board.

Day 6 (Friday): Laggan to Banavie

Our final cruise today will see us cross Loch Lochy to Gairlochy, where we rejoin the canal and continue on to Moy Bridge, the last fully hand-operated bridge on the waterway. From here it is a short cruise to our mooring at Banavie beneath Ben Nevis and a stroll from Neptune’s Staircase leading down to Loch Eil. After lunch on board, our tour today takes us to Ben Nevis Distillery, established in 1825 on the banks of the River Nevis. We are given a fascinating description of the maturing and ageing process of their whiskies, each with its distinctive characteristics, followed by a special tasting of four single malts. Dinner on board. Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.

Day 7 (Saturday): Banavie

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Inverness.

Excursions

Included. Please see Itinerary.

Pre-Cruise Options

This barge cruise links well with our Scottish Highlands UnTour. There may be a few gap days between the cruise and the UnTour.

Ship

Spirit of Scotland

Spirit of Scotland is an elegant hotel barge with extensive public areas inside and out that are perfect from which to admire the breath-taking Scottish Highlands scenery in comfort.

Accommodating up to 12 passengers in comfort, Spirit of Scotland’s interior features a bright and spacious saloon and dining area with picture windows, a separate bar, and an integral forward wheelhouse giving views of the cruise route ahead. The 6 air-conditioned cabins offer a choice of twin or double beds and are complemented by well designed en suite shower rooms.

Outside, there are separate areas where you can relax on a recliner, or perhaps in the heated spa pool, or on the covered dining terrace. And the large upper sun deck is the ideal place to admire the dramatic backdrop as you cruise on deep-water lochs such as Loch Oich and past historic landmarks along the way.

Cabin Specifications

3 portholes that may open, measuring 38cm in diameter
2 USB ports by the bedside table
Ceiling height is 6ft 4in” (1.9m)
Cabin size: 130ft² (12m²)
220 volts with sockets (standard European 2 pin plug)

Stateroom Amenities

Twin or queen bed convertibility
En suite shower room with power-shower, wash-basin and WC.
Towels, hand soap, shower gel, hair dryer, slippers, and bathrobes
Large wardrobes
Fitted desk with drawer and cupboard
Reading light
TV
Safety box

Disclaimer

Our staff have inspected this cruise and the above description and photographs reflect what they saw at that time. It is possible that the supplier has made changes to the cruise without our knowledge. While we do our best to keep up with any changes or improvements made to our cruises, we cannot guarantee that everything in the above description will be accurate.