Cruise · 9 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Remote Isles of Scotland
Nine days cruising the remote Scottish isles aboard Fred. Olsen’s Bolette. From Newcastle to Lerwick and Portree, a slow-paced route past seabird colonies, castles, and memorable landmarks like Fingal’s Cave and the Sleeping Warrior.
- Duration
- 9 nights
- Departs
- 18 May 2027
- Sails from
- Newcastle
- Returns to the same port
- Ship
- Bolette
- From
- £1,949
- per person, sharing
Highlights
What makes this one worth it
Lerwick and the Shetland Islands' Viking heritage
Passing Foula, one of Britain’s most remote inhabited islands
Views of Duart Castle from the water near Oban
Cruising by Fingal’s Cave and the basalt columns of Staffa
Visiting Portree on the Isle of Skye and Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides
About the trip
Fred. Olsen’s Bolette sets out from Newcastle and sails north to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, a town with a strong Viking past and a harbour that feels a world away from England. Passing Foula, one of Britain’s most isolated inhabited islands, the route continues along the west coast of Shetland where seabirds wheel overhead and sea stacks rise sharp against the sky.
Further south, the ship calls at Oban, the gateway to the Hebrides, where the cruise glides past Duart Castle, the ancestral home of the Macleans, and the Sleeping Warrior – a ridgeline on Islay that some say resembles a reclining figure. The itinerary includes a series of scenic passages by Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, the basalt columns of Dutchman's Cap, and ends with visits to Portree on Skye and Stornoway, capital of the Outer Hebrides.
On deck, there’s plenty of time to spot marine life or enjoy ceilidhs that conjure Highland tradition. The familiar presence of Newcastle at start and finish makes this a circumnavigation that is remote enough to feel otherworldly but remains accessible from England’s north-east coast.
- 1 Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2 Lerwick
- 3 Oban
- 4 Portree
- 5 Stornoway
- 6 Isle of Staffa
- 7 Duart Castle
Itinerary
The route, day by day
Day 1
Newcastle, England
Day 2
At sea
Day 3
Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Day 4
Pass Out Stack, Shetland, UK
Day 5
Sailing off the west coast of Shetland, Scotland
Day 6
View Foula, UK
When to go
Departures and prices
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
Before you book
- Price based on
- Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
- Travelling alone
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Flights
- Not needed if you join at Newcastle
- What’s included
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Accessibility
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Cabin
- Interior Cabin
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
Questions people ask
- How long is Remote Isles of Scotland?
- Remote Isles of Scotland is a 9 nights cruise holiday.
- Where does Remote Isles of Scotland depart from?
- Remote Isles of Scotland departs from Newcastle.
- Who operates Remote Isles of Scotland?
- Remote Isles of Scotland is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines aboard Bolette.
- How much does Remote Isles of Scotland cost?
- Prices for Remote Isles of Scotland start from £1,949, subject to availability.
The operator
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports
A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.
You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
New to United Kingdom? Our United Kingdom guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.
Journeys
Reading for the trip
If this appeals, so might these
Search all holidays
Cruise · 3 nights
Belgium Mini Cruise
United Kingdom & Belgium · Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Departs 18 Jan 2027
from£419per person, sharing
Cruise · 5 nights
Hamburg Christmas Markets & Honfleur
United Kingdom & France and 1 more · Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Departs 17 Dec 2027
from£699per person, sharing
Cruise · 6 nights
German Christmas Markets
United Kingdom & Germany and 1 more · Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Departs 16 Dec 2026
from£749per person, sharing
Cruise · 5 nights
Norwegian Fjords Bank Holiday Break
United Kingdom & Norway · Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
2 departures · May 2027 – Aug 2027
from£749per person, sharing