British Isles Cruise - from Portsmouth - 129906

The capital of the Isle of Man is Douglas, home to around a third of the island's population. The highlight in this harbour town is the beautiful Victorian "Gaiety Theatre". The Isle of Man has been in English hands for 650 years, but is politically independent, with its own government, its own parliament and its own judicial system. The island also has its own language, based on the Celtic language of Manx. It seems almost as if time has stood still on this island, above all if you look at the untouched countryside. The streams run clear, the landscape is unspoiled and the beaches are clean. The Isle of Man is home to a huge variety of insects and birds. Looking at the Victorian housefronts of Douglas is like stepping back in time. Life on the island still centres around agriculture.

The Scottish port of Greenock is just a kilometre from Glasgow with views of the Scottish Highlands. Greenock has excellent shopping facilities in the form of the Braehead Shopping Centre and the large Ikea store. Sights in Glasgow include: the Gallery of Modern Art, the Cathedral, the Police Museum, the Mitchell library, the Transport Museum, Tollcross Park, and the Scotland Street School Museum.

Aberdeen is a town built almost entirely from granite - even the roads. This Scottish town is one of the most important ports for the oil industry of the North Sea and has the largest off-shore oilfields in the world. Aberdeen's busy harbour also has a picturesque fish market. Close by the main street, Union Street, you will find the "Castlegate", the late medieval Provost Skene's House and the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which has an important collection of pre-Raphaelite and modern Art. Other attractions inlude the City Chambers, Marischal College, St. Machar Cathedral, Seaton Park and the Brig o'Balgownie.

The town at the Cromarty Firth got its name from Sir William Gordon of Embo, who built the harbour in 1828. Invergordon is famous for its many distilleries, where the Scottish national drink, whisky, is produced. Sights include: the Natal Gardens, Inverbreakie Raceway, the Storehouse of Foulis, Tain Through Time Museum, Nigg Old Church, the Glenmorangie Distillery, the Dalmore Distillery, The Official Loch Ness Visitors Centre, the Inverness area and the Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

Leith is the name of Edinburgh's port. Proud Edinburgh Castle, where visitors can view the regalia of the Scottish kings, stands tall over the city. From here you can go down the Royal Mile to the medieval old town with its impressive houses. This fine street leading from the castle is a real "high" street. Well-preserved medieval buildings line the cobble stoned streets, so steeped in history, that lead down to Holyrood Castle. St. Giles cathedral lies on the way, the cathedral of John Knox and "Kill Joy", the great Scots of the Reformation. It was here that Knox preached his "Book of Discipline", which became one of the foundations upon which the Scots presbyterian church was built.

Leith is the name of Edinburgh's port. Proud Edinburgh Castle, where visitors can view the regalia of the Scottish kings, stands tall over the city. From here you can go down the Royal Mile to the medieval old town with its impressive houses. This fine street leading from the castle is a real "high" street. Well-preserved medieval buildings line the cobble stoned streets, so steeped in history, that lead down to Holyrood Castle. St. Giles cathedral lies on the way, the cathedral of John Knox and "Kill Joy", the great Scots of the Reformation. It was here that Knox preached his "Book of Discipline", which became one of the foundations upon which the Scots presbyterian church was built.