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Scotland

Scotland and Its Islands: Exploring Old Worlds

Program No. 23030RJ
All aboard for this voyage back in time to Scotland’s ancient roots. Discover some of Europe’s oldest monuments, while learning about the islands’ protected wildlife.

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At a Glance

Scotland is arguably most famous for its craggy highlands, but it’s the country’s colorful port towns and dramatic islands where the Scottish character really shines. Pack your favorite tartan and board our expedition ship for a voyage along Scotland’s coasts. Learn about breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife and some of the continent’s oldest monuments, dating back to the Stone Age. Along the way, meet Gaelic-speaking natives who will happily tell you stories of legends and lore while tracing traditions of the original settlers who first made their homes here hundreds of years ago.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Travel back to the Stone Age through the most extensive collection of prehistoric megalithic structures in western Europe.
  • Experience the largest gannet colony in Britain, located among the cliffs of St. Kilda.
  • Enhance your knowledge with unique access to Adventure Canada’s seasoned onboard staff.

General Notes

The itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions. The program is limited to 24 participants and the Ocean Endeavour holds 198 passengers.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The King of Vinland's Saga
by Stuart Mirsky
Scotland: the Story of a Nation
by Magnus Magnusson
The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
by Robert Burns
Independent People
by Halldor Laxness
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
by Athur Herman
Mingulay: An Island and Its People
by Ben Buxton
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
Historical Atlas of the Viking World
by Angus Konstam
The Vikings: Lords of the Seas
by Yves Cohat
Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
by Ronald McNair Scott
Waverley (1814)
by Walter Scott
Vikings: Life and Legend
by Williams, Pentz, Wemhoff
Trainspotting
by Irvine Welsh
How the Scots Invented Canada
by Ken McGoogan
The World of the Vikings
by Richard Hall
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886)
by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings
by Peter Ayer ed.
Sunset Song
by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Scotland: a New History
by Michael Lynch
Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas
by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough
The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
by John Haywood
The Last Stonghold: Scottish Gaelic Traditions in Newfoundland
by Margaret Bennett
The Wasp Factory
by Iain Banks
St. Kilda: Island on the Edge of the World
by Charles Maclean
A History of the Vikings
by Gwyn Jones
The Viking Saga
by Peter Schledermann
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life
by Anu Partanen
Norse Mythology: a Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
by John Lindow
No Gods and Precious Few Heroes (Vol 8: Scotland, 1914-80)
by Christopher Harvie
Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History
by Alistairi Moffat





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.