Sail through Scotland's Caledonian Canal and the Inner Hebrides aboard Lord of the Glens, the only ship capable of transiting both with ease and grace. The 62-mile Great Glen seems to have been created by uncorking bucolic landscapes and spilling them over the Atlantic and North Sea in a colossal rush of isles, lochs, and canals.
National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson shares some of his favorite highlights from traveling in Scotland aboard the intimate Lord of the Glens.
To the uninitiated, Scotland’s wildlife amounts to a whole lot of sheep, those shaggy Highland cows, and of course, Nessie! But there’s an abundance of other species if you know where to look.
There are a select few destinations with which you connect at some deep, intangible level and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland does that for me, says David Barnes, Expedition Leader aboard Lord of the Glens. See why.
Experience Scotland as few others have on a stirring voyage that cuts through the heart of the Highlands and out into the wild isles that surround this fabled region.
We started our day with a gorgeous sunrise at Bahia Almejas, the southernmost area of Bahia Magdalena Lagoon. On our way looking for gray whales, we sailed with local “pangueros” who are the permit holders for this activity. First, we visited Margarita Island where hundreds of birds nest in the mangroves. Once in the lagoon, we witnessed different whale behaviors, including swimming alongside our pangas, spy-hopping, and breaching. What a sight to see! After returning to National Geographic Venture , we repositioned to visit Sand Dollar Beach on Magdalena Island where we found lots of treasures on our walk towards the Pacific. From blooming shore plants to middens left behind by the original nations that inhabited the peninsula, there was plenty to observe. The perfect ending to this wonderful day was our delicious Mexican fiesta dinner aboard.
We spent the day enjoying a variety of activities in Puerto Magdalena on Magdalena Island. Some explored the seashore, and others made the hike across the island to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, observing the endemic cactus species along the way. Still others went for a bike ride on the other side of town. After our excursions, we all met at Chejo’s restaurant to enjoy drinks and snacks and a Q&A with Chejo, learning more about the lives of the locals. After a full day spent outdoors, we headed back to National Geographic Sea Bird for cocktail hour, and there was a spectacular sunset. We look forward to another day of fun tomorrow!
After a night spent sailing through the waves of a moderate Drake Passage, we caught first sight of land in the later part of the morning, signaled by billowing cumulus in the distance as the seas abated. Seabirds of various kinds gathered to accompany us for our arrival back to South America. Though the English name of the Beagle Channel comes from the ship on which Charles Darwin sailed these waters in the 19th century, the area was first known to have been discovered by humans roughly 10,000 years earlier. The Selk'nam, Manek'enk, and Yámana people were the sole occupants of this region prior to the arrival of Europeans, who ultimately brought disease and genocide to its inhabitants. In the afternoon, we learned about the Yámana during a talk by naturalist Jackie. We also had a presentation from our divers, demonstrating how they go about their work in the polar regions. We also heard from Naturalist Toby about the evolution of whales. Throughout the day we observed wildlife, including many birds, whales, and bow-riding dolphins. In the evening, we arrived off Puerto Williams, where officials came on board to clear us into Chile, marking the beginning of the next stage of our journey – the fjords of Patagonia.
North Seymour is a jewel of an Island located right in the center of the Galapagos. The northeast side faces a very deep underwater trench and to the southwest, the shallow waters of the central part of the archipelago. Its location allows the traveler to see birds and fish that come from both areas. The Zodiac exploration today was exceptional, with many coastal and deep-sea birds resting on the rocky shores and fish of all sizes making an appearance, including mating mobula rays. In the afternoon, Rabida, the red island, welcomed us for snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking. In the evening, stargazing was the cherry on top of an amazing cake. Photos by Fernando Ortiz and Adriana Aguirre
Our day began at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island. As we crested the dunes of the black beach, not ten paces into our hike, we bumped into an Alcedo giant tortoise walking towards us. We watched as he turned into the bush, leaving the trail clear for us to continue with our hike. Not a bad start to our day! The rest of the hike continued in the same vein with more tortoises, large colorful land iguanas, and finches and mockingbirds flitting around the dense vegetation. Also of note were the yellow Cordia bushes which were in full bloom. Some of us even enjoyed a dip in the ocean before returning on board. We sailed a couple of hours to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island for an afternoon full of activity, including kayaking, snorkeling, and an invigorating hike up to see the panoramic view of Darwin Lake.
