All About the Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander
Enjoy the stunning scenery of mountains, forests and glens of the Scottish Highlands aboard the luxury hotel barge, Scottish Highlander. For a magical barge holiday, Scotland is hard to surpass.
Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander and Urquhart castle
Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander: A Short History
Scottish Highlander started life as a trading vessel. She was built in 1931 at the Gebroeders Van Zutphen shipyard in Vreeswijk, Netherlands. She is a Luxemotor barge, featuring the typical upswept bow, with the luxury of having a motor and crew accommodations. Originally named Vertrouwen (Dutch for Trusty), she served as a freight barge for more than 60 years transporting heavy cargo such as sand, grain, and gravel along the waterways of northern Europe.
m/v Vertrouwen before she became a luxury hotel barge
In 1991, she was purchased by an Englishman named Trevor Jones. After a careful renovation in Rotterdam, she was sailed across the English Channel to Plymouth for more work. Following her makeover, the Vertrouwen found her own way through the North Sea to Inverness, battling Force 8 gales on the way. In April 1993, she started a new life as a passenger vessel.
In 1999, Derek Banks, founder of European Waterways, purchased the Vertrouwen to join a growing fleet. Sights were set for her to cruise the Caledonian Canal and the famed Loch Ness. After another refit she was modernized to the company's high standards. She departed on her maiden voyage in 2000 under her new name, Scottish Highlander.
Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander: Today
Enjoy the scenery of Scotland no matter the weather, from the comfort of the 8-passenger, deluxe hotel barge Scottish Highlander. Rest assured, that you will be well taken care of by five crew members, who are on hand to cater to your every need.
The 117-foot Scottish Highlander is furnished to bring the barge to life in Scottish colors and traditions. Filled with tartan fabrics, landscape paintings and Chesterfield sofas, you'll experience the feel of a true Scottish country house.
The warm and welcoming saloon features rich-colored wooden panelling, large picture windows to view the countryside while gliding through open glens and past imposing castles, and every comfort needed for enjoying the magnificence of the Scottish Highlands during Spring, Summer and Autumn. The spacious saloon can easily accommodate all passengers for a collective discussion about the day's activities. The bar is well-stocked with spirits, including over 20 single malt whiskies. The dining area has a hardwood table and seats all eight of Scottish Highlander's guests for mealtimes.
Scottish Highlander has a covered panoramic observation area in the wheelhouse, where you can admire the passing scenery from the stern of the barge and have a friendly chat with the skipper. The forward open sun deck area provides more opportunities for photographs of the Caledonian Canal and landmarks like Eilean Donan Castle and Ben Nevis.
Scottish Highlander has a choice of four cabins, from the standard double staterooms or the double junior suite. All cabins have the potential to be made into twin beds for travelling companions or doubles for couples.
Every cabin has fitted under-bed storage and there are dressing tables and brass porthole windows in every guest cabin. All cabins have a private, ensuite bathroom, complete with shower and toiletries for your personal use. You'll never need to worry about chilly, autumnal nights as all areas of the barge are centrally heated to ensure they're warm and cosy throughout the seasons.
Food aboard Scottish Highlander is prepared by the master chef with recipes influenced by seasonal Scottish cuisine. Dishes feature salmon, game, and seafood and they are served tasting and looking extraordinary. A host of dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, and those with food allergies are also welcome on our barge cruises. Let us know in advance, and you can expect alternative meals that are equally delicious.
Barging on the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness, and the Highlands
Crossing the Scottish Highlands, the Caledonian Canal stretches approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) with 29 locks and 11 bridges along the waterway spanning from the western coast to the eastern coast. The full route leads from Corpach near Fort William to Clachnaharry, north of Inverness. Twisting and turning through the Highlands, it cuts through the Great Glen, which is on a geological fault line. The Caledonian Canal connects various natural lochs (or lakes), including Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Dochfour, and the famous Loch Ness.
Constructed by renowned engineer Thomas Telford, the Caledonian Canal was built between 1803 and 1822. Created to be a strategic waterway at a time when the main transport was horse and cart, it provided a navigable route for ships traveling between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It was originally intended for commercial use, but with its breath-taking views of the rugged Scottish landscape, it now serves primarily as a picturesque route for leisure boating and recreational activities. With 170 feet of air draft, unusual for a canal, sailing boats are a regular sight.
Itinerary Highlights
The Caledonian Canal offers beautiful views and comes with plenty of opportunities to experience the extraordinary wildlife along the region's waterways. There's even more to explore in the Highlands and Scottish Highlander offers some fabulous excursions that are always private, and often exclusive to their guests. Book a barge cruise on Scottish Highlander for a relaxing week of calm waterways, historic visits and rugged scenery.
Ben Nevis Distillery
A visit to Scotland would not be complete without immersing yourself in the famous gastronomy and spirits of the region you are exploring. Dishes served onboard Scottish Highlander acknowledge the rich number of traditional foods and recipes available in this far northern territory of the United Kingdom. Scotland is, of course, famed for its spirits too. A tour of the renowned Ben Nevis whisky distillery might leave you with a taste for the "good stuff". A guide will show you how the Ben Nevis whisky is distilled, and you will enjoy a private tasting, where you can sample aged whisky varieties.
Marker at Culloden Moor
Love history? The Scottish Highlands has plenty to offer. On a cruise with Scottish Highlander, you'll have an opportunity to visit the sombre site of Culloden Moor, which was the scene of the last major battle on British soil. In 1746, the Duke of Cumberland marched his army towards the "pretender", Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was attempting to take the British throne. Charles' Scottish army was defeated in under an hour, with over 1300 lives being lost. It marked the end of the Jacobite struggle for the British throne that had started in 1688. The slain soldiers were buried in mass graves and are said to still haunt the moor to this day. The Culloden Visitor Centre, sensitively remembers the story. Guests on the Scottish Highlander can learn about the battle with a guided visit.
Eilean Donan Castle
Scottish Highlander cruises beautiful locations with picturesque scenery. Such as a visit to the stunning landmark near Laggan where three sea lochs meet. Here, Eilean Donan castle sits perched on an outlay of land and is only reachable via a stone footbridge. This picture-perfect castle has been made famous in photography, art and film, serving as a location in the 90's James Bond adventure, "The World is Not Enough" and the film, "Highlander", for example.
Cawdor Castle
Enjoy a guided tour of the mysterious Cawdor Castle that some say inspired Shakespeare's famous play, "Macbeth". Cawdor Castle is magnificent and moody with its deep dry moat, brooding square tower, portcullis and the only surviving drawbridge at a private castle in Scotland. Though Macbeth may not have actually killed Duncan here, it feels like the sort of place where he might have done. Tapestries, artworks and historic furniture helps to set the scene at Cawdor Castle, which appears as a building that has stood still in time. Still occupied by the Dowager Countess of Cawdor for part of the year, the gardens are immaculately maintained and have been listed as one of the top 100 in Britain. A tour will reveal many hidden secrets and take you straight to the heart of the drama!
The Highland Club
Be treated to a majestic falconry and birds of prey demonstration at the Highland Club, a spectacular set of private residences and a former 19th-century Benedictine monastery. Enclosed within 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds on the southern shores of the Loch Ness, it occupies the Grade A Gothic buildings of the original 1729 English fortification, Fort Augustus, which were later transformed into St Benedict's Abbey. In terms of natural beauty, this is a spectacular venue to participate in a Falconry display. The sight of these majestic creatures buffeting about on the wind above this world-famous loch is a long lasting memory.
Scottish Highlander Has Special Cruises Tailored For:
Families
If you are looking to charter a private family cruise aboard Scottish Highlander, there are plenty of alternative excursion choices to keep younger generations entertained. Take up to eight family members on a Caledonian Canal barge cruise and stop off at locations like the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola, Great Glen Waterpark, and Treasures of the Earth Centre, which displays gemstones and fossils. Water sports, like sea kayaking and white-water rafting are also available, plus there's more traditional family activities like bowling and ice skating, too. To find out more about potential family excursions, see the Family barge cruise itinerary.
Golf
Score a hole-in-one when you find out what the Scottish Highlander can offer golfers. A golf-themed, barge cruise for up to eight people (only 4 need to be golfers) with family or friends aboard the Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander is an excellent opportunity to try out the best of Scotland's Highland golf ranges. Stops include the 18-hole courses at Newtonmore Golf Course, and Championship Links Course at Cabot Highlands. There’s also the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch Golf Course, which was designed by Tom Morris. With a 9-hole round at Fort Augustus Golf Course, where the official green keepers are also sheep, there's plenty of greens, roughs and bunkers to enjoy. See Scottish Highlander's Golfing barge cruise itinerary.
Whisky
Whisky is the national spirit of Scotland and you can have an in-depth experience with a Whisky Trail Cruise aboard the Scottish Highlander. Visit some of the finest distilleries in Scotland in the most picturesque areas of the highlands. Visit the Dalwhinnie Distillery in the Cairngorms, the nineteenth century Tomatin Distillery, and the Glen Ord Distillery on the Black Isle. There's also an excursion to Benromach Distillery near Forres, which is the smallest Speyside distillery. On a Whisky Tail cruise aboard Scottish Highlander, you will taste single malt whiskies from up and down the Caledonian Canal, spanning a historic timeline of well over one hundred years. Discover Scottish Highlander's Whisky Trail barge cruise itinerary.
Ready for a Barge Cruise with Scottish Highlander?
Feeling inspired and interested in a barge cruise in Scotland aboard Hotel Barge Scottish Highlander? Contact Paradise Connections – we are happy to assist with your barging vacation.
Learn More About Scotland
- Towns & Villages along the Caledonian Canal
- Places to Visit along the Caledonian Canal
- Scottish Whisky Trail Barge Cruise
- View more links about Scotland
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