England, Scotland and Ireland Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises

A hotel barge cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy the majestic waterways of England, Scotland and Ireland. With good food and wine and a knowledgeable crew, enjoy the scenery of the River Thames in England, the Great Glen and Loch Ness on the Caledonian Canal in Scotland and the peaceful River Shannon in Ireland.

A scenic cruise along the Thames begins at Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace, passes historic Runnymede, takes in a tour of the Queen's Windsor Castle, and visits Tudor manor house Dorney Court, often used as a film location. See the Stanley Spencer Gallery at Cookham, a traditional wooden boatbuilder at Hurley and sail the course of the Henley Regatta. Your hotel barge is the 8-passenger Magna Carta.

In Scotland the journey from Inverness begins with a visit to Cawdor Castle and the site of the 1746 battle of Culloden. See Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle in its island setting. Experience the atmospheric setting of Glencoe and see the engineering marvel of the 8-lock Neptune’s Staircase with dramatic views of Ben Nevis. Your hotel barge is the 12-passenger Spirit of Scotland or the 8-passenger Scottish Highlander.

The River Shannon is the longest river in the British Isles, and our cruise on the 10-passenger Shannon Princess II brings you in touch with the soul of Ireland. Cruise Loch Ree to bustling Athlone, and visit Clonmacnoise 6th-century monastic ruins.Through Portumna swing bridge cruise into the idyllic Loch Derg and lunch at the ancient Derg Inn. Enjoy a taste of Ireland in Guinness and oysters in Galway city before cruising to the lakeside village of Mountshannon and Killaloe.