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Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VI (Scrabster, Scotland and Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland – Who Knew?)
The Goldring Travel 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise on the Seabourn Ovation continued to Scrabster, Scotland, the most northerly “major” port in Great Britain. I had no idea what to expect and had no plans for the day; thinking I would simply have a stroll around in this seemingly non-descript small town. Boy was I wrong…and it is, to my mind, what makes keeping an open mind while traveling so important. Scrabster’s beauty blew me away!
We were supposed to tender, but were able to dock…and the view from my suite when I awoke was a picturesque surprise.
With the internet definitely better on the Seabourn Ovation, I took some time to see if there were any hikes worth taking. And, yes, there was. And I am so glad I took this almost six-mile (9 kilometer) hike along Scrabster’s northern cliffs. No words or photographs really can do it justice, but I will say the sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, the wildflowers were everywhere, the gulls were soaring, the sheep were lazing in the grass and the views were jaw-dropping spectacular.
This bucolic experience was interrupted twice by a Great Black Backed Gull that very aggressively dive-bombed me as I walked. The first time I was near the cliffs and possibly was near her/his nest, but the attack was called off as I hopped one of the fences I came across. (Fortunately, I had a hat so I was able to wave it over my head in order fend off the attacks.) But the second time I was quite a distance from the cliffs, walking down a path. It was interesting watching her circle back and forth seeking out the proper wind direction for maximum diving speed! (Note that the last two photos are taken with the gull right at eye-level!)
I absolutely loved my time in Scrabster…especially since it allowed me a bit of quiet time between Culinary & Cultural Cruise events.
The next day we arrived in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, which is part of Scotland. While many guests headed out to see the Shetland Ponies (I, at one time, owned Miniature Horses so the cuteness of the small horses was not worth me spending my time there) I found a wonderful four mile walk along with seaside that was absolutely beautiful.
Lerwick was another pleasant surprise!
I do have to note that according to the locals we were there on the one day of the year when there was no wind (and it regularly exceeds 100 mph in the winter), so being lucky enough to combine brilliant sun and calm breezes with flat calm seas made us pretty darn lucky.
But it was time to head back to the Seabourn Ovation in order to get ready for the afternoon’s big event: The Goldring Travel Grand Culinary Experience!
If you are interested in a Seabourn, or any other, cruise, give me a call, drop me an email or send me a Facebook message!
US: (877) 2GO-LUXURY (877-246-5898)
UK: 020 8133 3450
AUS: (07) 3102 4685
Everywhere Else: +1 530 562 9232