Conservation cruises

THE NATIONAL TRUST for Scotland has exciting plans for their 60th anniversary.

2013 marks 60 years since the first National Trust for Scotland cruise set sail in a sea-faring adventure round Scottish ports and gardens.

Since 1953, the Trust cruises have brought thousands of people from all over the world closer to Scotland’s remote islands and rare wildlife. This year the Trust are proud to celebrate the cruises’ diamond anniversary.

After almost 10 years offering small garden cruises to reach the more inaccessible gardens, the Trust decided to branch out in 1961 and charter the Dunera, a large former school ship, during a gap in its schedule. The ‘Bargain Sail’ was born, and 900 passengers from many different walks of life were able to visit St Kilda and Fair Isle on a short trip that cost just £12 10s for a dormitory bunk. The Weekly Scotsman called it ‘a new dimension in holiday making... the best holiday bargain ever.’

Today, the islands, wildernesses and small ports that the cruises are able to reach continue to enthral and enchant passengers.

The cruises now take place onboard luxury liner Quest for Adventure.

Conservation is always at the heart of the Trust’s cruises and rangers, naturalists and geologists travel with passengers onboard the ships to lecture on wildlife, landscape and conservation.

In 2013 their one-week cruise will commemorate the spirit in which the cruises were originally created, taking passengers to distant islands, secluded beauty spots and havens that would be hard to reach in any other way.

Called Isolation, Islands and Intrigue, the itinerary includes the famously inaccessible mainland port of Knoydart, along with remote archipelago St Kilda, stranded in the swell of the Atlantic, and the quiet, isolated Isle of Rum.

The two-week trip, Celtic Connections, will celebrate the sea-paths of the ancient Celts, linking ports that share Celtic heritage in music, art and language.

Beginning on the west coast of Scotland, it will visit the Isle of Man, Brittany, Normandy, Galicia and the Channel Islands, also calling at the Basque country.

For more information and bookings, visit culturalcruising.com

As we battle the New Year sales, our picture today, from our files, showing shoppers going about their business in a bustling Murraygate, Dundee, in 1959, is quite relevant!