Surf Cat

Just a short sail across the Irish Sea lies a land of Celtic history, national parks and windswept beauty. Home to the famous Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland is a dream destination for any lover of the great outdoors, offering travellers the chance to explore its rugged but verdant terrain.

The area’s most famous natural sight is the Giant’s Causeway, an incredible formation of 40,000 geometric basalt columns. As you clamber over the perfectly interlocking rocks, you simply won’t believe that Mother Nature could create all this unaided.

Then take your courage in your hands and cross the National Trust Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, strung high over a rocky gorge. From here it’s possible to see views of Rathlin Island and even Scotland, and the area is famed for its unique geology, flora and fauna. Caves, castles, remote beaches and clifftop paths are also highlights of this coastline, shrouded in mist and steeped in Celtic folklore.

Get on board

• Princess Cruises 14-night ‘Scottish Highlands, Irish Counties and British’ cruise aboard Island Princess, round trip from Southampton via Cork, Holyhead, Belfast, Greenock and Portland, departing 27 July 2021, from £1,699, rolcruise.co.uk
• Crystal Cruises 7-night ‘Celtic Discovery’ cruise aboard Crystal Serenity, from Belfast to Dover via Oban, Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) and Edinburgh, departing 20 August 2021, from £2,696, crystalcruises.co.uk

Best for city lovers

The British & Irish mainland

The British Isles are home to some of the most vibrant, pulsating and cosmopolitan cities in the world, each with its own distinct culture, heritage and traditions. Better still, many of these cities can be found on or near the coastline, handily served by their own cruise terminals.

On England’s south coast, Portsmouth and Southampton are the big-ticket cruise ports – Portsmouth with its naval history, iconic Spinnaker Tower and designer shopping at Gunwharf Quays; Southampton with its liner heritage (walk the Titanic Trail and visit the SeaCity Museum to learn more).

Further north lie the great industrial cities. Once at the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution, Newcastle is a modern metropolis with a rich Victorian heritage. Now renowned for its array of art galleries and impressive concert halls, it offers adventure, too, on the nearby surf beaches of Tynemouth.

Then there’s Liverpool, formerly one of the world’s greatest trading hubs, now a thriving city of art and culture where visitors can wander the stunningly redeveloped Albert Dock or pay homage at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles’ journey began.

From Liverpool it’s an easy journey across the Irish Sea to Belfast, a city no longer defined by its troubled past and now emerging as a cosmopolitan destination in its own right. Here you can wander the Cathedral Quarter, famed for its street art, visit the former Harland & Wolff shipyard for the Titanic Museum, or take a trip out of town to the famous Bushmills distillery.

All these cities are spectacular, but many would say the jewel in the British crown lies in Scotland, where the great metropolis of Edinburgh offers its spectacular castle, historic Royal Mile, countless drinking dens, handsome 18th-century architecture and world-class museums.

Get on board

• Princess Cruises 12-day ‘British Isles with Portland’ cruise aboard Crown Princess, round trip from Southampton via Belfast and Edinburgh, departing 2 May 2021, from £999, princess.com
• Viking Cruises 29-day ‘Baltic Jewels & the Midnight Sun’ cruise aboard Viking Sun, from London to Stockholm via Edinburgh, Copenhagen and St Petersburg, departing 24 May 2021, from £11,040, vikingcruises.co.uk

Best for foodies

Scotland and its islands

Historically, Scotland hasn’t been known for its cuisine. As much as we love them, Irn-Bru, haggis and Cullen skink were never on the world stage. But surrounded by sea, dotted with freshwater lochs and home to miles of fertile farmland, the country is finally coming into its own as a foodie haven, with world-class eateries serving locally caught fish, game and seafood.

Capital Edinburgh boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants championing Scottish fare, as well as a thriving bar scene. But nothing beats heading down to the harbourside at Leith – handy for the cruise terminal – and grabbing some sizzling golden monkfish from The Fishmarket, a regular on cooking TV shows.

If seafood is your gastronomic passion, you should venture into the Highlands and Islands, feeling the salt spray on your face as you sail from the Hebrides on the west coast to the Orkneys in the north. You can even cruise to the distant Shetlands – so far out in the North Atlantic that they’re halfway to the Norwegian coast.

Explore Scotland’s 90 or so island communities and you’ll find tiny fishing villages where the pubs serve fish caught that day, and the oysters and langoustines are the freshest you’ve ever tasted. Oban is especially known for its seafood, while Mull and Iona are famed for their fish & chips.

We’ve yet to mention Scotland’s most famous product, but you won’t want to leave without trying a dram or two. Whisky production is scattered across the mainland and islands, but head to Islay for smoky peaty flavours, and Speyside for sweeter, more fruity styles. If you have a taste for the hard stuff, Hebridean Island Cruises offers the occasional malt whisky cruise.

Many lines sail in Scottish waters, but small-ship operator The Majestic Line lures foodies (and fishermen) with the unique opportunity to catch your own dinner from the boat and have it prepared for you by the ship’s chef that evening.

Best for families

Wales and Isle of Man

When it comes to a British Isles cruise, Wales and the Isle of Man are often overlooked, yet they offer some of the loveliest ports around.

With its semi-autonomous status, the Isle of Man is a bubble of beautiful scenery and friendly towns, designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2016. The island can receive cruise ships at Peel, Port Erin and Port St Mary, but most call at the capital, Douglas, which offers activities for all ages, making it the perfect family day trip.

Children will love spotting genuine Viking gold at the Manx Museum, and riding in a horse-drawn tram along the promenade, while parents and couples will enjoy taking in a show at the restored Villa Marina-Gaiety Theatre. Douglas also has three city beaches – Groudle, Port Jack and Douglas Central Beach – the latter perfect for kids, thanks to its long sandy shore.

All sounds a bit too quiet? Come in early June and hear the air split by the scream of engines as the famous TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle festival takes place, with the races attracting a world-class field and 50,000 petrolhead punters.