From Scottish Shores to Norwegian Fjords

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the UK. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands. It is a friendly, bustling town with imposing 19th C buildings, vibrant theatre life, the most talked-about independent music scene outside the USA, and the city's buses and metro system make it easy to explore. Read more about Glasgow, Great Britain

The resort town of Oban, also well known as ‘The Gateway to the Isles’, occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn in Scotland, UK. Climb the surrounding hills to absorb the panoramic views of the mountains, lochs and islands that have captivated artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries. The scenery is as striking now as it was over 600 years ago when Dunollie Castle, now a ruined heap, stood sentinel over the narrow entrance to the sheltered bay. Read more about Oban, Great Britain

Stornoway is an attractive town and the administrative centre of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The shape of the town is defined by the harbour, and is home to a beautiful, rugged landscape of rolling grassy hills and crinkly inlets of the sea. Take a leisurely stroll round the harbour and see everything from the ferries to cargo boats and small visiting yachts, as the harbour is definitely an asset to the town. Read more about Stornoway, Great Britain

The largest town in the Orkney Islands, known for its historic cathedral, St Magnus Cathedral, and traditional stone houses. Kirkwall is rich in Viking heritage and coastal beauty. Read more about Kirkwall, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Eidfjord, a municipality in the county of Hordaland in Norway, has two townships: Eidfjord that is the ‘City Centre’ as well as the major cruise harbour, and Ovre Eidfjord. Eidfjord offers visitors two options, either the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery - the fjord landscapes are luxuriant with green mountain sides and white mountain tops - or to actively explore the hiking trails that surround Eidfjord. Most visit the impressive Sima Power Plant that is built into the mountain itself, while many also travel or hike to the ‘historical’ mountain farm Kjeasen. Read more about Eidfjord, Norway

The Hardangerfjord is the fourth longest fjord in the world and the second longest in Norway, located in the Hardanger region. It starts at the Atlantic Ocean just south of Bergen and penetrates 179 km in a north easterly direction until it meets the grand mountain plateau of Hardangervidda. The longest branch of the Hardangerfjord is Sørfjorden which cuts south about 50 kilometres from the main fjord, leading to the town of Odda. Read more about Hardangerfjord, Norway

Stavanger, a city on the SW coast of Norway, grew to become among the most influential Norwegian cities in the late 1900s when oil was discovered in the North Sea. Today a vibrant city, but still with its small town appeal, the picturesque harbour with the quiet streets of the old town climbing up from the water’s edge, is the centre from which the city radiates across a network of islands interlaced with graceful bridges. The area is very popular for hiking, so if time permits visit the Pulpit Rock - a massive rock that overhangs the fjord at a height of 604 metres. Read more about Stavanger, Norway

Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is located in the county of Hordaland on the SW coast of Norway. Surrounded by seven mountains, Bergen is the starting point for fjord tours and cruises as it is located midway between the main Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord. The city was one of nine European cities honoured with the title of European Capital of Culture in the Millennium year. Read more about Bergen, Norway