A small-ship cruise for an authentic taste of Scotland

27th November 2013

A small-ship cruise for an authentic taste of Scotland

Discover the culinary delights of Argyll and the Hebrides in the Highlands of Scotland with a Majestic Line small ship cruise. Savour and enjoy exceptional hospitality and a delicious seasonal gourmet menu made from local speciality produce, on what many guests have described as “the holiday of a lifetime”.

Sales Manager, Marie McGhee said: “Argyll has a rich natural larder of food from sea and land, thriving in an unspoiled and wild environment, lovingly tended by local business expertise. We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to quality seafood, hillbred livestock, dairy produce and herbs and vegetables grown with the help of the Gulf Stream. All our menus feature the very best of local produce freshly prepared by our onboard chef.”

The Majestic Line source their produce from a number of reputable local businesses. Argyll Blackface Hill Lamb, Argyll Wild Venison, Argyll Aberdeen Angus and rare Argyll Tamworth Pork all come from a thriving local meat co-operative. The flavoursome quality of the meat owes much to fit animals with room to roam, or living wild as nature intended and then hung to the farmers stringent timescale. Other quality products such as speciality cheeses, cured meats and chocolates are sourced direct from local artisan food producers. In an area rich in distilleries, there are many local whiskies to choose from as well as The Majestic Line’s own brand of gin, Bilgewater Gin.

Marie added: “We know from our guest feedback that they enjoy finding out about the provenance of our menus as well as the excellent hospitality offered by our crews. While on our cruises, the crew stop off at speciality retailers to source the freshest of produce, dropping by a remote sea loch to pick up dinner from the local mussel farm, or prawns from a passing fishing boat. And nothing could be fresher than the guests getting involved in catching crabs, mackerel and lobster from the vessels themselves, straight to the pot with not a food road mile in sight!”

Dining is a sociable affair on a Majestic Line cruise with meals served at the communal table in the deck saloon. Guests can enjoy a varied menu of mouth-watering dishes such as pan-fried wood pigeon with plum compote and liquorice; Argyll Tamworth Pork fillet with pancetta, creamy herbed polenta and green peppercorn gravy; with homemade Glayva parfait with shortbread and raspberry caviar for desert. Food preferences are taken into account when choosing menus.

There are plenty of opportunities to work off the calories with shore walks through ancient oak forests, along deserted sandy white beaches, or exploring historic castles and gardens. Guests can wake up to breakfast anchored by iconic Eilean Donan Castle at the mouth of three sea lochs, lunch by the pretty conservation village of Plockton and dinner as a burnt orange sun disappears behind the rugged Cuillin mountain range on Skye. The experienced crew know all the best anchorages and vantage points to discover the true beauty of this wild and wonderful coastal landscape, taking guests off the beaten track for an unforgettable culinary cruising holiday.

Ends.

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