Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1540310
the preserved area are at least 5,000 years old, and the recreated house is adorned with decorative clay pots that I would happily have in my home today. Our trip concluded with nostalgia and reflection in Edinburgh, my old university stomping ground. My first stop was the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where I observed the new plant collection from the in-situ conservation work. Some of Departing port early, I decided to go for a swim in the ship's Infinity Pool. Silently, the ship made its way up the coast to shores further north. While I slept in comfort and dreamed of the historic adventures of past plant hunters, the ship navigated into the dramatic coastal waters of the Scottish Highlands. The small island of Stornoway felt like stepping back in time, to an era when neighbours knew each other, and the community moved in harmony. My first stop was Lews Castle, where I was delighted to see its gardens being restored to their former glory. Hopping islands, we arrived at one of the most northern points of the British Isles—Orkney. This windswept island is home to the Scottish primula and bog landscapes. A small garden is open to the public, showcasing an extraordinary collection of native New Zealand plants. A highlight of the Orkney Islands is the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. Elements of "e small island of Stornoway felt like stepping back in time, to an era when neighbours knew each other, and the community moved in harmony." We also stopped in Liverpool, where many guests chose to see the haunts and mementos of The Beatles and other 60s British stars, such as singer and presenter Cilla Black. Instead, I visited the first free-to-enter public glasshouse in the country. Sefton Park Palm House, a vast Victorian building, was constructed with private money to create a collection of plants—the likes of which the public would never have seen or even dared to imagine. 17 | Viking Explorer Society News