Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, over 1,000 years old, with a fascinating Viking and Norman heritage that is still discernible in the narrow streets of the ‘Viking Triangle’. The city is also famous as the home of Waterford crystal, and the glass-making industry here dates back to the late 18th century.

Killybegs is a bustling fishing port on the Donegal coast, and you’ll see both local and international vessels filling the harbour. The village has some nice pubs worth visiting, and the surrounding countryside is typified by beautiful coastal scenery such as the dramatic Slieve League cliffs.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was a watershed moment for Northern Ireland, and its rejuvenated capital is enjoying a surge in popularity. The new Titanic Belfast museum is the star attraction, while the city centre boasts some handsome Victorian architecture and a lively pub scene.

Gritty Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, renowned for its culture, style and the friendliness of its people. With internationally-acclaimed museums and galleries, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, fantastic shopping and a diverse array of restaurants and bars, Glasgow has something for everyone.

The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, thanks to a spectacular landscape of jagged peaks, misty moors and glassy lochs. The island’s biggest town is Portree, a pleasant little place with a colourful harbour.

Invergordon’s deep natural harbour makes it a popular jumping off point for the Scottish Highlands, and most cruise ship visitors will head inland on excursions to Loch Ness, Culloden battlefield or the nearby city of Inverness, capital of the Highlands.

The ‘granite city’ of Aberdeen is flush with money from the North Sea oil boom, and boasts cultural attractions including the fascinating Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Art Gallery. Head out into the countryside and you’ll find magnificent castles, wild mountain scenery and whisky distilleries aplenty.

Cosmopolitan Edinburgh, Scotland’s lovely capital, is located in spectacular countryside, always visible from the city centre. Striking architecture, lots to see and do, and great food mean that your time here will be very busy. And if your visit coincides with the Festival, you have a treat in store.

The flat, windswept Orkney Islands, just off the northeast coast of Scotland, have a distinctive Scandinavian heritage that’s discernible in everything from the unusual place names to the ancient Norse architecture of the capital, Kirkwall. Don’t miss the Ring of Brodgar, a fascinating Neolithic stone circle.

Tórshavn, named after the Norse god Thor, is one of the world’s smallest capitals, with a population of just 20,000. The brightly coloured facades and turfed roofs lend the harbour an attractive, storybook quality, and the narrow streets are home to some atmospheric pubs and cafés.

Akureyri is Iceland’s second city, though with just 18,000 inhabitants it’s really more of a small town. Situated on the north coast at the head of Iceland’s largest fjord, it’s a cute and quirky place that also serves as a base from which to explore the bubbling mud pools and lunar landscapes around Lake Mývatn.

Ísafjörður is the largest town in Iceland’s wild Westfjords, dramatically located on a spit of sand hemmed in by mountains on three sides. The town itself is fairly low key, and the main attraction is exploring the surrounding landscapes, such as the spectacular Hornstrandir Peninsula.

Capital of Iceland and gateway to this extraordinary volcanic island, modern Reykjavík is home to an impressive collection of interesting attractions and places of historic significance. Visit the impressive Hallgrímskirkja church, relax in a thermal pool, potter around the old harbour, and enjoy 24 hour daylight in the summer months.

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.