Our experts
Our small ship cultural cruises are led by specialists in the fields of archaeology, history, art, architecture and wildlife.
Our leaders are chosen for their individual expertise and their ability to communicate. They follow the traditional ACE house style, where, as well as giving lectures and talks, they lead the cruise from start to finish.
Kate Adie
Kate Adie, OBE, BA, is the country’s most respected woman reporter. Kate joined the BBC in 1969 and is best known for covering conflicts as diverse as Northern Ireland, Tiananmen Square and the 1991 Gulf War. Kate is also an accomplished author, with her books including 'Corsets to Camouflage', 'The Kindness of Strangers' and 'Nobody’s Child: The Lives of Abandoned Children'.
Kate is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
Andrew Bednarski
Andrew gained his doctorate in Egyptology from the University of Cambridge, and has undertaken excavations at Luxor Temple. Andrew currently works at the American Research Center in Egypt.
Andrew is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
John Bryden
John Bryden, MA (Cantab) is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra of Britain. John is a member of the Dartington Piano Duo and has played across Britain and Europe as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician.
John regularly broadcasts on radio and television and frequently coaches at the Dartington Summer School, where he performed in master-classes given by Jacqueline du Pré.
John is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Peter exley
Peter Exley, BSc, is an ecologist and ornithologist who works for the RSPB. He has also held posts with BirdLife International and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa.
Peter has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom, including study courses to the Faeroes and Shetland.
Peter says that participants on the Highlands and Islands of Scotland cruise are likely to see ospreys, golden eagles and goosanders. In addition, Oban is famed for its otters and Eigg is reputed for its minke whales, dolphins and porpoises. Whilst on Mull there will be an opportunity to see white-tailed sea eagles on a specially escorted visit with the local RSPB.
Peter is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Kevin Hand
Kevin Hand, MSc, MIEEM, is a conservationist and ornithologist who has led a wide array of wildlife tours across the world and - closer to home - to the Shetlands and the Borders.
Kevin directed a Darwin Initiative project on the taiga forests in Siberia with the Tree Council, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Forestry Commission and Traidcraft.
Kevin says that on the Highlands and Islands cruises particpants are likely to see an abundant bird and sea life, including otters, whales, dolphins and porpoises as well as golden and sea eagles.
Kevin is heavily involved in ACE’s charity work with the Yachana Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation, in Amazonian Ecuador.
Kevin is one of the leaders on the following cruises:
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
MALCOLM OXLEY
Malcolm Oxley, MA (Oxon), is a talented art historian, a subject to which he brings a historian's wider perspective.
Malcolm has a profound knowledge of the art and architecture of France and is a highly experienced course director, having led cultural tours for ACE to Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace and the Paris region.
Malcolm is a man of catholic tastes, equally at home exploring the art galleries of his native Yorkshire as he is touring the glories of Avignon and Arles. Malcolm was for many years deputy head of St Edward's School, Oxford.
Malcolm is one of the leaders on the following cruises:
Roland Randall
Roland Randall, MA, MSc, PhD (Cantab), is a botanist and fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. Roland acts as an ecological consultant for the National Trust, English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage.
He is also a committee member for the European Union for Coastal Conservation. Roland has led tours for ACE to Madeira, Crete, Mallorca, the Scilly Isles, Barbados, the Algarve and numerous islands off the coast of Scotland.
Roland is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Martin Symington
Martin Symington, BA, is one of Britain’s most prolific travel journalists. Born and brought up in Porto, Martin is a regular contributor to The Times as well as being the author of the Dorling Kindersley guidebook to Portugal and the AA Essential Guide to Portugal.
Martin is one of the leaders on the following cruise:
ANDREW WILSON
Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAS, is a native Scot whose specialism is archaeology and ancient history.
Andrew studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist, specialising in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. Andrew is a Fellow of the Society for Libyan Studies and belongs to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Classical Association of Scotland.
Andrew has led many tours and cruises for ACE in the Graeco-Roman world, and several in Britain, with a particular emphasis on the archaeology of his native Scotland.
Andrew is one of the leaders on the following cruises: