Call to book1-877-929-7245
Tour Search
#Favorites
UK & Ireland

A Castle On The Shores Of Loch Fyne

Save
5.0 stars(3 reviews)
Gallery
Small Group

Find yourself entranced by the scenes of Scotland as you ride aboard the world-famous West Highland Line, visit ancient castles, ferry to beautiful islands and immerse yourself in the rich culture of the region on this week-long tour from Glasgow.

You are viewing the 2022 itinerary. Select your departure year
20222023
7 days From $1,595 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2022 Tour code: GR-KCSA-22

About the tour

The idyllic surroundings of coastal Scotland await your exploration on this rail tour. Glasgow is both the beginning and the ending point for this journey, and in between, we take two magnificent journeys aboard the West Highland Line, spend four nights in a castle from the 1800s, visit two islands, peruse historic buildings and lovely gardens, and enjoy the tastes of Scotland. Beginning in Glasgow, we board the West Highland Line and spend the day traveling through the Scottish Highlands to coastal Oban. A coach takes us inland to Stonefield Castle, our home base for the next four days. Daily excursions offer a glimpse at Scotland's West Coast, including the village of Tarbert, the Isle of Bute, Inveraray Castle and Crarae Gardens. Enjoy plenty of free time to explore the sites and offerings of each destination and immerse yourself in the culture through lore, food and drink. The best of Scotland awaits.

Your vacation start or end can be tailored to meet your travel needs.

Highlights

View Dates & Pricing

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Meeting in Glasgow

Our tour begins in Glasgow, where we meet at our hotel. There's time to explore the city before dinner at Restaurant Mharsanta, where we enjoy a range of popular Scottish specialties, accompanied by the sounds of a traditional fiddle player.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - The West Highland Line and Stonefield Castle

We enjoy a journey on one of the world's most spectacular railways, the West Highland Line - known as the 'Iron Road to the Isles'. As we leave Glasgow, we're suddenly surrounded by the wild and windswept landscapes of the Scottish Highlands before passing under the mighty mountains of Munro and Ben Lui, with its five distinctive ridges. We reach the coast at Oban, overlooked by the Colosseum-like McCaig's Folly and with the Isle of Mull in the background, disembarking to continue by coach to Stonefield Castle for four nights. Overnight Stonefield.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Corryvreckan Whirlpool

We begin our day with a wildlife boat excursion to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool. Situated between the islands of Jura and Scarba, the area is known for its strong tidal currents and standing waves, which form this unique maelstrom, one of the largest in the world and with a roar that can sometimes be heard as far away as ten miles. During our time at sea, we also hope to spot some of the local wildlife which call these waters home, such as porpoises, dolphins and even whales. Overnight Stonefield. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - The Isle of Arran

We take a ferry to the Isle of Arran, the largest island in the Firth of Clyde. Home to dramatic a coastline, wild mountain landscapes and ancient forests, we make our way to Brodick Castle and Gardens. Once the baronial seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, there are plenty of historic treasures to discover from the time the castle was built in the late 19th century. The grounds are also well worth exploring, with their garden and plant trails, red squirrel population and hidden waterfalls. Overnight Stonefield. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Inveraray Castle & Crarae Gardens

We enjoy a scenic drive to Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Argyll. During a tour, we explore the stately rooms and learn about the folklore that has shaped the region. Next, you have free time in nearby Inveraray. You could visit the Georgian Inveraray Jail or wander to the pier to see the Arctic sailing ships ahead of a lunch of local seafood, all ethically sourced from nearby lochs. This afternoon, we drive to Crarae Gardens, a Himalayan-style woodland garden set on a rocky gorge. You have time here to admire the colourful blooms, rushing waterfalls and dense trees. Overnight Stonefield.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Return to Glasgow

The day's journey begins as we transfer by coach to Oban at the edge of the Highlands. From here, we retrace our route to Glasgow, enjoying another spectacular journey on the West Highland Line. We arrive at our hotel in time for a final group dinner.  Overnight Glasgow. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Tour Conclusion

Our Scottish adventure concludes after breakfast.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Indigo, Glasgow

Hotel Indigo, Glasgow

View hotel

Stonefield Castle Hotel, Stonefield

Stonefield Castle Hotel, Stonefield

View hotel

Trains

Scotrail
West Highland Line

Reviews

5.0 stars5.0 / 5 · 3 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (3)
  2. 4 stars
    (0)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Cynthia

5 stars

Submitted 22 Jun 2019

My grand daughter and I had a fantastic vacation in Scotland. We can't wait to go back, and we will use Vacations by Rail again. From our first day till the last we were treated wonderfully by our tour guilde, Jilly. The hotels we stayed at were excellent and the service was exceptional. Our motor coach driver was really great , even when we teased him that he should have been in a kilt. The daily tours were so enjoyable. The places we saw were so wonderful and the scenery was striking, We still cant stop talking about all the things we say. Lastly I can't forget the staff at Vacations by Rail. Every time I called they were all so helpful, especially Hilary K. I am so glad I found their website. They made my dream vacation a reality.

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Frank P, Sewaren, NJ

5 stars

Submitted 03 Dec 2018

Great guide, beautiful locals and great accomodations.

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Cynthia W, Clifton Park, NY

5 stars

Submitted 17 Oct 2017

My grand daughter and I enjoyed every moment of the trip. The tours were fun and interesting, our tour guide, Jilly, was so nice and made us feel welcome. It was a trip we cant stop talking about.

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

The definitive guide to our 2022/23 Global Rail Adventures

Download brochure
Related inspiration from our journey blog