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Highland Adventure

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20252026
5 days Not yet on sale
4.3 stars(52 reviews)
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A vacation filled with stunning nature and captivating history as we explore the wonders of the Highlands aboard magnificent railways

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager
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Worldwide Travel Event: Save up to $500 Per Person on Select Tours for 2025. Offer ends February 28th.

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Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: HAS25

About the tour

From Inverness, the gateway to our Highland adventure, we discover the very best of northern Scotland. Soak up breathtaking scenery as we travel aboard magnificent mainline and steam railways, including the legendary Jacobite Steam Train and charming Strathspey Steam Railway.

Along the way, we marvel at the towering mountains, shimmering lochs, and emerald forests that make up the Scottish landscape. Step back in time with visits to iconic landmarks such as the Eilean Donan Castle and the Culloden Battlefield, where we delve into Scotland's fascinating heritage and rich history. This scenic adventure lets you lose yourself in Highland treasures and the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Enigmatic Loch Ness
Enigmatic Loch Ness
Witness the famous Loch Ness spanning approximately 23 miles in length and reaching depths of over 700 feet, where the possibility of catching a glimpse of the legendary Loch Ness Monster awaits.
Explore Eilean Donan Castle
Explore Eilean Donan Castle
Visit the stunning 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle, discovering its historical significance on an interesting guided tour, amidst the serene surroundings of three lochs including Duich.
Admire celebrated scenery on the Kyle Line
Admire celebrated scenery on the Kyle Line
Journey on the picturesque Kyle Line gazing at the shimmering lochs, idyllic villages and wooded hillsides that pass by on one of Scotland's most scenic railway routes.
Nostalgia aboard the Strathspey Steam Railway
Nostalgia aboard the Strathspey Steam Railway
Experience the Strathspey Steam Railway through the scenic beauty of the Cairngorms landscape aboard vintage steam locomotives as we cross viaducts and meander through valleys.
Visit the Culloden Battlefield
Visit the Culloden Battlefield
Unearth the poignant tales of Scotland's past at the Culloden Battlefield - the site of the final battle of the Jacobite Rising in 1746, dotted with memorial stones, a visitor center, and the iconic Leanach Cottage.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Inverness and an evening with ‘Mr. Loch Ness’

Our vacation begins today as we meet in Inverness at our hotel - the Palace Hotel & Spa. This popular hotel is the base for our adventure and overlooks the River Ness in the center of the city. With some time before dinner, you could familiarize yourself with the city on a beautiful riverside stroll, delighting in the babbling river, verdant forests, and local wildlife.

This city is considered the cultural capital of the Highlands and is crowned by the stunning Inverness Castle. Its most famous resident, King Mac Bethad Mac Findláich, may seem familiar as he was the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, Macbeth.

After dinner with our group at the hotel, we're treated to a wee dram during an Inverness storytelling session. Sit back and sip on Scottish whiskey as we spend an hour in the company of the acclaimed storyteller - Willie Cameron. Known as 'Mr. Loch Ness', he shares expert tales and insights about the Highlands in a fun evening.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - The enchanting Jacobite Steam Train

After breakfast, we begin the first full day of our vacation and head to Fort William by coach. The drive to Fort William showcases stunning Highland scenery of breathtaking mountains, rolling hills, and rugged terrain. Arriving in Fort William, we board the wonderful vintage carriages of the Jacobite Steam Train ready for our journey to Mallaig, one of the most scenic stretches in the UK.

Pulling out of the station, Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain, passes by our window and as we continue, you could even spot some of the local wildlife, such as red deer, grazing on the hillside.

The railway is famous for its role in the Harry Potter movies, and you'll immediately recognize it as we cross the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Continuing through charming Scottish villages and past historic landmarks, our train journey ends in Mallaig.

With some time at leisure, you can explore the village's shops, cafes, and restaurants or simply roam the charming streets admiring the colorful architecture. We then board the coach back to our hotel, pausing enroute at the Glenfinnan viewpoint for a photo opportunity and Fort Augustus - a small village which the Caledonian Canal runs through. We also pass the famous Loch Ness, known for its legendary monster, Nessie. Keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the elusive creature - evidence of its existence is said to be worth $1.28 million.

On early/late season departures the Jacobite Steam Train excursion is replaced by the scheduled Scotrail service.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The iconic Eilean Donan Castle and the beautiful Kyle Line

This morning, we visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most striking castles in Scotland. Perched atop a tiny island at the confluence of Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh, this iconic fortress has played a role in several films. After exploring the castle's history and amazing views, we return to Inverness on the Kyle Line - one of Scotland's most scenic railways. Skirting alongside lochs and through wild mountain landscapes, we admire the cascading waterfalls, mesmerizing nature, and towering peaks that roll by the windows.

This evening you're at leisure in Inverness. There's no scheduled dinner at the hotel, giving you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal at one of the many pubs or restaurants the city is known for.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - The Strathspey Steam Railway and famous Culloden Battlefield

Traveling to Aviemore today, we join the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway for a trip through the stunning sights of the Cairngorms National Park. The carriages are beautifully restored, with comfortable seats and large windows, which let us marvel at the breathtaking scenery. Snaking our way alongside the River Spey, we enjoy views of rolling hills blanketed by heather, the craggy top of Cairngorm Mountain and the thick pine forests and wooded glens which line the tracks. After leaving the train at Broomhill station, we meet our coach and head to Aviemore where you are at leisure to get some lunch. Our next stop is the renowned Culloden Battlefield - where the final battle of the Jacobite Rising took place in 1746. We experience a private guided tour of the battlefield where we learn about the history of the site and the sacrifices made there.

Following the tour, we have access to the visitor's center, where we can join the 360-degree battle immersion theatre, view unique weapons and artefacts on display, and appreciate panoramic views of the battlefield from the roof garden. Returning to our hotel, enjoy the final evening of our vacation and reminisce over dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Homeward bound

As the cultural capital of the Highlands, Inverness provided the ideal base from which to explore the landscapes and history of this striking part of Scotland. Scenic train journeys through breathtaking countryside on the Jacobite, Strathspey Steam Railway and Kyle Line gave us front-row seats to the majestic moors, lochs and rivers of the Highlands. The enchanting Eilean Donan Castle offered a glimpse into the spellbinding past and visiting Loch Ness revealed how myth and legend are synonymous with the region.

After breakfast this morning, you are free to check out of our hotel and make your way home or explore the stunning Scottish Highlands further at leisure.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

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.

Hotel

Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, Inverness

Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, Inverness

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Trains

Jacobite Steam Train
The Kyle Line
Scotrail
Strathspey Steam Railway

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Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 52 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (26)
  2. 4 stars
    (18)
  3. 3 stars
    (6)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Philip Moylan

2 stars

Submitted 12 Oct 2024

A shame - we did VBR-Switzerland two years ago - what a treat. It was an 11 but this Scottish Highlands was a 2...sorry. One word "Confusion"

from Vacations By Rail
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that this tour didn’t meet your expectations, especially after your great experience in Switzerland. We take your comments seriously and will look into the issues you mentioned. We will have someone from our customer service team reaching out to discuss this further—we’d love the chance to make things right.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Tina Fair

4 stars

Submitted 06 Oct 2024

The Highlands are beautiful. The hotel was very nice. The food was good. However our guide did not know the area, stopping for restroom breaks in places that had no restrooms. Leaving the hotel too late so that we got to the train station just minutes before the train was to depart. She would also announce times that we would be leaving an attraction and then consult with the driver and change the time. This was very confusing. Having just finished a VBR tour in Ireland that was very well organized this was somewhat of a disappointment.

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Debra Vettori

4 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2024

It was a very enjoyable trip. We saw a lot, in a short amount of time. Would have liked more opportunitues to explore outside of the coaches and trains. Such a beautiful country and a must see.

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Kevin Humann

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and it was very fun to ride the steam trains through the breathtaking Highlands.

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Lynda Marvin

3 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2024

Hotel good, food good, guide personable but not knowledgeable. Would have liked to have learned and received more information about the areas visited. Culloden battlefield experience with the local guide was excellent.

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customer

5 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2024

Good organization and guide was great.

Collected by Trustpilot

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