Call to book1-877-929-7245
Tour Search
#Favorites

The Royal Scotsman - Scotlands Classic Splendors

Save
5 stars(2 reviews)
Gallery

Enjoy the ultimate Belmond Royal Scotsman experience with the classic Scottish Highlands tour, travelling through some of the country's finest scenery.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
5 days From $9,155 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2023 Tour code: RS-SCSR-23

About the tour

This is the quintessential Royal Scotsman experience and certainly one of the most popular rail journeys. After following the east coast up to Keith, the train heads across Scotland to the picturesque west coast village of Plockton before making its way to Inverness and then south to Perth and Edinburgh.

A visit to Ballindalloch Castle, with its magnificent house and gardens, is just one of the many highlights of this luxury rail journey. Along the way there are opportunities for optional fishing, clay pigeon shooting or guided walks along Caledonian pine forest trails.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Edinburgh

Travel north, crossing the Firth of Forth via the magnificent Forth Railway Bridge. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea as you pass Arboath, Montrose and Aberdeen before arriving in Keith. Informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car.

Day 2 - Kyle of Lochalsh

Leave Keith this morning as the train travels west along the Moray Firth towards Inverness, capital of the Highlands. Lunch is served as the train heads towards Kyle of Lochalsh in what is arguably the most scenic railway route in the UK. Disembark in picturesque Plockton. Take a boat trip to see wild seals or enjoy a dram and a traditional Highland welcome in the Plockton Hotel. Alternatively, visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most iconic sights, and learn how the castle was painstakingly restored to its former glory. Spend the night on board in Kyle of Lochalsh. Dinner is formal, followed by coffee and liqueurs in the Observation Car.

Day 3 - Boat of Garten

Depart Kyle as breakfast is served and retrace part of yesterday's route as far as Dingwall. Have your cameras ready for the views of Plockton across the bay to the left, where you can see white-washed cottages with fishing boats and yachts riding at anchor. Disembark in Garve to visit Glen Ord Distillery, which is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, founded in 1838. Situated on the edge of the Black Isle, west of Inverness, Glen Ord continues to malt its own barley and to use the long fermentation and slow distillation methods followed there for generations. During your visit, enjoy a tour of the distillery as well as a private tasting and nosing session. Travel south to Carrbridge where you disembark where you disembark to explore romantic Ballindalloch Castle on beautiful Speyside. Options at Ballindalloch include a private castle tour, 9 holes of golf on the castle's own course or an exclusive look at what is Scotland's only single estate distillery. The night is spent on board at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway. After an informal dinner, our Highlander regales guests with tales and weaponry displays.

Day 4 - Rothiemurchus

Travel by coach to Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, where fishing, clay pigeon shooting or a tour of the estate can be enjoyed. Re-joining the train at Kingussie, lunch is served during the journey south to Dunkeld, where you disembark for a visit to Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Return to the train in Perth for a formal dinner and entertainment. Overnight stay on board in Dundee.

Day 5 - Edinburgh

After breakfast the train heads south to Edinburgh where your journey ends.

Additional information

Please note

Itineraries are subject to change and all timings shown are for your guidance only. Confirmed itineraries and timings will be supplied with your travel documents.

Prices include all table d'hôte meals, all alcoholic and other beverages, sightseeing per itinerary, and accommodations on board based on two people sharing a twin compartment or one person in a single. Air fare is not included in the price of this vacation package. Itineraries are subject to change and full details will be confirmed with your tickets. Pricing above is based on the currency conversion effective 12/15/2022, and can vary based on the exchange rate at the time of booking.

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.

Train

Royal Scotsman

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Extend your stay

Reviews

5 stars5 / 5 · 2 reviews

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

Diane A., Flushing, NY

5 stars

Submitted 26 Apr 2018

Excellent accommodations and dining,professional and caring staff, excellent coordination of activities. We cannot think of anything that would improve on the experience we had. It was our first time traveling this way and we were very pleased. Definitely do it again.

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Samuel G & Mary W, Doylestown, PA

5 stars

Submitted 17 Feb 2018

It was a wonderful experience---WELL DONE!

Collected by Vacations By Rail

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

The definitive guide to our 2023 Global Rail Adventures

Download brochure
Related inspiration from our journey blog