Grand Taste of
the Highlands

The Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh in the early afternoon, heading north through Perth and the Perthshire hills on the Highland Line through Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl. Afternoon tea is served as the landscape shifts from rolling farmland to the more dramatic peaks and valleys of the Highlands. The train glides past Aviemore and the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park before settling for the night at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway.

Dinner on board this evening features Scotland's finest natural larder: line-caught wild halibut, Shetland lobster and Aberdeen Angus beef, with chanterelles and wild garlic foraged direct from the Scottish countryside. Entertainment in the Observation Car follows, with the camaraderie that tends to develop over a shared dram on the first evening of a Royal Scotsman journey.

After breakfast a coach takes guests to Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Ghillie Basan, broadcaster and food anthropologist, and her son Zeki lead the morning, covering Scottish wildlife and Highland survival skills with genuine knowledge and warmth. Ghillie was elected a Food Ambassador for Scotland, and her barbecue lunch is served alongside an account of how she came to live in the Cairngorms. A food and kombucha pairing by the fire showcases the seasonal produce of the Highlands with real care. Activities including clay pigeon shooting, fishing, a guided hike or a nature walk with Zeki focusing on foraging and traditional craft are available throughout.

The train collects everyone at Carrbridge and the afternoon brings an optional visit to Strathisla Distillery near Keith, the oldest working distillery in the Highlands and home to the malt at the heart of Chivas Regal. The journey then follows the east coast through Aberdeenshire and Angus, with spectacular sea views along the way. A fine dinner is served, and jazz music in the Observation Car concludes a full and rewarding day. The train stables overnight in Dundee.

Breakfast is served as the train leaves Dundee, crosses the Tay Bridge and travels south through the Kingdom of Fife back to Edinburgh Waverley. Here guests disembark for a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, berthed at Leith. The guided tour takes in all five decks: the State Apartments where the Queen entertained heads of state, the Crew's Quarters, the Engine Room and the Bridge. Lunch at Brasserie Prince in the Balmoral Hotel or time to explore Edinburgh freely follows before the train departs again in the early afternoon.

The train heads west through Falkirk, Clydebank and Dumbarton before joining the West Highland Line at Craigendoran. Afternoon tea is served as the route passes along the Gare Loch, glimpses Loch Long and Ben Arthur, and descends to Loch Lomond before climbing hard up Glen Falloch with its impressive sequence of waterfalls. The train continues through Crianlarich and across the vast, boggy wilderness of Rannoch Moor before dinner is served on the way to Spean Bridge. Local musicians provide the entertainment in the Observation Car this evening.

The train travels west from Spean Bridge through Fort William with Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, visible to the south. The line then runs alongside Loch Eil before passing through Glenfinnan, where the famous curved viaduct provides one of the most recognisable views on the entire Royal Scotsman route. The train continues north along the dramatic coastline to Arisaig, where guests disembark for a walk along the Silver Sands of Morar. These white beaches, with views across the Sound of Sleat to the Cuillin ridge on Skye, consistently surprise visitors who expect the beaches of the far north to be grey and uninviting.

Lunch is served as the train retraces its route to Fort William, where the afternoon offers a choice. The first option is a visit to historic Glenfinnan with a local guide who brings the stories of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite rising to life at the monument, followed by drinks at the Old Station Restaurant. The second is a guided hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall, the second highest in the United Kingdom. Sturdy footwear and waterproofs are essential, and both can be provided subject to availability. Dinner is served as the train travels south to the small Argyll village of Bridge of Orchy for the night.

The morning journey south from Bridge of Orchy through the dramatic Highland scenery towards Glasgow gives way after lunch to the coast at Wemyss Bay, where a 35-minute ferry crossing takes guests to the Isle of Bute. The afternoon is spent at Mount Stuart, which has a reasonable claim to be the most spectacular Victorian Gothic house in Britain. It was the fantasy of the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, and the interior reflects the Marquess's passion for art, astrology and mythology in a way that makes most stately homes look understated. The privately held collection of family portraits is among the finest in Scotland. Afternoon tea in the Drawing Room precedes a tour of the house and grounds, including a walk down the Lime Tree Avenue to a secluded stretch of coastline.

The train returns to the mainland at Wemyss Bay and a gala dinner is served on the way to Kilmarnock, the final overnight stop. The Observation Car is open for coffee, liqueurs and traditional Scottish music afterwards.

An early departure from Kilmarnock allows a leisurely final breakfast as the train makes its way east to Edinburgh Waverley, where six days and five nights of some of the finest travel available anywhere in the world comes to an end. The Train Manager is available to arrange onward transport or accommodation in Edinburgh for those who need it.

Itineraries and timings shown may be changed for seasonal or operational reasons.