Grand Western Scenic Wonders
Northbound

The Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh in the early afternoon, crossing the Firth of Forth on the Forth Railway Bridge and heading north through the former Kingdom of Fife. Afternoon tea is served as the train follows the east coast through Arbroath, Montrose and Aberdeen before arriving in the market town of Keith in the evening. An informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car make for a good first evening on board.

Breakfast is served as the train leaves Keith and heads west along the Moray Firth to Inverness, then onto the Kyle of Lochalsh line, which is consistently rated the most scenic railway route in the United Kingdom. Lunch is served as the train passes Loch Luichart and the Torridon mountains. At Plockton, guests disembark for a boat trip to see the local seal colony or a woodland walk and a dram at the Plockton Hotel. The train settles overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh, with a formal dinner and views from the Observation Car over Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye.

The morning begins with an optional early walk across the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Breakfast is served as the train retraces part of yesterday's route to Dingwall, skirting the Beauly Firth and crossing the Caledonian Canal. At Garve guests have the choice of a bespoke shopping experience in the village or a guided walk with a Highland storyteller along the old military road to Silver Bridge. Lunch is served as the train heads south to Carrbridge, from where the afternoon excursion is to Ballindalloch Castle, one of the most romantic privately owned castles in Scotland, with the option of a private tour or a visit to Scotland's only single-estate distillery. The train stables overnight at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway, with an informal dinner and local musicians in the Observation Car.

A coach takes guests to Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, where fishing, clay pigeon shooting and estate tours are available. Refreshments in the hunting lodge conclude the morning. Lunch is served on return to the train at Kingussie, and the journey heads south through Blair Atholl and Pitlochry to Dunkeld, where guests disembark for a private tour of Glamis Castle and its beautiful gardens. A formal dinner follows back on the train with Scottish country dancing in the Observation Car to round off a full day.

Breakfast is served as the train crosses the Tay Bridge and travels south to Edinburgh. Here guests disembark for a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith, or time to explore Edinburgh freely. The train departs again in the early afternoon, heading west through Falkirk to Craigendoran and the start of the West Highland Line. Afternoon tea is served as the route passes along the Gare Loch and Loch Long before the first view of Loch Lomond. The train climbs hard up Glen Falloch and continues through Crianlarich and across Rannoch Moor before an informal dinner is served on the way to Spean Bridge. Local musicians provide the evening entertainment.

The train travels west from Spean Bridge with Ben Nevis visible to the south. The route passes Glenfinnan and its famous viaduct before reaching Arisaig, where guests disembark for a walk along the Morar Sands with their spectacular views across the Sound of Sleat. Lunch is served as the train retraces its route to Fort William, from where the afternoon offers either a guided visit to historic Glenfinnan with a local storyteller, or a hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall with a mountain ranger. An informal dinner follows as the train travels south to Bridge of Orchy for the night.

The morning journey south from Bridge of Orchy through dramatic Highland scenery brings the train to the coast at Wemyss Bay, where a 35-minute ferry crossing takes guests to the Isle of Bute. The destination is Mount Stuart, one of Britain's most spectacular Victorian Gothic houses, built for the 3rd Marquess of Bute whose passion for art, astrology, mythology and religion is reflected throughout the remarkable interior. Afternoon tea in the Drawing Room precedes a tour of the house and grounds. A formal dinner and farewell entertainment in the Observation Car follow as the train makes its way towards Gourock for the final night.

An early departure from Gourock and a leisurely final breakfast as the train heads east to Edinburgh Waverley, where seven nights and eight days of some of the most varied and spectacular travel in Britain 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.