Scotland: Highlands
and the West

The Royal Scotsman leaves Edinburgh Waverley in the early afternoon and crosses the Firth of Forth on the magnificent Forth Bridge. Afternoon tea is served as you travel through Fife, once a kingdom in its own right, and the train then follows the east coast through Arbroath, Montrose and Aberdeen to the market town of Keith. An informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car make for a relaxed first evening.

The train travels west along the Moray Firth to Inverness and then joins the Kyle of Lochalsh line, often described as one of the most beautiful railway journeys in Britain. Lunch is served as you pass Loch Luichart and the Torridon mountains.

At Plockton there is a boat trip to see the wild seals, a woodland walk and a warm Highland welcome at the Plockton Hotel. Back on board, a formal dinner is followed by coffee and liqueurs in the Observation Car, with the train staying overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh, looking across to the Isle of Skye.

Early risers can start the day with a walk over the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Breakfast is served as the train retraces part of yesterday's route, stopping at Garve, where you can choose between a spot of shopping or a walk with a Highland storyteller. The journey continues past the Beauly Firth and the Caledonian Canal to Inverness.

After lunch you can visit Ballindalloch Castle, a much loved family home in Speyside, or its single-estate distillery. The train then stables overnight at Boat of Garten on the heritage Strathspey Railway, with an informal dinner and live music in the Observation Car.

After breakfast you head to the Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms National Park, where you can try fishing or clay pigeon shooting or join a tour of the estate, followed by refreshments. Lunch is served back on board at Kingussie as the train heads south.

At Dunkeld you leave the train for a visit to Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. You rejoin the train at Perth for a formal dinner on the way to Dundee, with evening entertainment and the chance to try some Scottish country dancing if you wish.

After breakfast the train crosses the Tay Bridge and heads south to Edinburgh. Here you can join a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith followed by a light lunch, or spend the time exploring the city at your own pace.

The train then travels west to Craigendoran, and afternoon tea is served as it runs along Gare Loch. It continues north through Crianlarich and Bridge of Orchy and across the wild, open expanse of Rannoch Moor, arriving at Spean Bridge for an informal dinner and lively entertainment in the Observation Car.

The train heads west through Fort William, with Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, towering over the town. The line follows Loch Eil and crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct before reaching Arisaig, where you leave the train for a walk along the Silver Sands of Morar and its views out to the islands. Lunch is served on board.

In the afternoon you can choose between a visit to historic Glenfinnan with a local guide, who brings the Jacobite story to life, or a hike through Nevis Gorge. Everyone rejoins the train at Fort William and you can relax on board over an informal dinner as it travels south to Bridge of Orchy.

Leaving Bridge of Orchy, the train passes through more fine Highland scenery on its way towards Glasgow and the coast at Wemyss Bay, where a ferry crossing takes you to the Isle of Bute. Here you visit Mount Stuart, a spectacular Victorian Gothic house built for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, with remarkable interiors and beautiful gardens.

After afternoon tea you return to the train to relax before a formal dinner, with evening entertainment in the Observation Car and farewell drinks to close the final night.

Breakfast is served as the Royal Scotsman makes its way back to Edinburgh Waverley, arriving at around 9:40am, where your seven-night journey comes to an end. The Train Manager will be happy to help with onward transport or a hotel in Edinburgh if you need it.

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