Grand Western
Scenic Wonders

The Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh and heads west, reaching Craigendoran and the start of the West Highland Line. Afternoon tea is served as Ben Arthur's distinctive peak comes into view and Loch Lomond appears for the first time. The train climbs hard up the waterfall-rich Glen Falloch before continuing north through Crianlarich to Spean Bridge, the stabling point for the first night. An informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car set the tone for the week ahead.

The train heads west through Fort William, where Ben Nevis dominates the southern skyline. Running alongside Loch Eil, the route passes the famous curved viaduct at Glenfinnan before turning north along the dramatic coastline to Arisaig. Lunch is served as the train retraces its route to Fort William, and the afternoon offers a choice: a visit to Glenfinnan with a local guide who brings the Jacobite stories to life, followed by drinks at the Old Station Restaurant, or a guided hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall with a mountain ranger. An informal dinner follows as the train travels south to the small Argyll village of Bridge of Orchy for the night, with evening entertainment in the Observation Car.

The morning journey south from Bridge of Orchy brings the train to the coast at Wemyss Bay, where a ferry crossing takes guests to the Isle of Bute. The destination is Mount Stuart, a Victorian Gothic house with a reasonable claim to being the most spectacular of its kind in Britain. Built for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, the interior reflects his passions for art, astrology and mythology, and the privately held collection of family portraits is among the finest in Scotland. A formal dinner is served on the train as it travels to Kilmarnock for the night.

An early departure from Gourock this morning begins with a leisurely breakfast as the train heads east to Edinburgh Waverley, where the first part of the westbound journey draws to a close. Guests have the morning to explore Edinburgh independently or join a guided tour before the train departs again in the early afternoon.

Heading north over the Forth Railway Bridge, the route passes through Fife towards Perth. Afternoon tea is served as the train continues 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 follow.

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 through dramatic mountain and forest scenery. At Plockton, guests disembark for a boat trip to see the local seal colony or a dram and a traditional Highland welcome at the Plockton Hotel. The train settles overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh, with a formal dinner and views over Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye from the Observation Car.

The morning begins with an optional early walk across the bridge linking the Scottish mainland 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 top of the Caledonian Canal. The train continues south to Carrbridge, where guests disembark for Ballindalloch Castle, one of the most romantic privately owned castles in Scotland with wonderful walled gardens. The choice at Ballindalloch is either a private castle tour or an exclusive visit to Scotland's only single-estate distillery. The train stables overnight at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway, with 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 guided walks through the exceptional mountain landscape are all available. Lunch is served on the return to the train at Kingussie, and the journey heads south through Blair Atholl and Pitlochry to Dunkeld. Here guests disembark for Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, one of the most historically significant castles in Scotland and the seat of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne for centuries. A formal dinner and entertainment follow as the train continues to Dundee for the final night on board.

A final breakfast is served as the Royal Scotsman crosses the Tay Bridge and makes its way south through Fife to Edinburgh Waverley, where seven nights and eight days of some of the most varied and spectacular 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.