Scenic Scottish Railways

Departing: October 2027 - October 2027

The north of Scotland is blessed with some wonderfully scenic railway lines. The challenge of building railways through difficult terrain was taken up by the great engineers of the Victorian age, and their legacy is in the sweeping curves and majestic viaducts of the single-track lines which cross wild moors and lonely glens. Highlights on this short break include a visit to the much-photographed Eilean Donan Castle, a ride aboard the Jacobite Steam Train that takes us over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct and a visit to Boat of Garten on the Strathspey Line, which perfectly recreates the days of steam in the highlands.

NC500: Please note that this itinerary features part of the North Coast 500, the highly scenic coastal route which begins and ends in Inverness.

Included

Explore Eilean Donan Castle, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
3 nights at the Duke of Gordon Hotel, Kingussie
3 breakfasts & 3 dinners
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

Iconic views over Loch Shiel from the Glenfinnan Viaduct
Eilean Donan, situated on an island where three lochs meet
The palm trees of Plockton
Scenic banks of the Beauly Firth

Alan Appleton

An expert guide in Northumberland with a deep knowledge of this corner of England. His familiarity with the region’s highlights makes touring Northumberland with an expert guide an informative and enjoyable experience.

Tour Itinerary

Depart from your chosen pick up point and travel by coach to Aviemore and the Strathspey Railway. We board the maroon-liveried coaches which evokes memories of train journeys in the 1950s and 60s, with the train hauled by a lovingly restored steam locomotive from the collection, housed in the engine shed adjacent to the station here. The line crosses heather covered moorland with the Cairngorm Mountains beyond, scenes which have changed little in the last hundred years. The train stops at Boat of Garten, a village created by the former railway companies that served the area and Broomhill, which doubled as ‘Glenbogle’ in the popular BBC series, Monarch of the Glen.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Duke of Gordon, Kingussie

Following breakfast, we head to Inverness to board the morning scheduled diesel train service to Wick. The line takes us along the shores of the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths, looping round by Lairg and back to the coast, passing the former junction with the Dornoch branch at The Mound. From Golspie, the line follows the spectacular coastline as far as Helmsdale, where it turns inland, pausing at remote stations such as Forsinard and Altnabreac, before reaching Georgemas Junction, the most northerly railway junction in Britain. The driver changes ends here to take the train to Thurso before we continue to the terminus at Wick. On arrival here we re-join our coach and return to our hotel by the more direct but equally scenic coastal route.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Duke of Gordon, Kingussie

We depart once again by diesel train from Inverness, this time diverging at Dingwall and heading for Kyle of Lochalsh on the scheduled diesel train service. Our route takes us through Strath Bran and the isolated little station at Achnasheen, on into Strath Carron to the head of Loch Carron, passing Stromeferry, the one-time terminus of the line, before we reach the current terminus at Kyle of Lochalsh.

We have time to stretch our legs and enjoy the stunning views across to the Isle of Skye before continuing on by coach to the 13th-century castle, Eilean Donan. This must be one of the most photographed castles in Scotland, with its impossibly romantic setting on Loch Duich. The beginnings of Eilean Donan Castle reach back into the early mists of time – evidence of a pictish fort was found in vitrified rock uncovered during excavations, some of which has been kept for visitors to see. We then return by coach to our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Duke of Gordon, Kingussie

After an early breakfast, we check out of the hotel and travel via Loch Laggan to Fort William, where we join The Jacobite Steam Train and experience one of the most memorable and spectacular railway journeys in the world – to Mallaig on the famous ‘Road to the Isles’. ‘The Jacobite’ combines the romance of the steam era with the opportunity to drink in the stunning views of this wild and historic part of Scotland. From the slopes of Ben Nevis, the line runs through rugged mountains, past sea and inland lochs and onto the shores of the Atlantic at Mallaig. The route takes us over the massive Glenfinnan viaduct overlooking Loch Sheil, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. After some free time in Mallaig, we rejoin the train and return to Fort William. We then continue by coach to our original departure points, where we expect to arrive in the late evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Availability & Booking

2027

12th October from $1,535

Call to Book

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