Tour Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train | Visit United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Guide

Local guide

Meals

Five breakfasts One lunch One dinner Whiskey tasting at Ben Nevis Distillery

Transport

Ride the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig Take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye Train from Plockton to Inverness Train from Inverness to Aviemore Train from Aviemore to Edinburgh A non-refundable prepayment of £200/€250/$250 is required for this trip. This is necessary in order to secure a spot on the Caledonian Sleeper train and the Jacobite steam train, both of which have limited spaces and are in extremely high demand.

Others

Private tour of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery Guided walk in the Cairngorms National Park Guided tour of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle

Accommodation

Six nights accommodation (including a night on the Highland Caledonian Sleeper) Caledonian Sleeper Dimmable lights, temperature controls, wi-fi and luxury Glencraft mattresses as standard – the Caledonian Sleeper’s cabins feel more like a compact boutique hotel than a train carriage. Should you need to stretch your legs, head to the club car for a nibble and a glass of Scottish Malt Whisky. Alexandra Hotel This handsome hotel, just a couple of minutes walk away from Fort William train station, has everything you’d want from a stay in the Scottish highlands. Rooms are classically furnished, yet brought up to date with contemporary fittings and stylish bathrooms, while the restaurant serves elegant plates of food using local ingredients. Plockton Inn This characterful family-run pub with rooms on the edge of Loch Carron epitomises Scottish hosptality. Rooms are simple but homely, with a nautical theme to the decor. Downstairs, the pub bar hums softly with local chit-chat, while the kitchen serves up fresh, locally-caught seafood. Royal Highland Hotel If you experience a sense of Deja Vu as you’re heading up to your room in this historic city-centre hotel, you’re probably not alone. Legend has it that the grand staircase served as the inspiration for the central staircase onboard the Titanic, and for fans of the film, you’ll see the resemblance. Rooms are equally elegant and classically furnished. Haymarket Hotel This Victorian townhouse, found down a cobbled street in the historic Haymarket area of Edinburgh, is the perfect setting to call home in the heart of this storied old city. Its central location places you perfectly to see the sites, while cosy Logan’s bar is the ideal spot for wee dram at the end of a long day of exploring. You can even follow it up in the morning with a hearty Scottish breakfast, such as porridge, fresh kippers or even a full Scottish breakfast, including haggis, MacSween’s black pudding and tattie scones. If the local cuisine isn’t for you, there’s still a healthy continental spread to fuel you up for the day.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Travel insurance not included

Others

Visas Travel insurance Hotel transfers (unless otherwise stated in the Included Activities section above)

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Welcome To The Highlands!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Welcome To The Highlands!

For a train trip in the Scottish Highlands, there’s only one way to arrive: The Highland Caledonian Sleeper. Running overnight from London Euston to Fort William, this bonafide classic British train journey is the perfect way to kick-off this week-long adventure. Let the clickety-clack of the track lull you to sleep as you thunder up the West Coast main line to Scotland.

Accommodation

The Highland Caledonian Sleeper

Activities included

Overnight train from London Euston to Fort William
Day 2 Warm Up With A Whisky Tasting
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Warm Up With A Whisky Tasting

Our first stop in Scotland is Fort William station. We’ll guide you to your hotel, where we can drop off everyone’s luggage before grabbing a locally-sourced welcome lunch. Bellies full, we’ll head to the Ben Nevis Distillery, on the banks of the River Lochy, where we’ll take part in a whisky tasting – a warming introduction to this part of the world.

Accommodation

The Alexandra hotel

Activities included

Welcome lunch

Whisky tasting at Ben Nevis Distillery

Optional activities

Arrive via the Highland Caledonian Sleeper train from London Euston
Day 3 Take A Steam Train To The Isle Of Skye
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Take A Steam Train To The Isle Of Skye

Today is an epic adventure in itself. After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Fort William station to board the Jacobite steam train. Unarguably one of the world’s greatest train journeys, this 42-mile stretch of track takes you past lochs, mountains and over the soaring Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films, to the small fishing town of Mallaig. From here, we’ll ferry across the glassy waters of Loch Nevis to the Isle of Skye before transferring to the remote waterside hamlet of Elgol where we’ll meet the Mackinnon family, who’ve lived and worked in Elgol since the 1300s. Today, their business is in showing people the jaw-dropping beauty of this slice of Scotland, with a boat trip (plus a brief hike) to Loch Coruisk. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins along the way. We’ll end the day with a transfer to our accommodation in Kyle of Lochalsh, stopping off en route at Eilean Donan Castle – one of Scotland’s most famous, and spectacular, castles.

Accomodation

Plockton Inn

Included activities

Ride the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig

Take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye
Day 4 All Aboard To Inverness
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

All Aboard To Inverness

After yesterday’s cross-country expedition, we’re taking things a little easier. Around midday we’ll head to Plockton station for the train to Inverness – a leisurely clop across the width of the Highlands, with plenty of gorgeous scenery thrown in. Once in the city we’ll head to the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery for an expert-led tour of its all-thing-Highlands collection. You’ll then have the rest of the day free to explore the city at your own pace – check out the castle, for city-wide views, and take a walk along the River Ness.

Accommodation

Glen Mhor Hotel

Included activities

Train from Plockton to Inverness

Private tour of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Day 5 Take In The Sublime Scenery Of The Cairngorms
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Take In The Sublime Scenery Of The Cairngorms

We’re getting back on track today, as we take the train south from Inverness to Aviemore. This small town offers easy access to the ski slopes, glassy lochs and ancient woodland that make up the extraordinary Cairngorms National Park. We’ll spend the rest of the morning and the first half of the afternoon exploring on foot with a guided walk, before we hop back on the train to our final destination: Edinburgh. After checking into your hotel in the capital, you’ll have the evening to yourself.

Accommodation

Haymarket Hotel

Included activities

Train from Inverness to Aviemore

Guided walk in the Cairngorms National Park

Train from Aviemore to Edinburgh
Day 6 A Royal Send-Off
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

A Royal Send-Off

Today is the last full day of this trip, so we’re going out on a high – literally, with an Insider-led tour of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city from its lofty position on Castle Rock. The views are stupendous, and it’s not hard to see why this imposing fortress – one of the oldest in Europe – has remained standing, despite being the most besieged place in Britain. Tour over, you’ll have the rest of the day to see Edinburgh at your own pace – take a stroll in Princes Street Gardens, browse the Edinburgh Farmers Market and dip into the National Museum of Scotland. Just make sure you’re available to meet back up with the rest of the group in the evening for a farewell dinner – where we’ll swap highlights, and toast to what we hope has been a rail-y good time!

Accomodation

Haymarket Hotel

Activities included

Guided tour of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle

Farewell dinner
Day 7 See You Later, Scotland!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

See You Later, Scotland!

Enjoy a final breakfast in the Scottish capital before checking out and making your way home, or on to other adventures.

7 days tour

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

Welcome To The Highlands!

Warm Up With A Whisky Tasting

Take A Steam Train To The Isle Of Skye

All Aboard To Inverness

Take In The Sublime Scenery Of The Cairngorms

A Royal Send-Off

See You Later, Scotland!

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