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SCOTLAND BY TRAIN 2025 - EDINBURGH START

Experience Scotland’s most majestic landscapes by rail on this scenic week long loop from Edinburgh.

Destination
Starts at

Edinburgh

Destination
Ends at

Edinburgh

Destination
Duration

7 days

Destination
Group Size

Maximum 16

Destination
Physical Rating

moderate Information

Destination
Style

discovery Information

About your trip

Scotland’s railways are among the most historic – and beautiful – in the world, so what better way to explore this spectacular nation than via a series of scenic train rides that allow you to carve through the very heart of Scotland in just a week. We’ll start in the capital, Edinburgh, before hopping over to Glasgow, sipping whisky in Glengoyne and spending the night in Glencoe. In the Scottish Highlands things get magical as we hop aboard the real-life Hogwarts Express – the Jacobite steam train – from Fort William to Mallaig. We’ll explore Loch Coruisk and the Isle of Skye, as well as hike in the Cairngorms, before winding our way back down to Edinburgh. Enjoy the ride!

Trip Highlights

  • Ride the iconic Jacobite steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct
  • Get into the Scottish spirit with a whisky tasting session at Glengoyne Distillery
  • Learn all about Scottish history on a Glasgow walking tour
  • Explore the Isle of Skye by boat and on a guided hike
  • Visit one of Scotland’s most spectacularly beautiful castles
  • Dive into Inverness’s art scene
  • Strike out on a scenic hike in the Cairngorms
  • Receive the royal treatment on a tour of Edinburgh

Your Itinerary

Where better to start your Scottish adventure than in the capital of Scotland. Edinburgh is one of the most historic and beautiful cities you’re ever likely to come across. Picturesque cobblestone streets, storied old pubs and ancient monuments give Auld Reekie its character, but it’s the people that bring the personality. You’ll discover this immediately with a warm welcome at our first hotel, where you’ll also get to meet your fellow travellers and settle down for a hearty group dinner.

Accommodation

Indigo York Place (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Welcome dinner

From one iconic city to another, we leave Edinburgh via train this morning – don’t worry, we’ll be back for more – for Scotland’s largest town, Glasgow. Bigger, buzzier and imbued with a working spirit, this epic city has become one of the UK’s trendiest travel spots. You’ll take a tour to learn all about the city’s huge industrial heritage, vibrant cultural institutions and two iconic football clubs – Celtic and Rangers. You’ll get a further taste of Scotland at lunch, before heading out to Glengoyne Distillery for a soul-warming whisky tasting session – the ultimate Scottish welcome. Our hotel for the evening is on the spectacularly beautiful west coast, reachable via a stunning drive through the Trossachs National Park.

Accommodation

Ballachulish (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Train from Edinburgh to Glasgow
  • Glasgow city tour
  • Lunch
  • Whisky tasting at Glengoyne Distillery

Today is an epic adventure in itself. After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Fort William station to board the Jacobite steam train (AKA the Hogwarts Express). 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.

Accommodation

Plockton Inn (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Ride the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig
  • Take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye
  • Photostop at Eilean Donan Castle

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

Craigmonie Hotel (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Train from Plockton to Inverness
  • Private tour of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

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

Indigo York Place (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Train from Inverness to Aviemore
  • Guided walk in the Cairngorms National Park
  • Train from Aviemore to Edinburgh

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. 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!

Accommodation

Indigo York Place (or similar)

Activities Included
  • Guided tour of the Royal Mile
  • Farewell dinner

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

Accommodation

Activities Included
  • -

What's Included

  • Six nights accommodation
  • 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
  • 5 train rides (inc. the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig)
  • Glasgow city tour
  • Visit of Glengoyne Distillery with whisky tasting
  • Take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye
  • Private tour of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
  • Guided walk in the Cairngorms National Park
  • Guided tour of the Royal Mile

What's Not Included

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

Customer Reviews

Accommodation

Indigo York Place

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Found right in the heart of Edinburgh’s Unesco-listed centre, this charming boutique hotel is as full of character as the cobbled streets surrounding it. Feel right at home in the colourfully designed rooms, sip a wee dram in the bar and enjoy the city’s most iconic sights within a short walking distance.

Ballachulish Hotel

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This grand old building – tastefully modernised as a classy country hotel – serves up a classic slice of Scottish Highlands beauty. Sitting pretty on the waterfront, the hotel is surrounded by splendidly verdant hills rising from the glassy surfaces of deep Scottish locks. Enjoy views of Ballachulish Bridge, which separates Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe, from the Waterside Cafe or dine on seafood specialties in the aptly named Fish Restaurant. Either way, you’ll be well fed and ready to explore the stunning surrounds of Glencoe and the Scottish Highlands.

Plockton Inn

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This characterful family-run pub with rooms on the edge of Loch Carron epitomises Scottish hospitality. 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. 

Craigmonie Hotel

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It’s hard to believe that you’re just minutes away from central Inverness when you’re in the quaint leafy surrounds of this storied old hotel, which dates back to 1880. Think country house vibes in the city, with a cosy bar to keep the cockles warm, and a free-to-use indoor pool and sauna, for that refreshing start to the day.

COVID Safety

The safety and wellbeing of all travellers is our top priority. To help us ensure this, please refer to this checklist:

  • Please check the entry requirements for the destination you are travelling to. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.
  • We recommend you confirm all guidance on official government sites and check that you are able to travel with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.

Important Info

  • You must be aged 18 years or over to join this trip.
  • Please be sure to check whether or not you need a visa to enter the country you're travelling to. Please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions for further information.
  • If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or accessibility requirements, please notify our Customer Support team as soon as possible.
  • To upgrade to a private room, or book pre- and post-trip accommodation and/or airport transfers, please contact our Customer Support team.
  • Please be aware that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers.
  • Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. While unlikely, these changes can happen due to circumstances beyond our control. We will always do our best to ensure minimal impact on your experience.
  • Please be aware images on this page are for illustrative purposes and may not reflect your itinerary exactly.
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