The Summer Highlander

This tour allows us to explore Scotland, avoiding busy roads by making the journeys to and from the north by fast trains, made even more enjoyable by travelling first class. Highlights of the tour include preserved steam railways, the spectacular train journeys from Inverness to Kyle and from Mallaig to Fort William and the Isle of Skye.
We are accompanied throughout Scotland by a coach that will handle our luggage. Last but not least you’ll enjoy the sheer quality of the two hotels we stay at, both of which provide food and accommodation to a very high standard.

Friday 30th July
Highland Chieftain to Scotland
At midday the Highland Chieftain train leaves London Kings Cross bound for Inverness, stopping at Peterborough and York to collect further passengers. As we glide along the East Coast Main line a two course lunch will be served at our seats. Continuing northwards we pass through Newcastle, Edinburgh and Perth to Aviemore where we transfer by road coach to our hotel in Fort William. Dinner will be served as we cruise through Scotland. (L D)

Saturday 31st July
The Jacobite and over the Sea to Skye
Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world, the Jacobite steam train takes us for 42 miles through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Apart from stunning mountain and sea views, it crosses the world famous twenty one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct. The final destination is Mallaig, where we have an hour to explore this attractive fishing port and board the ferry for the Isle of Skye.
At Armadale we rejoin our coach which, as always, has followed us with our luggage.
We travel through the picturesque Isle of Skye through Kyleakin and Broadford before crossing the famous Skye Bridge, which links Skye to the Kyle of Lochalsh. At Kyle of Lochalsh we board the late afternoon service train to Inverness along one of Europe’s most scenic lines. Running alongside Loch Carron, enjoying superb views of the Loch and mountains, we pass through forests and beside delightful lakes before arriving in Inverness around 19:00, where our coach will be waiting to transfer us to the Thistle hotel for 3 nights.
Dinner will be served at our hotel. (B D)

Sunday 1st August
The Far North
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant before we depart by coach to Dunrobin Castle, where a piper will greet us and lead us to the castle perched high above the seashore. A tour if the castle and its grounds with a falconry display awaits us before we enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in Wick. We continue northbound to John O’Groats with its tiny harbour and views over the Orkneys. Then we visit the Castle of Mey before continuing on board our coach to Thurso Station. Here we join our Scotrail service train to Inverness. Because it runs on a different route to the coach, you’ll enjoy a fresh perspective on the region’s wonderful scenery. On arrival at Inverness we transfer to the Thistle Hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Monday 2nd August 
The Strathspey and Keith and Dufftown Railways
Our coach takes us to Aviemore where we join a steam hauled train on the Strathspey Railway to Broomhill and back. Our steam locomotive will take us slowly through the countryside, with the Cairngorm Mountains in view; an area famous for its stunning natural beauty. On arriving back at Aviemore, our coach takes us to Dufftown where lunch will be served in the Buffer Stop, a restaurant car. The Keith and Dufftown Railway, also known as The Whisky Line, runs for eleven miles through some of Scotland’s most picturesque scenery with forest and farmland, lochs and glens, castles and distilleries. We make the return trip in a vintage diesel multiple unit.
To wind up the day, we have a visit to a traditional Highland whisky distillery before returning to our hotel in Inverness. (B L D)

Tuesday 3rd August
The Highland Chieftain back to London
The Highland Chieftain leaves around 08:00.
We have first class seats, and we will be served a hearty Scottish breakfast as we pass through the Highlands, a wonderful experience. Our train continues through Perth, Edinburgh and Newcastle back to York and London arriving in Kings Cross just before 16:00. A three-course lunch will also be served on our journey south. (B L)

Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner

*Change at York

Please note:
Although The Railway Touring Company makes every effort to ensure that its trips run to schedule, all times above are approximate and subject to change without prior notice.