The Summer Highlander
Friday 4th July to Monday 7th July 2008
This is a new venture for the Railway Touring Company. Following the success of the Autumn Highlander we are introducing the Summer Highlander, running in July to take advantage of the long days. Rather than London and the East Coast we are offering this to customers from the Swindon to Birmingham area. We tour the Scottish Highlands on board a specially chartered luxury land cruise train, featuring very comfortable first class coaches. Enjoy Scotland as the majestic mountain scenery unfolds through our carriage windows. Eat in style as we enjoy the stately progress of our train.
Friday 4th July
Summer Highlander to Inverness
We are welcomed on board our special train at Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Worcester and Birmingham and then set off for the north. A full English breakfast will be silver served to us in our seats after joining the train. After passing through Crewe and Preston we skirt the Lake District, climb Shap, drop down to Carlisle, head over Beattock and head for Edinburgh Waverley where we enjoy a short break. We depart Edinburgh with two heritage diesel locomotives (class 37s). We cross the magnificent Forth Bridge on our way to Perth and onwards through the wonderful scenery of the Highlands. A four course dinner will be served at our seats as we make our way through the mountain landscape. We arrive at the highland capital, Inverness, before 21:00 where we check into our hotels for three nights. (B L D)
Saturday 5th July
The Scenic Kyle Line
A full Scottish breakfast is available at our hotels. The morning is free to explore Inverness, perhaps to visit the impressive castle overlooking the river or to browse through the interesting shops.
An optional coach trip to the Strathspey Railway is available at extra charge. Our train departs Inverness around 13:00 with a light lunch served as we leave. We take the spectacular single track railway to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we have two hours to explore this fascinating little fishing town with views over to the Isle of Skye.
We depart Kyle and have dinner on the train before arrival back at Inverness around 21:00.
(B L D)
Sunday 6th July
By Train to the Far North
This morning we have breakfast on the train as we head for the wild terrain of the far north.
Our first stop is at Dunrobin, which was the Duke of Sutherland’s private station, where a piper leads us to the castle perched high above the sea shore. A tour of the castle and its grounds, with a falconry display, will be available before rejoining our train. A light lunch will be served on departure. At Wick coaches will be waiting to take us to John O’Groats, with its tiny harbour and views over the Orkneys. There is the opportunity to visit the Castle of Mey instead, one of the residences of the Queen Mother and the staff will tell amusing stories about her. We rejoin our train at Thurso, Britain’s most northerly station, to head back to Inverness, having dinner served on the way.
(B L D)
Monday 7th July
Return to England via the Forth Bridge
Another Scottish breakfast will be served as we return south through the Highlands to Perth and Edinburgh, again having a short break here while the locomotives are changed. Lunch will be served as we leave Edinburgh and afternoon tea before we leave the train at Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Worcester, Cheltenham, Bristol, Bath, Chippenham or Swindon. (B L)
Summer Highlander to Inverness
We are welcomed on board our special train at Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Worcester and Birmingham and then set off for the north. A full English breakfast will be silver served to us in our seats after joining the train. After passing through Crewe and Preston we skirt the Lake District, climb Shap, drop down to Carlisle, head over Beattock and head for Edinburgh Waverley where we enjoy a short break. We depart Edinburgh with two heritage diesel locomotives (class 37s). We cross the magnificent Forth Bridge on our way to Perth and onwards through the wonderful scenery of the Highlands. A four course dinner will be served at our seats as we make our way through the mountain landscape. We arrive at the highland capital, Inverness, before 21:00 where we check into our hotels for three nights. (B L D)
Saturday 5th July
The Scenic Kyle Line
A full Scottish breakfast is available at our hotels. The morning is free to explore Inverness, perhaps to visit the impressive castle overlooking the river or to browse through the interesting shops.
An optional coach trip to the Strathspey Railway is available at extra charge. Our train departs Inverness around 13:00 with a light lunch served as we leave. We take the spectacular single track railway to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we have two hours to explore this fascinating little fishing town with views over to the Isle of Skye.
We depart Kyle and have dinner on the train before arrival back at Inverness around 21:00.
(B L D)
Sunday 6th July
By Train to the Far North
This morning we have breakfast on the train as we head for the wild terrain of the far north.
Our first stop is at Dunrobin, which was the Duke of Sutherland’s private station, where a piper leads us to the castle perched high above the sea shore. A tour of the castle and its grounds, with a falconry display, will be available before rejoining our train. A light lunch will be served on departure. At Wick coaches will be waiting to take us to John O’Groats, with its tiny harbour and views over the Orkneys. There is the opportunity to visit the Castle of Mey instead, one of the residences of the Queen Mother and the staff will tell amusing stories about her. We rejoin our train at Thurso, Britain’s most northerly station, to head back to Inverness, having dinner served on the way.
(B L D)
Monday 7th July
Return to England via the Forth Bridge
Another Scottish breakfast will be served as we return south through the Highlands to Perth and Edinburgh, again having a short break here while the locomotives are changed. Lunch will be served as we leave Edinburgh and afternoon tea before we leave the train at Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Worcester, Cheltenham, Bristol, Bath, Chippenham or Swindon. (B L)
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 |
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Approximate Timings
| Station | Depart | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Swindon | 07:00 | 20:48 |
| Chippenham | 07:18 | 20:28 |
| Bath Spa | 07:30 | 20:15 |
| Bristol Temple Meads | 07:50 | 20:00 |
| Cheltenham | 08:25 | 19:25 |
| Worcester Shrub Hill | 08:50 | 19.05 |
| Birmingham New Street | 09:48 | 18:00 |
| Inverness | 20:55 | 08:15 |
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.
Price
| Price per person | £699 |
| Single supplement | £135 |
| Table for four | £2500 |
Price includes:
- All first class rail travel, visits and tours*
- 3 nights accommodation in a twin, double or single room
- 4 breakfasts all served on board the train**
- 4 lunches all served on board the train
- 3 dinners all served on board the train
- Afternoon tea served on board the train
- Transfers to and from Inverness station as required
*except to the Strathspey Railway and the Castle of Mey.
**except for one breakfast in the hotel at Inverness.
Please note the train is diesel hauled throughout.
The Strathspey Railway is an optional tour at £17 per person. This covers a coach to the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore, with a steam hauled trip over this preserved line. Please mention when booking.
The Castle of Mey is an optional tour at £15 per person.
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
**except for one breakfast in the hotel at Inverness.
Please note the train is diesel hauled throughout.
The Strathspey Railway is an optional tour at £17 per person. This covers a coach to the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore, with a steam hauled trip over this preserved line. Please mention when booking.
The Castle of Mey is an optional tour at £15 per person.
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner