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Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday

Edinburgh & Loch Lomond Journey

Sleeper train and Scottish cities from London, five days on rails and foot

Illustration of Edinburgh & Loch Lomond Journey

Marvellous Escapes' Edinburgh and Loch Lomond Journey is a five-day tailor-made rail holiday that begins with an overnight voyage on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh. You settle into a sleeper cabin, dine aboard the train, and wake in Scotland refreshed. Three nights follow in an Edinburgh hotel with breakfast included. The core of the trip balances guided and independent time: day two opens with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh, allowing you to visit Edinburgh Castle, walk the Royal Mile, or explore at leisure. Day three is a full excursion into the Scottish interior, traveling to Linlithgow Palace (birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots), Loch Lomond for a walk and lake cruise, through the Trossachs, and to Stirling Castle before returning to Edinburgh. Day four offers a full second day on your own to revisit favourite spots, visit the National Galleries of Scotland, or pursue sites linked to Sir Walter Scott. The return to London is unguided, though you may book an overnight Caledonian Sleeper journey home or extend your travels to another UK city. This itinerary suits couples and repeat rail travellers drawn to Scottish history and castle visits, with room for personal exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • The return journey on day 5 is unguided; you arrange your own travel back to London or extend by rail through the Travel Designer service.
  • The itinerary does not specify which nights the return sleeper journey occurs; confirm with Marvellous Escapes whether the overnight journey home is included at the stated price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Onboard the Caledonian Sleeper

    Caledonian Sleeper

    Relaxing overnight journey aboard the Caledonian Sleeper train from London, settling into a sleeper cabin with dinner in the dining car, arriving refreshed the next morning.

  2. Day 2overnight: Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

    Whole day to explore the city at your own pace with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, taking in Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Arthur's Seat.

  3. Day 3overnight: Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

    Excursion through Linlithgowshire, spotting Linlithgow Palace (birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots) and the Kelpies Monument, on to the shores of Loch Lomond for a walk and mountain views, then the Trossachs, with lunch in the National Park before visiting Stirling Castle and returning to Edinburgh.

  4. Day 4overnight: Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

    Full day to explore Edinburgh at your own pace: the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens, Arthur's Seat, the National Galleries of Scotland, or sites linked to Sir Walter Scott and the Writers' Museum.

  5. Day 5rail

    Return home

    Journey back to London, with the option to travel overnight aboard the Caledonian Sleeper, or extend the adventure by rail to another UK city via the Marvellous Escapes Travel Designer.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Overnight aboard the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh, dining in the sleeper train's dining car.
  • Day 3Excursion to Linlithgow Palace and a walk at Loch Lomond with mountain views, followed by a visit to Stirling Castle.
  • Day 2Hop-on-hop-off bus tour through Edinburgh, with the option to visit Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Arthur's Seat.

Included

  • Overnight accommodation onboard the Caledonian Sleeper Train from London to Edinburgh
  • 3-nights hotel accommodation in Edinburgh with breakfast included
  • Caledonian Sleeper train
  • UK Rail
  • Hop-on, Hop-off bus tour in Edinburgh
  • Stirling Castle & Loch Lomond Cruise

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh and UK rail travel for the day excursions. Breakfast, the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, Stirling Castle entry, and a Loch Lomond cruise are included; dinner aboard the sleeper is mentioned but not explicitly listed as included.
Do I spend the whole trip in Edinburgh?
Yes. You stay in an Edinburgh hotel for nights 2 through 4. Day 3 is a guided excursion that departs and returns to Edinburgh, visiting Linlithgow, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, and Stirling.
What is the Caledonian Sleeper?
It is an overnight train service from London to Edinburgh. On this trip you sleep in a cabin aboard the train on night 1, with dinner in the dining car included.
How much walking is involved?
Days 2 and 4 are self-guided in Edinburgh, where you can walk the Royal Mile, climb Arthur's Seat, or visit museums at your own pace. Day 3 includes a walk at Loch Lomond and visits to two castles with moderate walking.
When does this trip run?
The evidence does not list specific departure dates. Contact Marvellous Escapes to confirm availability.

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