How much does it cost?

From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail travel, covering the West Highland Line, the Jacobite Steam Train, the Kyle Line and the Cairngorms rail route, all in Standard Class.

Is it escorted or independent?

It's an escorted tour with a UK Tour Manager throughout, plus group luggage transfers between hotels in Edinburgh, Fort William and Inverness.

Which trains are used?

The West Highland Line (Glasgow to Fort William), the Jacobite Steam Train (Fort William to Mallaig, return), the Kyle Line (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) and ScotRail services, including the return leg through the Cairngorms.

What hotels are used?

The Apex Waterloo Place Hotel or Radisson Blu Edinburgh in Edinburgh, one of the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Kingshouse Hotel or Glenspean Lodge Hotel near Fort William, and the Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa in Inverness.

The evidence lists 9 departures spread across March to October, in 2026 and 2027.

What is not included?

The evidence lists only cancellation and travel insurance as excluded; note that dinner is not scheduled on day 6 in Inverness.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands

Escorted 9-day Scotland tour on four named rail lines from Edinburgh

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day, eight-night escorted tour of Scotland, starting and ending in Edinburgh with a UK Tour Manager travelling throughout. After a first day exploring Edinburgh independently, the group rides the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William, passing Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and the remote Corrour station, then spends several nights based there for excursions to the Isle of Mull, Duart Castle and Neptune's Staircase. A return trip on the Jacobite Steam Train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct leads on to several nights in Inverness, with a Loch Ness cruise past Urquhart Castle and a ride on the Kyle Line to Eilean Donan Castle. The last rail leg crosses the Cairngorms back to Edinburgh for a farewell Scottish banquet. Four named rail journeys and a settled, two-base structure suit travellers who want Scotland's Highlands covered by train rather than long coach transfers, with a tour manager handling the logistics.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

On early departures dated 12th, 15th, 19th, 22nd and 26th March, the Jacobite Steam Train is replaced by the scheduled ScotRail service instead.
Day 6 has no scheduled dinner; you explore Inverness's pubs and restaurants independently that evening.
The Fort William area overnight is at one of several possible hotels, including the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, the Kingshouse Hotel or the Glenspean Lodge Hotel, so which one you get depends on the departure.
Solo travellers pay a single supplement of about £900: the single price is £3,299 against a from-price of £2,399 for the standard twin tour.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edinburgh
Welcome to Edinburgh
Check in to the hotel and explore the capital independently before meeting the Tour Manager for dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Fort William
The West Highland Line to Fort William
Rail to Glasgow then the West Highland Line along Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor to Fort William, with a guest speaker on 'tales of the road to the isles'.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Fort William
Sailing to the Isle of Mull and touring Duart Castle
Coach to Oban and ferry to the Isle of Mull to visit 13th-century Duart Castle.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Fort William
Neptune's Staircase and a cruise on Loch Linnhe
Visit Neptune's Staircase, cruise Loch Linnhe seeing Ben Nevis and Black Rock, then drive through Glencoe, followed by whisky tasting.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Inverness
A return journey on the iconic Jacobite steam train
Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, then coach to Inverness.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Inverness
A cruise across legendary Loch Ness
Cruise on the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle; free time in Inverness in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7railovernight: Inverness
The Kyle Line and enchanting Eilean Donan Castle
Self-guided tour of Eilean Donan Castle, then the scenic Kyle Line rail journey back to Inverness with an evening storytelling session.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Edinburgh
Return to Edinburgh for a fantastic farewell feast
Rail south through the Cairngorms to Edinburgh for a Scottish banquet at the Radisson Blu's Great Scots Hall.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9
Homeward bound
The holiday concludes after breakfast, free to travel home or continue exploring Edinburgh.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The West Highland Line passes Loch Lomond and wild Rannoch Moor, stopping at Corrour, the highest and most remote mainline station in the UK.
Day 5The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct on a return trip from Fort William to Mallaig, with views of Ben Nevis along the way.
Day 6A cruise crosses Loch Ness, passing the 13th-century ruins of Urquhart Castle.
Day 7The Kyle Line runs from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh past Beauly Firth and the Skye Bridge viewpoint, followed by a guided tour of Eilean Donan Castle.
Day 8The rail journey back to Edinburgh crosses the Cairngorms, with views of mountain peaks, rivers and waterfalls.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel
All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast each day, 7 dinners
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Edinburgh to Fort William, Inverness to Edinburgh
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail travel, covering the West Highland Line, the Jacobite Steam Train, the Kyle Line and the Cairngorms rail route, all in Standard Class.
Is it escorted or independent?: It's an escorted tour with a UK Tour Manager throughout, plus group luggage transfers between hotels in Edinburgh, Fort William and Inverness.
Which trains are used?: The West Highland Line (Glasgow to Fort William), the Jacobite Steam Train (Fort William to Mallaig, return), the Kyle Line (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) and ScotRail services, including the return leg through the Cairngorms.
What hotels are used?: The Apex Waterloo Place Hotel or Radisson Blu Edinburgh in Edinburgh, one of the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Kingshouse Hotel or Glenspean Lodge Hotel near Fort William, and the Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa in Inverness.
When does it run?: The evidence lists 9 departures spread across March to October, in 2026 and 2027.
What is not included?: The evidence lists only cancellation and travel insurance as excluded; note that dinner is not scheduled on day 6 in Inverness.