How much does it cost?

From £695 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $939 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, rail travel from your home station to Glasgow is included, along with two named Highland lines during the tour: the Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted, with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager.

The only listed departure is in December 2026.

What is not included?

The evidence lists an £85 single traveler supplement as an optional extra.

Railtrail Tours · Festive & Winter Tour

Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster 2026

Five-day festive Scottish Highlands rail tour on two named lines

Railtrail Tours runs this five-day, four-night festive tour to the Scottish Highlands, based for all four nights at the Alexandra Hotel in Fort William. After travelling from your home station to Glasgow and transferring by coach to Fort William on day 1, a Tour Manager leads the group on two of Scotland's best-known rail routes: the Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on day 2, past wild deer, eagles, and the palm trees of Plockton, and the West Highland Line to Mallaig on day 3, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct above Loch Shiel. Day 2 also includes a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, and day 4 turns to road travel for the Glencoe Visitor Centre and a tour and tasting at the Ben Nevis Distillery. Activity level is listed as Moderate. Timed for December, the trip suits travellers who want a short, festive dose of Highland scenery and history without changing hotels.

What to know before you look closer

Only one departure is listed, for December 2026.
An £85 single traveler supplement applies on top of the £695 per-person price.
Day 4, the visit to Glencoe and the Ben Nevis Distillery, is reached by road rather than by train.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William
Home Station to Fort William
Journey from your home station to Glasgow and, on arrival, we will transfer by private coach to the Alexandra Hotel in Fort William, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Day 2railovernight: The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William
Kyle Line & Eilean Donan Castle
Today, we enjoy a truly stunning coach journey as we travel alongside Loch Ness to Inverness where we join the amazing Kyle Line train, Scotland's original 'Great Railway Journey of the World'. Look out for wild deer, eagles, and the palm trees of Plockton Village, before dramatic sea vistas are revealed as we arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh. Afterwards, we visit the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle before returning to Fort William in time for our evening meal together.
Day 3overnight: The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William
West Highland Line to Mallaig
After breakfast this morning, we rejoin the West Highland Line for the final part of the journey to Mallaig crossing the fantastic Glenfinnan Viaduct, overlooking Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument. We round Loch Eilt with its trees of the ancient Caledonian Forest and burst out onto the white-sanded Atlantic shoreline at Morar with distant views of the Isles of Eigg and Rum before we reach the terminus at Mallaig overlooking the Isle of Skye. After a sightseeing break, we return to Fort William for our evening meal together.
Day 4overnight: The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William
Glencoe & Ben Nevis Distillery
This morning, we enjoy some free time to discover Fort William, explore the quaint shops, or visit the West Highland Museum in the centre of the town. This afternoon, we travel by road to the Glencoe Visitor Centre which tells the history of this haunting, yet stunning, area before continuing to the fascinating Ben Nevis Distillery. We will learn about the vibrant history of one of the oldest licenced distilleries in Scotland concluding with a tasting of their whisky before returning to the hotel in time for our final evening meal.
Day 5
Homeward Journey
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Fort William and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The Kyle Line, described as Scotland's original 'Great Railway Journey of the World', passes wild deer, eagles, and the palm trees of Plockton before dramatic sea views at Kyle of Lochalsh.
Day 3The West Highland Line crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct overlooking Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument, then reaches the white-sanded Atlantic shoreline at Morar.
Day 4The tour visits the Glencoe Visitor Centre before a tour and tasting at the Ben Nevis Distillery, one of the oldest licensed distilleries.

Included

4 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £695 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $939 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, rail travel from your home station to Glasgow is included, along with two named Highland lines during the tour: the Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted, with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager.
What hotel is included?: Four nights at the Alexandra Hotel in Fort William.
When does it run?: The only listed departure is in December 2026.
What is not included?: The evidence lists an £85 single traveler supplement as an optional extra.