Belmond · Luxury escorted rail journey

Grand Taste of The Highlands, Northbound

Belmond Royal Scotsman Highlands rail loop with broadcaster Ghillie Basan

Grand Taste of The Highlands, Northbound, a rail journey with Belmond

Belmond operates Grand Taste of The Highlands, Northbound as a 6-day, 5-night escorted rail journey aboard the Royal Scotsman, looping out from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands and back. A Train Manager travels throughout, joined by local guides and hosts including broadcaster and food anthropologist Ghillie Basan. The days build around food and place: on day 2, Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki lead a barbecue lunch and food-and-kombucha pairing at Rothiemurchus Estate, with a choice of clay pigeon shooting, fishing or a foraging walk, and on day 4 the train passes Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Viaduct before a choice between a guided tour of Glenfinnan or a moderate-grade hike through Nevis Gorge to the Steall Waterfall. Other stops include a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh and an afternoon at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute. All meals and alcoholic drinks are included, and the train itself is the accommodation each night. It suits travellers drawn to Highland food, history and scenery with a fully guided, all-inclusive structure.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence lists no current departure dates for this itinerary; confirm scheduling and availability directly with Belmond.
  • On day 3 in Edinburgh, the guided lunch at Brasserie Prince has a free-time alternative, so part of that day is unguided if you choose it.
  • The day 4 hike through Nevis Gorge is described as moderate-grade and calls for a reasonable level of fitness; the alternative Glenfinnan tour suits those who prefer less exertion.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Boat of Garten

    Edinburgh

    Welcome aboard Royal Scotsman. Depart in the early afternoon and travel north to Perth, with afternoon tea served as the train continues on the Highland line through Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl, then past Aviemore towards the Cairngorms National Park. The train stops for the night beyond Aviemore at Boat of Garten. Dinner features line-caught wild halibut, Shetland Lobster and Aberdeen Angus beef with foraged chanterelles and wild garlic, followed by entertainment in the Observation Car.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Dundee

    Boat of Garten

    Travel by coach to Rothiemurchus Estate where broadcaster and food anthropologist Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki teach Scottish wildlife and Highland survival skills over a barbecue lunch and a food-and-kombucha pairing. Choose from clay pigeon-shooting, fishing or a guided hike, or join Zeki on a foraging-focused nature walk. Return to the train in Carrbridge for an afternoon through Inverness and Keith, with an optional evening visit to Strathisla Distillery (home of Chivas Regal malt). A dinner and Jazz evening in the Observation Car follow as the train continues to Dundee.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Spean Bridge

    Dundee to Spean Bridge

    Breakfast is served as the train leaves Dundee and travels to Edinburgh Waverley. Disembark for a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia, berthed in Leith, including the State Apartments, Crew's Quarters, Engine Room and Bridge, then a light lunch at Brasserie Prince in the Balmoral Hotel or free time in the city. Rejoin the train and travel west through Falkirk, Clydebank and Dumbarton, with afternoon tea served along Gare Loch and views of Loch Long, Ben Arthur and Loch Lomond, continuing via Crianlarich to Rannoch Moor. Dinner is served en route to Spean Bridge, followed by entertainment in the Observation Car.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Bridge of Orchy

    Spean Bridge - Bridge of Orchy

    Travel west through Fort William with views of Ben Nevis, past Glenfinnan viaduct and Lochailort to Arisaig for a walk along the Silver Sands of Morar with views to the Isle of Skye. Lunch is served as the train retraces its route to Fort William, where guests visit historic Glenfinnan with a local guide or take a guided moderate-grade hike through Nevis Gorge to the Steall Waterfall (a reasonable level of fitness is required; walking boots and waterproofs can be provided). Dinner is served as the train travels south to Bridge of Orchy.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Kilmarnock

    Wemyss Bay

    Journey south towards Glasgow, then disembark at Wemyss Bay for a 35-minute ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute to visit Mount Stuart, a Victorian Gothic house with one of Scotland's finest privately held collections of family portraits. After afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, explore the house and grounds, including the Lime Tree Avenue. Return to the train for a gala dinner en route to Kilmarnock, the stabling point for the night, with coffee, liqueurs and traditional Scottish music in the Observation Car.

  6. Day 6

    Kilmarnock to Edinburgh

    After an early departure from Kilmarnock, enjoy a leisurely breakfast travelling east to Edinburgh Waverley Station, where the Royal Scotsman journey ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Dinner on the first night features line-caught wild halibut, Shetland Lobster and Aberdeen Angus beef as the train travels the Highland line to Boat of Garten.
  • Day 2At Rothiemurchus Estate, broadcaster and food anthropologist Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki teach Scottish wildlife and Highland survival skills over a barbecue lunch and a food-and-kombucha pairing.
  • Day 3A guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith takes in the State Apartments, Crew's Quarters, Engine Room and Bridge.
  • Day 4The train passes Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Viaduct before guests choose a guided moderate-grade hike through Nevis Gorge to the Steall Waterfall or a tour of Glenfinnan.
  • Day 5A 35-minute ferry crossing from Wemyss Bay reaches the Isle of Bute for a visit to Mount Stuart, followed by afternoon tea in the Drawing Room.

Included

  • Luxury Accommodation: 5 nights aboard the Royal Scotsman luxury train with 24-hour steward service
  • Fine Dining: all meals aboard the train (full Scottish breakfast, two-course lunch, three-course dinner including cheeseboard, coffee, tea and petit fours); all beverages including alcoholic drinks
  • Historical Tours: an excursion to Morar Sands, a choice between a visit to Glenfinnan Monument or a walk through Nevis Gorge to the cascading Steall Waterfall, a guided tour of Mount Stuart and of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, exploring Ballindalloch Castle and Rothiemurchus estate, finishing with a visit to Glamis castle
  • Onboard entertainment: traditional ceilidhs, informal dinners, evening entertainment in the Observation Car and a formal dining experience

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Belmond includes 5 nights aboard the Royal Scotsman, with all meals and alcoholic drinks served on board.
Which train is used?
The Royal Scotsman, travelling in a loop from Edinburgh through Boat of Garten, Dundee, Spean Bridge, Bridge of Orchy, Wemyss Bay and the Isle of Bute to Kilmarnock and back to Edinburgh.
Is it escorted or independent?
Escorted. A Train Manager travels throughout, with local guides and hosts, including broadcaster Ghillie Basan, for excursions.
What is included?
All meals aboard the train, all beverages including alcoholic drinks, and historical tours such as a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, a visit to Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, and the Rothiemurchus Estate excursion with Ghillie Basan.
How much walking or hiking is involved?
Day 4 offers a guided moderate-grade hike through Nevis Gorge to the Steall Waterfall, described by the operator as calling for a reasonable level of fitness, with a guided tour of Glenfinnan available as a gentler alternative.

Similar journeys, different answers