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McKinlay Kidd · Tailor-made rail holiday

Premier Round Scotland by Train

Scottish rail loop from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Highlands, Skye, and steam train

Illustration of Premier Round Scotland by Train

McKinlay Kidd's Premier Round Scotland by Train is an 8-day self-guided rail journey that starts in Edinburgh and ends in Glasgow, looping through the Scottish Highlands and out to the Isle of Skye. The trip combines first-class train travel on five named routes with a private half-day tour of Loch Ness and Castle Urquhart, and a full-day private guided exploration of Skye. You stay in hand-picked four- and five-star hotels for seven nights, five with bed and breakfast and two with dinner included. The itinerary opens with a first-class journey north from Edinburgh across the Forth Bridge to Pitlochry, followed by a free day to visit Blair Castle or local distilleries. From Inverness, you travel the scenic Kyle Line to Kyle of Lochalsh and cross to Skye. After exploring the island with a local guide, you take a ferry to Mallaig and then ride the Jacobite Steam Train to Fort William, finishing on the West Highland Line back to Glasgow. The trip suits couples and repeat rail travellers who want a blend of independent travel and curated comfort.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour is priced for two adults sharing a room; a single supplement costs GBP 2,780 (about 72 percent of the per-person double rate)
  • Porterage between your room and transport is not included; you manage your own bags
  • The Loch Ness boat cruise (one hour) is shared with other passengers, not private; the guided tour of the area is private

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Pitlochry

    North to Perthshire and the Gateway to the Highlands

    First-class Scotrail service north from Edinburgh, crossing the Firth of Forth on the world-famous bridge to Pitlochry, with free time to explore boutiques, the Explorers Garden and the Atholl Palace Museum.

  2. Day 2overnight: Pitlochry

    A Free Day to Explore or Relax

    A day at leisure; optional private guided tour available. Nearby options include Blair Castle, House of Bruar, Stirling Castle, and the Blair Athol and Edradour distilleries.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Inverness

    Further north to the Highland Capital

    Train to Inverness, with the afternoon free to explore the city by the River Ness, or a short trip to the Culloden Battlefields.

  4. Day 4overnight: Inverness

    Explore Loch Ness

    A private day-long tour around Inverness and Loch Ness, potentially including the Clava Cairns, a one-hour cruise on Loch Ness (not private), and the ruins of Castle Urquhart.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Sleat, Isle of Skye

    The Kyle Line to Skye

    Transferred to Inverness Railway Station for the train to Kyle of Lochalsh along the 80-mile Kyle Line, then over the Skye Bridge to accommodation on the Sleat peninsula.

  6. Day 6overnight: Sleat, Isle of Skye

    Private Tour of the Isle of Skye

    A day exploring Skye with an expert local guide tailored to preferences, potentially including Dunvegan Castle, Armadale's ruins, the Museum of Island Life, or the Talisker or Torabhaig distilleries.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Fort William

    Over the Sea to Mallaig

    Transferred to Armadale for the CalMac ferry to Mallaig, then a first-class trip on the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig to Fort William across the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

  8. Day 8rail

    Returning South on the West Highland Line

    Train from Fort William to Glasgow on the West Highland Line, across Rannoch Moor and past Loch Lomond.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1First-class train departs Edinburgh, crossing the Forth Bridge to Pitlochry
  • Day 5The Kyle Line carries you 80 miles from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, then the Skye Bridge leads to your hotel on the Sleat peninsula
  • Day 7The Jacobite Steam Train travels from Mallaig to Fort William, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in first class
  • Day 8The West Highland Line returns you to Glasgow, passing Rannoch Moor and Loch Lomond

Included

  • Train travel where possible in first class including the Jacobite steam train; standard class from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and from Fort William to Glasgow
  • Taxi transfers in Pitlochry, Inverness, Skye and Fort William
  • Private guided tour of Skye
  • Private half-day tour of Loch Ness, plus a one-hour boat trip (not private)
  • Five nights bed and breakfast, two nights dinner/bed/breakfast, two adults sharing a double or twin room, in hand-picked small four- and five-star hotels

Not included

  • Single traveller supplement (£2780 per holiday)
  • Porterage
  • Accommodation in Glasgow and/or Edinburgh (available on request)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. McKinlay Kidd includes first-class rail travel from Edinburgh to Pitlochry, Pitlochry to Inverness, and the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig to Fort William. Standard-class train travel is included from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and from Fort William to Glasgow. A CalMac ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and taxis to and from hotels are also included.
Is the tour guided or self-guided?
It is self-guided between destinations, with private guided tours included: a half-day private tour around Loch Ness (with a shared one-hour boat cruise) and a full-day private guided tour of the Isle of Skye. An optional private guided tour of Perthshire is available on Day 2.
What hotels are included?
McKinlay Kidd books hand-picked small four- and five-star hotels: two nights in Pitlochry (a baronial castle-hotel), two nights in Inverness (a five-star riverside hotel), two nights on the Sleat peninsula, Isle of Skye, and one night near Fort William (a five-star baronial castle hotel). Accommodation in Edinburgh and Glasgow is available on request but not included in the base price.
What meals are included?
Five nights include bed and breakfast; two nights include dinner, bed, and breakfast. The package details do not specify which nights have dinner included.
When does the tour run?
The operator provides pricing for April, October (GBP 3,845 per person) and May to September (GBP 3,995 per person), but does not list specific departure dates in the published information.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary describes free time in cities, optional visits to castles and distilleries, and guided tour activities, but does not specify distances or physical demands.

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