How much does it cost?

From £11,395 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $15,392 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes four nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman and one night in an Edinburgh hotel before boarding. All meals, beverages, and entertainment aboard the train are included.

Which trains are used?

The Belmond Royal Scotsman, a luxury private train that departs Edinburgh, crosses the Forth Rail Bridge, and travels through the Highlands to Kyle of Lochalsh, Speyside, and Dunkeld before returning to Edinburgh.

How many days and what is the route?

Six days and five nights. The itinerary starts in Edinburgh, travels north to Aberdeen and Inverness, west to Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton, south through Speyside and Cairngorms, and returns via Dunkeld to Edinburgh and Dundee.

Are the excursions guided?

Most are optional. You may choose between visits to Ballindalloch Castle or its distillery, Glamis Castle or Blair Athol Distillery. Rothiemurchus Estate offers clay pigeon shooting, fishing, or a guided estate tour. Some activities like the Plockton seal-watching boat trip are available to book.

Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Rail Journey

Royal Scotsman – Scotland's Classic Splendours

Luxury train through Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh to Dundee, six days

The Belmond Royal Scotsman, operated by Great Rail Journeys, is a six-day luxury train journey through the Scottish Highlands beginning and ending in Edinburgh. You spend one night in an Edinburgh hotel before boarding the private train for four nights of rail travel covering roughly 500 miles. The itinerary follows historic routes including the famous Forth Rail Bridge, the west Highland line to Kyle of Lochalsh, and returns via Speyside and the Cairngorms. On Day 2 you cross the Forth Rail Bridge and travel the Scottish coast to Keith, enjoying afternoon tea in the Observation Car. Day 3 takes you west along the Moray Firth and through some of Britain's most scenic railway landscape to Kyle of Lochalsh, with options to explore Plockton or Attadale Gardens. Days 4 and 5 feature stops in Speyside and the Cairngorms, where you may visit castles, distilleries, or take part in country pursuits on the Rothiemurchus Estate. All meals, beverages, and entertainment aboard are included. This tour suits those seeking luxury rail travel, history, Scottish heritage, and scenery without a packed daily schedule.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £2,060 since 4 Jul, to £11,395.

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

Great Rail Journeys describes this tour as independent, meaning excursions at stops are optional; you choose between alternative activities (castle versus distillery, for example).
Some highlights and itinerary options depend on which hotel tier you select in Edinburgh (The Scotsman Hotel or The Balmoral Hotel).

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Arrive in Edinburgh and settle into your chosen hotel. Explore the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, the arts scene, local food markets, Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament.
Day 2railovernight: Royal Scotsman (onboard, Keith)
The Royal Scotsman
Embark in Edinburgh and travel north across the Forth Rail Bridge, with afternoon tea as the route continues along the coast through Arbroath, Montrose and Aberdeen to Keith. Informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Royal Scotsman (onboard, Kyle of Lochalsh)
Kyle of Lochalsh
Travel west along the Moray Firth towards Inverness and on to Kyle of Lochalsh, one of the UK's most scenic railway journeys, with lunch onboard. Option to visit Attadale Gardens near Strathcarron or the coastal village of Plockton for a seal-watching boat trip. Formal dinner and evening in the Observation Car.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Strathspey Railway (Boat of Garten)
Boat of Garten
Optional three-mile round walk to the Isle of Skye. The train retraces the route to Dingwall with views of Highland moors; optional shopping or a guided walk in Garve. Lunch onboard, then arrival in Speyside to visit Ballindalloch Castle or its distillery. Highland storytelling in the evening; overnight on the private Strathspey Railway.
Meals: Lunch
Day 5railovernight: Royal Scotsman (onboard, Dundee)
Rothiemurchus Estate
Coach to Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms National Park for fishing, clay pigeon shooting or an estate tour. Rejoin the train for lunch, travelling on to Dunkeld for a choice of Glamis Castle or Pitlochry and the Blair Athol Distillery. Gala dinner and entertainment aboard the train in Dundee.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Homeward bound
Final breakfast aboard as the Royal Scotsman returns to Edinburgh, concluding the journey. Optional extended stay at an Edinburgh hotel.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The train departs Edinburgh across the Forth Rail Bridge and travels along the Scottish coast through Arbroath, Montrose, and Aberdeen, with afternoon tea in the Observation Car.
Day 3Journey west along the Moray Firth to Kyle of Lochalsh on one of the UK's most scenic railway routes, with options to visit Attadale Gardens or take a seal-watching boat from Plockton.
Day 4The train reaches Speyside and Strathspey Railway, with a choice to visit Ballindalloch Castle or its whisky distillery, followed by Highland storytelling entertainment.
Day 5Coach transfer to Rothiemurchus Estate in Cairngorms National Park for clay pigeon shooting or estate tour, then rejoin the train for lunch and afternoon visits to Glamis Castle or Blair Athol Distillery near Pitlochry.

Included

4 nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury train
1 night in an Edinburgh hotel on a bed & breakfast basis
All meals aboard the train: full Scottish breakfast, three-course lunch, and four-course dinner including cheeseboard, coffee, tea and petits fours
All beverages aboard the train including alcoholic drinks
24-hour steward service
Traditional entertainment on board

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
Flights and Airport transfers

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £11,395 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $15,392 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes four nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman and one night in an Edinburgh hotel before boarding. All meals, beverages, and entertainment aboard the train are included.
Which trains are used?: The Belmond Royal Scotsman, a luxury private train that departs Edinburgh, crosses the Forth Rail Bridge, and travels through the Highlands to Kyle of Lochalsh, Speyside, and Dunkeld before returning to Edinburgh.
How many days and what is the route?: Six days and five nights. The itinerary starts in Edinburgh, travels north to Aberdeen and Inverness, west to Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton, south through Speyside and Cairngorms, and returns via Dunkeld to Edinburgh and Dundee.
Are the excursions guided?: Most are optional. You may choose between visits to Ballindalloch Castle or its distillery, Glamis Castle or Blair Athol Distillery. Rothiemurchus Estate offers clay pigeon shooting, fishing, or a guided estate tour. Some activities like the Plockton seal-watching boat trip are available to book.