How much does it cost?

From £1,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,485 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 is included, plus the Highland Main Line to Aviemore, the Strathspey Railway, and the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Some days use private coach instead of rail.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes, a Railtrail Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2026

Perth-based Scottish heritage rail tour with distillery and brewery tastings

Railtrail Tours operates this 6-day, 5-night escorted tour of Scottish heritage railways and drink trails, based at the Royal George Hotel in Perth for all five nights. From that single base, the group cruises Loch Katrine aboard the 'Lady of the Lake' and tours Deanston Distillery, rides the Highland Main Line through the Cairngorms and the Strathspey Railway alongside the River Spey, travels the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway past the Avon Viaduct to the Museum of Scottish Railways, and visits Stirling Castle, The Kelpies, and the Falkirk Wheel. A Tour Manager travels with the group throughout, and days combine named heritage trains with distillery and brewery tastings. It suits travelers who want Scottish rail nostalgia and whisky or beer tastings alongside castle and engineering landmarks, from a single unpacked base.

What to know before you look closer

Only breakfast and evening meals are included each night; lunches are at your own expense, including free time in Callander on day 2.
Rail travel from your home station carries regional fare supplements depending on where you start; travelers can instead join and leave at the hotel with no home rail travel included.
The tour is based at a single hotel in Perth for all five nights, so each day trip to sites such as Stirling, Aviemore, and Bo'ness involves a return coach or rail journey.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Royal George Hotel, Perth
Home station to Perth
Journey from your home station to Perth and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Royal George Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Day 2overnight: Royal George Hotel, Perth
Loch Katrine cruise and Deanston Distillery
After breakfast today, we head northwards to explore the beautiful Trossachs Range by coach, and we enjoy a scenic cruise on Loch Katrine on board the 'Lady of the Lake', named after the famous poem by Sir Walter Scott. Following the cruise, we enjoy free time in the charming town of Callander, perfect for a stroll or a spot of lunch. This afternoon, we visit Deanston Distillery for a guided tour to uncover the fascinating history of the site and learn about the craftsmanship behind their whisky before finishing with a dram or two of their superb whisky.
Day 3railovernight: Royal George Hotel, Perth
Cairngorms and the Strathspey Railway
One of Scotland's great rail journeys awaits us today as we head north into the Cairngorms, passing dense forests and wild moors, flanked by the Grampians, on our way to the mountain resort of Aviemore. Here, we enjoy a return steam excursion from Aviemore to Broomhill on the preserved section of the Highland Line known as the Strathspey Railway passing through woods and alongside the meandering River Spey on a nostalgic journey. We enjoy free time in the charming town of Aviemore before returning to Perth by rail in time for our evening meal together.
Day 4railovernight: Royal George Hotel, Perth
Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway and Bridge of Allan Brewery
This morning, we travel by private coach to Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway for a return journey along this scenic line past waterfalls, through woodlands, and over the Avon Viaduct. Whilst here we will visit the Museum of Scottish Railways, Scotland's largest railway museum, which illustrates the history of railways in Scotland through fascinating displays. Afterwards, we continue to the Bridge of Allan Brewery where we are joined by one of their guides for a unique presentation of the brewery learning the secrets of their brewing techniques before sampling their wonderful ales.
Day 5overnight: Royal George Hotel, Perth
Stirling Castle, The Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel
After breakfast this morning, we transfer to Stirling and enjoy some free time before visiting the stunning Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's greatest castles and the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. We will explore the beautifully recreated exhibitions and stunning architecture and soak in the castle's rich history. Following our visit, we travel to The Kelpies for a tour of these magnificent equine sculptures discovering the intricate details, complexity, and engineering that created these fantastic pieces of art. Finally, we will transfer to the nearby Falkirk Wheel, an incredible feat of engineering and design where we experience a ride on the world's only rotating boat lift being lifted 35 metres to sail through the sky before returning to Perth for our final evening meal together.
Day 6
Departure from Perth
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Perth and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2A cruise on Loch Katrine aboard the 'Lady of the Lake,' named after Sir Walter Scott's poem, followed by a guided tour and tasting at Deanston Distillery.
Day 3The Highland Main Line climbs through the Cairngorms to Aviemore, then a return steam excursion on the Strathspey Railway follows the River Spey to Broomhill.
Day 4The Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway crosses the Avon Viaduct past waterfalls and woodlands, with a stop at the Museum of Scottish Railways.
Day 5A visit to Stirling Castle, the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, followed by tours of The Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel.

Included

5 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 £1,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,485 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 is included, plus the Highland Main Line to Aviemore, the Strathspey Railway, and the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Some days use private coach instead of rail.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes, a Railtrail Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout.
What hotel is used?: The Royal George Hotel in Perth, for all five nights.