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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted Small Group Tour

Skye, Orkney & the Wild North

Eight-day Scottish rail tour from Glasgow through Highlands, Orkney, and Isle of Skye

Illustration of Skye, Orkney & the Wild North

Great Rail Journeys runs this eight-day escorted tour through Scotland's wildest landscapes, starting in Glasgow and ending at Loch Lomond. The itinerary moves north by rail through the Highlands to Brora, then branches to Orkney for a full day exploring Neolithic sites and medieval Kirkwall, before returning south to Plockton on the Kyle Line, a scenic rail journey through mountains, forests, and lochs. Days 5 and 6 explore the Isle of Skye by coach and ferry, including Dunvegan Castle and a whisky tasting at Raasay Distillery. The return journey follows the West Highland Line, one of Britain's most celebrated rail routes, through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. A UK Tour Manager escorts the group throughout; hotels are three-star in Brora, Plockton, and Glasgow. Breakfast and dinner are included daily. The tour suits repeat rail travellers, history lovers drawn to castles and Neolithic ruins, and those seeking guided travel with a fixed itinerary and good company.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement (from GBP 3,449) is significantly higher than half the double price (GBP 2,099 doubles to approximately GBP 4,198 total); solo travellers should factor this premium carefully
  • Lunches are not included; you arrange and pay for midday meals
  • You must arrange and pay for independent travel to and from Glasgow on Days 1 and 8; rail connections can be booked separately via Great Rail Journeys Tour Advisors

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Glasgow

    Arrive in Glasgow, the gateway to Scotland's great outdoors

    Your holiday begins in Glasgow, where you arrive independently to the hotel, meeting the Tour Manager and rest of the group. After checking in, you have time at leisure to explore Glasgow's distinctive charm, Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, or Glasgow Green. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Brora

    Visiting the charming banks of Brora

    After breakfast, journey by rail to Brora via Inverness. Travel north through picturesque lochs, rolling hills and glimpses of historic castles, then through the stunning Highlands alongside majestic mountains before coastal scenery takes over with rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. Arrive at the picturesque fishing village of Brora on the eastern stretch of coastline. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Brora

    Discovering the history of the Isles of Orkney

    Full-day island tour of Orkney. Coach to Scrabster, then ferry to Orkney. Tour starts in Stromness with a local guide. Visit the Churchill Barriers, then the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney', Skara Brae, Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar. Stop in Kirkwall to see St Magnus Cathedral and explore the streets. Return to Brora by ferry and coach. Dinner on later arrival. Note: order of activities may change depending on weather.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Plockton

    Majestic Dunrobin Castle and the 'jewel of the Highlands'

    Visit Dunrobin Castle and gardens, the most northerly of Scotland's great houses with 189 rooms, overlooking the Moray Firth. Explore the castle, formal gardens and Victorian museum at your own pace. Continue to Inverness for time at leisure over lunch. Then join the Kyle Line, travelling among mountains, forests and lochs to Plockton, the 'jewel of the Highlands', on a sheltered bay overlooking Loch Carron. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Plockton

    Enchanting Isle of Skye and distillery visit

    Coach to the Isle of Skye. First stop in Broadford, explore the village, bay views, galleries and craft shops. Continue to Sconser for the ferry to Raasay, where a tour and whisky tasting at the Raasay Distillery awaits. Soak up views across to Skye and the Cuillin Hills before returning by ferry to Sconser. Dinner at a local restaurant. Note: on the 8th September departure, guests stay on Skye and enjoy a one-hour private tour and tasting at the Talisker Distillery instead.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Plockton

    The grand Dunvegan Castle and picturesque Portree

    Visit Dunvegan Castle, one of the greatest Hebridean castles, featuring architectural styles from 1200 to the 1850s, with Victorian-era pepper pots and defensive battlements. Explore the castle and gardens, then continue to Portree, the charming capital of the Isle of Skye, with its picturesque harbour lined with pastel-coloured houses. Time to wander the streets, browse shops or walk to Scorrybreac viewpoint. Scenic drive back to Plockton along the coast, passing the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: Glasgow

    A ride on the famous West Highland Railway to Glasgow

    After breakfast, travel to Fort William by coach, then join the West Highland Line, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the UK, travelling south to Glasgow. Pass through rugged mountains, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park before arriving in Glasgow. Return to the central four-star hotel in the afternoon. Time to explore the city before a final dinner in Scotland.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    Your holiday comes to an end after breakfast. After saying goodbye, you may choose to spend more time exploring independently before heading home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Travel by ScotRail north through the Scottish Highlands via Inverness, passing lochs, rolling hills, historic castles, majestic mountains, and coastal cliffs before arriving at the fishing village of Brora
  • Day 3Full-day Orkney island tour by coach and ferry, visiting Skara Brae and the Stones of Stenness (Neolithic sites), Churchill Barriers, and St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall
  • Day 4Explore Dunrobin Castle and its formal gardens and Victorian museum, then travel the Kyle Line from Inverness through mountains, forests, and lochs to Plockton on Loch Carron
  • Day 5Ferry to the Isle of Raasay for a whisky tasting at the Raasay Distillery with views to the Cuillin Hills before returning to the Isle of Skye
  • Day 7Travel the West Highland Line from Fort William to Glasgow, passing through rugged mountains, Loch Lomond, and the Trossachs National Park

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 3-star hotel accommodation
  • Standard class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • All guided tours and excursions
  • Ferry crossings (Scrabster to Orkney, Sconser to Raasay)

Not included

  • Cancellation and travel insurance
  • Lunches
  • Travel to/from Glasgow independently

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price includes standard-class rail travel throughout: ScotRail from Glasgow to Brora via Inverness, the Kyle Line to Plockton, and the West Highland Line from Fort William back to Glasgow. Ferry crossings to Orkney and Raasay are also included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
This is an escorted small-group tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. Maximum group size is 22 people.
What meals are included?
Breakfast and dinner are included each day. Lunches are not included, so you arrange and pay for your own midday meals.
What three hotels are used on this tour?
The Voco Grand Central in Glasgow (2 nights), the Royal Marine in Brora (2 nights), and the Haven Guest House in Plockton (3 nights). All are three-star accommodation.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
Daily activities include exploring castles and gardens at your own pace, walking through villages, and wandering town streets. Ferry and coach connections require standard mobility; there are no specified hikes or high-altitude challenges.
When does this tour run?
Great Rail Journeys operates eight departures: in May, June, July, August, September, and October 2026 and 2027.

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