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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Far North and Orkney - July 2026

Scottish steam railways, Orkney Islands, and the Far North Line in nine days

Illustration of The Far North and Orkney - July 2026

The Railway Touring Company's nine-day tour combines Scotland's heritage railways with a three-day immersion in Orkney's neolithic past and wild coastline. The journey begins in London, travelling First Class on the East Coast Main Line to Aberdeen, where guests board heritage steam trains on the Royal Deeside Railway and the Caledonian Railway. A midsummer ferry crossing delivers you to Orkney, where days are spent exploring the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site (including Skara Brae and Maes Howe), visiting St. Magnus Cathedral and local distilleries, and discovering remote beaches and archaeological sites. The return leg travels via the Far North Line, Britain's most northerly railway, passing through Thurso and alongside the Highlands to Inverness before the final First-Class journey south on the Highland Chieftain to London. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, and accommodation, most meals, and all transfers are included. Suitable for repeat rail travellers seeking heritage experiences, history enthusiasts, and those who prefer guided travel with cultural depth.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed, in July 2026; confirm availability and book well in advance.
  • The tour includes coach journeys and ferry crossings alongside rail travel; it is not a train-only experience.
  • Orkney accommodation options are not specified; final hotel depends on availability with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Aberdeen

    London to Aberdeen

    Your adventure begins in the First-Class lounge at London Kings Cross, for a mid-morning departure to Aberdeen along the East Coast Main Line via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, crossing the Firth of Forth and Tay Bridges, with complimentary drinks and a light lunch. You arrive late afternoon and check into your city centre hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aberdeen

    Steam at the Royal Deeside Railway and Crathes Castle

    You visit the Royal Deeside Railway, a standard gauge heritage line with a two-mile round trip through rural scenery, with photo opportunities and a staged 'false arrival'. Lunch is taken at the Milton Crathes Brasserie, followed by a visit to Crathes Castle, before returning to Aberdeen by coach.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Kirkwall, Orkney

    Steam at the Caledonian Railway and ferry crossing to Orkney

    Your coach transfers you to Brechin, home of the Caledonian Railway, for a privately chartered steam train on the eight-mile round trip to Bridge of Dun, with time afterwards to visit Brechin's Cathedral and Round Tower. You return to Aberdeen and board the ferry for a six-hour evening crossing to Kirkwall, with dinner served on board, arriving late evening as the sun sets.

  4. Day 4overnight: Kirkwall, Orkney

    At leisure in Kirkwall and a visit to a distillery

    Free time to relax and explore Kirkwall, including the 12th century St. Magnus Cathedral, the most northern cathedral in the British Isles. In the afternoon you visit a local distillery. Dinner is served at your hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Kirkwall, Orkney

    Exploration of neolithic Orkney

    A coach exploration of mainland Orkney, taking in the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' World Heritage Site, including Maes Howe, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness, with a visit to the fishing port of Stromness and the sea cliffs at Yesnaby.

  6. Day 6overnight: Kirkwall, Orkney

    Orkney beaches, Italian chapel, Broch of Gurness and Brough of Birsay

    A day discovering Orkney's beaches and the 'Churchill Barrier' causeway roads, visiting the Italian chapel, the fishing town of Burwick with views to John O' Groats, the archaeological site at Broch of Gurness, and the Brough of Birsay on the northern tip of mainland Orkney.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Inverness

    Ferry crossing over the Pentland Firth, train journey to Inverness

    You return to the Scottish mainland via a coach to Stromness and the ferry crossing over the Pentland Firth, past the Old Man of Hoy, to Scrabster near Thurso. You continue by coach to John O' Groats for lunch, then board a ScotRail service on the Far North Line via Thurso to Inverness, where you spend two nights at the Best Western Hotel and Spa.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Inverness

    Strathspey Steam Railway and Fort George

    You travel by coach to Aviemore to join a steam train on the Strathspey Railway, running to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, then on to Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms National Park. After lunch back at the hotel, you visit Fort George, the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain, before a farewell meal.

  9. Day 9rail

    Return to London on the Highland Chieftain

    After an early breakfast you transfer to Inverness Railway Station to join the 'Highland Chieftain' express for your return journey, climbing to Drumochter summit and following the River Tay to Perth, then on to Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London King's Cross, with a light lunch served on the journey south.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart London King's Cross in the First-Class lounge, travel the East Coast Main Line crossing the Firth of Forth and Tay Bridges to arrive in Aberdeen late afternoon.
  • Day 2Board a steam train on the Royal Deeside Railway for a two-mile round trip through rural scenery near Aberdeen, with lunch at Milton Crathes Brasserie and a visit to Crathes Castle.
  • Day 3Take a privately chartered steam train on the Caledonian Railway for an eight-mile round trip to Bridge of Dun, then board an evening ferry for a six-hour crossing to Kirkwall with dinner on board as the sun sets.
  • Day 5Explore the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site by coach, visiting Maes Howe, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and Standing Stones of Stenness, with time at the fishing port of Stromness and sea cliffs at Yesnaby.
  • Day 7Cross the Pentland Firth by ferry past the Old Man of Hoy, then board a ScotRail service on the Far North Line via Thurso to Inverness, Britain's most northerly railway route.

Included

  • 8 nights accommodation with breakfast at hotels
  • 5 lunches and 5 dinners
  • All specially chartered steam trains as detailed in the itinerary
  • All rail, bus and boat journeys as detailed in the itinerary
  • All visits as detailed in the itinerary
  • Rail travel from London to Aberdeen and from Inverness to London
  • All seat reservations and transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

What trains are included?
The East Coast Main Line (First Class) from London to Aberdeen, the Royal Deeside Railway steam train, the Caledonian Railway steam train from Brechin, the ScotRail Far North Line via Thurso, the Strathspey Railway steam train near Aviemore, and the Highland Chieftain (First Class) from Inverness to London. All are specified in the itinerary.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the nine days, and all transfers, meals, and visits are arranged.
What is included in the price?
Eight nights in hotels with breakfast, five lunches and five dinners, all steam train journeys, rail, bus and ferry travel as detailed, all visits and attractions, rail travel from London to Aberdeen and Inverness to London, seat reservations, transfers, and the Tour Manager's services.
How much time is spent in Orkney?
Four nights and three full days. The itinerary includes a free day to explore Kirkwall and visit a distillery, a day exploring neolithic sites and Orkney's main attractions, and a day visiting beaches, the Italian Chapel, archaeological sites, and northern coastal areas.
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
Most days involve coach-based exploration with walking around archaeological sites, beaches, and coastal areas. Heritage train journeys are seated. Stair access and typical sight-seeing mobility are expected.
When does this tour run?
A departure is scheduled for July 2026, the midsummer season when Orkney experiences the White Night, with the sun never entirely setting.

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