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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Far North and Orkney - May 2026

Scottish steam railways and Orkney islands, London to Aviemore in nine days

Illustration of The Far North and Orkney - May 2026

The Railway Touring Company's 9-day escorted tour runs from London King's Cross to Aviemore via Scotland's far north and the island of Orkney. The journey opens with a First-Class departure south along the East Coast Main Line to Aberdeen, where you experience two heritage steam railways: the Royal Deeside Railway and the Caledonian Railway at Brechin. Day 3 takes you by ferry across the Pentland Firth to Orkney during the midsummer 'White Night' when the sun barely sets. Three days in Kirkwall allow coach exploration of the neolithic World Heritage Site with visits to Skara Brae and Ring of Brodgar, plus a distillery visit and time at leisure. The return to the Scottish mainland on Day 7 travels the Far North Line via Thurso, the most northerly railway in the UK. Your final two nights in Inverness include a ride on the Strathspey Railway steam train and a visit to Fort George. Throughout, The Railway Touring Company provides accommodation, most meals, all transport by rail, coach and ferry, entry fees, and a dedicated Tour Manager. Travellers seeking guided rail journeys with heritage trains and structured daily activities will find this tour suited to them.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour has only one confirmed May 2026 departure at GBP 2,095 (approximately USD 2,798); availability is limited.
  • Hotels are named only for Inverness; Aberdeen and Kirkwall locations are listed without specific names.
  • Day 4 in Kirkwall is described as 'at leisure'; the distillery visit is the only guided activity, leaving most of the day unstructured for an escorted tour.

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 aboard the East Coast Main Line, crossing the Firth of Forth and Tay Bridges with complimentary drinks and lunch.
  • Day 3Board a privately chartered steam train on the Caledonian Railway for an eight-mile round trip to Bridge of Dun, then sail on a six-hour evening ferry across to Orkney as the midsummer sun sets.
  • Day 5Coach exploration of neolithic Orkney's World Heritage Site, visiting Maes Howe, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, and sea cliffs at Yesnaby.
  • Day 7Cross the Pentland Firth by ferry past the Old Man of Hoy, then board the ScotRail Far North Line via Thurso to Inverness, the most northerly railway in the UK.
  • Day 8Travel by coach to Aviemore and ride the Strathspey Railway steam train to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, then visit Fort George, the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain.

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

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes all rail travel: the East Coast Main Line from London to Aberdeen, five heritage and main-line train journeys within Scotland, and the Highland Chieftain return to London. Seat reservations are included.
What trains will I ride?
East Coast Main Line (First Class) London to Aberdeen; Royal Deeside Railway and Caledonian Railway (steam); ScotRail Far North Line via Thurso; Strathspey Railway (steam); Highland Chieftain (First Class) Inverness to London.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the 9 days, coordinating all transport, accommodation, and activities.
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
The tour is primarily coach-based. Walking includes exploration around cathedral sites, distillery visits, and archaeological sites. One day involves a steam train journey through the Cairngorms. No hiking or high-altitude climbs are described.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily at hotels; 5 lunches and 5 dinners are included. Day 4 in Kirkwall does not list a guided meal, and one lunch is mentioned on Day 2 at Milton Crathes Brasserie but is not explicitly named as included.
When does this tour depart?
May 2026. One departure date has been confirmed at GBP 2,095. Confirm the exact dates and any additional departures with The Railway Touring Company.

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