The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

The Heart of Scotland - August 2026

The Heart of Scotland - August 2026, a rail journey with The Railway Touring Company

A 9-day escorted tour of Scotland based in Stirling and Rothesay, with a Loch Katrine steamer cruise, the paddle steamer Waverley, the Jacobite steam train, the Strathspey Railway and the Cairngorm Mountain funicular.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Stirling

    London to Stirling on the 'Highland Chieftain'

    Travel First Class from London King's Cross on the East Coast Main Line, with a light lunch served at your seat, via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Stirling, where you check in for a three-night stay. Welcome dinner served at the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: Stirling

    Steam cruise on Loch Katrine and free time in Stirling

    Coach transfer to Loch Katrine in the Trossachs National Park for a 2-hour lake cruise on the steamship 'Sir Walter Scott' to Stronachlachar, with lunch at the Pier restaurant, then free time to explore Stirling's Old Town.

  3. Day 3overnight: Stirling

    Stirling Castle and Battle of Bannockburn experience

    A guided tour of the grounds of Stirling Castle, followed by a visit to the Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre and immersive experience depicting the 1314 battle.

  4. Day 4overnight: Rothesay, Isle of Bute

    Clyde cruise and Isle of Bute aboard paddle steamer 'Waverley'

    Coach transfer from Stirling to Glasgow, then an all-day cruise aboard the double-funnel paddle steamer 'Waverley', the last ocean-going paddle steamer in the world, with a stop ashore at Tighnabruaich before arriving at Rothesay, the principal town of Bute.

  5. Day 5overnight: Rothesay, Isle of Bute

    Mount Stuart and the scenery of South Bute

    Discover the natural and cultural highlights south of Rothesay, including the Victorian Gothic Revival estate at Mount Stuart, the first home in the world with a heated swimming pool and purpose-built electric lights, and the beaches and coves at Kilchattan Bay.

  6. Day 6overnight: Fort William

    Ferry crossing to Wemyss Bay

    Free time in Rothesay before the lunchtime CalMac ferry to Wemyss Bay, then a coach transfer to Fort William.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Fort William

    Jacobite Steam Train

    A trip on 'The Jacobite' steam train from Fort William to Mallaig through mountains, glens, lochs and sea views, with time in Mallaig before the return journey.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Inverness

    Strathspey Steam Railway and Cairngorm Mountain Railway

    Coach to Aviemore for a steam train on the Strathspey Railway to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, then on to Loch Morlich and the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, a 2km funicular and Britain's highest mountain railway, before continuing to Inverness.

  9. Day 9rail

    Train travel from Inverness

    Return First Class from Inverness via Drumochter summit (the highest in the UK) and the Tay valley through Perth, Edinburgh, Newcastle and York to London King's Cross, with a light lunch served on board.

Included

  • First Class rail travel from London King's Cross to Stirling by LNER Azuma train and from Inverness to London King's Cross
  • 8 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • 3 lunches and 8 dinners
  • All rail and boat trips as detailed in the itinerary
  • All road coach transfers as detailed in the itinerary
  • All seat reservations and transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

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