Great Rail Journeys
Highland Adventure
5 daysfrom $1,468
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands
Short escorted Scottish break combining the Military Tattoo and a steam railway
Great Rail Journeys runs this four-day, three-night escorted short break based in Dunblane, a small town in the Perthshire countryside, with a UK Tour Manager throughout. After arriving independently and settling into the Apex Dunblane Hydro, the group travels north on day two to ride the Strathspey Steam Railway, a heritage train that runs alongside the River Spey through the Cairngorms National Park to Broomhill, followed by a gin tasting at the Kinrara Gin Distillery. Day three brings a guided tour of Stirling Castle, including the Great Hall and Chapel Royal, before the group travels on to Edinburgh for the headline event: the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The tour returns to Dunblane for all three nights rather than changing hotels, so it suits travellers who want a short, single-base break built around one specific event, plus a steam train ride and a castle visit, without needing to plan the logistics themselves.
What to know before you look closer
- The evidence lists no scheduled departure dates for this tour; confirm current availability and which Tattoo performance date it covers with Great Rail Journeys.
- Only 2 dinners are included across the 4 days; on day 3 in Edinburgh, dinner is left independent so you can fit it around the Tattoo performance.
- You make your own way to Dunblane to start the tour; UK rail connections to Dunblane are only available as a bookable upgrade.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Dunblane
Arrival in the charming wee town of Dunblane
Your holiday begins when you arrive independently in the picturesque town of Dunblane. Once you've checked in to the hotel and met the Tour Manager, there's time to get to know the town at leisure. The hotel is just a short walk from the Allan Water River, where you could enjoy a riverside stroll. Nearby is the 11th-century cathedral standing among a cluster of old-world buildings, including Dean's House, a 17th-century structure that now hosts the cathedral museum. Dunblane Cathedral is one of Scotland's most impressive medieval churches, with a four-storey tower built in the 1100s, an ornate Gothic doorway and rare 15th-century choir stalls. This evening, the group gathers for the first dinner.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Dunblane
The nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway and gin-tasting
Travelling north to Aviemore after breakfast, the group joins the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway for a trip through the stunning Cairngorms National Park. The beautifully restored carriages have comfortable seats and large windows, providing fantastic opportunities to marvel at the breathtaking scenery en route to Broomhill. The route snakes alongside the bronze waters of the River Spey, with views of rolling hills blanketed by purple heather, the craggy summit of Cairngorm Mountain, and thick pine forests and wooded glens. After a 20-mile round trip on the railway, the coach sets off to the Kinrara Distillery on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park for a hosted gin-tasting experience. In the late afternoon, travel back to the Dunblane hotel with time to relax before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3overnight: Dunblane
Stirling Castle & the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
After a relaxing morning, the coach departs early afternoon for another culture-packed day. First stop is Stirling Castle for a guided tour through the Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Great Kitchens and beautiful gardens, with time to enjoy lunch independently at the castle café or in the centre of Stirling. The afternoon continues to Edinburgh, where guests are at leisure to get dinner and explore before the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, featuring Scottish regiments' pipers and drummers, the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines, and a firework show with Edinburgh Castle magnificently illuminated behind them. The coach returns to Dunblane late this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 4
Homeward bound
After a leisurely breakfast, the holiday comes to an end and guests are free to make their way home or continue exploring at their own pace.
Meals: Breakfast
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1A short walk from the hotel in Dunblane leads to the Allan Water River, near an 11th-century cathedral.
- Day 2The Strathspey Steam Railway's restored carriages run alongside the River Spey through the Cairngorms National Park to Broomhill, followed by a guided tasting at the Kinrara Gin Distillery.
- Day 3A guided tour of Stirling Castle takes in the Great Hall, Chapel Royal and Great Kitchens, before the group travels to Edinburgh for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
- Breakfast each day
- 2 dinners
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
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Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes the Strathspey Steam Railway, a 20-mile round trip from Aviemore to Broomhill through the Cairngorms National Park, plus all rail and coach travel on the tour.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It's an escorted tour with a UK Tour Manager from start to finish.
- Which trains are used?
- The Strathspey Steam Railway, a heritage line running between Aviemore and Broomhill.
- What hotels are used?
- The 4-star Apex Dunblane Hydro in Dunblane, for all 3 nights of the tour.
- What is not included?
- The evidence lists cancellation and travel insurance as excluded; only 2 dinners are included and lunches are never included.
- How much walking is involved?
- A guided tour of Stirling Castle (Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Great Kitchens, gardens) and an optional riverside stroll in Dunblane; no hikes are described.
