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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands

Short escorted Scottish break combining the Military Tattoo and a steam railway

Illustration of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands

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.

Price history

Across 3 checks, this price has held at £729 every time.

£7294 Jul24 Aug

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

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

  1. Day 1overnight: Dunblane

    Arrival in the charming wee town of Dunblane

    Arrive independently in Dunblane, check in and explore the town including Dunblane Cathedral, before dinner with the group.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Dunblane

    The nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway and gin-tasting

    Round trip on the Strathspey Steam Railway from Aviemore through the Cairngorms, then a hosted gin-tasting at the Kinrara Distillery.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Dunblane

    Stirling Castle & the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

    Guided tour of Stirling Castle's Great Hall, Chapel Royal and gardens, then travel to Edinburgh for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast the holiday concludes, free to make your own way home or continue exploring.

    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 your tour
  • Breakfast each day and 2 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

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.

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