Search

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Luxury train

The Royal Scotsman – A Taste of the Highlands

Four-day luxury train journey through the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

Illustration of The Royal Scotsman – A Taste of the Highlands

Vacations By Rail operates The Royal Scotsman - A Taste of the Highlands, a 4-day, 3-night luxury train journey that departs from Edinburgh and travels into the Scottish Highlands. The experience combines one night in an Edinburgh hotel with two nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, a five-star train offering all meals, drinks, and entertainment throughout the journey. The itinerary carries you north from Edinburgh through Perthshire into the Cairngorms, with stops at Rothiemurchus Estate for field sports, Culloden Battlefield for a private historical tour, and Strathisla Distillery, Scotland's oldest working whisky distillery, for a tour and tasting. The trip concludes with a return to Edinburgh. This journey suits couples seeking intimate luxury travel, food-and-wine enthusiasts drawn to a distillery visit and gourmet dining, and history lovers interested in Jacobite heritage and battlefields. The pace is relaxed, with multiple nights aboard the train allowing you to settle in and enjoy the scenery and onboard service. Day 1 offers unguided time to explore Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and other historic sites on your own.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package price does not include arrival or departure flights.
  • Day 1 involves unguided time in Edinburgh; you arrange your own exploration of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and other sites after your private airport transfer.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

    On arrival at the airport in Edinburgh you'll have a private transfer to the hotel of your choosing. The rest of your day is free to explore Scotland's historic capital at your own pace, including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament building.

  2. Day 2overnight: Boat of Garten (aboard the Royal Scotsman)

    The Royal Scotsman

    Embark from Edinburgh Waverley station and settle in for a luxurious journey aboard the Royal Scotsman. Traveling north through the scenic Perthshire hills, the scenery becomes more dramatic entering the Highlands. Arrive at the picturesque Cairngorm village of Boat of Garten this evening for dinner and live entertainment in the Observation Car.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Dundee (aboard the Royal Scotsman)

    The Cairngorms, Culloden and Strathisla Distillery

    Breakfast on board, then a trip to Rothiemurchus Estate for outdoor activities (clay-pigeon shooting, archery, fishing, or a guided estate tour). Return to the train for lunch, then a private tour of Culloden Battlefield, scene of the final Jacobite Rising battle in 1746. Visit Strathisla Distillery for a tour and tasting, then reboard for a journey south to Dundee with a gala dinner.

  4. Day 4

    Homeward bound

    Leisurely breakfast as the Royal Scotsman rolls back into Edinburgh. A private transfer takes you back to Edinburgh Airport, or to your hotel if extending your stay.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Depart Edinburgh Waverley station aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman; travel north through Perthshire hills into the dramatic Highlands, arriving at the Cairngorm village of Boat of Garten with dinner and live entertainment in the Observation Car.
  • Day 3Visit Rothiemurchus Estate for optional pursuits including clay-pigeon shooting, archery, or fishing; later, a private tour of Culloden Battlefield recounts the final Jacobite Rising battle of 1746.
  • Day 3Tour and taste at Strathisla Distillery, the Highlands' oldest continuously working distillery, before a gala dinner aboard the train heading south to Dundee.

Included

  • 1 night in an Edinburgh hotel on a bed and breakfast basis
  • 2 nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury train
  • All meals aboard the train and all beverages including alcoholic drinks
  • 24-hour steward service
  • Traditional entertainment on board

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Arrival and departure flights

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 2 nights aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury train, with all meals, beverages (including alcohol), and 24-hour steward service.
Which train is used?
The Belmond Royal Scotsman, a luxury train that departs Edinburgh, travels north through Perthshire and the Cairngorms, and returns to Edinburgh via Dundee.
What is the hotel situation?
One night is spent in an Edinburgh hotel on a bed and breakfast basis (either The Scotsman or The Balmoral Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, depending on your choice). The remaining two nights are aboard the train.
What is included in the price?
The package includes one night in an Edinburgh hotel with breakfast, two nights aboard the train, all meals and drinks aboard the train, 24-hour steward service, and traditional entertainment. It also covers visits to Rothiemurchus Estate, Culloden Battlefield, and Strathisla Distillery.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes optional estate activities (clay-pigeon shooting, archery, fishing, or a guided tour), a private tour of Culloden Battlefield, and a distillery tour and tasting. Modest walking is expected for transfers and site visits; no strenuous hiking is described.
What is not included?
Flights to and from Edinburgh, as well as cancellation and travel insurance, are not included in the price but can be arranged separately.

Similar journeys