Firebird Tours
Scotland Train Explorer
Private 8-day Scotland rail tour featuring the Jacobite steam train
8 daysfrom $3,228
63% rail
The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail tour
The Summer Highlander
A 6-day escorted rail tour of the Scottish Highlands from London, featuring 'The Jacobite' steam train, the Isle of Skye, John O'Groats, Dunrobin Castle and the Strathspey and Keith & Dufftown heritage railways.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Fort William
'Highland Chieftain' to Scotland
First Class Lounge departure from London King's Cross aboard the 'Highland Chieftain', via the East Coast Main Line through York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh, then the Highland Main Line from Perth. Road coach from Kingussie to Fort William; dinner at the hotel.
- Day 2railovernight: Inverness
'The Jacobite'; the Isle of Skye; by train to Inverness
'The Jacobite' steam train from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, with time in Mallaig before the ferry to Armadale on Skye. Road coach via Kyleakin, Broadford and the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, then a scenic service train to Inverness. Transfer to the Best Western Hotel and Spa, base for four nights.
- Day 3railovernight: Inverness
The Far North
Road coach to John O'Groats via the A9, then to the Castle of Mey for a light lunch. ScotRail service train from Thurso to Inverness along the North Sea coast via Helmsdale.
- Day 4overnight: Inverness
Dunrobin Castle
Road coach via the Black Isle and Dornoch Firth to Dunrobin Castle, with a falconry display, lunch at the Golspie Inn, and a traditional Highland whisky experience.
- Day 5railovernight: Inverness
The Strathspey and Keith & Dufftown Railways
Road coach to Aviemore for a steam train on the Strathspey Railway to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, lunch in the 'Buffer Stop' railway restaurant car in Dufftown, then a vintage diesel railcar on the 11-mile Keith & Dufftown 'Whisky Line', the UK's most northerly heritage railway.
- Day 6rail
The 'Highland Chieftain' to London
Transfer to Inverness Railway Station for the First Class 'Highland Chieftain' express south via Drumochter summit, Perth, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London King's Cross.
Included
- First Class rail travel on the 'Highland Chieftain' and on 'The Jacobite' steam train
- Standard Class rail travel between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness and between Thurso and Inverness (First Class not provided on these trains)
- 5 nights accommodation in hotels
- 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners
- All visits, train and ferry travel, and coach transfers as detailed in the itinerary
- The services of a Tour Manager
