The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Tours
The nation famed for whisky, kilts and Highland hills, Scotland is a wonderful tour location, only a train ride away.
As the land of kilts, whisky and Macbeth, Scotland is a nation of proud Celtic history and culture. With mystic lochs shrouded in thick mist and rolling highlands crowned by snow, Caledonia is astonishingly atmospheric in every season, from the gentle greenery of a Scottish summer to the spectacular snow-globe scenery of winter.
The brooding mountains and valleys are stunning and take travellers back to an era of war-painted warriors and Pict legend, while the numerous fathomless lochs may or may not be home to a myriad of mysterious beasts that lie beneath the serene blue surfaces.
Off the northern coast and stretching into the Northern Atlantic are the Hebridean Islands, havens of undeniable natural beauty. The capital city and seat of Scotland's government, Edinburgh, is a spectacular mix of monumental historic architecture and stylish contemporary architecture, set under the gaze of the city's magnificent Edinburgh Castle.
Breathtaking scenery and fantastic journeys by mainline and steam railways; this tour takes in the very best of northern Scotland from our base in Inverness - the gateway to your Highland adventure.
… see more5 days from $1,585 pp
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Majestic lochs and glens lie in wait as we cross Edinburgh and the Highlands and visit historic castles and the Isle of Mull. We travel through the West Highlands and Cairngorms on this fabulous round trip climaxing with a 'Scottish Evening' on Edinburgh's stately Royal Mile.
… see more9 days from $3,435 pp
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Set in idyllic, undiscovered surroundings overlooking picturesque Loch Fyne, a 19th century Baronial Castle awaits you on this magnificent tour. Cruise the open waters to the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, explore nearby Oban and Inveraray.
… see more7 days from $2,015 pp
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Imbued with centuries of history and culture, the UK is one of the most rewarding nations to travel around. Explore the length and breadth of Britain on this outstanding tour of the island. Discover ancient attractions, modern cities and wild landscapes from the rugged Rannoch Moor to the inspiring Stonehenge.
… see more14 days from $5,165 pp
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Enjoy an adventure to Scotland's idyllic Outer Hebrides and The Highlands on a tour that takes in the UK's most famous train line, the West Highland Line, as well as time in Stornoway.
… see more8 days from $2,875 pp
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Experience the spectacle of marching bands when you visit the Edinburgh Tattoo by train, with pipes and drums resonating from the castle's elevated setting. Complimenting the trip, witness incredible lochs, glens and mountains as we explore the West Highlands.
… see more5 days from $1,355 pp
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Experience the wild and wonderful Highlands at the height of the festive season. Experience the incomparable West Highland Line, discover the amazing Nevis Mountain range, and warm up with a wee dram of whisky, all on a trip that showcases the best of Scotland at Christmas.
… see more6 days from $1,495 pp
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Become bewitched by the sparkling beauty of Scotland, on a trip that will enthrall the eyes in the wilds of this wonderful country. From your base in Pitlochry, discover some of the Highland's most wonderful scenes and castles, on a delightful adventure that showcases the best of the country in the autumn season.
… see more6 days from $1,385 pp
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A small group tour to Scotland means you have access to some of the country's most spectacular sights and experiences that just aren't possible with a larger group. Enjoy accommodation at two bespoke hotels, step back to the golden age of rail travel with an overnight journey on the Caledonian Sleeper Train, and meet the local wildlife.
… see more7 days from $2,875 pp
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From journeys on the West Highland Line and discovering previously hidden streets in Edinburgh, to exploring the history of some of Scotland's famous clans, the heritage of Scotland is fascinating. On a small group tour, you have the benefit of enjoying more exclusive entrances and special experiences such as the fantastic Mary King's Close and Armadale Castle, both of which are closed off to larger groups.
… see more9 days from $3,255 pp
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Three of the British Isles most scenic countries combine on a tour that showcases the best of these Celtic beauties. Beginning in Scotland, explore the majestic Highlands and its most incredible cities, before venturing over to Northern Ireland and the rest of the Emerald Isle, a land of incredible culture and tradition.
… see more13 days from $5,165 pp
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Discover the incredibly picturesque Western Highlands and the rugged, breathtaking coastal islands which lie off Scotland's western coast. This tour takes us on some of the world's most scenic railway journeys as part of a truly memorable exploration of the Highlands.
… see more9 days from $2,645 pp
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An excellent well organised tour with a good guide. Good food and wine which was just what we needed at xmas
The tour was a nice sample of all that there is to see. I knew I didn't have the time to really explore everything that could take months to do it the way I would want to. The tour was fun we had a great group of people and our tour manager Peter Scott was terrific. Taking care of every need and really bringing to life the history of each stop.
This tour was exceptional value for money and exceptionally well organised - you get a lot for your money!
Overall experience was good. The Tattoo was wonderful but the dinners at the hotel were very disappointing and also the cancelled train trip which curtailed the boat trip (which was good but very short)
I loved the 5 days when the guide was with us. The accommodations and tours were great. I felt, as many others did, that we would have liked a couple of dinners or organized tours once we got on the ship. After 5 days of 'bonding' we all missed each other once on the ship! This itinerary was fantastic though. The total tour was maybe a bit over priced, although I am a single traveler, so I had a supplement. Our guide was wonderful.
This was for me, a magical tour. I have long wanted to visit the Outer Hebrides and I love train travel too! So this was an ideal tour. The added bonus of the lovely and long coach drive through Skye was the icing on the cake.
Discover the fantastic railways of Scotland. It should come as no surprise that we love railways and we know many of you do too! That's why our tours feature some of the most iconic railways and trains on the continent.
Despite its compact size, Scotland's climate is remarkably variable. Accusations of continuous rain throughout are exaggerated, although the Western Highlands are particularly wet. Scotland's high position in the northern Hemisphere means that it has longer daylight hours than other areas of Britain during the summer and shorter days during the winter. Whilst extreme temperatures are rare, January and February tend to be Scotland's coldest months although still mild with daytime maximum temperatures averaging between 5° to 7 °C. Late summer, July and August sees Scotland at its warmest when temperatures generally reach an average 19 °C.
Scottish culture is almost as old as the country itself. A particularly famous example of Scottish music is the use of bagpipes. While this wind instrument is not a Scottish creation, having its roots in Ancient Greece, the Scottish people have cultivated a strong appreciation of its unique sound incorporating a notable performance during at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo each August, which features over a hundred pipers playing in unison.
Scotland has produced a range of exceptional actors including the original James Bond, Sean Connery as well as Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton. Along with its theatrical heritage, there have been a number of literary giants from Scotland such as the world-renowned poet Robert Burns, Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson and contemporary novelist Irvine Welsh.
Scotland has a fantastic array of railway lines which carry passengers across the country, from the rural islands of the north, through the snow-capped highlands and rolling lowlands, across the metropolises of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and along the Scottish English border.
This network also includes a number of heritage lines. The Strathspey railway offers a fantastic steam-hauled round trip in restored carriages through the scintillating Highland scenery, while the Jacobite Steam Train hauls original British Rail First and Standard Class carriages from the 1960s across the magical landscapes.
Scotland has always benefited from an abundance of fresh local produce of excellent quality and this has shaped the country's cuisine, producing traditional dishes and specialities that have become globally recognised and renowned. Perhaps the most well-known of these is a kind of sheep sausage called haggis. Despite its untoward appearance, interesting ingredients and unconventional recipe which involves cooking the food in a sheep's stomach, Haggis is well worth a try for a taste of true Scottish cuisine. Another curious Scottish delicacy is the deep-fried Mars bar, where a standard chocolate bar is fried in batter. Among some other Scottish fare that visitors should sample is Scottish Tablet, Cullen Skink, Aberdeen Angus Beef, Cranachan and Arbroath Smokies.
Significant events in the Scottish calendar include Burns' Night, Hogmanay and St Andrew's Day. Burns' Night is the celebration of the national poet Robert Burns' birthday on the 25th of January, and involves an extensive meal of haggis, swedes and potatoes as well as recitations of Burns' poems. Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve while St Andrew's Day on the 30th November is the day of the patron saint of Scotland and features many traditional Scottish festivities.
Should you choose to dine in a Scottish restaurant it is customary to leave a tip worth 10% of the bill's value, although if you have received exemplary food and service you may want to leave a greater amount. The Scottish accent can be difficult to understand at first, but it soon becomes easy and pleasant to listen to with manageable differences between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the north and south. The Scottish people are down-to-earth, affable and honest with an exceptional sense of humour.
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By Lorna Heatley
8 February 2019
It’s not rare for an immigrant community to band together in foreign countries and make a home-away-from-home.
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By Lorna Heatley
17 January 2019
We live in a time of carbon dating, of ancient languages being rediscovered regularly, of genealogy, and miracles of science that can nearly figure out the exact age of the earth itself.
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By Sukie Chapman
29 November 2018
The idea of travelling aboard a night train holds an almost mysterious allure, conjuring images of moustachioed Hercule Poirot aboard the Orient Express or stepping into the high heels of Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis as they bunk down with Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot.
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By Jack Stacey
6 November 2018
Great Britain is one of the best places to be if you’re into your stately homes.
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Excellent tour, good company and a great tour leader as usual. The hotel is good with comfortable rooms, good food and friendly , helpful staff.