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Scotland

Scotland doesn't waste an inch of its mountainous area in order to delight and impress visitors. The space between beautiful and historic cities such as Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee is filled with the breath-taking mountains, lochs, glens and valleys that have inspired poets, artists and visitors for hundreds of years.

Wild and unspoilt, Scotland's landscapes are timeless, and few pleasures can compare with stepping aboard a magnificently-restored steam train and gently rolling through the dramatic heather-clad hills of the Scottish Highlands.

In truth Scotland is packed with unique and unforgettable experiences. Here you can search for a pre-historic monster that lurks beneath the placid surface of Loch Ness. You can visit one of Scotland's iconic distilleries and sample the finest single-malt whiskies in the world. Take a cruise to the ruggedly pretty Hebridean Islands, Orkney or Shetland. Witness the spectacle of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. These are just a few of the countless pleasures that are you'll enjoy on an escorted rail holiday in Scotland with Great Rail Journeys.

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12 results matching: Scotland

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Edinburgh, Highlands & Islands
4.3 stars(375 reviews)
2023MayJunJulAugSepOct
9 days from
£1,795 pp
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9 days from
£1,795
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • Starts / EndsEdinburgh
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Highland Adventure
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(156 reviews)
2023MayJunJulAugSepOct
5 days from
£895 pp £795 pp
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5 days from
£895
£795
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • Starts / EndsInverness
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
A Scottish Christmas
Small Group
4.5 stars(12 reviews)
2023Dec
7 days from
£1,595 pp
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7 days from
£1,595
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • Starts / EndsEdinburgh
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Edinburgh Tattoo
4.2 stars(32 reviews)
2023Aug
4 days from
£595 pp
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4 days from
£595
per person
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Skye, Orkney and the Wild North
2023MayJunJulAugSep
8 days from
£1,395 pp
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8 days from
£1,395
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
The Outer Hebrides
4.1 stars(115 reviews)
2023JunJulAugSep
8 days from
£1,845 pp
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8 days from
£1,845
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • Starts / EndsGlasgow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
4 days from
£645
per person
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The Aberdonian Steam Train - © Alan Weaver
4.4 stars(24 reviews)
2023JulAugSep
5 days from
£995 pp
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5 days from
£995
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Giants Causeway
3.3 stars(7 reviews)
2023MayJulSepOct
13 days from
£3,360 pp
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13 days from
£3,360
per person
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  • DestinationIreland, Scotland
  • Starts / EndsEdinburgh / Dublin
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Edinburgh, Sterling and Dalhousie Castle
2023MayJulSepOct
6 days from
£1,095 pp
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6 days from
£1,095
per person
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  • DestinationScotland
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportCoach
Map and accommodation
Grand Tour of the UK
4.5 stars(6 reviews)
2023MaySep
12 days from
£2,495 pp
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12 days from
£2,495
per person
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  • DestinationEngland, Scotland
  • Starts / EndsLondon
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Brae
3.9 stars(55 reviews)
2023MayJulSepOct
tour map
  • DestinationScotland
  • Starts / EndsEdinburgh
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportCoach
Map and accommodation
Our customers love our Scotland tours
Highland Adventure
31 Oct 2022
S Clarke
5 stars
“First time on my own was made very welcome by tour guide asked if could sit at front as not good on buses and we did more travel on bus then I expected but enjoyed the tour
Collected by Trustpilot
The Best of Scotland and Ireland
25 Oct 2022
C Gordon
5 stars
“Great trip.
Collected by Trustpilot
Orkney and the Shetland Isles
10 Oct 2022
Derek May
5 stars
“It was a very good trip but we had to live out of our suitcase as we were in a different bed every night. It would have been nicer to have had longer on both islands as there was so much to see.
Collected by Trustpilot
A Scottish Christmas
10 Jan 2022
Anne
5 stars
“I was really pleased that I made the decision to take this trip. The group, smaller than it would have been, gelled really well. I think we were let down by ScotRail. The tour manager was very efficient and helpful. The hotel in Edinburgh was much more geared up to deal with my having Coeliac disease and therefore follow a gluten free diet but I was rather disappointed by the attitude of the hotel in Inverness who did not seem to be prepared although I had advised of my special diet on booking and I cannot believe that I was the only guest in the hotel who had this need. I enjoyed the excursions on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
Collected by Trustpilot
Edinburgh, the Highlands and Islands
09 Nov 2022
A Jones
4 stars
“Probably a 4.5/5 or 9/10. Very well organised. Accommodation was good. Meal choices and quality were excellent. Bus driver for the 3 days around Fort William was excellent - history, stories, jokes, singing and driving. Good group size. What we saw was great. Earlier starts some days would be better, but appreciate locked into train timetables. Wish Scot Rail would clean their train windows to allow better photography - beyond tour manager to manage this Expect some fog and rain - it is Scotland.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Outer Hebrides and the Highlands
27 Sep 2022
C T
4 stars
“We would have marked this trip higher but for one of the advertised highlights of the tour, one of the Great Rail Journeys of the world, the Rail trip from Fort William to Mallaig did not take place. The famous train trip was not listed at all on tour notes given to us by our tour leader on the first evening of our trip despite being part of the advertised itinerary. No real explanation was given why were taken by coach to Mallaig for the ferry instead of the train trip. The tour manger said she thought Scotrail had cancelled the train, but I checked, and it was booked to run as normal. We were looking forward to this world class rail journey including the trip over the Glenfinnan Viaduct with its Harry Potter connections. I must admit that day seemed to turn in to 'Great Coach Journeys of the World' rather the Great Train Journeys. I email the company on return and received an automated reply that one of the team would get back to me within 28 days. No reply as yet. (Not so good customer care.) We have used this company before without problem. Putting the above to one side We enjoyed the rest of trip throughout, first class tour manager, guides and drivers. Cannot fault the hotels or food.
Collected by Trustpilot
Peebles, the Edinburgh Tattoo and Floors Castle
05 Sep 2022
mr anthony greenhalgh
4 stars
“Enjoyed the Tattoo but too many bus rides in and out of Glasgow. Disappointed that the visit to the Falkirk wheel,
Collected by Trustpilot
Royal Deeside and the Tornado Steam Train
05 Oct 2021
R Towner
4 stars
“We did submit a review a couple of weeks ago. We enjoyed the trip very much, with the exception of the hotel in Dundee. we were asked to be seated for our meal at 7.15, which everyone one was. we were not served until 8.45 and then one person on our table didn't get their dessert. Staff took drinks orders then food and ours was the last table for everything. When the food came it was cold. Also not great choices on the menu. we felt there was an attutide of, Oh Its the party, lets serve everyone else because they are paying full whack, whereas the party will be cheap rate. If only they knew how much the holiday cost! Reception staff couldn't tell us if the rooms would be serviced, so tea and milk could be replenished and just said they didn't know and made no effort to find out. The room staff happened to be passing and said they would be. Not impressed by the Apex. We really enjoyed the day in Dundee with the guide, then free time and then the trip to Arbroath. the Royal Deeside train was nice. trip to Balmoral a bit pointless, as there was little to see. The trip on the Tornado was first Class, thoroughly enjoyable. Our Tour Guide was excellent.
Collected by Trustpilot
Grand Tour of the UK
01 Oct 2021
Leslie Blake
4 stars
“The tour was good with excellent local guides, the tour manager Peter Scott had to deal with a number of setbacks very successfully including the Sunday train strike in Scotland and arranging for alternative transport. The only drawback was only staying in hotels for one night and moving on to the next phase, this proved to be quite tiring.
Collected by Trustpilot
Discovering Scotland with Great Rail Journeys

Great Rail Journeys ensures that when customers select any of our superb escorted rail tours of Scotland they will enjoy the best possible experience and customer service and receive exceptional value for money. The cost of each of our Scottish rail holidays covers all travel arrangements, overnight accommodation, an itinerary of sightseeing excursions and guided tours that show Scotland at its best, and a selection of meals.

A helpful and experienced Tour Manager accompanies each of our rail tours of Scotland and can answer questions, provide assistance and offer information to help our guests to have a pleasureable and memorable time in Scotland.

 

 

 

West Highland Line

We carefully plan our itineraries to include a selection the most interesting and enjoyable highlights among Scotland's many historic, cultural and natural attractions. These might include a journey along a scenic or heritage railway such as the Jacobite Steam Train or the Kyle Line, a visit to an historic castle, a cruise on Loch Lomond or a tour of a whisky distillery. Whatever your particular itinerary includes, we endeavour to choose excursions and activities that have something to delight every guest.

We only choose tour accommodations which are conveniently located, comfortable and provide excellent value, service and amenities. In order for guests to enjoy a friendlier and more personal service and to relax in informal surroundings we often opt for quality family-owned and run hotels.

From the moment our guests join Great Rail Journeys on an escorted rail tour of Scotland to the moment they return home we want them to enjoy a safe and stress-free holiday. As the UK's longest-established specialist rail tour operator our guests can take confidence from the fact that we are members of AITO and ABTA.

Scotland's Heritage Trains

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.

Scotland Traveller's Guide

In the First Century AD, the hostile Pictish tribes that had settled in Scotland shortly after the last ice age, confounded attempts by the invading Romans to add the country to their empire. Instead, the Romans built Hadrian's Wall to prevent the 'barbarians' entering Roman Britain. That same spirit of fierce independence saw Scotland become an independent sovereign state in the Middle Ages; a status it retained until the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain, the union of England and Scotland, in 1707. Almost a century later political agreement with Ireland was reached and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was established. Despite this union with its closest neighbouring countries, Scotland's spirit of independence remains and the country has striven to protect its unique identity, character and culture and is fiercely proud of its notable achievements.

 

 

Scotland's Climate

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 Cuisine

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. Among some of the best Scottish fayre that our guests should sample is Haggis, Scottish Tablet, Cullen Skink, Aberdeen Angus Beef, Cranachan. Arbroath Smokies, and of course Whisky.

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Ashleigh Howe
Ashleigh
Jo Jones
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