The nation famed for whisky, kilts and Highland hills, Scotland is a wonderful holiday location, only a train ride away.
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.
Majestic lochs and glens lie in wait as we cross Edinburgh and the Highlands, making visits to historic castles and the Isle of Mull. We travel through the West Highlands and Cairngorms on a fabulous holiday which climaxes with a 'Scottish Evening' on Edinburgh's stately Royal Mile.
… see more9 days from £1,295 pp
View tour details >
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 our Highland adventure.
… see more5 days from £675 pp
View tour details >
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 £980 pp
View tour details >
Spend Christmas in Inverness, with hearty food, warming drinks, entertainment and festive cheer. Enjoy the proud cities of Edinburgh and Inverness and travel through the yuletide scenery on beautiful rail trips.
… see more7 days from £1,175 pp
View tour details >
Imbued with centuries of history and culture, the UK is one of the most rewarding nations to explore by train. Discover the length and breadth of Britain on this outstanding tour and experience ancient attractions, modern cities, and wild landscapes from Inverness - the 'Capital of the Highlands' - to mind boggling Stonehenge.
… see more14 days from £2,695 pp
View tour details >
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 £1,395 pp
View tour details >
Experience the spectacle of the Edinburgh Tattoo, with pipes and drums resonating from the castle's elevated setting. Complimenting the trip, travel by heritage railway and rotating boat lift as we explore the River Forth and Stirling Castle.
… see more4 days from £595 pp
View tour details >
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 £795 pp
View tour details >
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 £595 pp
View tour details >
Atmospheric ruined castles, charming fishing ports, ancient archaeological sites, captivating wildlife, and a unique cultural heritage; Orkney and Shetland have inspired artists, writers and musicians for centuries. Discover the Scottish islands' charms in the most romantic way possible - with a nostalgic overnight journey on the Caledonian Sleeper train.
This escape is filled with unique experiences, including a stay at the Standing Stones Hotel. With our small group tours, you have all the advantages of travelling in a group as well as access to certain experiences and hotels not suitable for larger parties.
… see more7 days from £1,290 pp
View tour details >
With visits to 2 of Scotland's most charismatic cities, Edinburgh and Dundee, we immerse ourselves in the local flavour with tastings of some local specialities; Arbroath smokies and whisky. The highlight of this holiday has to be a First Class journey on the Aberdonian Tornado Steam Train.
… see more5 days from £895 pp
View tour details >
This fantastic five-night cruise through the heart of the Highlands begins with a night in Edinburgh before we board our ship for a journey through the rugged coastline of Scotland's west coast to the unspoilt beauty of the Isle of Mull, up Neptune's Staircase, along the Caledonian Canal and across Loch Ness.
… see more7 days from £1,595 pp
View tour details >
An excellent well organised holiday 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 holiday 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 holiday. I have long wanted to visit the Outer Hebrides and I love train travel too! So this was an ideal holiday. The added bonus of the lovely and long coach drive through Skye was the icing on the cake.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Helping you plan your holiday to Scotland
Call:
Enquire
By Kathryn Beeson
16 July 2019
In some respects, Dorothy was right - there really is no place like home.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Excellent holiday, good company and a great tour leader as usual. The hotel is good with comfortable rooms, good food and friendly , helpful staff.