01904 521 936
Tour Search



DiscoveriesDiscoveries

Edinburgh & the Highlands by Steam

Save
You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
6 days From £945 £845 per person
4.2 stars(247 reviews)
Gallery
Map

Enjoy Edinburgh before exploring the lochs, mountains and glens of Perthshire and the soaring Cairngorm Mountains

Save up to £200pp

Save up to £200pp on British Isles 2025 holidays when you book by 31st October 2024.

View terms and conditions

Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: 25AHS

About the tour

Journey through the iconic landscapes and culture of Scotland aboard the country's spectacular railways. From the city of Edinburgh to the Cairngorm Mountain, every day is a new experience on this five-day tour.

Explore towering sculptures, discover towns and castles, journey on the world-famous Jacobite Steam Train, and experience the traditional Scottish way of life at the Highland Folk Museum. Let Scotland's history, beauty, and hospitality captivate you.

Unforgettable Experiences

Journeying on the Jacobite Steam Train
Journeying on the Jacobite Steam Train
Travel on the famous Jacobite Steam Train through the breathtaking scenery of the West Highland Line.
Experiencing the Falkirk Wheel
Experiencing the Falkirk Wheel
Enjoy a fantastic boat ride as the wheel rotates offering stunning views of the Scottish countryside.
Seeing The Kelpies
Seeing The Kelpies
Marvel at this modern landmark of towering horse-head sculptures that pay homage to Scotland's industrial past.
Riding the Strathspey Steam Railway
Riding the Strathspey Steam Railway
Board the Strathspey Steam Railway and gaze out over views of the Cairngorms and picturesque River Spey.
Visiting Blair Castle and Gardens
Visiting Blair Castle and Gardens
Explore Blair Castle and Gardens, discovering its white-washed stone walls and landscaped gardens.
Admiring Queen’s View
Admiring Queen’s View
Experience the panoramic vistas of Queen's View, one of Scotland's most renowned and striking lookouts.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Edinburgh

On the first day of your Scottish holiday, meet the Tour Manager at our hotel just off Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile. After checking in, you have time to explore the Scottish capital's stunning architecture, history, and cultural scene. The city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing the Old Town's historic Royal Mile and the New Town's renowned Georgian architecture. Wandering the streets, it's easy to see why the city came to be regarded as the 'Athens of the North'. This evening, our first dinner together as a group is at one of Edinburgh's popular restaurants, Tolbooth Tavern.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - The Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel and Blair Atholl

After breakfast, we head to the magnificent Kelpies by coach. These towering sculptures were designed by the talented Glasgow-based artist, Andy Scott to pay homage to the hardworking horses of Scotland that once pulled barges along the canals and worked in the fields of the area.

A few miles down the road is a wonder of modern engineering, the Falkirk Wheel. The rotating boat lift connects the Forth & Clyde canal with the Union canal, and is the only one of its kind in the world. We get the full experience with a boat trip that includes two turns on The Wheel and a canal ride when we reach the top.

Continuing the journey to Blair Atholl, we stop in the historic city of Stirling where you can take some time to relax and explore. Enjoy a leisurely lunch while taking in views of the imposing castle and the picturesque hills that surround it or wander the streets spotting medieval landmarks. We then board the train to Blair Atholl and check into our hotel with time to settle in before dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Queen’s View, Pitlochry, and Blair Castle

We begin at Queen's View today, one of Scotland's most famous lookouts. With panoramas stretching out across Loch Tummel towards the Glencoe Hills, you can see why this was Queen Victoria's favourite view. Continuing to Pitlochry, set against the backdrop of mighty Ben Vrackie, take some time to discover this quaint town. We then return to Blair Atholl to explore Blair Castle, one of Scotland's premier stately homes. A vision in white stone, the castle has a fairytale quality, with exquisite gardens and interiors that showcase Scottish design through the ages. After wandering the castle, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free to relax or experience more of Blair Atholl.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Journey on the incredible Jacobite Steam Train

Experience the beauty of the West Highland Line today aboard the Jacobite Steam Train.* Travelling in restored carriages, this journey is renowned as one of the best and most scenic in the world. A highlight of the route is crossing the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, a marvel of engineering with 21 arches that you may recognise from the 'Harry Potter' films. The train continues towards the coast, unveiling wild and wonderful views across the vast Scottish countryside. After passing through Arisaig, the line descends towards Mallaig, a fishing port that looks over the Isle of Skye. Along the picturesque harbour, there's a choice of traditional Scottish pubs that serve seafood dishes. With some time at leisure, you could enjoy lunch with a view before our return journey on the Jacobite. The evening is free to dine independently.

*Please note that journeys are steam-hauled where possible - some departures may use the ScotRail scheduled service.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Strathspey Steam Railway, Cairngorm Mountain Railway and the Highland Folk Museum

Today, we make the most of your final full day, starting with a journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway. From Aviemore, we follow the historic Highland Railway route through the scenic Cairngorm National Park to Cairngorm. Here, we board the Cairngorm Mountain Railway for a spectacular ascent to the summit.

The 2 km funicular railway climbs steeply, offering breathtaking views of the landscape. At the summit, step out into the crisp mountain air and take in the panoramic vistas. For the adventurous, there are numerous hiking trails winding through the countryside. The summit also hosts one of Scotland's premier ski resorts. For a more relaxed experience, soak up the natural beauty from the visitor centre, where you can enjoy food or a cup of tea while gazing at the stunning views.

Next, after a short coach journey, we visit the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore. This living museum is a tribute to traditional Highland life, with recreated buildings, costumes, and artefacts from the 18th century. Knowledgeable guides share the culture of the Highland clans and their enduring customs and traditions. Afterwards, we return to the hotel for the evening and a final dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Homeward bound

The 3-Star Atholl Arms Hotel is a historic hotel located in the picturesque town of Blair Atholl, Scotland. The hotel's elegant and traditional décor, including its grand staircase, wood-panelled walls, and roaring fireplaces, create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.

The hotel's restaurant, The Bothy, offers a relaxed and informal atmosphere, where guests can enjoy meals made with local produce, including fresh seafood, game, and traditional Scottish dishes. The hotel also features a cosy bar where guests can enjoy a wide range of locally sourced beers, wines, and spirits.

Conveniently located with easy access to some of Scotland's most stunning natural scenery, guests can explore the nearby Cairngorms National Park, home to some of the UK's highest peaks.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl

Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl

View hotel

Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile, Edinburgh

View hotel

Trains

Cairngorm Mountain Railway
Jacobite Steam Train
Scotrail
Strathspey Steam Railway
West Highland Line

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK rail connections

Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 247 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (104)
  2. 4 stars
    (98)
  3. 3 stars
    (33)
  4. 2 stars
    (7)
  5. 1 star
    (5)

J Gill

4 stars

Submitted 2/Oct

Excellent old hotel in Blair Atholl. Well organised trip with attentive guide. Disappointed that Cairngorm mountain railway wasn't running. Guide arranged an additional wildlife boat trip, though, which was great. The only time we had in Edinburgh was before and after the organised trip, so that was a bit of a misnomer.

Collected by Trustpilot

Shaun

3 stars

Submitted 30/Sep

Depends greatly on the weather. The countryside is magnificent. We were lucky, the sun shone. A lot of travelling by coach.The hotel food experience was mixed and the location not ideal making the scheduling tight with little free time at locations. The tour guide, friendly and helpful when needed, did not appear to be that familiar with and well prepared for the itinerary. But an enjoyable holiday for the most part with one or two memorable highlights.

Collected by Trustpilot

Bonnie Curtis

5 stars

Submitted 27/Sep

Wonderful tour, enjoyed all of it. John Healy was a wonderful guide ~ very patient and knowledgeable.

Collected by Trustpilot

Heather Neill

5 stars

Submitted 27/Sep

Excellent holiday, well-organised, good hotels, very good coach journeys, good food, well-thoughtout itineraries. We may book another similar holiday next year with Rail Discoveries. David and Heather Neill

Collected by Trustpilot

Catherine Bell

5 stars

Submitted 27/Sep

Full days, lovely places to visit.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs anne bruce

4 stars

Submitted 18/Sep

Holiday experience tour guide andbus driver were very good......no dinner provided on 2 nights out of 5.....found this very strange as we were quite isolated and only option was to eat in the hotel.....was quite puzzling and would make us question choosing another company for our next trip

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews