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.
The services of a professional UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Food & Drinks
8 breakfasts
8 dinners with a special 'Scottish Evening' on the final night featuring a Scottish piper and a traditional Scottish menu
What’s not included
Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
Itinerary
Day 1 - Joining the tour in Edinburgh
Our fantastic Scottish tour begins as your Tour Manager greets
you at the hotel and the remainder of your day is free to explore
Scotland's fascinating capital.
Includes
Dinner
Days 2-3 - The West Highland Line & the Isle of Mull
Today we travel to Glasgow, before changing trains for a journey
on one of the world's most spectacular scenic railroad lines, The
West Highland Line. During our time on board, we travel along a
hillside ledge overlooking Gare Loch before we enter the
spectacular Highlands, an idyllic, remote and untouched landscape.
The incredible route skirts the western banks of Loch Lomond and
climbs quickly from Crianlarich to Upper Tyndrum and wild Rannoch
Moor. Mighty mountains provide an imposing backdrop to our journey
as we approach Fort William. On arrival we transfer to our
hotel.
On Day 3, we travel by coach to the town of
Oban. Leaving the mainland by Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, we make
the 40-minute crossing to the Isle of Mull. As we head through the
small islands and across to Mull, the incredible picturepostcard
views are truly awe-inspiring; rugged coastline, hills rising
sharply from the water's edge, the endless greens, purples and
browns of the moorland and jagged, exposed rock faces. We arrive at
the town of Craignure from where we visit Duart Castle, the
ancestral home of the Maclean Clan. The castle is only a few
minutes' drive from our mooring point at Craignure and remains in a
superb condition, occupying a picturesque position overlooking Loch
Don. After our visit, we enjoy a whisky tasting at our hotel.
Includes
Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Neptune’s Staircase, Loch Linnhe cruise & Glencoe
Today we travel by coach to Neptune's Staircase, an impressive
flight of eight locks operated by a team of at least three lock
keepers. Situated on the Caledonian Canal, the locks overcome a
total height difference of 64 feet. It takes approximately
one-and-a-half hours to pass from one end of the staircase to the
other, where water overcomes gravity and nature to climb the
hillside. From here we continue to Loch Linnhe where we enjoy a
scenic cruise across the water. After, we visit Glencoe, one of
Scotland's most iconic glens, used as the backdrop of many films,
most recently the Mary Queen of Scots movie.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - The Jacobite Steam Train
This morning we join the Jacobite Steam Train† for a journey to
Mallaig, along the final leg of the wonderful West Highland Line,
arguably the most scenic route in the UK. During the journey the
train steams past Ben Nevis, then climbs into the mountains
surrounding Glenfinnan, a small town famous as the rallying point
for Bonnie Prince Charlie's assault on the British throne. Here we
cross the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct seen in the 'Harry Potter'
films, one of the most iconic engineering works found throughout
the British railway network.
As we head towards Mallaig, we drop down to the sea's edge and
the landscape opens up for us to get our first view of the rugged
'Small Isles' - Rum, Eigg and Muck - which hang tantalisingly close
offshore. After time for lunch, we make the return journey by
coach, passing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, to Inverness, where we stay
for three nights.
†On early departures the Jacobite Steam Train does not operate
and we make this excursion using Scotrail's scheduled service.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Loch Ness
Today, travel to Loch Ness to enjoy a cruise. This iconic loch
is most famous for its mythical dweller, the Loch Ness Monster,
however it is also surrounded by some of Scotland's most
breathtaking scenery. Enjoy your short cruise surrounded by the
mountains, before taking a trip to Urquhart Castle, a 13th century
castle that sits perched on the banks of the loch. These
atmospheric ruins are a delight to explore, and you have some free
time here before we coach back to Inverness. The rest of your day
is spent at leisure, ahead of a delightful meal together this
evening.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - The Kyle Line
Today we enjoy one of the most breathtaking railway journeys in
Europe, the Kyle Line. The route takes us across Scotland from east
coast to west, crossing the Caledonian Canal and skirting the
shores of crystal-clear lakes. Countless photo opportunities
present themselves as we wind through wooded hillsides and over
sparse moors, climbing over the Highlands and past seaside towns.
The train travels at a low speed, giving you time to soak up the
views. During the final part of the journey we pass the picturesque
white-washed houses in the village of Plockton. We arrive at Kyle
of Lochalsh, the end of the line, located across a short stretch of
water from the Isle of Skye.
Afterwards we make a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, situated on a
tiny island in Loch Duich and joined to the mainland by a small,
elegant bridge. The island was part of the Macrae Clan's territory,
and in the 13th century they built Eilean Donan Castle, which was
initially designed to defend the clan's land from invading Vikings
but which actually saw more battles between the warring Scottish
tribes. From here, we return by coach to Inverness, giving us time
to experience the truly awe-inspiring Loch Ness from an alternative
perspective.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Days 8-9 - Inverness to Edinburgh
We leave Inverness, travelling south through the Cairngorms, via
Aviemore, Pitlochry and Kingussie, to arrive back in Edinburgh
where we spend the night. We enjoy a farewell dinner as part of a
'Scottish Evening'. For this, we are regaled by a traditional piper
and enjoy all manner of fascinating Scottish stories and snippets
of local history. We also sample a menu of traditional Scottish
dishes. After breakfast on the morning of Day 9,
the tour concludes. You are free to begin your journey home or
enjoy more time sightseeing independently.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature
the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown
above.
Please note on some dates we use different hotels in various
locations - please call for details.
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.
Everybody I dealt with at Great Rails was very knowledgeable and organized. Our experience was exactly as expected.
Mrs M Belskis
Submitted 13/11/2019
Extremely well organized, hotels were fantastic, our guide went above and beyond. She was informative, always had a smile on her face
Patricia Ray Nalley
Submitted 13/11/2019
Tour director was good.
Accommodations and meals very good.
Mr W Bean
Submitted 11/11/2019
A very good holiday overall, but let down badly on the Jacobite train trip with our group allocated a sub-standard carriage which appeared to have been dragged out of the renovation shed and stuck on the end of the train.
Mrs J Treharne
Submitted 10/11/2019
It was very good....well organized...and enjoyable.
Anonymous
Submitted 10/11/2019
There were several changes in the itinerary. One resulted in a credit back. The other sadly resulted in a coach trip rather than a rail trip.
A little more free time.