A circular tour of the spectacular 'Great Railway Journeys of the Scottish Highlands'. You may have seen them on TV; now you too can experience some of the most stunningly beautiful scenery in Europe.
DEPARTS
Saturday 9 March 2019
Saturday 16 March 2019
Saturday 23 March 2019
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Spectacular Highlands mountain scenery
The Great Railway Journey of the World to Kyle of Lochalsh
Ride the magical Harry Potter line to Mallaig
Take the fabulous Highland Line climbing through the Cairngorms
See the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument at the head of Loch Shiel
Cross magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, of Harry Potter movie fame
Enjoy Monster spotting at Loch Ness
By train over Rannoch Moor on the stunning West Highland Line
Free time to explore Inverness, the capital of the Highlands
Also Included in your Tour Fare:
Dinner every evening plus 1 light lunch
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
DAY 1
For customers travelling by train, we climb along the spine of Scotland. Leaving the Lowlands behind, the wonderfully picturesque Highland Line takes you through Perth, Pitlochry and over the Cairngorm Mountains to Inverness and our Scottish hotel, The Mercure.
DDAY 2
We take the amazing Kyle Line train, Scotland's original "Great Railway Journey of the World", coast-to-coast through stunning scenery and across mountain plateaux. Look out for wild deer, eagles and the palm trees of Plockton village, before dramatic sea vistas are revealed as we arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh.
Here we enjoy a light lunch in the renowned Lochalsh Hotel, overlooking the Isle of Skye, before retracing our steps to Inverness.
DAY 3
A free day in Inverness to enjoy this compact and easy to get around city. Inverness Castle is perched picturesquely above the River Ness and the medieval buildings of Church Street. Enjoy the magnificent cathedral church, lovely riverside restaurants and bustling cafes along with a wide range of specialist retailers in the historic Old Town and Victorian Market.
B, DDAY 4
Departing Inverness by road we travel alongside Loch Ness, with a short break for photography and monster spotting, then continue through the beautiful Great Glen to Fort William. Here we commence our magical train journey along the rail route to the Isles. We cross the world renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct, overlooking Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument; a view made even more famous in the Harry Potter films. We round Loch Eilt with its trees of the ancient Caledonian Forest and burst out onto the white-sanded Atlantic shoreline at Morar. Catch distant views of the Isles of Eigg and Rhum before we reach the terminus at Mallaig overlooking the Isle of Skye. After a sightseeing break we return to Fort William with seats on the opposite side of the train so no vista is missed.
B, DDAY 5
Customers booking our rail package bid farewell to Fort William and travel by train over the stunning West Highland Line to complete our circular tour back to the Lowlands and Glasgow for trains homeward.
BB=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
HOTEL
Mercure Hotel, Inverness*
The newly refurbished rooms, restaurant, bar and public areas have transformed the Mercure Hotel, blending traditional Highland hospitality with comfort in a waterside hotel only 200 metres from the railway station in Inverness. All guest bedrooms have HD TV and complimentary high speed WiFi, en-suite bathrooms, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.
Alexandra Hotel, Fort William
Situated close by the railway station this comfortable Victorian villa hotel offers all rooms en suite with TV and radio, telephone and hospitality tray. The dining room is proud of its locally sourced Table dHôte menu.
Fare Region | First | Standard | RC (-) |
London: Out: Kings Cross Ret: Euston | £725 | £585 | -£20 |
Greater London | £765 | £600 | -£20 |
South of England | £775 | £615 | -£25 |
East Anglia | £785 | £615 | -£25 |
South West | £845 | £675 | -£40 |
Heart of England | £720 | £595 | -£20 |
Midlands | £705 | £585 | -£20 |
Yorkshire | £650 | £555 | -£20 |
North East | £605 | £525 | -£20 |
North West | £655 | £545 | -£20 |
South Wales | £775 | £625 | -£30 |
North Wales | £700 | £580 | -£20 |
Scotland | N/A | £505 | -£10 |
Tour Base Fare (joining at hotel) £409
Departure Supplement £10 (16 March)
Departure Supplement £20 (23 March)
Single Room Supplement £95
4 nights bed, breakfast & Table dHôte evening meal, 1 light lunch
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions and admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
*This is a change of hotel from the prevoiusly advertised Royal Highland Hotel in Inverness.
Award winning rail holidays in the UK and Europe. All departing in 2019
Steam Tours 2019 - More to be added weekly