Day 1
Welcome to Glasgow
Arrive at Glasgow Airport and meet with your guide who will escort you to your coach. Your first stop will be at the Riverside Museum, formally known as the Museum of Transport. The Zaha Hadid-designed museum is packed with fascinating exhibits, high-tech and hands-on interactives, and inspiring and moving stories. We will then drive into the City Centre and check into your hotel where the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 2
A Day of Lakes and Boats
After breakfast, we drive to Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond, where we make a brief stop to see the Maid of the Loch, the last paddle steamer built in Britain. We drive through the Trosscahs via the pretty town of Aberfoyle, and over the Dukes Pass to Loch Katrine. We will have an early lunch in the restaurant before boarding the Steamship Sir Walter Scott for a one hour Loch cruise. Afterwards, we continue to Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. Return to your hotel in Glasgow arriving late afternoon.
Day 3
Strathspey Steam Railway
We leave the hotel after an early breakfast and head north to Aviemore. There will be a brief stop en-route for refreshments. On arrival in Aviemore we will have an early lunch. Afterwards, you will join the Strathspey Steam Railway which operates a 10 miles preserved railway from Aviemore to Broomhill via Boat of Garten. The 90 minute return journey is steam hauled by a variety of different locomotives. Continue to Inverness and check into your central hotel for a 3 night stay.
Day 4
Fort William and Jacobite Steam Train
An early breakfast in the hotel, and we drive to Fort William. This journey will take us the length of Loch Ness running some 20 miles across Scotland. On arrival in Fort William we board the Jacobite Steam Train for the journey to Mallaig. This 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes from the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, to the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! There will be some time in Mallaig for lunch at your leisure before your return journey to Fort William. On arrival in Fort William, we board the coach for the return journey to Inverness arriving back at your hotel early evening.
Day 5
The Kyle of Lochalsh
After breakfast, make your way to the main railway station in Inverness where we take the scheduled Scotrail service to the Kyle of Lochalsh. Although now diesel hauled, this has been described as one of the great rail journeys of Scotland, being featured in Michael Palins – “Great Rail Journey’s of the world”. On arrival, there will be time for a stretch of legs, and enjoy the views across Loch Aish to the Isle of Skye, before boarding the train for the return journey. On your return to Inverness make your way back to your hotel.
Day 6
Old Royal Station and Edinburgh
After breakfast, we leave Inverness and head south. Travelling via the Cairngorms our route takes us via Tomintoul and Ballater, where we will make a stop at the Old Royal Station. Though no longer any trains are seen in these parts, this restored Victorian railway station contains displays on the one hundred year history of royal use when the Royal family would alight from the train for their journey to nearby Balmoral Castle. We will make a brief stop at North Queensferry where you will get a fantastic view of the trains crossing the Forth Railway Bridge before continuing to Edinburgh.
Day 7
Discover Edinburgh
Our Edinburgh tour starts with a visit to the historic Edinburgh Castle. Explore the fine rooms of the Palace that were often home to Scotland’s royalty and the museums that tell the stories of Scotland’s oldest regiments through artwork, memorabilia and personal accounts. Our second stop on today’s tour is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Queen’s official residence in Scotland or the Royal Yacht Britannia, where you will see what life is like as royalty aboard the Queen’s floating royal residence.
Day 8
The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
After breakfast in the hotel we drive the short distance to the West to the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, which has been developed since 1979 on a green-field site by the south shore of the Firth of Forth. Several historic buildings have been obtained and re-elected to provide a traditional railway setting. The museum consists of three large buildings full of railway locomotives, carriages and wagons. Return to Edinburgh and afternoon is at your leisure.
Day 9
Home time
After an early breakfast there will be a transfer to the Airport for your return flights home.
Contact Shelley for more information and customization. This would be a wonderful way for a small group of friends or family to explore Scotland!
