Grand Western Scenic Wonders (Westbound)
Seven nights combining the classic Highland loop and the West Highland Line: Plockton, Ballindalloch, Glamis, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Morar, Glenfinnan and Bute.
- EdinburghDay 1
- KeithDay 1
- PlocktonDay 2
- Kyle of LochalshDay 2
- Ballindalloch CastleDay 3
- Rothiemurchus EstateDay 4
- Glamis CastleDay 4
- Royal Yacht Britannia, LeithDay 5
- Silver Sands of MorarDay 6
- GlenfinnanDay 6
- Mount Stuart, Isle of ButeDay 7
- EdinburghDay 8
Overview
The Royal Scotsman's grand seven-night tour joins its Highland and West Coast journeys. The first half runs to Kyle of Lochalsh, Ballindalloch, Rothiemurchus and Glamis Castle. After a day in Edinburgh with the Royal Yacht Britannia, the train takes the West Highland Line past Rannoch Moor to Morar and Glenfinnan, ending on the Isle of Bute at Mount Stuart.
- Wild seals, a woodland walk and a Highland welcome at Plockton
- An early walk over the bridge to the Isle of Skye
- Ballindalloch Castle or its single-estate distillery
- Country pursuits at Rothiemurchus and a visit to Glamis Castle
- Guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia
- The West Highland Line past Gare Loch and Rannoch Moor
- The sands of Morar and Glenfinnan, or a hike through Nevis Gorge
- Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute
Day by day
Day 1Edinburgh → KeithKeith
The train leaves Edinburgh in the early afternoon over the Forth Railway Bridge, with afternoon tea through Fife. It follows the east coast past Arbroath, Montrose and Aberdeen to the market town of Keith for an informal dinner and entertainment in the Observation Car.
Meals: Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 2Keith → Plockton → Kyle of LochalshKyle of Lochalsh
Head west along the Moray Firth to Inverness, with lunch on board past Loch Luichart and the Torridon mountains. At Plockton, take a boat trip to see wild seals, enjoy a woodland walk and a Highland welcome at the Plockton Hotel. A formal dinner follows, with coffee and liqueurs in the Observation Car.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 3Isle of Skye → Garve → Ballindalloch
Begin with an early walk over the bridge to the Isle of Skye, then breakfast as the train retraces its route by the Beauly Firth and the Caledonian Canal to Inverness. At Garve, browse the shops or join a Highland storyteller walk. After lunch, visit Ballindalloch Castle or its single-estate distillery, then return for an informal dinner and live music.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 4Rothiemurchus → Glamis → DundeeDundee
After breakfast, spend the morning at Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms with fishing, clay shooting or an estate tour. Lunch is served from Kingussie, then leave the train at Dunkeld to visit Glamis Castle. Rejoin at Perth for a formal dinner on the way to Dundee, with entertainment and optional Scottish country dancing.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5Edinburgh → Spean BridgeSpean Bridge
After breakfast the train crosses the Tay Bridge to Edinburgh, where you can take a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia with a light lunch or explore the city on your own. The train then heads west to Craigendoran, with afternoon tea along Gare Loch, and north through Crianlarich, Bridge of Orchy and across Rannoch Moor to Spean Bridge for an informal dinner.
Meals: Breakfast · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 6Arisaig → Glenfinnan → Fort WilliamBridge of Orchy
Heading west with views of Ben Nevis, leave the train at Arisaig for a walk on the sands of Morar, then return for lunch. Visit historic Glenfinnan with a local guide or hike through Nevis Gorge. Rejoin at Fort William for an informal dinner as the train travels south.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 7Isle of Bute
From Bridge of Orchy the train travels through Highland scenery towards Glasgow, and a ferry takes you to the Isle of Bute. Explore Mount Stuart, a Victorian Gothic house with remarkable interiors and gardens. After afternoon tea, a formal dinner and farewell drinks close the journey.
Meals: Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 8→ Edinburgh
Breakfast is served as the train returns to Edinburgh, where the seven-night journey ends.
Meals: Breakfast
- Night 1Keith
- Night 2Kyle of Lochalsh
- Night 4Dundee
- Night 5Spean Bridge
- Night 6Bridge of Orchy
The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.
Grand Suite
- Double bed with an embossed headboard
- Sofa, armchair and a larch-wood dining table
- En-suite bathroom finished in local stone and wood
- Dressing table and rich Scottish tweeds
Double Cabin
- Plush double bed
- En-suite shower room
- Dressing table
- Large picture window
Twin Cabin
- Two lower beds
- En-suite shower room
- Wardrobe and writing desk
- Edwardian-style wood marquetry
All cabins sleep two, which keeps the train small and sociable.
- Cabin accommodation aboard the Royal Scotsman
- All meals and drinks on board
- Onboard entertainment
- Excursions as described in the itinerary
- Deposit
- 25% of the total at booking
- Final payment
- 125 days before departure
- Cancellation
- 120 days or more before departure: 25% · 119–90 days: 50% · 89–30 days: 70% · 29 days or less: 100%
Dates and prices
Live availability. Choose a cabin type, then select Book Now to reserve online, or Join waitlist on sold-out dates.
Double Cabin (Matrimonial Bed)
Twin Cabin (2 Twin Beds)
Grand Suite
Join the waitlist
This departure is currently sold out. Leave your details and we will contact you the moment a cabin becomes available.
Questions about this journey
Where does the Grand Western Scenic Wonders (Westbound) journey start and finish?
It starts and ends in Edinburgh. The train leaves in the early afternoon over the Forth Railway Bridge with afternoon tea through Fife, and the seven-night journey ends back in Edinburgh after breakfast on Day 8.
How many nights is it and where does the train stop overnight?
It is 7 nights and 8 days, combining a Highland loop with the West Highland Line. Overnight stops include Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh, Dundee, Spean Bridge and Bridge of Orchy, and the train passes back through Edinburgh mid-journey.
What are the highlights of the Grand Western Scenic Wonders journey?
At Plockton you take a boat trip to see wild seals, then make an early walk over the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Later come Ballindalloch Castle, Rothiemurchus Estate and Glamis Castle, a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia, the West Highland Line past Gare Loch and across Rannoch Moor, the sands of Morar, Glenfinnan and Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute.
What choices do I have on excursion days?
At Garve you can browse the shops or join a Highland storyteller walk, and you can visit Ballindalloch Castle or its single-estate distillery. At Rothiemurchus choose fishing, clay shooting or an estate tour. In Edinburgh you can tour the Royal Yacht Britannia with a light lunch or explore the city on your own, and later you can visit Glenfinnan with a local guide or hike through Nevis Gorge.
What is included on the Grand Western Scenic Wonders journey?
The fare includes cabin accommodation aboard the Royal Scotsman, all meals and drinks on board, onboard entertainment and excursions as described in the itinerary. Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882.
What are dinners and evenings like?
Evenings mix informal and formal dinners, with entertainment in the Observation Car, live music, and optional Scottish country dancing on the way to Dundee. The journey closes on the Isle of Bute day with afternoon tea, a formal dinner and farewell drinks.



