Royal Scotsman · 5 days · 4 nights
Scotland’s Classic Splendours
Edinburgh · Keith · Plockton · Kyle of Lochalsh · Garve · Boat of Garten · Dundee
Royal Scotsman · 6 days, 5 nights
Grand Taste of the Highlands
Five nights from the Cairngorms to the west coast: foraging with Ghillie Basan, the Royal Yacht Britannia, the West Highland Line, Morar, Glenfinnan and Mount Stuart.
- EdinburghDay 1
- Boat of GartenDay 1
- Rothiemurchus EstateDay 2
- Strathisla Distillery, KeithDay 2
- Royal Yacht Britannia, LeithDay 3
- ArisaigDay 4
- Silver Sands of MorarDay 4
- GlenfinnanDay 4
- Bridge of OrchyDay 4
- Wemyss BayDay 5
- Mount Stuart, Isle of ButeDay 5
- EdinburghDay 6
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration6 days
Nights5
RouteEdinburgh → Edinburgh
Places visited11
From, per personGBP 18,300
Overview
A five-night journey joining the Highlands with the West Highland Line. Learn foraging and Highland survival skills with food anthropologist Ghillie Basan at Rothiemurchus, tour the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, then follow Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor west to the sands of Morar and Glenfinnan. It ends at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute with a gala dinner.
- Foraging and Highland skills with Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki at Rothiemurchus
- Barbecue lunch and a choice of fishing, clay shooting, hiking or a forest walk
- Optional visit to Strathisla Distillery
- Guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith
- Gare Loch, Loch Long, Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor on the West Highland Line
- The Silver Sands of Morar with views to Skye
- Glenfinnan with a local guide, or a hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall
- Afternoon tea at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute
Day by day
Day 1Edinburgh → Boat of GartenBoat of Garten
Leave Edinburgh in the early afternoon with afternoon tea as the train winds north through Perthshire, past Aviemore and the Cairngorms, to Boat of Garten. Dinner celebrates Scotland's seasonal produce, followed by live entertainment and a local dram in the Observation Car.
Meals: Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 2Rothiemurchus → the east coast
Spend the day at Rothiemurchus Estate, where Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki share Highland food, wildlife and traditions over a barbecue lunch. Then choose fishing, clay pigeon shooting, a guided hike or a foraging walk. The train continues through Inverness and along the Aberdeenshire coast, with an optional visit to Strathisla Distillery, and the evening ends with dinner and live jazz.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 3Edinburgh → the West Highland Line
After breakfast, arrive in Edinburgh for a guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by a light lunch at The Balmoral or free time in the city. In the early afternoon the train heads west, with afternoon tea past Gare Loch, Loch Long, The Cobbler, Loch Lomond and the waterfalls of Glen Falloch. Dinner is served as you cross Rannoch Moor, with local musicians to follow.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 4Fort William → Arisaig → GlenfinnanBridge of Orchy
Travel west past Ben Nevis, Loch Eil and the Glenfinnan Viaduct to Arisaig for a walk on the Silver Sands of Morar, looking across to Skye. Lunch is served on the way back towards Fort William. Choose a guided visit to Glenfinnan and its Jacobite history or, weather permitting, a hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall, before dinner on the way south to Bridge of Orchy.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 5Isle of Bute → KilmarnockKilmarnock
The train travels south to Wemyss Bay for the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute. Visit Mount Stuart, with afternoon tea in the Drawing Room and time to explore the house, gardens and Lime Tree Avenue. A gala dinner follows on the way to Kilmarnock, with coffee, liqueurs and Scottish music.
Meals: Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 6Kilmarnock → Edinburgh
After an early departure from Kilmarnock, enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the way back to Edinburgh.
Meals: Breakfast
Where you spend each night
- Night 1Boat of Garten
- Night 4Bridge of Orchy
- Night 5Kilmarnock
The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.
Most spacious
Grand Suite
4 suites · 14 m² / 151 sq ft
- 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
For couples
Double Cabin
5 cabins · 7.9 m² / 85 sq ft
- Plush double bed
- En-suite shower room
- Dressing table
- Large picture window
Two beds
Twin Cabin
9 cabins · 7.9 m² / 85 sq ft
- 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)
July 21, 2027
GBP 18,300.00 pp dbl
July 21, 2027
GBP 36,600.00 pp sgl
Twin Cabin (2 Twin Beds)
July 21, 2027
GBP 18,400.00 pp dbl
Sold Out
Available in Double Cabin (Matrimonial Bed)
July 21, 2027
GBP 36,800.00 pp sgl
Sold Out
Available in Double Cabin (Matrimonial Bed)
Grand Suite
July 21, 2027
GBP 35,500.00 pp dbl
July 21, 2027
GBP 71,000.00 pp sgl
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 Taste of the Highlands journey start and end?
It is a round trip from Edinburgh. You leave in the early afternoon with afternoon tea as the train winds north through Perthshire, and return to Edinburgh after a leisurely breakfast on Day 6.
How many nights is Grand Taste of the Highlands and where does it stop?
It is 5 nights and 6 days. The first night is at Boat of Garten, and later nights include Bridge of Orchy after the west coast day and Kilmarnock after the Isle of Bute. Mid-journey the train returns to Edinburgh for the Royal Yacht Britannia before heading west.
What happens at Rothiemurchus Estate on this journey?
Food anthropologist Ghillie Basan and her son Zeki share Highland food, wildlife and traditions over a barbecue lunch. You then choose fishing, clay pigeon shooting, a guided hike or a foraging walk, with an optional visit to Strathisla Distillery later in the day.
What are the west coast highlights?
Afternoon tea is served past Gare Loch, Loch Long, The Cobbler, Loch Lomond and the waterfalls of Glen Falloch, with dinner as you cross Rannoch Moor. Next day you walk the Silver Sands of Morar with views to Skye, then choose a guided visit to Glenfinnan or, weather permitting, a hike through Nevis Gorge to Steall Waterfall. The journey ends with afternoon tea at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute.
What is included on Grand Taste of the Highlands?
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 the evenings like on board?
The first dinner celebrates Scotland's seasonal produce, followed by live entertainment and a local dram in the Observation Car. Other evenings bring live jazz and local musicians, and the final night is a gala dinner with coffee, liqueurs and Scottish music.
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