Friday to Monday

SOLD OUT

Join us for a memorable diesel hauled trip to the scenic splendours of Northern Scotland, travelling in classic First Class carriages. Enjoy freshly prepared on-board meals served at your seat, a choice of off-train options and a comfortable overnight hotel.

Itinerary

Friday

The day starts with our special train setting out from our departure stations, with a traditional English Breakfast being served with a welcoming glass of champagne. Something a little lighter will be served for those joining the train later. Luncheon will be served before a break in Carlisle. We then head into Scotland, with evening dinner as we head into the Highlands on our way to the Macdonald Aviemore Resort Hotel for the three night stay.

Saturday

The day begins in leisurely style with breakfast at the hotel before we all step out to enjoy a day of exploration. Choose from one of the options below:

• • Option A – Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye
    Join our special train for a fantastic journey, first over the high hills to Inverness, then along the spectacular line across the mountains to the West Coast. A light lunch will be served en-route. From Kyle of Lochalsh road coaches will take you across to the Isle of Skye and back to visit Portree, before returning to Aviemore along the same way as our outward route.
  • Option B – Five Sisters and a Monster!
    Your day will start from the hotel with a guided road coach tour – firstly to Fort Augustus for a Loch Ness cruise, followed by a lunch. Then you will travel along the Five Sisters of Kintail road to visit the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, before reaching Kyle of Lochalsh for the return to Aviemore aboard our special train.
  • Option C – Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton Cruise
    As Option A to Kyle of Lochalsh then, after a short coach transfer, we enjoy a cruise on sea water Lochcarron (look for the seals!) and a short break in Plockton village. The cruise boat is a 60 seater and has full rain cover.
  • Option D – An afternoon in Kyle of Lochalsh 
    Enjoy the scenic rail journey from Aviemore to Kyle of Lochalsh and back (as options A and C above) but spend the afternoon ‘doing your own thing’ in this quiet west coast community overlooking the Isle of Skye.
  • Option E – Around Aviemore and the Cairngorms 
    You can spend a very leisurely day based on our Aviemore hotel. In the morning  enjoy a steam hauled journey along the Strathspey Railway. Then, after lunch at the hotel, a road coach will take you to the mountain, where you can enjoy the fantastic views of CairnGorm and you might even be able to get up close to the local reindeer! Evening Dinner back at the hotel will round off your lovely day.

Early evening will see most of the guests (except option E) back on the train for the scenic journey from Kyle of Lochalsh to Aviemore, with Evening Dinner served along the way in your travelling restaurant.

Sunday

Today, our special train heads for the far north of Scotland, with Breakfast served as we take this twisting single line route through the wonderful scenery. There are numerous options to choose from. Then, at the end of the afternoon, we return to Aviemore aboard our train with Evening Dinner enjoyed as the grand scenery continues to pass your carriage window.

• • Option F – Wild Sunderland and Caithness 
    At Lairg join a coach with a guide for the journey. We will take stops along the single track A836, with wild and natural beauty all around. Then along the undulating north coast to Bettyhill for a lunch stop and on to Thurso before re-joining the return train.
  • Option G – The Caithness East Coast 
    Leave the train at Helmsdale for a guided coach tour along the coastal A9, first to the Laidhay Croft Museum and lunch, then we visit the nearby Dunbeath Castle Gardens. Afterwards we continue onto Wick to re-join our homeward train.
  • Option H – The Caithness North Coast 
    We arrive into Thurso aboard our train, but rejoin it later from Wick. In between we travel by guided coach tour to visit both the most northerly point of the Scottish mainland – Dunnet Head – and the ‘last and first’ that is John O‘ Groats.
  • Option J – A Wick Break 
    If you would like to stay with the train for its full day’s journey (Aviemore – Thurso – Wick – Aviemore) then this is the option for you, with a two hour break in Wick at line’s end.
  • Option K – Around Aviemore and the Cairngorms 
    This is a repeat of Saturday‘s Option E –  You can spend a very leisurely day based on our Aviemore hotel. In the morning  enjoy a steam hauled journey along the Strathspey Railway. Then, after lunch at the hotel, a road coach will take you to the mountain, where you can take the funicular to the top of CairnGorm. There are fantastic views and you might even be able to get up close to the local reindeer! Evening Dinner back at the hotel will round off your lovely day.

Monday

Sadly, it’s time to head south. We leave Aviemore whilst enjoying a traditional cooked Breakfast as our train heads over the Druimuachdar Pass and through the Killiecrankie Pass to Perth. Then its around Glasgow into the Southern Uplands to reach England, whilst your four course Luncheon is being enjoyed. All too soon we will reach the set down stations to complete a marvelous weekend. If you are travelling well to the south a supper will be served.

Wherever you leave us we genuinely hope you will have a weekend full of delightful memories to look back on.

~ A discount of £25 per person applies for joining at these stations due to missing part of the catering service Friday morning (full breakfast) and Monday evening (supper)

A non-refundable deposit of £150 per person is payable at time of booking, with the balance payable six weeks before the day of running. For parties of 3, a deposit of £600 is taken to reserve the fourth seat. If you book a party of 4, you will automatically be sat together.

Estimated Timings