Heritage Homes & Gardens
Four nights of private houses and gardens: Pitmuies, Foulis Castle with the Clan Munro, Attadale, the Clan Donald estate on Skye, Ballindalloch Castle and Kilbryde Castle.
Day by day
- Day 1
Edinburgh to Keith — Pitmuies Garden
Depart early afternoon across the Forth Bridge. Disembark at Montrose to visit Pitmuies Garden near Forfar, one of Scotland's finest private gardens, and enjoy a drink with your hosts in their drawing room. Dinner as the train travels up the east coast through Aberdeen into Speyside, stabling at Keith.
- Day 2
Foulis Castle & Attadale
Breakfast on the way to Inverness and north to Invergordon for 18th-century Foulis Castle, seat of the Clan Munro, where the family welcome you — or join the Clan Chief for a whisky tasting. Lunch past the Torridon mountains and Loch Carron, then a visit to the Attadale estate and its Water Garden.
- Day 3
Isle of Skye & Ballindalloch Castle
Drive across to the Isle of Skye and the 2,000-acre Clan Donald estate. Lunch on the way back to Dingwall, then an evening visit to Ballindalloch Castle and its walled gardens. Rejoin the train at Boat of Garten on the Strathspey Railway.
- Day 4
Rothiemurchus & Kilbryde Castle
Coach to Rothiemurchus Estate beneath the Cairngorm mountains. Lunch from Kingussie, then south to Dunblane for a late-afternoon visit to Kilbryde Castle and Gardens. Dinner and a final night on board in Dundee.
- Day 5
Dundee to Edinburgh
Depart Dundee in the morning and return to Edinburgh.
Excursions and timings can change at the operator's discretion; the confirmed itinerary is sent before departure.
- Pitmuies Garden with its owners
- Foulis Castle, seat of the Clan Munro
- Attadale's Water Garden and the Clan Donald estate on Skye
- Ballindalloch Castle and Kilbryde Castle gardens
A day aboard
Days follow an unhurried rhythm: a full Scottish breakfast, a two-course lunch and afternoon tea on scenic runs, then a three-course dinner with cheeseboard, coffee and petits fours. Dinners alternate between informal evenings (smart casual) and formal or gala nights, when a dark suit, tuxedo or kilt is customary for gentlemen and a cocktail dress or tartan for ladies. All meals, all drinks — including an extensive whisky selection — excursions and nightly entertainment in the Observation Car are included in the fare. Most evenings the train stables in a quiet country station, so you sleep to stillness rather than motion.
Other journeys
Scotland's Classic Splendours
Four nights across the Forth Bridge, up the east coast and west on the Kyle line: Plockton's seals or Eilean Donan Castle, Glen Ord Distillery, Rothiemurchus and Glamis Castle.
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Scotch Malt Whisky Trail
Four nights with a whisky ambassador from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society: private visits to The Macallan, Tomatin and Tullibardine distilleries, a single-cask tasting on board and a morning at the Society in Edinburgh.
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Taste of the Highlands
Two nights up Scotland's east coast and into the Highlands: Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms, a private tour of Culloden Battlefield and an evening at Strathisla Distillery.
View itinerary →Ready to reserve Heritage Homes & Gardens?
Check live dates on the booking page, or send us your preferred month and cabin and we will confirm availability and hold a cabin for you.